District Metals Corp. (TSX-V:DMX) told investors it had kicked off a soil sampling program at its Gruvberget project in Sweden using ionic leach (IL) analysis after this method was shown to be superior at identifying polymetallic mineralization in bedrock than conventional analysis.
The new program will cover four target areas, which were previously identified via geophysical anomalies and historical mineral occurrences. The results will help prioritize drill targets and will be reported before the end of 2022.
"The majority of the Gruvberget property is covered by a thin veneer (2 to 20 metres) of glacial till, which is just enough to conceal potential polymetallic mineralization that is daylighting at the top of bedrock," explained Garrett Ainsworth, the CEO of District in a statement.
"Our soil sampling orientation survey conducted over known polymetallic mineralization at the Gruvberget North zone has clearly shown us that Ionic Leach analysis is superior at identifying mineralization in the bedrock than conventional analysis."
The soil sampling carried out so far (37 samples collected by shovel) covered three east-to-west survey lines across and north of the so-called Gruvberget north zone, where multi-element anomalies for zinc, lead, copper, silver, and gold were identified.
In addition, three rock grab samples from the Djurgruvan mineral occurrence returned between 10.3% and 22.9% zinc. One rock grab sample from the Gruvberget South zone returned 13.1% zinc, the company noted.
Soil geochemistry can be seen as one of the most cost effective methods to delineate and prioritize drill targets, said District.
The Gruvberget property is largely covered by a thin veneer of glacial till, which makes traditional bedrock mapping and sampling challenging, it added.
The latest soil samples were analyzed by conventional (ICP-MS) and IL analysis to determine which method was preferable before initiating a larger soil sampling program.
The main advantage of IL is the lack of drying and sieving and a reduced turn-around time at the lab, said the firm.
"Samples are processed as collected (systematically) in the field, with no sample dilution prior to analysis, which allows for a very low detection limit to be achieved," it added.
This technique also does not digest the soil sample or any specific component and only extracts free ionic elements from the soil leached from the primary (metal) source migrating towards surface.
Explorer District Metals is mainly focused on its advanced stage Tomtebo property in the Bergslagen area. Tomtebo comprises 5,144 hectares and sits between the historic Falun Mine and Boliden's Garpenberg mine that are 25 kilometres (km) to the northwest and southeast, respectively.
Two historic polymetallic mines and numerous polymetallic showings are located on the Tomtebo property along an approximate 17 km trend.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com