Solis Minerals Ltd (TSX-V:SLMN, ASX:SLM) has continued to demonstrate the size of a large copper system at the Mostazal Copper Project in Chile, intersecting copper sulphide mineralisation in all three diamond holes drilled at the project so far.
Assay results have yet to be received, but detailed logging is underway, and the three holes have returned wide mineralisation delineating a copper system 250 to 444 metres wide:
- 362 metres copper mineralised zone (from surface) in hole #1
- 444 metres copper mineralised zone (from surface) in hole #2
- 250+ metres copper mineralised zone (from 256 metres) in hole #3
Solis says this early drilling has considerably enhanced the scale of the surface ‘manto’ copper system, and already has plans underway to expand the drilling program based on this ‘exceptional early drilling success’.
“Extremely encouraged by the significant size”
“Drilling of our initial campaign of diamond holes at Mostazal is progressing very well. We have intersected widespread copper sulphide mineralisation in all three holes completed to date, with our latest hole MODD003 the deepest hole drilled at the project thus far,” Solis Minerals CEO Jason Cubitt said.
“We are working to understand the significance of the over-250-metre sulphide zone in MODD003 and, while we have not yet seen the typical alteration system that we would expect to see associated with our original porphyry target, we are extremely encouraged by the significant size of the mineralisation system we have intersected.
“The addition of detailed down-hole geophysical data together with the assay results from sampling of this core will be required to better understand the extent of the mineralised system at Mostazal.
“The company is also planning to conduct induced polarisation (IP) and/or magnetotellurics (MT) geophysical surveys down to 500 metres depth or more to better assist in the hunt for the main feeder system.
“These first drill holes were designed to test the near-surface manto-style mineralisation encountered in the historical drilling, and our logging has confirmed the presence of widespread alteration and disseminated copper sulphide mineralisation throughout all three holes completed so far.
“The drill rig has now moved onto MODD004, our last planned hole of this initial phase of drilling.
“This drillhole is targeting a high-tenor copper-in-soil anomaly to the east of the main manto mineralisation and mining area and may represent the eastern extension of the known mineralisation or the surface expression of a separate mineralised system below the main manto stacked lenses.”
Assays from these diamond drill holes are expected in March.
In the meantime, Solis will work to verify historical drilling of the area to support establishing a JORC and/or NI 43-101 (Canadian standard) compliant mineral resource for the surface manto copper system.
About Solis Minerals
Solis Minerals acquires, explores for, and develops mineral properties in Chile and Peru. The company primarily explores for copper, gold, silver, iron, and molybdenum deposits.
Solis holds three large-scale projects in one of the world’s richest copper districts in the Andes porphyry copper belt.
The newly acquired Mostazal project in Chile contains eight exploitation licences totalling 16 square kilometres.
Preliminary interpretation of the geophysical data indicates mineralisation at surface has a striking correlation to four deeply rooted magnetic anomalies – two of which measure a combined 1.6 kilometres in diameter.
Detailed historical resource studies have been produced along with 60 drill holes totalling 11,380 metres. Mostazal is host to historical and recent small-scale production.