Arizona Sonoran Drills 1,206 ft (368 m) of 0.56% CuT at MainSpring and Completes Initial MainSpring Inferred Drill Program
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The completed program at 500 ft (152 m) centres between drill holes, extended mineralization over 2,500 ft x 3,000 ft (762 m x 914 m) within an interpreted horst block. The final 10 holes (17,916 ft | 5,460 m) from the now completed inferred program are reported herein. Two drills are now infill drilling at Cactus West within the primary sulphide zones, and one rig is focused on reducing drill spacings at MainSpring from inferred to indicated for use in an updated Prefeasibility Study which is scheduled to initiate later this year.
Highlights:
- In support of a single mineral resource model, the drill program successfully connected the high grade thick enriched Parks/Salyer mineralization and the shallow lower grade MainSpring mineralization
- *ECM-218: 1,206 ft (368 m) @ 0.56% CuT of continuous mineralization
- *Incl 290 ft (88 m) @ 0.95% CuT, 0.56% Cu TSol, 0.088% Mo (enriched)
- And 676 ft (206 m) @ 0.46% CuT, 0.012% Mo (primary)
- ECM-215: 1,430 ft (436 m) @ 0.32% CuT of continuous mineralization
- Incl 388 ft (118 m) @ 0.50% CuT, 0.34% Cu TSol, 0.012% Mo (enriched)
- And 662 ft (202 m) @ 0.26% CuT, 0.003% Mo (primary)
- ECM-222: 965 ft (294 m) @ 0.42% CuT of continuous mineralization
- Incl 127 ft (39 m) @ 1.12% CuT, 0.88% Cu TSol, 0.025% Mo (enriched)
- And 837 ft (255 m) @ 0.31% CuT, 0.005% Mo (primary)
- ECM-213: 25 ft (8 m) @ 1.18% CuT, 1.13% Cu TSol, 0.003% Mo (oxide), from 137 ft (42 m)
NOTE: True widths are not known; * Interval includes 2.2 ft (0.67 m) of missing core
“We believe the MainSpring results will continue to demonstrate the scalability of Cactus, reinforcing the Project as a highly compelling emerging copper developer within a Tier 1 location.”
Drilling and Geology Recap
The inferred drill program at MainSpring on 500 ft (152 m) drill hole spacing was designed to follow up on the evaluation of legacy drill data. The program tested for both near-surface copper mineralization in the southern MainSpring area and for the shallowing continuation of the high-grade Parks/Salyer deposit in the northern gap between Parks/Salyer and MainSpring. All holes were drilled completely through the copper mineralization hosted by Laramide intrusive monzonite porphyry and Precambrian Oracle Granite, to the basement fault zone and into the underlying barren basement rocks dominantly composed of Pinal Schist, with lesser meta-granite, meta-volcanic, gneiss and quartzite. This was done to test both supergene enrichment mineralization and primary mineralization below it.
The program confirmed several things, including:
- The presence of shallow supergene enriched mineralization with primary copper mineralization beneath the enrichment zones in the MainSpring area.
- The continuation of thick high-grade enriched mineralization with primary copper mineralization beneath it trending southward from the Parks/Salyer deposit through the gap zone and into the southern MainSpring area.
- Supergene enriched and primary mineralization trends are open to the west of the completed inferred drilling pattern.
The indicated drilling program, which commenced immediately following the inferred drilling program, will first infill the shallowest mineralization zones to 250 ft (76 m) drill hole spacing. The drilling will move northward to infill the gap between MainSpring and Parks/Salyer to the indicated level.
