Arizona Sonoran Drilling Extends Primary Mineralization by 750 ft (229 m) around the Cactus West Pit
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A total of 5 drill holes are reported herein for a total of 8,366 ft (2,550 m). The Nuton-sponsored drill program aims to further delineate the primary mineralization beneath the existing oxides and enriched sulphides at the Cactus West open pit, as outlined in the current mine plan. Additionally, the program seeks to extend exploration efforts to the south and southwest regions. The program follows up on geotechnical hole ECW-150 (see PR
Drilling Highlights:
-
ECW-246*: 1,463 ft (446 m) @ 0.31% CuT of continuous mineralization
- 1,370 ft (418 m) @ 0.31% CuT, 0.004% Mo (primary)
-
ECW-243: 987 ft (301 m) @ 0.34% CuT of continuous mineralization
- 191 ft (58 m) @ 0.35% CuT, 0.30% Cu TSol, 0.014% Mo (enriched)
- 796 ft (243 m) @ 0.33% CuT, 0.011% Mo (primary)
-
ECW-245: 1,033 ft (315 m) @ 0.28% CuT of continuous mineralization
- 190 ft (58 m) @ 0.56% CuT, 0.010% Mo (primary)
-
ECW-241: 852 ft (260 m) @ 0.38% CuT of continuous mineralization
- 316 ft (96 m) @ 0.34% CuT, 0.27% Cu TSol, 0.005% Mo (enriched) from 132 m depth
- 536 ft (163 m) @ 0.39% CuT, 0.019% Mo (primary)
NOTE: True widths are not known; * Hole terminated in primary mineralization and angled at –47.5° dip, all other holes drilled vertical and terminated in the basement fault
He continued, “The Cactus 2024 drilling programs focused on MainSpring infill drilling and expansion drilling at Cactus West. MainSpring presents engineering with the opportunity to improve economics at
Drilling Recap
The Cactus West infill and exploration drill program as announced in the
Previously, most drilling at Cactus West crossed through the oxide and enriched zones prior to terminating in the upper portions of the primary sulphide mineralization. This developed the oxide and enriched copper resources to support a conventional heap leach project. The current drill program at Cactus West targets the untested extents of primary mineralization by drilling completely through the enriched and primary mineralization zones to the basement fault and stopping in the rock units that compose the basement complex. This drilling is confirming a thick zone of primary mineralization beneath the thinner enrichment zone, typically followed by a barren granitic unit at depth above the basement fault. Though the drill program is in the early stages, it has confirmed that a thick zone of primary mineralization extends beneath the Cactus West pit as well as at least 750 feet south and 500 feet southwest of the pit. Results to date show primary sulphide copper grade increasing from east to west across the southern side of the pit. Grades are interpreted to increase further on the southwest corner of the pit as the drilling aligns with the historical mine trend, consistent with results previously reported from ECW-150. The program will continue to test the extents of primary mineralization to the south and southwest, as it also works to in-fill the areas under and immediately adjacent to the Cactus West pit.
The oxide and enriched proven and probable reserve at Cactus West totals 75.5 Mtons @ 0.26% Cu TSol for 463 Mlbs of copper. Within the Pre-Feasibility Study, Cactus West contributes approximately 12 Mtons annually within the first 7 years of production as an open pit layback. Meanwhile, the Cactus West and East primary sulphide mineral resource estimate consists of 72.9 Mtons @ 0.34% CuT M&I for 463M lbs of copper and 120.4 Mtons @ 0.34% CuT for 837 Mlbs of copper inferred, inclusive of Cactus East (see PR dated
TABLE 1: Significant Drilling Intercepts
Hole |
Zone |
Feet |
Meters |
CuT |
CuTSol |
Mo |
||||
id |
from |
to |
length |
from |
to |
length |
% |
% |
% |
|
ECW-241 |
enriched |
433.6 |
750.0 |
316.4 |
132.2 |
228.6 |
96.4 |
0.34 |
0.27 |
0.005 |
including |
433.6 |
463.0 |
29.4 |
132.2 |
141.1 |
