Los Andes Announces the Final Assay Results from the 2015-2016 Drill Program at the Vizcachitas Deposit
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 31, 2016 / Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) ("Los Andes", or the "Company") is very pleased to announce the final assay results from the current 2015-2016 diamond drill program. These demonstrate that the higher grades identified near surface extend below the historical drilling and supports the new geological model.
Cautionary Statement: All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
Drill Hole V2015-08
The final assay results for the drill hole V2015-08 have been received. The results supports the new geological models showing the higher grades in the early diorite porphyry. Key intersects from the final hole include:
- 502.0 m @ 0.631 % Cu, 209 ppm Mo and 1.3 g/t Ag from 130 m downhole
Including:
54.0 m @ 1.023 % Cu, 128 ppm Mo and 1.4 g/t Ag from 130 m downhole.
396.3 m @ 0.566 % Cu, 233 ppm Mo and 1.2 g/t Ag from 235.8 m downhole.
This hole was drilled in the eastern part of the central core, 270 metres to the north of V2015-05. The aim of the hole was to show the depth extension of the mineralisation beneath the historical drill holes drilled in this area.
From a depth of 3.0 metres to a depth of 61.5 metres the hole intersected a post mineralisation dacite dyke. The drill hole then entered the andesite host rock that has been intruded by small tourmaline and hydrothermal breccias. The leached zone extended to 130.0 metres. From a depth of 130.0 metres, the drill hole intersected 502.0 metres @ 0.631 % Cu, 209 ppm Mo and 1.3 g/t Ag.
The upper part of drill hole was andesite host rock with strong stockwork and minor intervals of breccia with a post mineral dacite dyke from 184.0 metres to 198.8 metres. The mineralisation in this section was 54.0 metres @ 1.023 % Cu, 128 ppm Mo and 1.4 g/t Ag from 130.0 metres downhole depth and 37.0 metres @ 0.92 % Cu, 132 ppm Mo and 2.0 g/t Ag from a downhole depth of 198.8 metres. This high grade mineralisation is near surface and would be mined in the early years of any mine project.
At a depth of 235.8 metres the drill hole intersected the early diorite porphyry and intersected a total of 396.3 metres @ 0.566 % Cu, 233 ppm Mo and 1.2 g/t Ag. This intersection shows the importance identifying the early diorite porphyry and shows the good primary mineralisation in the central core of the project. From a depth of 632.0 metres to the end of drill hole at 725.5 metres the drill hole intersected tonalite porphyry which from 706.0 metres was cut by a hydrothermal breccia. The average grade over this section was 93.5 metres @ 0.362 % Cu, 566 ppm Mo, 0.7 g/t Ag and 0.511 % CuEq*. The substantially higher molybdenum values mean that the copper equivalent grade was 0.511 %.
This drill hole demonstrates the near surface higher grades in the supergene enriched andesite and the good grades that are associated with the early diorite porphyry. The drill hole confirmed the new geological model in this area demonstrating that the grades seen in the shorter historical drill holes extended to at least 700 metres below the surface.
Key intersections from drill hole V2015-08:
Hole
Number Depth From
(m) Depth To
(m) Length (m) Cu % Mo
ppm Ag g/t CuEq % V2015-08 130.0 632.0 502.0 0.631 209 1.3 0.697 including 130.0 184.0 54.0 1.023 128 1.4 1.070 including 198.8 235.8 37.0 0.920 132 2.0 0.975 including 235.8 632.0 396.3 0.566 233 1.2 0.638 632.0 725.5 93.5 0.362 566 0.7 0.511
* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (g/t), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz. Ag. All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
2015/2016 Drilling Campaign
Background
Historical drilling has been carried out on the Vizcachitas project in campaigns in 1993, 1996/1997 and 2007/2008. However, the higher grade central core had only been drilled in in the 1990's and with generally shallower drill holes, therefore not properly reflecting the potential of this core area.
The historical drilling was generally drilled through the supergene mineralisation and then then only a short distance in the primary mineralisation. This means that there are various drill holes, especially in the central core where the drill holes finished in grades above 0.5 % Cu or in geological units which indicate that the drill hole is still in the upper part of the system. To better understand the project, the Los Andes geologists re-logged all of the 146 drill holes located within the property. The re-logging was led by Gonzalo Saldias, a geologist well recognised in Chilean porphyry systems. This detailed review showed that the historical logging and geological model had not properly identified the importance of the higher grade early diorite porphyry and hydrothermal breccias.
The relogging showed that these higher grade geological units extend over a distance of 1,400 metres north-south and 700 metres east-west. The mapping shows that these breccias have grades increasing with depth and demonstrates the potential for higher grades below the current drilling. A first stage of this campaign has been drilled, with eight diamond drill holes.
