More copper at Sombrero Butte

Vancouver — Continuation of Bell Resources’ (BL-V, BZRSF-O) phase 1 drilling has hit some higher-grade copper zones at its Sombrero Butte project in Pinal Cty., Ariz.

Vertical hole SB-05, which tested the Sunset breccia pipe, intersected 22 metres (from 18 metres depth) averaging 4.74% copper in a zone of coarse, “gobby” chalcocite within strongly sericitized breccia. Bell notes the hole was drilled to 142 metres depth before exiting the wall of the breccia pipe.

Beneath the “perched” zone of enrichment, the breccia is described as leached and hematitic, leading the company to hypothesize an- other enrichment zone could exist at depth in the pipe structure.

Hole SB-05 was collared on a new pad, about 80 metres southeast of that where the four initial holes were drilled, and has at least four further untested breccia pipes within 100 metres. In addition to these targets, Bell also plans to drill the Victors and Saguaro breccias.

Hole SB-03, testing the Campstool breccia, was extended and cut a couple of mineralized zones. An upper interval of 22 metres (from 272 metres down-hole) of 0.58% copper, interpreted as a “perched” paleo-enrichment zone, was followed by a deeper 22-metre intercept (from 470 metres) in the main enrichment zone that averaged 1.31% copper, including a 12-metre section of 2.06% copper.

The company says the holes confirm high-grade mineralization in certain breccias, as historic production records indicated.

Bell’s Sombrero Butte consists of about 2.6 sq. km in the Copper Creek district; it is the first time the claim package has been consolidated since mining took place there in the 1920s. The project consists of a cluster of almost 20 copper-bearing breccia pipes where the company is targeting a potential 10 to 20 million tonnes of higher-grade (1.5% to 2.5%) copper mineralization in the breccias with a possible underlying, large tonnage copper-porphyry system.

With 49.2 million shares outstanding, Bell posts a market capitalization of about $40 million.