TABLE 1: Significant Drilling Intercepts
Hole id |
Zone |
Feet |
Meters |
CuT (%) |
Cu Tsol (%) |
Mo (%) |
||||
from |
to |
length |
from |
to |
length |
|||||
ECM-213 |
oxide |
137.0 |
162.4 |
25.4 |
41.8 |
49.5 |
7.7 |
1.18 |
1.13 |
0.003 |
enriched |
602.5 |
767.0 |
164.5 |
183.6 |
233.8 |
50.1 |
0.33 |
0.33 |
0.001 |
|
including |
707.0 |
767.0 |
60.0 |
215.5 |
233.8 |
18.3 |
0.62 |
0.62 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
872.1 |
915.0 |
42.9 |
265.8 |
278.9 |
13.1 |
0.11 |
0.08 |
0.002 |
|
primary |
1,030.0 |
1,080.0 |
50.0 |
313.9 |
329.2 |
15.2 |
0.12 |
0.01 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
1,170.0 |
1,200.0 |
30.0 |
356.6 |
365.8 |
9.1 |
0.13 |
0.01 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-214 |
enriched |
770.9 |
866.3 |
95.4 |
235.0 |
264.0 |
29.1 |
0.72 |
0.71 |
0.003 |
enriched |
926.0 |
1,033.0 |
107.0 |
282.2 |
314.9 |
32.6 |
0.36 |
0.29 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
1,073.0 |
1,103.0 |
30.0 |
327.1 |
336.2 |
9.1 |
0.15 |
0.03 |
0.003 |
|
primary |
1,143.0 |
1,696.7 |
553.7* |
348.4 |
517.2 |
168.8* |
0.19 |
0.02 |
0.008 |
|
including |
1,351.0 |
1,503.6 |
152.6* |
411.8 |
458.3 |
46.5* |
0.24 |
0.02 |
0.008 |
|
and |
1,643.0 |
1,696.7 |
53.7 |
500.8 |
517.2 |
16.4 |
0.32 |
0.03 |
0.010 |
|
ECM-215 |
enriched |
511.6 |
654.1 |
142.5 |
155.9 |
199.4 |
43.4 |
0.31 |
0.30 |
0.004 |
enriched |
722.1 |
782.4 |
60.3 |
220.1 |
238.5 |
18.4 |
0.53 |
0.52 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
829.3 |
1,217.0 |
387.7 |
252.8 |
370.9 |
118.2 |
0.50 |
0.34 |
0.012 |
|
including |
1,047.0 |
1,117.0 |
70.0 |
319.1 |
340.5 |
21.3 |
0.86 |
0.54 |
0.022 |
|
primary |
1,217.0 |
1,878.5 |
661.5 |
370.9 |
572.6 |
201.6 |
0.26 |
0.0556 |
0.003 |
|
including |
1,257.0 |
1,457.0 |
200.0 |
383.1 |
444.1 |
61.0 |
0.46 |
0.11 |
0.007 |
|
ECM-216 |
enriched |
386.3 |
560.0 |
173.7 |
117.7 |
170.7 |
52.9 |
0.25 |
0.24 |
0.003 |
including |
409.0 |
453.5 |
44.5 |
124.7 |
138.2 |
13.6 |
0.41 |
0.40 |
0.002 |
|
primary |
1,147.0 |
1,187.0 |
40.0* |
349.6 |
361.8 |
12.2* |
0.15 |
0.02 |
0.003 |
|
primary |
1,650.0 |
1,707.4 |
57.4* |
502.9 |
520.4 |
17.5* |
0.10 |
0.01 |
0.003 |
|
ECM-217 |
enriched |
818.4 |
1,163.0 |
344.6 |
249.4 |
354.5 |
105.0 |
0.22 |
0.19 |
0.001 |
including |
818.4 |
882.0 |
63.6 |
249.4 |
268.8 |
19.4 |
0.36 |
0.35 |
0.002 |
|
and |
1,099.3 |
1,130.0 |
30.7 |
335.1 |
344.4 |
9.4 |
0.52 |
0.33 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
1,463.0 |
1,493.0 |
30.0 |
445.9 |
455.1 |
9.1 |
0.12 |
0.04 |
0.005 |
|
ECM-218 |
oxide |
639.0 |
664.2 |
25.2 |
194.8 |
202.4 |
7.7 |
0.53 |
0.52 |
0.010 |
enriched |
815.5 |
993.6 |
178.1 |
248.6 |
302.8 |
54.3 |
0.45 |
0.44 |
0.003 |
|
enriched |
1,055.0 |
1,345.0 |
290.0* |
321.6 |
410.0 |
88.4* |
0.95 |
0.56 |
0.088 |
|
including |
1,127.0 |
1,187.0 |
60.0 |
343.5 |
361.8 |
18.3 |
1.38 |
1.33 |
0.057 |
|
and |
1,258.7 |
1,345.0 |
86.3 |
383.7 |
410.0 |
26.3 |
1.39 |
0.29 |
0.181 |
|
primary |
1,345.0 |
2,021.7 |
676.7 |
410.0 |
616.2 |
206.3 |
0.46 |
0.04 |
0.012 |
|
including |
1,345.0 |
1,657.0 |
312.0 |
410.0 |
505.1 |
95.1 |
0.72 |
0.05 |
0.020 |
|
ECM-219 |
enriched |
840.9 |
1,165.0 |
324.1 |
256.3 |
355.1 |
98.8 |
0.42 |
0.39 |
0.001 |
including |
960.6 |
1,020.0 |
59.4 |
292.8 |
310.9 |
18.1 |
1.09 |
1.05 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
1,165.0 |
1,419.0 |
254.0 |
355.1 |
432.5 |
77.4 |
0.16 |
0.13 |
0.001 |
|
including |
1,294.0 |
1,369.0 |
75.0 |
394.4 |
417.3 |
22.9 |
0.31 |
0.30 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-220 |
enriched |
882.0 |
973.0 |
91.0 |
268.8 |
296.6 |
27.7 |
0.61 |
0.61 |
0.006 |
enriched |
1,068.0 |
1,398.0 |
330.0 |
325.5 |
426.1 |
100.6 |
0.18 |
0.17 |
0.020 |
|
including |
1,171.1 |
1,211.0 |
39.9 |
357.0 |
369.1 |
12.2 |
0.32 |
0.32 |
0.018 |
|
primary |
1,398.0 |
2,021.0 |
623.0 |
426.1 |
616.0 |
189.9 |
0.20 |
0.03 |
0.009 |
|
ECM-221 |
oxide |
426.0 |
463.0 |
37.0 |
129.8 |
141.1 |
11.3 |
