5.8 million tons indicated Tulsequah ups reserves

The new calculations incorporate drill data from the 1987 surface program and the 1988 and 1989 underground programs. Exploration on the property is carried out by operator and 60% owner Cominco Ltd. (TSE). Tulsequah Chief is a former Cominco producer that was operated from 1951 to 1957 when low metal prices forced a closure.

The new geologic reserve for the project is reported as 5.8 million tons grading 1.60% copper, 1.31% lead, 7.03% zinc, 0.08 oz gold per ton and 2.93 oz silver. Redfern noted that the bulk of new reserves are based upon 19 drill intercepts that tested the deposit to a depth of about 1,600 ft below the lowest mine level and intermittently over a true strike length of about 1,400 ft.

With a 40% interest in the project, Redfern is encouraged by Cominco’s drill programs on the deposit which is still open in both strike directions, to depth, and in one section, updip as well.

Even before the start of this year’s wide-spaced drilling program, Tulsequah Chief was considered to be one of the province’s most significant massive sulphide exploration projects.

“Results have exceeded our most optimistic expectations,” stated Redfern President John Greig, noting that nine of the 10 holes intersected massive sulphides. “The mineral system shows no sign of diminishing and grades encountered at depth are higher than the average reserve grades established after the 1988 drilling program.”

At the end of the 1988 drill program, reserves in all categories were reported as 2.38 million tons grading 2.03% copper, 1.25% lead, 6.28% zinc, 0.075 oz gold and 2.68 oz silver. The updated reserve calculation is more than double this figure.

The new reserve encompasses massive sulphide intercepts ranging from 6 ft to 52 ft true thickness and employs individual specific gravity measurements taken on the core. The average mineralized width is reported as 20 ft and has a tonnage factor of 8.45 cu ft per ton. The deposit dips at an average of 75 degrees.

The 1989 drill program is now completed with assays released for drill holes 20 and 21. Hole 20 returned 4.6 ft of 0.73% copper, 1.06% lead, 8.28% zinc, 0.07 oz gold and 1.9 oz silver and 7.5 ft of 1.89% copper, 0.46% lead, 5.02% zinc, 0.11 oz gold and 1.8 oz silver. Hole 21 returned an impressive 69.1 ft of 1.19% copper, 1.15% lead, 6% zinc, 0.11 oz gold and 3.44 oz silver.

Plans for 1990 call for a 600-ft extension of the 5400-level drift so that new drill stations can be established to allow deeper drilling of the massive sulphide system. Heavy equipment was left on site, and the camp facilities were winterized for an early resumption of work programs next season.

]]>