A drill hole location plan and schematic geological plan is available on our website: www.losandescopper.com
The current drill hole program was designed to test this geological model and confirm the width and depth extent of the higher grade central core.
Highlights:
- Relogging of the all the drill core identified the importance of the higher grade early diorite porphyry and hydrothermal breccias. The current drilling program has confirmed the new geological model.
- The central higher grade core extends over an area of at least 1,400 metres north-south and 700 metres east-west.
- The project is still open to the east, west, north and at depth.
- The presence of silver mineralisation in the range of 0.8 g/t to 2 g/t is confirmed.
-The drilling intersected long sequences of higher Cu grade mineralization with significant Mo and Ag credits:
V2015-01 64.0 m @ 0.601 % Cu, 258 ppm Mo, 1.2 g/t Ag from 322.0 m downhole V2015-02 52.0 m @ 0.602 % Cu, 170 ppm Mo, 1.8 g/t Ag from 142.0 m downhole V2015-03 39.1 m @ 0.743 % Cu, 145 ppm Mo, 1.9 g/t Ag from 44.1 m downhole V2015-05 120.0 m @ 0.537 % Cu, 169 ppm Mo, 1.4 g/t Ag from 72.0 m downhole V2015-05 52.1 m @ 0.812 % Cu, 190 ppm Mo, 2.0 g/t Ag from 492.2 m downhole V2015-08 502.0 m @ 0.631 % Cu, 209 ppm Mo and 1.3 g/t Ag from 130 m downhole Including: 54.0 m @ 1.023 % Cu, 128 ppm Mo and 1.4 g/t Ag from 130 m downhole. 396.3 m @ 0.566 % Cu, 233 ppm Mo and 1.2 g/t Ag from 235.8 m downhole.
Drill Hole Location
A total of eight drill holes were drilled during the current drill program. Two drill holes were abandoned due to geological conditions.
The table below shows the updated coordinates for the holes drilled during the current campaign.
Hole
Number Easting Northing Elev
(metres) Azimuth
(degrees) Dip
(degrees) Final
Depth
(metres) V2015-01 365,790.547 6,413,734.952 2,014.562 110 -65 476.35 V2015-02 365,785.491 6,413,377.461 1,993.479 290 -75 459.80 V2015-03 365,932.686 6,413,378.737 1,991.294 290 -75 535.00 V2015-04 365,681.589 6,413,878.480 2,039.558 110 -60 656.00 V2015-05 366,185.488 6,413,278.377 2,035.107 290 -60 638.00 V2015-06b 366,041.031 6,413,854.781 2,103.790 110 -75 67.00 V2015-07 366,238.793 6,413,137.243 2,022.044 290 -70 52.00 V2015-08 366,158.747 6,413,542.415 2,153.583 290 -75 725.50
All coordinates are in UTM WGS84. The updated drill hole coordinates resulted from a resurvey after completion of the drilling program.
A drill hole location plan is available on our website: www.losandescopper.com
Summary of Drill Holes
Drill Hole V2015-01
This hole was drilled in the northern part of the central core. The purpose of this hole was to support whether the high grade mineralisation associated with the diorite porphyry extended 200 metres to the west from the historical drill holes
The top of bedrock was located at 68.70 metres and the drill hole intersected the diorite porphyry with potassic alteration at a depth of 216 metres and continued within this unit to the end of the hole at 476 metres. The average grade with the diorite porphyry was 0.467 % Cu, 285 ppm Mo and 1.0 g/t Ag over a length of 260.40 metres, including 0.601 % Cu, 258 ppm Mo and 1.2 g/t Ag over a length of 64.00 metres.
The drill hole supported the continuity of the higher grade diorite porphyry to the west and demonstrated that the mineralisation is open at depth.
Hole
Number Depth From
(m) Depth To
(m) Length (m) Cu % Mo
ppm Ag g/t CuEq % V2015-01 68.7 476.4 407.7 0.411 204 0.9 0.473 including 216.0 476.4 260.4 0.467 285 1.0 0.549 and 322.0 386.0 64.0 0.601 258 1.2 0.679
* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (g/t), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz. Ag. All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
Drill Hole V2015-02
This hole was drilled on the western edge of central core. The aim of this hole was to drill to the west of the known mineralisation, seeking to intersect the lower grade granodiorite intrusive which defines the western limit of the project.
The drill hole did not intersect the granodiorite intrusive but drilled the andesite host rock with potassic alteration from a depth of 60.10 metres to a depth of 288.00 metres where it intersected a tonalite porphyry which continued to the end the hole at 459.80 metres.
