White Rock Minerals Ltd (ASX:WRM) (OTCMKTS:WRMCF) has started 2021 exploration activities at the newly identified Last Chance volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) camp and the adjacent Intrusion Related Gold System (IRGS)/orogenic gold target in Alaska.
An airborne electromagnetic (SkyTEM) survey is underway over Last Chance, within the broader Red Mountain Project, totalling 1,900 line kilometres and covering some 400 square kilometres
The 100%-owned Red Mountain Project is in central Alaska and White Rock is exploring for IRGS mineralisation and high-grade silver-zinc-gold-lead VMS deposits.
Following the company’s successful capital raising, a fully funded 2021 exploration program is now in play.
First leg underway
The first leg in this aggressive program is the acquisition of geophysical data to assist in geological interpretation and drill target identification.
A SkyTEM survey is being undertaken to identify conductivity anomalies potentially associated with massive sulphide mineralisation.
Six new mineralised massive sulphide targets were identified in the emerging Last Chance VMS camp during the 2020 field season.
Assay results included:
- Horseshoe - up to 8.3% zinc, 0.3% lead, 1.1% copper, 12 g/t silver and 3.6 g/t gold;
- Bib - up to 7.3% zinc, 5.1% lead, 0.3% copper, 40 g/t silver and 0.3 g/t gold;.
- Bib West - up to 5.7% zinc, 1.4% lead and 0.2% copper;
- Grapple - up to 3.6% zinc, 1.9% lead, 0.7% copper and 40 g/t silver;
- Peaches - up to 2.9% zinc, 2.8% lead, 0.2% copper, 46 g/t silver and 1.5 g/t gold; and
- Ringer - up to 1.0% copper, 26 g/t silver and 0.4 g/t gold.
Previous SkyTEM flown over the Red Mountain VMS camp identified conductivity anomalies associated with the Dry Creek and WTF VMS deposits, with discrete conductivity anomalies identified to depths of 300 metres.
SkyTEM data acquisition
Acquisition of SkyTEM data will allow target definition work to be fast-tracked ahead of drill testing in the coming 2021 field season.
The SkyTEM survey will also extend over the Last Chance gold target where scout CSAMT ground geophysics completed in 2020 showed resistivity variation likely associated with geological structure and alteration.
Systematic data acquired through airborne EM will assist in identifying zonation associated with the gold system and aid drill targeting at depth.
Ground field activities
Following this survey, the company plans to start ground field activities in late May.
Three drill rigs have been secured, as has supporting helicopter services, two remote accommodation camps and geophysical contractors.
One drill rig will be dedicated to testing new VMS targets at the Last Chance and the Red Mountain VMS camps.