Results of geophysical work and shallow drilling at the Rapu Rapu property in the Philippines have spurred operator TVI Pacific (TSE) to expand its exploration program.
Two deposits are already known on the property: Ungay-Malabago, with 2.9 million tonnes averaging 1.9% copper and 2.7% zinc, plus 3.2 grams gold and 41 grams silver per tonne; and Hixbar, with 1 million tonnes averaging 1.17% copper and 1.1% zinc, plus 2.04 grams gold and 14.16 grams silver.
TVI has been exploring shallow gossan zones that host gold and silver mineralization and carrying out ground geophysics to provide new massive sulphide targets. A strike length of 150 metres has been tested at the Ungay-Malabago deposit, and mineralized intersections have shown gold grades ranging from 0.94 to 31 grams per tonne and silver grades ranging from 0.57 to 482 grams. Mineralized widths in the gossan zones were typically 1 to 5 metres but ranged from 0.35 to 21 metres.
Three other exploration targets have been identified in the area surrounding Ungay-Malabago, and surface geophysics and diamond drilling are planned. Once all drill results are assembled, TVI will perform a reserve estimate and evaluate the economics of putting the gossan zones into production on a small scale. Gold and silver production from small, easily exploitable zones of oxide mineralization could provide useful early cash flow for the company.
TVI is sufficiently confident in the gossan zones to have acquired a carbon-in-leach plant with a capacity of 50 tonnes per day.
TVI has also finished horizontal loop electromagnetic (EM) work over a total grid length of 57 line-km in the area surrounding the two deposits. The survey covers about 3.5 km of the total 8-km strike length of the volcanic belt.
Both deposits show up as strong electromagnetic conductors with strike lengths that suggest the deposits may extend down-plunge beyond the limits of existing drilling. TVI estimates that if either deposit extends an additional 100 metres down-plunge, between 400,000 and 500,000 tonnes could be added to the reserves.
At Ungay-Malabago, disseminated sulphide mineralization, occurring in haloes around the main massive sulphide lenses, contains gold in concentrations ranging from 1 to 21 grams per tonne. Previous operators had not investigated this mineralization, but TVI regards it as a possible addition to the property’s resource base.
At least five other conductors have been located by the EM survey, coinciding with surface sulphide showings or gossan float. TVI plans to expand the coverage area and carry out time-domain and downhole pulse electromagnetic surveys to locate deep conductors. Also, geological mapping has located zones of altered bedrock that could be at the margins of undiscovered mineralization.
A second diamond drill is being moved on to the property to accelerate testing of the gossan targets.
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