NEWS ROUNDUP — Cominco Resources ups Cerattepe

A drill program in 1993 has resulted in a higher reserve estimate for the Cerattepe property in Turkey.

Cominco Resources International (TSE) says 52 holes were drilled on the Gossan zone, bringing the drill spacing down to 30-metre centres. The company also completed eight 1-sq.-metre test pits, five to 10 metres in depth, to provide data on ore density and samples for metallurgical testing. Initial tests on the material have been positive, although full results are not yet available.

Preliminary open-pit planning has outlined a probable resource of 1.6 million tonnes grading 5.2 grams gold and 200 grams silver per tonne. The Gossan zone, an oxidized gold body, overlies the Cerattepe pyrite breccia-hosted copper deposit.

That deposit includes a high-grade portion estimated to contain 1.2 million tonnes grading 10% copper with a lower-grade zone directly above it. Cominco is planning a feasibility study to define the economics of gold and silver production from the Gossan zone and to consider the integration of both precious and base metal production.