0.15 |
0.13 |
0.001 |
enriched |
591.0 |
632.0 |
41.0 |
180.1 |
192.6 |
12.5 |
0.43 |
0.40 |
0.005 |
|
enriched |
665.0 |
960.7 |
295.7 |
202.7 |
292.8 |
90.1 |
0.34 |
0.33 |
0.005 |
|
including |
677.0 |
703.5 |
26.5 |
206.3 |
214.4 |
8.1 |
1.01 |
0.99 |
0.002 |
|
enriched |
1,080.0 |
1,225.0 |
145.0 |
329.2 |
373.4 |
44.2 |
0.41 |
0.31 |
0.013 |
|
including |
1,080.0 |
1,114.0 |
34.0 |
329.2 |
339.5 |
10.4 |
0.93 |
0.91 |
0.002 |
|
primary |
1,225.0 |
1,891.0 |
666.0 |
373.4 |
576.4 |
203.0 |
0.23 |
0.03 |
0.017 |
|
including |
1,697.0 |
1,891.0 |
194.0 |
517.2 |
576.4 |
59.1 |
0.32 |
0.03 |
0.019 |
|
ECM-222 |
oxide |
843.0 |
926.0 |
83.0 |
256.9 |
282.2 |
25.3 |
0.49 |
0.47 |
0.009 |
including |
892.0 |
917.0 |
25.0 |
271.9 |
279.5 |
7.6 |
0.78 |
0.75 |
0.009 |
|
enriched |
1,170.8 |
1,298.2 |
127.4 |
356.9 |
395.7 |
38.8 |
1.12 |
0.88 |
0.025 |
|
including |
1,217.0 |
1,227.0 |
10.0 |
370.9 |
374.0 |
3.0 |
5.68 |
5.53 |
0.028 |
|
primary |
1,298.2 |
2,135.5 |
837.3 |
395.7 |
650.9 |
255.2 |
0.31 |
0.03 |
0.005 |
|
including |
1,298.2 |
1,328.0 |
29.8 |
395.7 |
404.8 |
9.1 |
0.61 |
0.06 |
0.002 |
|
and |
1,397.0 |
1,477.0 |
80.0 |
425.8 |
450.2 |
24.4 |
0.52 |
0.03 |
0.009 |
|
and |
2,008.0 |
2,048.0 |
40.0 |
612.0 |
624.2 |
12.2 |
0.45 |
0.04 |
0.006 |
- Intervals are presented in core length and are drilled with vertical, or steep dip angles.
- Drill assays assume a mineralized cut-off grade of 0.1% CuT reflecting the potential for heap leaching of open pit material in the case of Oxide and Enriched and 0.1% CuT, in the case of Primary material, to provide typical average grades. Holes were terminated below the basement fault.
- Assay results are not capped. Intercepts are aggregated within geological confines of major mineral zones .
- True widths are not known.
- * Indicates interval includes missing core. Missing core intervals ranged in length from 2.2 ft (0.67 m) to 5.1 ft (1.55 m).
Table 2: Drilling details
Hole |
Easting (m) |
Northing (m) |
Elevation (ft) |
TD (ft) |
Azimuth |
Dip |
ECM-213 |
421847.6 |
3644497.3 |
1364.9 |
1402.7 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-214 |
421848.1 |
3644651.6 |
1369.7 |
1714.6 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-215 |
421695.4 |
3644651.6 |
1367.1 |
1893.2 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-216 |
421543.1 |
3644351.8 |
1358.0 |
1731.3 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-217 |
422004.3 |
3644725.1 |
1373.4 |
1609.9 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-218 |
421545.1 |
3644652.3 |
1365.0 |
2040.7 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-219 |
422153.7 |
3644726.6 |
1375.9 |
1444.7 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-220 |
421391.1 |
3644352.3 |
1356.2 |
2041.5 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-221 |
421543.2 |
3644503.8 |
1361.4 |
1893.8 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-222 |
421390.8 |
3644505.8 |
1359.1 |
2143.1 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
Note:. All collar coordinates were surveyed using high precision GPS by
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Drilling completed on the project between 2020 and 2024 was supervised by on-site ASCU personnel who prepared core samples for assay and implemented a full QA/QC program using blanks, standards, and duplicates to monitor analytical accuracy and precision. The samples were sealed on site and shipped to
Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed and verified by
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About
ASCU’s objective is to become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs and to develop the Cactus and Parks/Salyer Projects that could generate robust returns for investors and provide a long term sustainable and responsible operation for the community and all stakeholders. The Company's principal asset is a 100% interest in the
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