Duck Pond ready for resource estimate

Four more drill holes by Thundermin Resources (THR-T) and Queenston Mining (QMI-T) have confirmed the grades, size and shape of the Upper Duck Lens massive sulphide body at the Duck Pond property in central Newfoundland.

The four holes were drilled into the southern and central parts of the Upper Duck Lens, which has an estimated resource of 3.9 million tonnes grading 6.7% zinc, 3.8% copper and 1.1% lead, plus 71 grams silver and 1.1 grams gold per tonne. Other infill holes, drilled by Thundermin and Queenston last summer, have generally supported the earlier resource estimate, which Noranda (NOR-T) made in the 1980s.

Hole 219, in the southern part of the deposit, found the best intersections, cutting three zones of massive sulphide mineralization. A 5.9-metre intersection carried 6.9% zinc, 3.6% copper, 2.2% lead, 133 grams silver and 1.7 grams gold; about 11 metres on, 6.6 metres graded 6.5% zinc, 3.45 copper, 1.1% lead, 75 grams silver and 1.3 grams gold. A third intersection, about 40 metres below, returned 6.6% zinc, 4% copper, 1.5% lead, 70 grams silver and 0.8 gram gold.

About 75 metres to the southwest, hole 220 intersected a 17.6-metre core length grading 4.8% zinc, 2.2% copper, 0.6% lead, 30 grams silver and 0.6 gram gold. A second interval, about 7 metres farther down the hole, graded 4.6% zinc, 1.4% copper 0.8% lead, 42 grams silver and 0.1 gram gold.

Holes 221 and 222, both of which were drilled near the middle of the lens, also cut intervals consistent with earlier drilling. Hole 222 cut the longest massive sulphide intersection in the current program: an 18.4-metre interval with an average 5.4% zinc, 1.8% copper, 0.5% lead, 47 grams silver and 1.1 grams gold.

The partners drilled four other holes to test possible extensions of the Upper Duck Lens northward. Two of those holes intersected massive pyrite, over lengths of 2.8 and 15.8 metres, but no significant base metal values.

Thundermin and Queenston are turning their attention to the Boundary deposit, which has a resource of 446,000 tonnes with average grades of 3.5% zinc, 3.5% copper, 0.5% lead and 23 grams silver per tonne. Resource figures for both the Upper Duck and Boundary deposits will be revised after the drilling program is finished, and exploration continues on prospects north of the known mineralized zones.

The Thundermin-Queenston joint venture is earning a 100% interest in the property from Noranda, which retains a right to back-in for 50% by funding a final feasibility study and arranging financing to bring the deposits into production.