Arizona Sonoran Continues to Define Near Surface Mineralization at MainSpring
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240521418040/en/
The MainSpring infill drill program is reducing drill spacings from 500 ft (152 m) to 250 ft (76 m) to upgrade the pending MainSpring mineral resource classification from inferred to an indicated category, funded by the Company. Additionally, the Geology team is concurrently conducting an inferred drill program at Cactus West. The Cactus West program is focused on expanding the known primary sulphide mineral resource and funded by Nuton Technologies, as part of the Option to Joint Venture agreement announced
Highlights:
- Near surface mineralization within 100 m of surface in southern MainSpring; infill drilling at 250 ft (76 m) drill spacings
-
ECM-230*: 827 ft (252 m) @ 0.30% CuT of continuous mineralization
- 461 ft (141 m) @ 0.45% CuT, 0.36% Cu TSol, 0.001% Mo (enriched)
- Incl. 60 ft (18 m) @ 1.68% CuT, 1.60% Cu TSol, 0.001% Mo
-
ECM-236: 383 ft (117 m) @ 0.39% CuT of continuous mineralization
- 41 ft (13 m) @ 0.23% CuT, 0.20% Cu TSol, 0.002% Mo (ox) - 65 m from surface
- 275 ft (84 m) @ 0.46% CuT, 0.41% Cu TSol, 0.002% Mo (enriched)
-
ECM-231: 498 ft (152 m) @ 0.28% CuT, 0.24% Cu TSol (enriched)
- Incl. 56 ft (17 m) @ 0.43% CuT, 0.40% Cu TSol, 0.001% Mo
- And 49 ft (15 m) @ 0.71% CuT, 0.66% Cu TSol, 0.001% Mo
NOTE: True widths are not known; * Interval includes 0.1 ft (0.03 m) of missing core
We are a unique emerging brownfields developer working towards a construction decision in the near term. While the team integrates the several new opportunities presented to us through the continued expansion of our porphyry system, we remain focused on the goal of advancing Cactus to a construction decision and presenting a solid mine plan with low execution risk.”
Integrated Preliminary Economic Study
The Integrated Preliminary Economic Study is on track and on budget for completion in 3Q 2024. The study will explore two mining scenarios which will assume the same inputs utilized within the
-
Scenario 1: Oxides and Enriched Material from Cactus West, Cactus East,
Parks /Salyer, MainSpring and the Stockpile, - Scenario 2: Scenario 1, and the inclusion of primary sulphides from all sources of material, using the Nuton leaching technologies.
Drilling and Geology Recap
The indicated drilling at MainSpring began immediately following the completion of the inferred drilling program and is in-filling the 500 ft (152 m) spaced holes to 250 ft (76 m). Drilling began where mineralization is closest to surface (as shallow as 140 ft | 43 m) to define an indicated shallow starter pit. The inferred drilling shows that copper grades increase, and mineralization thickens to the north and northwest into the gap between MainSpring and
TABLE 1: Significant Drilling Intercepts
Hole i d |
Zone |
Feet |
Meters |
CuT ( %) |
Cu Tsol ( %) |
Mo ( %) |
||||
from |
to |
length |
from |
to |
length |
|||||
ECM-223 |
oxide |
137.0 |
162.1 |
25.1 |
41.8 |
49.4 |
7.7 |
1.12 |
0.94 |
0.001 |
enriched |
685.5 |
725.0 |
39.5 |
208.9 |
221.0 |
12.0 |
0.83 |
0.81 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
797.0 |
940.6 |
143.6 |
242.9 |
286.7 |
43.8 |
0.19 |
0.14 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