9.0 |
1.01 |
0.99 |
0.003 |
|
primary |
750.0 |
1285.7 |
535.7 |
228.6 |
391.9 |
163.3 |
0.39 |
0.05 |
0.019 |
|
including |
1056.0 |
1121.0 |
65.0 |
321.9 |
341.7 |
19.8 |
0.71 |
0.07 |
0.026 |
|
ECW-243 |
enriched |
324.9 |
515.6 |
190.7 |
99.0 |
157.2 |
58.1 |
0.35 |
0.30 |
0.014 |
primary |
515.6 |
1311.6 |
796.0 |
157.2 |
399.8 |
242.6 |
0.33 |
0.04 |
0.011 |
|
including |
1180.0 |
1311.6 |
131.6 |
359.7 |
399.8 |
40.1 |
0.62 |
0.05 |
0.029 |
|
ECW-245 |
enriched |
411.0 |
522.0 |
111.0 |
125.3 |
159.1 |
33.8 |
0.20 |
0.13 |
0.002 |
including |
426.0 |
450.3 |
24.3 |
129.8 |
137.3 |
7.4 |
0.35 |
0.32 |
0.002 |
|
primary |
522.0 |
1443.9 |
921.9 |
159.1 |
440.1 |
281.0 |
0.29 |
0.03 |
0.009 |
|
including |
952.0 |
1142.0 |
190.0 |
290.2 |
348.1 |
57.9 |
0.56 |
0.05 |
0.010 |
|
ECW-246 |
oxide |
366.0 |
386.0 |
20.0 |
111.6 |
117.7 |
6.1 |
0.18 |
0.11 |
0.005 |
enriched |
451.6 |
487.0 |
35.4 |
137.6 |
148.4 |
10.8 |
0.59 |
0.58 |
0.006 |
|
enriched |
513.6 |
544.0 |
30.4 |
156.5 |
165.8 |
9.3 |
0.33 |
0.12 |
0.004 |
|
primary |
544.0 |
1914.4 |
1370.4 |
165.8 |
583.5 |
417.7 |
0.31 |
0.03 |
0.004 |
|
including |
554.0 |
590.0 |
36.0 |
168.9 |
179.8 |
11.0 |
0.52 |
0.06 |
0.006 |
|
and |
1175.0 |
1286.0 |
111.0 |
358.1 |
392.0 |
33.8 |
0.41 |
0.04 |
0.002 |
|
and |
1533.0 |
1680.0 |
147.0 |
467.3 |
512.1 |
44.8 |
0.44 |
0.04 |
0.004 |
|
and |
1770.0 |
1899.0 |
129.0 |
539.5 |
578.8 |
39.3 |
0.45 |
0.05 |
0.004 |
|
ECW-251 |
enriched |
220.8 |
320.0 |
99.2 |
67.3 |
97.5 |
30.2 |
0.50 |
0.48 |
0.002 |
including |
271.0 |
320.0 |
49.0 |
82.6 |
97.5 |
14.9 |
0.67 |
0.65 |
0.001 |
|
primary |
408.0 |
1227.0 |
819.0* |
124.4 |
374.0 |
249.6* |
0.18 |
0.03 |
0.003 |
|
including |
1015.7 |
1215.8 |
200.1 |
309.6 |
370.6 |
61.0 |
0.37 |
0.04 |
0.010 |
|
ECW-150
PR Dated
|
oxide |
440.0 |
514.0 |
74.0 |
134.1 |
156.7 |
22.6 |
0.38 |
0.30 |
0.001 |
enriched |
514.0 |
682.0 |
168.0 |
156.7 |
207.9 |
51.2 |
0.62 |
0.51 |
0.006 |
|
including |
514.0 |
572.0 |
58.0 |
156.7 |
174.3 |
17.7 |
1.12 |
1.03 |
0.003 |
|
primary |
682.0 |
1,856.2 |
1,174.2 |
207.9 |
565.8 |
357.9 |
0.43 |
0.04 |
0.011 |
|
including |
843.0 |
933.0 |
90.0 |
256.9 |
284.4 |
27.4 |
0.69 |
0.04 |
0.011 |
|
and |
1286.0 |
1,316.0 |
30.0 |
392.0 |
401.1 |
9.1 |
0.69 |
0.08 |
0.021 |
|
and |
1352.0 |
1,412.0 |
60.0 |
412.1 |
430.4 |
18.3 |
0.66 |
0.07 |
0.009 |
1. |
Intervals are presented in core length and are drilled vertically, except in the case of ECW-246 at –47.5°. |
2. |
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 or in the case of Primary material to provide typical average grades. Holes were terminated below the basement fault except in the case of hole ECW-246. |
3. |
Assay results are not capped. Intercepts are aggregated within geological confines of major mineral zones. |
4. |
* Includes 10.3 ft (3.2 m) of missing core |
5. |
True widths are not known. |
Table 2: Drilling details
Hole |
Easting (m) |
Northing (m) |
Elevation (ft) |
TD (ft) |
Azimuth |
Dip |
ECW-241 |
423370.0 |
3646070.0 |
1435.0 |
1685.7 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECW-243 |
423509.9 |
3646070.6 |
1437.0 |
1698.5 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECW-245 |
423363.6 |
3646140.7 |
1430.0 |
1790.8 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
ECW-246 |
423511.8 |
3646122.8 |
1437.8 |
1914.4 |
25.0 |
-47.5 |
ECW-251 |
423670.2 |
3646070.3 |
1435.0 |
1277.0 |
0.0 |
-90.0 |
Note: Drill locations are based on drill plans and hand-held GPS locators and may be adjusted slightly when properly surveyed.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Drilling completed on the project between 2020 and 2023 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
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ASCU to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals.
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.
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