Darwin Drills 13.1 Metres for 1.4 g/t Gold at Suriloma Peru
Key results:
- Nine diamond holes were drilled at La Puerta and two at Inmaculada for a total of 1,603 metres over a combined strike length of 1.3 kilometres.
- Approximately 75% of the 5 kilometre-long epithermal system remains untested along strike.
- Better drill intersections at La Puerta include:
- 13.1 metres @ 1.4 g/t gold from 50.8 metres (down hole depth), including 2.0 metres @ 5.8 g/t gold and 24.1 g/t silver in SU-003 (Zone B);
- 7.5 metres @ 2.3 g/t gold from 84.2 metres, including 2.0 metres @ 5.0 g/t gold in SU-004 (Zone A);
- 24.3 metres @ 0.8 g/t gold from 84.2 metres, including 1.2 metres @ 6.2 g/t gold and 17.6 g/t silver in SU-008 (Zone B);
- 14.7 metres @ 0.9 g/t gold from 123.2 metres, including 0.5 metres @ 7.0 g/t gold and 0.3 metres @ 8.6 g/t gold in SU-011 (Zone B);
- 7.8 metres @ 1.5 g/t gold from 57.1 metres in SU-001 (Bosque);
- The average vertical depth of drill hole intersections at Zone B was 65 metres, and the deepest was 102 metres. Mineralization is open in all directions.
- Drilling at La Puerta confirmed the discovery of multiple epithermal gold-bearing veins and hydrothermal breccias enveloped by wide illite-smectite-pyrite alteration (i.e. intermediate argillic alteration) zones. Sulfide mineralization was intersected within 20 metres of surface in the majority of drill holes.
- It is interpreted that drilling has intersected the upper, low-temperature part of an epithermal vein system and that precious metal grades could significantly improve with depth.
- Follow-up exploration at Suriloma will include IP electrical geophysics and ground magnetics to investigate a new range of vein and porphyry targets including at La Puerta, Inmaculada, Edelmira, and Guadalupe. These investigations will be followed-up by further diamond drilling.
Dr Graham Carman, President and CEO of Darwin, said: "This maiden drill test at Suriloma has confirmed the potential of our La Puerta discovery. Epithermal vein-style gold mineralization was intersected in all nine holes at La Puerta. Significantly, exploration of Suriloma remains at an early stage, with geological studies indicating the potential for higher gold grades at depth. La Puerta has been tested to an average depth of only 65 metres, with more than 75% of the 5 kilometre mineralized strike at surface yet to be drilled. Furthermore, recent surface mapping identified potential for a porphyry system at Edelmira, 4 kilometres west and structurally below the epithermal system. Darwin now plans to undertake IP and ground magnetic geophysical surveys to assist in determining the best targets for future drilling. A highlight of the drill program was the excellent cooperation and assistance received by Darwin from the local communities, and we look forward to continuing our positive working relationship with all stakeholders."
Drill program outline
In total, nine (9) diamond holes were drilled at the La Puerta area, and two (2) at the adjacent Inmaculada area. Holes were separated by an average of 100 metres and drilled perpendicular to the west-northwest trend of the structures to an average down-hole depth of 145 metres on an inclined angle. A total of 1,603 metres were drilled in eleven (11) holes, covering a combined strike length of 1,300 metres. Figure 1 shows known Suriloma target areas. All significant drill results are summarized in Table 1.
Interpretation of drill results
Results from the drilling at La Puerta are summarized in a plan of the drilling program (Figure 2) and also in a longitudinal section (Figure 3). Significant gold mineralization is associated with multiphase quartz veins accompanied by pyrite and arsenopyrite. The widest structures (Zone A and Zone B) have up to 50 metre-wide clay alteration haloes and show variable degrees of hydrothermal brecciation.
It is well understood that epithermal vein systems commonly have a strong vertical zonation of gold and/or silver with 'bonanza' grades typically associated with quartz and illite (i.e. 'phyllic' alteration with or without adularia). Testing by Darwin of 167 drill samples from La Puerta and Inmaculada using a Terraspec X-ray analyser indicates that clay minerals in the mineralized zones are mostly illite-smectite (i.e. 'intermediate-argillic' alteration). Based on these results it is interpreted that drilling has intersected the upper, cooler part of an epithermal vein system. Therefore, it is interpreted that precious metal grades could significantly improve with depth.
