Pacific Empire Minerals Corp, a copper explorer, revealed that it has completed an airborne geophysical survey and soil sampling at its flagship Jean Marie project in central British Columbia.
Jean Marie is a copper-gold-silver-molybdenum porphyry project located 50 kilometres (km) west of Centerra Gold Inc's Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine in central British Columbia. The project has unbounded mineralized zones defined by drilling of up to 244 metres of 0.28% copper (J97-11), and 192 metres of 0.29% Copper (J95-2), as well as multiple recently identified targets across the property.
Pacific Empire said it has completed an airborne geophysical survey, finished re-logging a historical drill core, and surficial geology mapping. In addition, the firm concluded soil sampling, while detailed geological mapping is currently underway.
READ: Pacific Empire Minerals expands stake at flagship Jean Marie project
The explorer has retained Precision GeoSurveys to complete a 128 sq-km high resolution, magnetic gradient, radiometric, and VLF-EM airborne geophysical survey at Jean Marie.
Despite over 30 years of exploration history at Jean Marie, this is the first high resolution multi-sensor airborne survey to be done. “Data will be integrated with geology and geochemistry and used to help map structure, alteration, and lithology to guide the company's exploration efforts,” said Pacific Empire. The preliminary data is being processed and final results are anticipated in the coming weeks.
Surficial mapping has now been done with the help of Quaternary geology expert Derek Turner, using historical survey data, as well as modern topographical data and aerial imagery. The revised surface geology map will be used to reinterpret near-surface geochemical and geophysical data, according to the company.
In July, 634 soil samples were collected at Jean Marie to expand on the current historical soil sampling coverage. Wide spaced soil sampling focused on areas where there has been no coverage. This included zones that lie along strike with known copper and gold mineralization.
“The results will be used in conjunction with the results from the surficial mapping to interpret zones of anomalous geochemistry and subsequent considerations for identifying drill targets,” said the company. The samples have been sent to ALS Laboratories, in Vancouver.
"A much clearer picture is beginning to emerge," said Pacific Empire VP Exploration Thomas Hawkins in a statement. "Once we have the results from the most recently completed work program incorporated, we will be in a position to further refine and rank the drill targets."
Going forward, additional soil sampling, stream sediment sampling, prospecting and detailed lithology and alteration mapping is planned in areas that were recently staked by the company.
“It is exciting to see the dataset come together," said Pacific Empire CEO Brad Peters. "We are working towards an integrated targeting model over the coming months and intend to leave no stone unturned in the process."
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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