Alta Zinc Ltd’s (ASX:AZI) latest bout of exploration has uncovered multiple high-grade zinc intersections with added lead and silver at the Gorno Project in northern Italy.
Recently, the explorer drilled nine holes and evaluated five channel samples at the project in a bid to expand its mineralisation footprint.
Promisingly, results have extended the known mineralisation across three key areas within the Gorno Project - Ponente West, Ponente Central and Pian Brecca South.
Drilling continues as Alta Zinc attempts to further expand the known mineralisation at Gorno into new areas.
With fresh assays in tow, a broader mineral resource update is slated for the first half of July.
Drilling leads to “several new areas”
Alta Zinc managing director Geraint Harris commented on the findings today.
“We are very pleased that our multi-area exploration strategy has been successful in extending mineralisation at Pian Brecca and Ponente.
“These results together with those from our last 18 months of successful exploration will support our upcoming mineral resource estimate (MRE) and build a platform for future project development.
“Our drilling has now lead us into several new areas to continue expanding the mineralisation footprint outside of and in addition to the upcoming MRE.
“The aim is to continue to deliver on the significant high-grade mineral growth potential that the Gorno District is providing.”
Results are in at Ponente West
At Ponente West, fresh results extended mineralisation 180 metres north and 90 metres east.
Drilling in the area uncovered:
- 1.8 metres at 13.7% zinc, 0.2% lead and 2 g/t silver from 40.1 metres;
- 2.6 metres at 8.6% zinc, 1.4% lead and 14 g/t silver from 53 metres; and
- 3 metres at 12.4% zinc, 2.2% lead and 39 g/t silver from 10.3 metres.
Additionally, Alta Zinc uncovered more new mineralisation at Ponente West another 260 metres to the east, where channel sampling returned high-grade mineralisation from the Ponente Central area.
Finally, mineralisation may also lie a further 300 metres to the north, where historical drilling has previously intersected mineralisation within the Cascine area.
Channel sampling at Ponente Central
Meanwhile, over at Ponente Central, Alta Zinc conducted channel sampling over two sites.
The explorer uncovered:
- 2 metres at 20.7% zinc, 6.2% lead and 50 g/t silver; and
- 2 metres at 30.4% zinc, 6.2% lead and 38 g/t silver.
Ultimately, the sampling program nods to high-grade mineralisation along Pontente Central’s western edge, where significant sulphide mineralisation is visible on the sidewalls.
There’s also strong evidence that mineralisation extends south into an area of historical drilling - an area that will be tested from existing development in the area.
All in all, Alta Zinc believes the extensions to the north, south and east of both Ponente assets represent a suite of “tangible and accessible” near-term exploration targets.
The company can assess both areas' mineral resource growth potential after it executes the resource update.
Work progresses at Pian Bracca
Recently, geological and structural mapping at Pian Bracca South uncovered significant mineral enrichment, travelling in a north-south direction.
Alta Zinc conducted channel sampling in this area, returning:
- 2.4 metres at 26.8% zinc, 6.5% lead and 65 g/t silver;
- 2.4 metres at 21% zinc, 6.6% lead and 67 g/t silver; and
- 2.6 metres at 20% zinc, 5% lead and 65 g/t silver.
Meanwhile, at Pian Bracca Central, the ASX-lister drilled hole PBD52 to test an east-west trending fault.
This unexpectedly extended mineralisation to the south, returning 4.8 metres at 3.1% zinc and 0.7% led from 25.6 metres, including a 1.4-metre intersection at 5.5% zinc and 1.9% lead.