940.6 |
1,148.0 |
207.4 |
286.7 |
349.9 |
63.2 |
0.14 |
0.02 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-224 |
oxide |
177.0 |
232.5 |
55.5 |
53.9 |
70.9 |
16.9 |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.005 |
enriched |
297.2 |
414.4 |
117.2 |
90.6 |
126.3 |
35.7 |
0.42 |
0.41 |
0.002 |
|
enriched |
520.0 |
611.3 |
91.3 |
158.5 |
186.3 |
27.8 |
0.38 |
0.36 |
0.001 |
|
including |
520.0 |
556.0 |
36.0 |
158.5 |
169.5 |
11.0 |
0.69 |
0.69 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
611.3 |
997.0 |
385.7 |
186.3 |
303.9 |
117.6 |
0.18 |
0.03 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-225 |
enriched |
406.4 |
655.0 |
248.6 |
123.9 |
199.6 |
75.8 |
0.36 |
0.35 |
0.003 |
including |
406.4 |
447.0 |
40.6 |
123.9 |
136.2 |
12.4 |
0.94 |
0.92 |
0.002 |
|
enriched |
1014.0 |
1,054.0 |
40.0 |
309.1 |
321.3 |
12.2 |
0.12 |
0.11 |
0.007 |
|
enriched |
1157.8 |
1,299.0 |
141.2 |
352.9 |
395.9 |
43.0 |
0.11 |
0.10 |
0.004 |
|
primary |
1299.0 |
1,343.0 |
44.0 |
395.9 |
409.3 |
13.4 |
0.13 |
0.06 |
0.005 |
|
primary |
1475.8 |
1,541.8 |
66.0 |
449.8 |
469.9 |
20.1 |
0.13 |
0.02 |
0.004 |
|
primary |
1612.0 |
1,662.0 |
50.0 |
491.3 |
506.6 |
15.2 |
0.12 |
0.02 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-226 |
oxide |
385 |
512 |
127 |
117.3 |
156.1 |
38.7 |
0.23 |
0.185 |
0.001 |
including |
385.0 |
421.0 |
36.0 |
117.3 |
128.3 |
11.0 |
0.41 |
0.39 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
569.2 |
677.0 |
107.8 |
173.5 |
206.3 |
32.9 |
0.33 |
0.29 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
702.0 |
854.8 |
152.8 |
214.0 |
260.5 |
46.6 |
0.13 |
0.03 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-227 |
enriched |
467.0 |
575.0 |
108.0 |
142.3 |
175.3 |
32.9 |
0.37 |
0.36 |
0.002 |
including |
467.0 |
490.2 |
23.2 |
142.3 |
149.4 |
7.1 |
0.76 |
0.74 |
0.002 |
|
enriched |
615.0 |
645.0 |
30.0 |
187.5 |
196.6 |
9.1 |
0.11 |
0.11 |
0.002 |
|
primary |
745.0 |
1,143.0 |
398.0 |
227.1 |
348.4 |
121.3 |
0.14 |
0.02 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-228 |
enriched |
538.0 |
569.0 |
31.0 |
164.0 |
173.4 |
9.4 |
0.31 |
0.29 |
0.001 |
primary |
702.0 |
792.0 |
90.0 |
214.0 |
241.4 |
27.4 |
0.66 |
0.04 |
0.001 |
|
including |
720.0 |
740.0 |
20.0 |
219.5 |
225.6 |
6.1 |
2.16 |
0.09 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-229 |
enriched |
428.6 |
531.5 |
102.9 |
130.6 |
162.0 |
31.4 |
0.22 |
0.21 |
0.002 |
primary |
574.0 |
1,134.2 |
560.2* |
175.0 |
345.7 |
170.7* |
0.12 |
0.02 |
0.001 |
|
including |
633.0 |
673.0 |
40.0 |
192.9 |
205.1 |
12.2 |
0.24 |
0.02 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-230 |
enriched |
453.0 |
543.1 |
90.1 |
138.1 |
165.5 |
27.5 |
0.17 |
0.16 |
0.001 |
including |
505.0 |
543.1 |
38.1 |
153.9 |
165.5 |
11.6 |
0.29 |
0.28 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
621.8 |
1,082.8 |
461.0 |
189.5 |
330.0 |
140.5 |
0.45 |
0.36 |
0.001 |
|
including |
1011.0 |
1,071.0 |
60.0 |
308.2 |
326.4 |
18.3 |
1.68 |
1.60 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
1082.8 |
1,280.0 |
197.2* |
330.0 |
390.1 |
60.1* |
0.13 |
0.03 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-231 |
enriched |
588.8 |
1,087.0 |
498.2 |
179.5 |
331.3 |
151.9 |
0.28 |
0.24 |
