High Grade Copper To Be Targeted At OREX Prospect
A field mapping programme at Eagle Mountain Mining Limited’s (ASX:EM2) OREX prospect has identified extensive outcropping mineralisation at part of the Company’s 80% owned Oracle Ridge Mine Project in Arizona.
Based on encouraging results from an initial field mapping programme at OREX in 2020, a detailed mapping project has now been completed. The recently completed field programme confirmed the extensive occurrences of outcropping skarn hosted copper- silver-gold mineralisation along the lower contact of the Leatherwood intrusive and the skarn horizon. Over 100 grab samples were collected with many returning high-grade mineralisation.
CEO, Tim Mason, said the limestone formations and resulting skarn are very similar to those encountered at the Oracle Ridge mine.
Further highlights enhancing the potential of the lower contact to host additional mineralisation include:
- Dozens of historical workings were discovered at OREX, primarily at or near the lower contact. Some workings were also identified within the Leatherwood intrusive where mineralised structures cross-cut the intrusive. Dumps with mineralised material were often associated with historical prospects.
- Alteration and mineralisation occur in the same rocks as at the Oracle Ridge mine (Escabrosa, Martin and Abrigo Formations). The physical characteristics of the mineralisation and the assay results are broadly consistent with those encountered at the Oracle Ridge mine.
- Significant alteration and mineralisation were encountered along approximately four kilometres of the exposed lower contact suggesting this geological feature is an important locus for mineralisation.
- The intensity of skarn alteration increases upwards towards the lower Leatherwood contact.
- Several generations of dykes occur at OREX with mineralised dykes occurring at the lower contact. The importance of these dykes at Oracle Ridge and their links to copper mineralisation are becoming increasingly apparent. Additional work is being planned to better understand these features.
“These results illustrate the prospectivity of the OREX prospect which covers an area greater than at the Oracle Ridge mine. This is truly exciting,” Mr Mason said.
“Following an initial geological review in 2020, we staked a significant package of prospective land to the south-east of the Oracle Ridge mine now known as OREX. This latest field programme on OREX concluded that the lower contact of the Leatherwood granitic intrusive has abundant outcropping copper skarn.
“Our interpretation is that the limestone units which host the mineralised skarn were intruded by the Leatherwood granite, therefore the bottom of the Leatherwood at OREX is highly prospective for further mineralisation.
“We have commenced a detailed drone aeromagnetic geophysical survey over OREX to assist us in defining priority drill targets.”
