Copper Lake Resources Ltd (TSX-V:CPL, OTC:WTCZF) has reported promising initial results from its recent diamond drill program at its Marshall Lake volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) copper-zinc-silver-gold project in Ontario.
The mineral exploration and development company said the drill program targeted two target areas, including a prominent magneto-telluric (MT) conductor, which is below high-grade copper-zinc-silver stringer mineralization area known as the Deep EM target.
Copper Lake drilled one hole through the MT conductor to a final depth of 802 meters and intersected several broad intervals of hydrothermal alteration typical of and accompanying VMS deposit mineralization.
“At 800 metres, this was the deepest hole ever drilled at Marshall Lake,” noted Copper Lake CEO Terry MacDonald.
“At depths between 400 and 800 metres, we encountered almost 280 metres of strong to very strong alteration, which is very encouraging as it demonstrates the presence of a large VMS proximal hydrothermal alteration system containing copper and zinc sulphides.”
The second drill target was a 500-meter by 150-meter electromagnetic (EM) conductor located 2 kilometers east of the Billiton deposit in an un-drilled area of the Marshall Lake project.
A single drill hole was completed to a final depth of 502 meters which intersected a thick sequence of altered volcanic rocks intruded by gabbro sills.
It encountered two mineralized zones with both continued patchy pyrrhotite, pyrite and magnetite but, aside from trace to minor chalcopyrite, no significant base-metal mineralization was observed in the drill hole.
Additionally, Copper Lake said that Abitibi Geophysics is currently carrying out a borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) survey at the project to identify more conductive sulphide-bearing material within the VMS alteration area.
Two historic drill holes within 300 meters of the aforementioned hlole that returned thick intercepts of strong to intense hydrothermal alteration and disseminated base-metal sulphides similar to that seen in the hole will also be tested.
Results from the BHEM survey are expected by late April.
“We are hopeful that the pending results of the borehole Pulse EM survey will indicate the presence of potentially commercial-scale massive copper-zinc-silver-gold sulphides in this area,” CEO MacDonald said.