Gold Hawk eyes Peruvian silver-gold project

Montreal-based Gold Hawk Resources (CGK-A) is eyeing the open-pit potential of a past-producing, underground silver-gold mine 40 km east of the coastal city of Trujillo, in northern Peru.

President Jean Depatie says the company’s wholly owned Machacala property is the site of an old mine that produced more than 200,000 tonnes at an average grade of 342.8 grams silver and 6 grams gold per tonne, plus 0.3% copper.

Most of the ore came from a shallow underground operation focused on the 4.5-metre-wide by 2.7-km-long San Viviano quartz vein, which is hosted in porphyritic intrusives and volcanic rocks. This vein is flanked on both sides by at least 15 other mineralized subvertical veins varying from 0.45 to 2.9 km in length and from 1.5 to 4.5 metres in width. Depatie says the veins cover an area more than 1 km wide. Swarms of closely spaced secondary veins and veinlets have been observed between these veins at certain locations.

Recent geophysical surveys (induced polarization and magnetometer) have confirmed the presence of the previously outlined veins, extended the length and thickness of several of them and outlined some new veins. The surveys also identified several strong anomalies that are yet to be tested.

Depatie says control of the mineralization could be related to the presence of two well-defined calderas in the northwestern portion of the property.

Intense alteration is pervasive in the rock formations underlying the property.

“We think the mining potential of this property is excellent,” Depatie adds.

“It has easy access and is near necessary infrastructure. Plus, if we need to go underground, the topography allows access by adits and ramps to depths of at least 1,000 metres.”

As an additional bonus, Depatie says the property includes 200,000 tonnes of tailings averaging 68.5 grams silver and 1.26 grams silver. Gold Hawk has proposed a US$3-million program aimed at outlining open-pit reserves and testing the newly defined anomalies.