Aurania Resources Ltd (TSX-V:ARU, OTCQB:AUIAF) has updated on activity, saying it would suspend the majority of its field activities in the short term at its Lost Cities-Cutucu project in Ecuador due to recent coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines.
The company said this would happen "more or less over the next month" in order to protect its employees and local communities, in which it operates.
"There are currently 9 active COVID cases among our personnel and our General Manager is in quarantine because a family member is infected. Ecuador is beginning to experience an increase in the number of cases nationwide, and on January 16th a 'Red Alert' was issued by the Ecuador Government for 193 of 195 Cantons," it said in a brief statement.
"Where possible we may continue field work with a reduced contingent in those remote areas where there is no interaction with local communities," the company added.
READ: Aurania Resources reports high-grade drill intercept at Tiria-Shimpia target on its Lost Cities-Cutucu project in Ecuador
Updating on hole TSN1-009 at the Tsenken target area at the project, the company said lab analysis had shown low anomalous copper and silver from a nine-metre (m) interval downhole between 321m and 331m. Within this intersection, breccia clasts containing chalcocite, a copper sulphide, were also noted.
The hole collapsed due to caving in salt at a depth of 369m. It had been projected to intersect the target area at between 400m and 500m, the firm noted.
South America-focused Aurania is focused on exploring for precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities - Cutucu project sits in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountains.
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