0.002 |
including |
588.8 |
644.3 |
55.5 |
179.5 |
196.4 |
16.9 |
0.43 |
0.40 |
0.001 |
|
and |
673.5 |
722.8 |
49.3 |
205.3 |
220.3 |
15.0 |
0.71 |
0.66 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-232 |
oxide |
323.0 |
359.0 |
36.0 |
98.5 |
109.4 |
11.0 |
0.30 |
0.29 |
0.003 |
enriched |
440.0 |
539.0 |
99.0 |
134.1 |
164.3 |
30.2 |
0.21 |
0.19 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
539.0 |
616.0 |
77.0 |
164.3 |
187.8 |
23.5 |
0.17 |
0.02 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
775.5 |
820.0 |
44.5 |
236.4 |
249.9 |
13.6 |
0.24 |
0.03 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-233 |
oxide |
188.0 |
228.0 |
40.0 |
57.3 |
69.5 |
12.2 |
0.15 |
0.15 |
0.001 |
oxide |
349.0 |
381.0 |
32.0 |
106.4 |
116.1 |
9.8 |
0.18 |
0.07 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
624.2 |
822.4 |
198.2 |
190.3 |
250.7 |
60.4 |
0.20 |
0.13 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
822.4 |
1,090.2 |
267.8 |
250.7 |
332.3 |
81.6 |
0.15 |
0.03 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-234 |
oxide |
362.8 |
415.4 |
52.6 |
110.6 |
126.6 |
16.0 |
0.15 |
0.11 |
0.001 |
enriched |
598.0 |
617.6 |
19.6 |
182.3 |
188.2 |
6.0 |
0.53 |
0.48 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
617.6 |
967.0 |
349.4 |
188.2 |
294.7 |
106.5 |
0.18 |
0.02 |
0.001 |
|
including |
850.0 |
892.0 |
42.0 |
259.1 |
271.9 |
12.8 |
0.28 |
0.05 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-235 |
enriched |
363.9 |
426.1 |
62.2 |
110.9 |
129.9 |
19.0 |
0.16 |
0.16 |
0.001 |
enriched |
456.7 |
517.9 |
61.2 |
139.2 |
157.9 |
18.7 |
0.23 |
0.23 |
0.002 |
|
enriched |
567.1 |
601.5 |
34.4 |
172.9 |
183.3 |
10.5 |
0.12 |
0.12 |
0.002 |
|
primary |
799.2 |
1,204.0 |
404.8 |
243.6 |
367.0 |
123.4 |
0.13 |
0.02 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-236 |
ox/enr |
213.0 |
254.3 |
41.3 |
64.9 |
77.5 |
12.6 |
0.23 |
0.20 |
0.003 |
primary |
375.0 |
455.0 |
80.0 |
114.3 |
138.7 |
24.4 |
0.15 |
0.05 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
515.0 |
543.3 |
28.3 |
157.0 |
165.6 |
8.6 |
0.57 |
0.54 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
623.0 |
898.0 |
275.0 |
189.9 |
273.7 |
83.8 |
0.46 |
0.41 |
0.002 |
|
including |
685.1 |
715.0 |
29.9 |
208.8 |
217.9 |
9.1 |
1.46 |
1.43 |
0.002 |
|
and |
824.0 |
888.3 |
64.3 |
251.2 |
270.8 |
19.6 |
0.62 |
0.57 |
0.002 |
|
ECM-237 |
oxide |
264.0 |
494.0 |
230.0 |
80.5 |
150.6 |
70.1 |
0.21 |
0.12 |
0.001 |
including |
416.9 |
483.8 |
66.9 |
127.1 |
147.5 |
20.4 |
0.37 |
0.24 |
0.001 |
|
oxide |
580.0 |
589.3 |
9.3 |
176.8 |
179.6 |
2.8 |
1.83 |
1.77 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
624.1 |
691.8 |
67.7 |
190.2 |
210.9 |
20.6 |
0.51 |
0.49 |
0.001 |
|
including |
624.1 |
654.0 |
29.9 |
190.2 |
199.3 |
9.1 |
0.99 |
0.96 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
726.0 |
938.0 |
212.0 |
221.3 |
285.9 |
64.6 |
0.15 |
0.03 |
0.001 |
|
ECM-238 |
enriched |
595.0 |
715.8 |
120.8 |
181.4 |
218.2 |
36.8 |
0.46 |
0.45 |
0.002 |
including |
607.3 |
647.0 |
39.7 |
185.1 |
197.2 |
12.1 |
1.08 |
1.07 |
0.001 |
|
enriched |
756.0 |
802.0 |
46.0 |
230.4 |
244.4 |
14.0 |
0.18 |
0.15 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
1009.0 |
1,056.0 |
47.0 |
307.5 |
321.9 |
14.3 |