Within the andesite, from a depth of 142.00 metres, the average grade was 0.60 % Cu, 170 ppm Mo and 1.84 g/t over 52.00 metres, associated with stronger alteration. The average grade for the whole drill hole was 0.35 % Cu, 107 ppm Mo and 1.0 g/t over a length of 399.65 metres.
While the drill hole did not reach the western limit of the project, it showed that the mineralised system extended further westward than the proposed model and demonstrated the core of the project has significant sections with grade of greater than 0.6 % Cu.
Hole
Number Depth From
(m) Depth To
(m) Length (m) Cu % Mo
ppm Ag g/t CuEq % V2015-02 60.2 459.8 399.7 0.351 107 1.0 0.389 including 142.0 194.0 52.0 0.602 170 1.8 0.665 and 140.0 356.0 216.0 0.400 127 1.1 0.444
* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (g/t), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz. Ag. All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
Drill Hole V2015-03
This hole was drilled in middle of central core, 140 metres to the east of V2015-02. The aim of the hole was to test the depth extension of the mineralisation identified in the shorter historical drill holes which finished in good mineralisation at a depth of approximately 200 metres.
The drill holes intersected andesitic bedrock with supergene mineralisation at a depth of 44.1 metres. The supergene mineralisation continued to approximately 80 metres and the grade over this sequence was 0.743 % Cu, 146 ppm Mo and 1.9 g/t Ag over 39.10 metres.
From a depth of 141.10 metres, the drill hole intersected a sequence of ingenious breccias, hydrothermal breccias and a diorite porphyry to a depth of 444.8 metres. The higher parts of the sequence are identified by the quartz sericite alteration and high pyrite to chalcopyrite ratio. With depth, the potassic alteration increases and the pyrite to chalcopyrite ratio decreases although never below 1:1. This would indicate the drill hole is still in the higher part of the porphyry system and there is potential for higher grades at depth. The grade over this sequence is 0.404 % Cu, 241 ppm Mo and 1.1 g/t Ag over a length of 303.7 metres.
At a depth of 444.80 metres the drill hole intersected an andesite with potassic alteration and is notable for the low copper grades and the higher molybdenum grade. The grades are 0.172 %Cu, 332 ppm Mo and 0.4 g/t Ag over a length of 90.20 metres. This andesitic sequence is interpreted as being the potassic central of the porphyry system.
Hole
Number Depth From
(m) Depth To
(m) Length (m) Cu % Mo
ppm Ag g/t CuEq % V2015-03 44.1 444.8 400.7 0.436 235 1.2 0.508 including 44.1 83.2 39.1 0.743 145 1.9 0.800 including 83.2 141.1 54.9 0.420 277 1.3 0.503 including 141.1 444.8 303.7 0.404 241 1.1 0.476 444.8 535.0 90.2 0.173 332 0.4 0.260
* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (g/t), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz. Ag. All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
Drill Hole V2015-04
This hole was drilled in the northern extent of the central core, 180 metres to the north-west of drill hole V2015-01, to test the northern extension of the mineralisation identified in the first drill hole.
The drill hole intersected the diorite intrusive bedrock at a depth of 64.90 metres and continued in the same type of rock to a depth of 656.00 metres, except for a short 15 metres sequence of tonalite porphyry. A leached cap extended from 64.9 metres to 186.0 metres.
From a depth of 186.0 metres to a depth of 656.0 metres, a length of 470.0 metres, the average grade was 0.350 % Cu and 152 ppm Mo with 0.8 g/t Ag. This included 44.0 metres with an average grade of 0.448 % Cu, 96 ppm Mo and 1.1 g/t Ag.
While this hole did not intersect the higher grade diorite porphyry identified in historical drill hole V-39, it has shown that moderate grade mineralisation extends further north than previously demonstrated in the 2014 block model. The grades in this hole are generally higher than those reflected in the 2014 block model and the mineralisation is still open at depth.
Hole
Number Depth From
(m) Depth To
(m) Length (m) Cu % Mo
ppm Ag g/t CuEq % V2015-04 186.0 656.0 470.0 0.350 152 0.8 0.397 including 250.0 294.0 44.0 0.448 96 1.1 0.484 including 582.0 621.7 39.7 0.509 228 1.0 0.576
* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (g/t), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz. Ag. All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
Drill Hole V2015-05
This hole was drilled in the eastern part of the central core, 280 metres to the south-east of V2015-03. The purpose of this hole was to support the northern extension of the hydrothermal breccias identified in the re-logging of the historical drill holes to the south.
