Group Eleven Resources Corp (TSX-V:ZNG). said it has intersected a wide zone of zinc-lead-silver mineralization 60 metres to the east of the discovery hole at its Ballywire zinc prospect at the 100%-owned PG West Project in Ireland.
"We are excited that initial follow-up drilling at the recent Ballywire zinc discovery is indicating robust grades and thicknesses over an area of approx. 150m by 200m, hypothesized to continue at least 400m SW towards mineralization intersected in G11-468-01 and wide open for 3 kilometres to the NE. This suggests good continuity and high-priority exploration potential, especially along strike," said Bart Jaworski, Group Eleven CEO in a statement.
"These holes add evidence that Ballywire has growing potential to be a Lisheen-scale zinc system in terms of size and grade. We look forward to learning a lot more about this exciting prospect as drilling progresses over the coming weeks,” he added.
READ: Group Eleven says drilling continues at its Ballywire zinc discovery at the PG West Project in Ireland, reports results from regional drilling
Drilling Highlights:
- G11-468-06 intersected 6.04m of 12.4% Zn+Pb (zinc+lead) - 8.6% Zn and 3.8% Pb- and 68 grams per ton (g/t) Ag silver), including 2.48m of 29.2% Zn+Pb (20.4% Zn and 8.8% Pb) and 160 g/t Ag, within a wider zone of 10.08m of 8.6% Zn+Pb (6.1% Zn and 2.6% Pb) and 46 g/t Ag, in a 60m step-out from G11-468-03 (discovery hole), with true widths estimated to be 75-90% of intersected width
- Above intercept is within a broader zone of zinc mineralization over 98.69m averaging 1.6% Zn+Pb (1.0% Zn and 0.5% Pb) and 12 g/t Ag (true widths 75-90% of intersected width)
- Discovery hole G11-468-03 intersected zinc mineralization over 66.02m averaging 2.8% Zn+Pb (2.1% Zn and 0.7% Pb) and 29 g/t Ag, including 6.85m of 15.4% Zn+Pb (11.1% Zn, 4.3% Pb) and 160 g/t Ag, within a wider interval of 10.76m of 10.0% Zn+Pb (7.2% Zn and 2.8% Pb) and 109 g/t Ag (true widths 80-100% of intercepted width)
- G11-468-04 stepped out 110m north of the discovery hole, intersecting a 9.46m wide mineralized zone including massive and semi-massive sulphides over 0.88m grading 12.5% Zn+Pb (10.4% Zn and 2.2% Pb) and 27 g/t Ag, within a wider zone of 2.86m of 4.3% Zn+Pb (3.5% Zn and 0.7% Pb) and 9 g/t Ag (true widths estimated to be 80-100% of intersected widths)
- Mineralization described above is located at or near the base of the Waulsortian limestone, further demonstrating the general morphology of the zone as bedding-parallel (classic Irish-type)
- The three holes above totalled 972m of drilling, with the company planning an additional 2-4 holes totalling up to 1,200m.
- Completion of the remaining drill program is expected around end of Q1 2023, with results to be reported upon receipt of assay results
- Step-out distances are planned to range from 50m to 220m from discovery hole G11-468-03
- Ballywire discovery area remains open along strike for 3 kilometres (km) to the NE, 1.5 km to the W and up-dip to the NNW for at least 500m
The new results suggest an area of mineralization approximately 150m by 200m, which is interpreted as a bedding-parallel layer at the base of the Waulsortian limestone. The results also suggest a NE-SW trending control on mineralization, interpreted to be related to a fault located approximately 200m south of the discovery hole.
Robust mineralization intersected in G11-468-03 and -06 is hypothesized to continue approx. 400m to the SW, towards mineralization intersected in G11-468-01. Weaker mineralization encountered in G11-468-05 may suggest that the system is gaining strength towards the NE, where no drilling has taken place for 3 km.
The Ballywire zinc discovery is located at the intersection of the south-westerly projection of the Rathdowney Trend and the Pallas Green Corridor. Historic drilling at the Ballywire prospect was sparse, last being worked by operators in 2008. Group Eleven staked the prospect in 2016 based on compelling results from the two most-recent historic holes.
Group Eleven Resources is a mineral exploration company focused on advanced-stage zinc exploration in Ireland.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com