Disseminated sulfide associated with intermediate-argillic alteration was generally intersected at around 20 metres in all drill holes, with no significant oxide gold intersections made during the drill program. Oxide gold mineralization may be better developed on other veins or further along strike.
Darwin believes that these initial drilling results from La Puerta are promising, and warrant further follow up. Vein targets untested by drilling include Edelmira, Santa Felicita, and Guadalupe, while recent surface mapping has identified potential for a porphyry system 4km west and structurally below the epithermal system at La Puerta. Chimu Formation quartzite is the host of gold mineralization at the Lagunas Norte mine 30km to the southeast (5.8 million ounces proven and probable gold reserves: Barrick website) and also at La Arena 50km to the southeast (5.5 million ounces measured and indicated gold resources: Rio Alto website). Chimu Formation lies beneath the andesite at La Puerta at relatively shallow depth. Darwin previously sampled up to 10 g/t gold from veins cutting quartzite outcrops at Mina Leje 5km to the west of La Puerta (Figure 1).
Upcoming work
An IP electrical geophysical survey and ground magnetic survey are planned for Q3 2013 to assist in identifying a new range of epithermal vein and porphyry drill targets along strike of recent drilling and at depth.
The qualified person, Dr Graham Carman, Darwin's President and CEO, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed and verified the technical contents of this release.
Technical Background
True thickness is estimated to be 65-70% of the average drilled width of the mineralized structures which are sub-vertical to steep north dipping. The drilling was undertaken by RAM Peru SAC of Lima Peru who provided HQ diameter core. Drill recoveries were excellent and average close to 100% in fresh rock. After photographing and logging, core intervals averaging 1.5 metres in length (about 3.5 kg per sample) were cut in half at Darwin's core cutting shed in Otuzco Peru. The samples were then transported by courier service to the Certimin laboratory in Lima. The remaining half core is retained on site for verification and reference purposes. At Certimin the samples were weighed, dried, crushed to -2mm, and split with a 500g sample pulverized for chemical analysis. Samples were analyzed by Certimin for gold by 50g fire assay with AAS finish (method G0107). Thirty five trace and major elements were analyzed by ICP-AES at Certimin using aquaregia digestion (method G0146). The QA/QC program of Darwin consists of the systematic insertion of two certified standards of known gold content, two blanks, and two duplicate samples (each of 1/4 core) into each batch of 60 samples. Certimin also inserts its own blanks and standards into the analytical process also.
About Darwin Resources Corp.:
Darwin (TSX VENTURE:DAR) (PINKSHEETS:DARWF) (FRANKFURT:DWU) is a resource acquisition and development company focussing on Peru. The Company has an option to acquire 100% of the Suriloma epithermal gold property in the Department of La Libertad.
On behalf of the Board,
Dr Graham Carman
President & CEO
Forward Looking Statements This Company News Release contains certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of the Company's management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, failure to successfully complete intended financings, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, production rates varying from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, imprecision in resource estimates or metal recoveries, success of future development initiatives, competition, operating performance, environmental and safety risks, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from local authorities, and other development and operating risks. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. Although Darwin believes that assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor the Frankfurt Stock Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Table 1. Significant drill hole intercepts at Suriloma
Drill hole | Easting | Northing | RL | Azi | Dip | Depth | Type | From | To | Int | Gold g/t | Silver g/t | Structure |
SU-001 | 770,817 | 9,134,967 | 3,643 | 190 | -45 | 187.60 | DD | 38.3 | 42.7 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | Bosque |
INCLUDING | 39.4 | 40.8 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 1.6 | ||||||||
AND | 57.1 | 64.9 | 7.8 | 1.5 | 2.0 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 61.4 | 62.6 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 1.7 | ||||||||
AND | 83.8 | 90.9 | 7.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||||||||
SU-002 | 770,716 | 9,134,917 | 3,637 | 20 | -56 | 121.60 | DD | 4.0 | 8.9 | 4.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | Bosque |
