Copper-zinc sulphides found by Thunderwood, Greenstone

Zinc-rich massive sulphides and copper-bearing stringer sulphide mineralization of the type reported by Aur Resources (TSE) on its Val d’Or, Que., project are being encountered on a property held by Thunderwood Resources (TSE) and Greenstone Resources (TSE). Situated near Chibougamau, Que., the 4,000-acre Scott Lake project is known to contain 777,000 tons of grade 0.41% copper, 6.87% zinc, 0.34 oz. silver per ton and 0.01 oz. gold to a depth of about 1,200 ft.

But Thunderwood and Greenstone, which hold a 50% project interest each, say it is too early to determine the significance of assays reported so far. “The key is for us to find something completely new,” said Thunderwood President John Heslop.

Results from eight holes drilled to define the size and attitude of the deposit include 24.5 ft. of 8.79% zinc, 13.5 ft. of 7.06% zinc and 15.9 ft. of 6.15% zinc. Drilled to a depth of 1,025 ft., the holes are the first to be tabled from a 30,000-ft. program operated by Thunderwood.

“Substantial intervals of intensely chloritized and sericitized volcanic rocks containing stringer pyrite-chalcopyrite and occasional sphalerite mineralization are associated with the massive sulphides,” Thunderwood said.

The most significant stringer sulphide intersections include 37.1 ft. of grade 0.28% copper, 75.6 ft. of grade 0.26% copper and 16 ft. of grade 0.20% copper.

Although assays aren’t available yet, a 38-ft. thick sulphide-bearing horizon has been intersected in a hole drilled 1,200 ft. north of the Scott Lake deposit.

According to Thunderwood, the horizon occurs on the west flank of a felsic dome, which consists of rhyolitic quartz porphyries and highly altered mafic and felsic flows and pyroclastic rocks.

While a 1-ft. massive sulphide section containing an estimated 85% pyrite and 8% chalcopyrite was intersected at 1,070 ft. in the hole, the significance of this finding isn’t yet known.

Heslop says a down-the-hole pulse EM survey will be taken to try and detect massive sulphides. As well, more drilling is planned to trace the favorable exhalite horizon along strike and downdip.

Thunderwood is affiliated with Aur, which has outlined potential reserves of 36 million tons grading 3.11% copper and 1.34% zinc on its Louvicourt Twp. claims, east of Val d’Or.