Impressive zinc values claimed by Fairfield

Zinc has been described as the gold of the base metals sector — albeit in relative terms. That is probably one reason why Fairfield Minerals is bullish on its Logan zinc-silver project 65 miles northwest of Watson Lake, Yukon.

A 60%-owned subsidiary of Regional Resources, Fairfield recently announced results from the first eight holes of a 15-hole program. Three of the holes were lost before reaching their targets but the other five returned some very long drill intercepts and some equally impressive grades.

J. W. Stollery, president, describes the discovery as possibly a “zinc porphyry” where metal values occur in a large stockwork system. Mineralization was first noted in a small vein system on surface and he says “we weren’t really sure what we had.” The first drill hole was lost, then they started hitting, he says. He feels the potential is several million tons, based on a preliminary test of the structure which suggests it runs for more than 10,000 ft along strike.

Among the best intercepts reported were: 284 ft grading 5.15% zinc and 0.33 oz silver; 220.8 ft averaging 7.22% zinc and 0.85 oz silver; 204.4 ft of 5.12% zinc and 0.56 oz silver; 78.3 ft at 4.4% zinc and 0.74 oz silver, and 53.8 ft grading 4.2% zinc and 0.82 oz silver.

Within those intercepts were higher grade portions including: 64.3 ft of 14.17% zinc and 1.42 oz silver; 39 ft grading 14.9% zinc and 1.3 oz silver; 32.8 ft grading 19.26% zinc and 0.81 oz silver, and 56.1 ft averaging 11.3% zinc and 1.2 oz silver, to name a few.

Getty Resources has the right to earn a 50% interest in both the Logan and Meister properties. It will earn that interest by making additional option payments of $200,000 for each of the properties and incurring cumulative property expenditures of $4.5 million of which more than $2 million will be expended by the end of this year. Fairfield is operator until Getty earns its interest.

Mr Stollery feels the discovery could be open pitable and he expressed confidence that Getty would participate in a drill program next year. There is a road into the Meister property but not the Logan, although the joint venture is considering one. Regional Resources, the controlling shareholder in Fairfield, discovered the Midway deposit and Mr Stollery and his talented exploration group were also responsible for the discovery. The properties are all located in the same general area.