Alta Zinc Ltd (ASX:AZI) (FRA:8EE) has received thick, high-grade zinc and lead results from the first drill pad of its maiden drilling program at Ponente area of the Gorno Project in Italy with added silver.
These first drill holes were started from mineralisation that had been previously channel sampled in the sidewalls (averaging 2.5 metres height) and have confirmed that this sidewall mineralisation extends into the roof and floor, increasing the mineralisation thickness considerably and equating to a total sampled intercept aggregated to 11.6 metres.
This aggregate intercept returned 7.5% zinc and 1.6% lead (9.2% zinc+lead) and 17 g/t silver.
Horizontal drilling has further shown that mineralisation extends in a southerly direction as a shallow dipping lens, with the lens having an estimated true thickness of some 10 metres.
“Rapid drill program to east and north”
Managing director Geraint Harris said: “It is excellent to report thick and high-grade mineralisation from our first drilling location on the extreme western edge of Ponente, where historical development work has indicated many areas of contiguous and flat-lying mineralisation.
“We look forward to building our knowledge of the extents of the mineralisation as we make rapid drill progress to the east and north of this first drill pad.
“We have two drilling campaigns well underway at Ponente and Pian Bracca, and a pipeline of prospective and significant drill targets ahead of us - I am confident that the company will continue to deliver further encouraging news to the market as it becomes available.”
Historical records as well as the company’s recent mapping programs confirm that the Ponente Central area (some 400 metres to the east of the current drilling) had stope heights in excess of 10 metres and floor to roof mineralisation remains in numerous sidewalls and pillars.
Alta’s first drill holes in Ponente have now confirmed the lateral extent of this mineralisation which will be followed up in the ongoing exploration program.
Further drilling has extended the mineralisation down-dip and returned grades such as 9.3 metres at 9.2% zinc, 2.5% lead and 26 g/t silver from collar, including 6.4 metres at 13.1% zinc, 3.5% lead and 38 g/t silver from collar as well as 4.5 metres at 6.7% zinc, 1.7% lead and 20 g/t silver from 16.5 metres.
Looking ahead
The drilling continues at Ponente, stepping out to the north and east, also at Pian Bracca south.
Alta’s drilling and mining contractor, Edilmac, is drilling simultaneously in Ponente and Pian Bracca south, with these activities expected to produce a steady flow of results over the coming months.