0.12 |
0.01 |
0.003 |
- 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 0.1 ft (0.03 m) to 1.0 ft (0.30 m).
Table 2: Drilling details
Hole |
Easting (m) |
Northing (m) |
Elevation (ft) |
TD (ft) |
Azimuth |
Dip |
ECM-223 |
421769.0 |
3644272.5 |
1360.0 |
1357.0 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-224 |
421921.6 |
3644271.1 |
1360.0 |
1141.0 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-225 |
421618.4 |
3644426.2 |
1360.0 |
1702.7 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-226 |
422073.6 |
3644270.0 |
1360.0 |
1027.0 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-227 |
421922.4 |
3644423.7 |
1363.0 |
1233.5 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-228 |
422226.4 |
3644268.1 |
1363.0 |
961.0 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-229 |
422074.3 |
3644422.6 |
1360.0 |
1165.1 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-230 |
421615.6 |
3644120.1 |
1360.0 |
1379.0 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-231 |
421614.0 |
3643968.8 |
1360.0 |
1221.3 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-232 |
422150.1 |
3644268.9 |
1360.0 |
989.5 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-233 |
421767.8 |
3644119.9 |
1360.0 |
1183.2 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-234 |
422075.1 |
3644346.5 |
1360.0 |
1164.4 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-235 |
421846.2 |
3644424.5 |
1360.0 |
1387.3 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-236 |
421766.5 |
3643967.4 |
1360.0 |
1092.9 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-237 |
421919.4 |
3644119.8 |
1360.0 |
1008.0 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECM-238 |
421999.3 |
3644423.1 |
1360.0 |
1205.6 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
Note: All final collar coordinates are 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
Links from the Press Release
Figures 1-14: https://arizonasonoran.com/projects/exploration/maps-and-figures/
Neither the TSX nor the regulating authority has approved or disproved the information contained in this press release.
About
ASCU’s objective is to become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs and to develop the Cactus and
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” and/or “forward-looking information” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expect”, “is expected”, “in order to”, “is focused on” (a future event), “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, or the negative connotation thereof. In particular, statements regarding ASCU’s future operations, future exploration and development activities or other development plans constitute forward-looking statements. By their nature, statements referring to mineral reserves or mineral resources constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to statements with respect to the results (if any) of further exploration work; the mineral resources and mineral reserves estimates of the
Although ASCU has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and ASCU disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240521418040/en/
For more information
647-233-4348
adwoskin@arizonasonoran.com
416-723-0458
gogilvie@arizonasonoran.com
Source: