Astra Exploration Inc. (TSXV: ASTR) has drilled multiple gold intercepts in the first 11 of 30 completed drill holes at the Pampa Paciencia gold-silver project in northern Chile.
Drill Highlights
PPRC-22-12:
- 14.48 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 39.7 g/t silver over 3.0 metres downhole (mDH) within a broader zone of 2.71 g/t gold and 10.8 g/t silver over 21 mDH
PPRC-22-13:
- 3.28 g/t gold and 58.3 g/t silver over 6 mDH within a broader zone of 1.6 g/t gold and 21.3 g/t silver over 22 mDH
PPRC-22-14:
- 4.09 g/t gold and 45.22 g/t silver over 4 mDH within a broader zone of 1.39 g/t gold and 17.1 g/t silver over 17 mDH
“These first drill results in Astra’s brief history are exciting as they define a wide shoot of mineralisation near surface that is open along strike and to depth,” CEO, Brian Miller, said.
“Company geologists interpret that these holes are only at the top of the gold rich zone with significant room for expansion. The company’s maiden drill programme has tested five target areas with veins intercepted in 29 of 30 holes. Assays remain outstanding for 18 more drillholes at the project.”
Drill Results Discussion
Pampa Paciencia is a road-accessible, low-sulphidation epithermal (LSE) gold-silver project located within an active mining district less than 15 km from two major copper mines (Sierra Gorda and Spence) and five km from the Faride LSE mine.
Astra has completed property wide mapping and sampling, geophysical surveys, and localised trenching and in doing so, has defined a vein boulder field over approximately 75% of the project area. The veins do not outcrop as the majority of the project area is covered by a thin layer of gravels and caliche but the vein float can be used to identify areas of high prospectivity.
Reverse circulation drilling commenced on veins within the interpreted five km long North Zone vein corridor. The holes reported herein targeted the Paciencia Vein within that corridor along a strike length of 400 meters. All holes intercepted the vein, with several intercepting a sub parallel footwall splay.
Historical drill holes were widely spaced leaving significant strike and dip length to expand the historical drill intercepts into larger bodies of mineralisation. These first results strongly support this interpretation with holes PPRC-22-12, PPRC-22-13 and PPRC22-14 expanding mineralisation to the east where it remains open along strike and at depth.
Drill assays are pending for the remaining 18 holes and are expected in May. The remaining drill holes were completed as follows:
- One in the Paciencia Vein
- Ten in Paciencia Oeste
- Three in Paciencia Este
- Three in the Central Zone
- One in a North Zone geophysical target
For further information please visit: https://astra-exploration.com/
