St George Mining Limited (ASX: SGQ) continues to make strong progress with its diamond drill programme at its 100% owned Paterson Project, in the East Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The programme is testing priority structural targets to assess the potential to host large copper-gold systems. An important element of the drilling is to confirm host lithologies as well as deliver evidence of hydrothermal/mineralising processes.
Three drill holes – PDD003, PDD004 and PDD005 – have been completed since late June
Exploration Update
Lithologies intersected in the latest drill holes are similar to those intersected in the first two diamond drill holes of the programme – PDD001 and PDD002.
These include meta-sediments that are considered part of the Yeneena Group sequence, cut by numerous interpreted mafic and felsic intrusions. Strong alteration with local sulphide accumulations occur in proximity to the interpreted structures and intrusions.
These lithologies are known to host major copper-gold deposits elsewhere within the Paterson Province.
“Our maiden diamond drill programme at Paterson is progressing strongly, with five holes now completed and all delivering indications that our systematic exploration strategy is heading in the right direction,” Executive Chairman, John Prineas, said.
“Considering the very widely spaced drilling that is being undertaken in this programme, early geological observations of the drill core are very encouraging.
“There is locally intense alteration and brecciation with evidence of pervasive hydrothermal fluids. Widespread intervals of disseminated sulphides are noted in the drill core including visible chalcopyrite (copper sulphide) which is awaiting confirmation by assaying.
“Detailed logging of the core for PDD003, PDD004 and PDD005 is in progress and observations included in this release should be considered qualitative, pending laboratory assays. “These are great looking rocks to host the styles of mineralisation we are targeting. “Drilling is continuing, and we look forward to reporting further drill results including laboratory assays in the coming weeks.”
Evidence to support potential for a large and active mineral system
As diamond drilling continues, the understanding of the local geology and prospectivity of this untested area of the Paterson Province is rapidly increasing with each hole completed. The current programme is testing two priority target areas where anticline structural folds, regional scale thrust faults and internal granitic and mafic intrusions have been interpreted – these are textbook trap sites for mineralisation.
Drill holes PDD001, PDD002, PDD003 and PDD004 were completed in the southern Target area. These are widely spaced holes ranging from 1km to 2km apart. The identification of breccia zones with associated hydrothermal alteration and sulphides is highly encouraging for an early-stage drill programme.
This style of intrusion related breccia mineralisation is demonstrated at Antipa Minerals’ Minyari Deposit (1.8Moz Au and 162kt Cu) and Greatland Gold’s (LSE: GGP) Havieron Deposit (5.5Moz Au and 218kt Cu) in the southern Paterson Province.
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