The top of bedrock was located at 36 metres with the drill hole intersecting a sequence of andesitic host rock, cut by diorite porphyry and hydrothermal breccias. The leached zone extended to a depth of 72 metres before entering the supergene mineralisation. From 72.0 metres to a depth of 192.0 metres, a length of 120.0 metres, the average grade was 0.537% Cu, 169 ppm Mo and 1.4 g/t Ag.
The drill hole intersected a hydrothermal breccia from 492.2 metres to 544.3 metres, a total length of 52.1 metres, with an average grade of 0.812 % Cu, 190 ppm Mo and 2.0 g/t Ag. This confirms the extension of the higher grade breccias from the south.
Hole
Number Depth From
(m) Depth To
(m) Length (m) Cu % Mo
ppm Ag g/t CuEq % V2015-05 72.0 638.0 566.0 0.425 216 1.2 0.492 including 72.0 192.0 120.0 0.537 169 1.4 0.595 including 492.2 544.3 52.1 0.812 190 2.0 0.882
* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (g/t), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz. Ag. All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.
Drill Hole V2015-06
This hole was drilled in the north east extent of the central core, 270 metres to the north-east of drill hole V2015-01, between two outcropping late stage diatremes. The new geological model indicates the potential for porphyry style mineralisation in this area. If proven this would open up a large area within the 2014 block model that is currently identified as waste rock.
The drill hole intersected a post mineral dacite dyke at a depth of 3.0 metres and was stopped at a depth of 67 metres. The drill hole has not been assayed.
Drill Hole V2015-07
This hole was drilled to 150 metres south of drill hole V2015-05 to test central core of the project area.
The drill hole could not pass through the gravels and was abandoned at a depth of 52.00 metres.
Drill Hole V2015-08
Please refer to first section of this News Release.
QA/QC
Quality assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of duplicate and standard samples in to the sample stream. Drill core samples were sawn in half, labelled, placed in sealed bags and were shipped directly to the preparatory laboratory of ALS Minerals in Coquimbo, Chile. All geochemical analyses were performed by ALS Minerals in Lima Peru. All samples were assayed using the method ME-MS61, a four-acid digestion with an ICP-MS finish. Copper samples with grades above 0.6 % Cu were reanalysed using ALS method Cu-OG62, a four-acid digestion with an AAS finish.
Mr. Amberg is the Qualified Person responsible for the preparation of this news release.
Team Credentials
Mr. Amberg is a geologist who is a graduate of the Royal School of Mines, London, has an MSc. from University College and is also a Chartered Geologist with the Geological Society of London. He has close to 30 years of diverse experience having worked in Asia, Africa and South America for both multinational and junior companies. He began his career in 1986 working with Anglo American in South Africa before moving on to an exploration position with Severin-Southern Sphere. In 1990 Mr. Amberg moved to Chile where he first worked with Bema Gold on the Refugio project before taking up a position with Rio Tinto. At Rio Tinto he was involved in exploration programs in the Atacama and Magallanes Regions and managed the Barreal Seco (now part of Las Cenizas) exploration program. In 1996 he joined Kazakhstan Minerals Corporation in Kazakhstan, setting up and managing offices for the drilling and resource estimation for JORC compliant feasibility studies on three large projects that are now operating mines. He became General Director for two joint ventures in KazMinCo where he managed all technical and local issues. In 2001 he returned to Chile where he started a geological consulting firm specialising in project evaluation and NI 43-101 technical reports. Mr. Amberg's clients included Rio Tinto, Barrick, Codelco, Anglo American, Pan Pacific Copper and various junior mining companies. He joined Los Andes Copper in 2012 as Chief Geologist and is now also the President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Amberg is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
Mr. Saldias is a geologist who is a graduate of Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile. He has over 35 years of experience working within Chile and internationally; mainly on copper porphyry, epithermal gold silver and iron-oxide copper gold systems. For the last seven years, he worked for Antofagasta Minerals evaluating copper porphyry projects within Chile, assessing their geological and economical potential. Prior to that he had worked for ten years with Placer Dome Latin America, generating and evaluating exploration projects within the region. Prior to Placer Dome, he worked for Codelco as head of exploration geology for the El Salvador Division, developing the prospective areas near to the mine. He also worked for Northern Resources, Homestake, Utah, Anaconda and as an independent consultant.
For more information please contact:
Antony J. Amberg, President & CEO
Tel: (56-22) 954-0450
Aurora Davidson, CFO
Tel: 604-697-6207
E-Mail: info@losandescopper.com or visit our website at: www.losandescopper.com
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SOURCE: Los Andes Copper Ltd.