Six trenches were sampled, including trench 4, which graded 1.87% copper over 18 metres. Trench 3 cut 93 metres grading 0.38% copper, and trench 1, 36 metres grading 0.34% copper. Trench 2 cut two intervals 6 metres long. One graded 0.37% copper; the other, 0.28% copper. Trench 5 cut as high as 1.55% copper over 15 metres. The sixth trench cut 18 metres grading 0.25% copper.
All samples were taken in the Cerro Chato area, 1.5 km west of the proposed Piedras Verdes open pit.
Chip samples 7-10 cm wide were taken along 3-metre intervals in bulldozer-dug trenches. In total, 109 samples were taken in zones that displayed copper-oxide mineralization in an area measuring 500 by 500 metres.
Follow up drilling is planned.
Last year, Piedras Verdes had reserves of 191 million tonnes grading 0.36% copper.
A feasibility study proposed annual production of 70 million lbs. copper over a mine life of 18 years and at a cash cost of US52 per lb. of copper cathode produced.
Ore will be subjected to heap leaching and solvent extraction-electrowinning.
The company has started building a new town, Nuevo Piedras Verdes, where 49 houses will be relocated.
Be the first to comment on "More copper at Piedras Verdes"