INCLUDING | 5.4 | 7.4 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | ||||||||
AND | 68.0 | 72.0 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | ||||||||
SU-003 | 770,461 | 9,135,008 | 3,683 | 20 | -55 | 216.00 | DD | 50.8 | 63.9 | 13.1 | 1.4 | 5.6 | Zone B |
INCLUDING | 56.8 | 58.8 | 2.0 | 5.8 | 24.1 | Zone A | |||||||
AND | 71.8 | 77.8 | 6.0 | 0.6 | 1.4 | ||||||||
AND | 112.8 | 116.8 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.2 | ||||||||
AND | 144.3 | 146.1 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.1 | ||||||||
AND | 157.1 | 159.8 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | ||||||||
AND | 187.7 | 192.7 | 5.0 | 2.1 | 5.1 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 189.2 | 190.7 | 1.5 | 5.2 | 14.1 | ||||||||
SU-004 | 770,551 | 9,134,981 | 3,666 | 20 | -50 | 146.30 | DD | 40.0 | 42.0 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.2 | Zone B |
AND | 49.5 | 59.0 | 9.5 | 0.3 | 1.3 | Zone A | |||||||
AND | 84.2 | 115.3 | 31.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 84.2 | 91.7 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 2.6 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 86.3 | 88.3 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 3.7 | ||||||||
SU-005 | 770,191 | 9,135,240 | 3,662 | 200 | -50 | 159.20 | DD | 50.0 | 51.8 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.9 | Zone B |
AND | 104.4 | 117.3 | 12.9 | 0.6 | 2.3 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 111.0 | 113.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.7 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 116.1 | 117.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.2 | ||||||||
SU-006 | 769,563 | 9,135,048 | 3,705 | 30 | -46 | 123.00 | DD | 26.0 | 31.4 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | Inmaculada |
SU-007 | 770,354 | 9,135,162 | 3,674 | 20 | -60 | 130.00 | DD | 86.0 | 86.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.7 | Zone A |
AND | 104.2 | 105.0 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 1.1 | ||||||||
AND | 116.4 | 116.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | ||||||||
SU-008 | 770,354 | 9,135,162 | 3,674 | 200 | -45 | 145.30 | DD | 84.2 | 108.5 | 24.3 | 0.8 | 3.0 | Zone B |
INCLUDING | 96.6 | 97.8 | 1.2 | 6.2 | 17.6 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 101.4 | 102.5 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 1.7 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 106.4 | 107.6 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | ||||||||
SU-009 | 769,774 | 9,134,996 | 3,710 | 237 | -55 | 85.50 | DD | No intervals sampled | Inmaculada | ||||
SU-010 | 770,817 | 9,134,967 | 3,643 | 160 | -35 | 110.20 | DD | 43.0 | 53.1 | 10.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | Bosque |
INCLUDING | 48.3 | 49.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.9 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 51.4 | 51.9 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.0 | ||||||||
AND | 63.3 | 63.7 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | ||||||||
AND | 69.4 | 76.5 | 7.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | ||||||||
AND | 84.9 | 85.6 | 0.7 | 4.6 | 1.9 | ||||||||
AND | 92.5 | 93.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | ||||||||
SU-011 | 770,276 | 9,135,211 | 3,666 | 200 | -55 | 178.90 | DD | 37.7 | 40.8 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 1.8 | Zone B |
AND | 61.5 | 61.9 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 1.3 | ||||||||
AND | 95.7 | 96.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.8 | ||||||||
AND | 108.4 | 112.4 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | ||||||||
AND | 123.2 | 137.9 | 14.7 | 0.9 | 1.2 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 123.2 | 125.2 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 2.0 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 123.8 | 124.3 | 0.5 | 7.0 | 3.3 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 124.9 | 125.2 | 0.3 | 8.6 | 2.7 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 131.7 | 134.7 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 131.7 | 132.1 | 0.4 | 6.5 | 4.5 | ||||||||
INCLUDING | 136.7 | 137.9 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
Collar coordinates (Easting and Northing) are in PSAD56 zone 17S. Depths (From, To) are down-hole depths in metres as is Interval (Int).
To view "Figure 1. Target areas at Suriloma showing the areas of recent drilling", "Figure 2. Plan of drill intercepts at La Puerta" and "Figure 3. Longitudinal section of La Puerta", please visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/darwin_resources_fig01-03_aug19.pdf
Contact
Darwin Resources Corp.
Mariana Bermudez
+1 (604) 685 9316
info@darwinresources.com
www.darwinresources.com