Arizona Star shines at Aldebaran

Results from the Cerro Roman zone at the Aldebaran property in northern Chile confirm the zone’s potential to host a multi-million-ounce gold deposit, the joint-venture owners say.

Arizona Star Resource (AZS-V) and Bema Gold (BGO-T) say the results show that the Cerro Roman and Romancito oxide zones are connected and form one larger zone under a thin layer of volcanic cover.

The Aldebaran property (owned 51%, by Arizona Star and 49% by Bema) is 30 km south of the newly constructed Refugio open-pit gold mine, owned equally by Bema and Amax Gold (AU-N).

Twelve reverse-circulation holes have intersected the Cerro Roman zone. Assay results have been received from seven holes drilled in the current program and from two previous holes. Highlights are as follows:

Hole 7 intersected 41.1 metres grading 1.33 grams gold per tonne; hole 8 intersected 99.1 metres from surface grading 1.14 grams gold; hole 100 hit 100 metres of 1.11 grams gold, including 48 metres grading 1.67 grams; hole 11 intersected 100 metres grading 0.9 gram, including 32 metres of 1.23 grams and 24 metres of 1.12 grams; hole 12 hit 74 metres of 1.03 grams; hole 13 returned 62 metres of 0.42 gram; hole 14 returned 36 metres grading 1.58 grams; hole 15 intersected 98 metres from surface grading 0.48 gram; and hole 16 hit 48 metres of 1.63 grams.

Drill holes 7, 8, 11, 13 and 15 were drilled directly on the Cerro Roman oxide zone, and confirm the consistency and grade of the zone, the companies say. Holes 10, 12, 14 and 16 were drilled east of Cerro Roman on top of the volcanic cover separating Cerro Roman from the Romancito zone.

The Romancito outcrop is 1.4 km east of Cerro Roman. The initial drill holes have tested 400 metres of the strike length, and drilling continues to test the extent of the zone.

Meanwhile, diamond drilling is in progress at Cerro Casale, 7 km south of Cerro Roman. Four rigs have been working on the gold-copper porphyry deposit, drilling another nine deep holes with four more in progress.

Four of the new holes were drilled in the main porphyry zone, four as edge holes and one as a follow up to the intersect of hole 30, a major stepout hole on the south side of the property. The companies plan to release assay results from the completed holes before the end of the year.

Bema is Arizona Star’s largest shareholder, with a 30% interest, and manages its affairs.