By the end of March, Corriente Resources (VSE) expects to have completed a feasibility study for its bismuth-copper-gold vein project on the Tasna property in southern Bolivia.
The company is also exploring a newly discovered gold zone in the historic mining district. Bulldozer trenching has been directed towards the extension west of the Dorada zone, where a chip sample returned 30 metres of 2.8 grams gold per tonne (98 ft. of 0.08 oz. per ton).
The true width of the bulk-tonnage zone is obscured by soil. However, Corriente reports that trenching is showing similar geology across 400 metres, “with potential for up to 1 km width for the entire zone.” Continued chip sampling in the area of previously reported high-grade gold talus rock samples on Cerro Tasna returned a 4-metre-wide (13-ft.-wide) chip sample averaging 24 grams (0.7 oz.). Corriente says these new results suggest that the sources of high-grade mineralized talus may be zones of substantial tonnage.
The Tasna property was previously worked, and Corriente plans to bring the project back into production as the world’s only primary source of bismuth, a non-toxic lead replacement metal.
At last report, proven and probable reserves were 700,000 tons averaging 1.7% bismuth, 0.6% copper, 1.18% tungsten and 0.3% tin, plus 1.5 grams gold (as well as large tonnages of lower-grade reserves not classified as ore). Negotiations are in progress with two smelting groups in Europe, and arrangements are being made for production debt financing and investment insurance.
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