Thirty-one holes (3,712 metres) have been drilled so far this year, the highlight being an intersection with a true width of 9.1 metres grading 18.58% zinc and 3.16% lead, plus 0.32% copper and 183 grams silver per tonne.
Eleven other holes intersected 3.7-11.5 metres (true width) grading 5.44-9.8% zinc, 0.71-10.96% lead, 0.13-1.71% copper and 32-165 grams silver. Eight additional holes cut between 0.1 and 3.6 metres (true width) grading 0.63-12.71% zinc, 0.01-4.87% lead, 0.01-.62% copper, and 4-111 grams silver.
Mineralization was intersected from 72 to 153 metres down-hole.
The best intersections to date are within a 200-by-150-metre area. Drilling has been carried out at 25-to-50-metre spacing in this zone. The mineralization is still open in several directions. Nine holes intersected barren fossiliferous limestone, and two intersected a fault.
At the end of 2004, proven and probable reserves at El Toqui totalled 2.8 million tonnes grading 7.4% zinc and 1.7 grams gold. The measured and indicated resource (which included those reserves) was 3.5 million tonnes grading 8.1% zinc and 1.6 grams gold. There is also an inferred resource of 2.99 million tonnes grading 8.4% zinc and 0.4 gram gold.
The mill at El Toqui has been expanded, and the annual grinding plant capacity is now 550,000 tonnes. The Dona Rosa mine, about 1.5 km south southwest of the El Toqui mill site, has been developed such that the Aserradero deposit is now accessible. This deposit has a total indicated mineral resource of 680,900 tonnes grading 9.1 grams gold and 6% zinc; it should contribute 25% of the mill feed this year.
The Estatuas deposit is 2.5 km west of the Dona Rosa deposit and has an indicated mineral resource of about 1 million tonnes grading 8.5% zinc. There is also an inferred resource of 1.2 million tonnes grading 7.6% zinc.
Four holes were recently drilled about 200 metres southeast of Estatuas along the sediment-hosted mineralized horizon. The best intercept was 3.5 metres grading 1.84% zinc. Three holes failed to intercept significant mineralization.
Breakwater has five producing zinc mines: two in Canada, one in Honduras, one in Chile, and one in Tunisia. In July, the company acquired the Myra Falls zinc-copper-gold-silver mine, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, by purchasing all the shares of Boliden Westmin (Canada), a subsidiary of
At the end of last year, Myra Falls had a measured and indicated resource of 10.4 million tonnes grading 7.8% zinc, 1.4% copper, 1.7 grams gold and 56 grams silver. This estimate includes proven and probable reserves of 7.7 million tonnes grading 6.3% zinc, 1.2% copper, 1.2 grams gold and 40 grams silver. The mine has been producing for more than 30 years and is expected to continue operating for another 7-12 years.
Be the first to comment on "Breakwater explores near El Toqui"