Partners find zinc at Bambas in Peru

Vancouver — Mapping and sampling by equal partners Southwestern Gold (SWG-T) and Inco (N-T) have uncovered significant zinc mineralization at the Lince property in southern Peru. The property is part of the 287-sq.-km Bambas West project.

Southwestern Gold reports that two zones, separated by a 1-km area, have been identified. The zones could represent a single 4.5-km-long target.

The northern zone is underlain by a zinc skarn manto, which has been traced for 1.2 km along strike and averages 5 metres in thickness. Mineralization consists mainly of zinc-copper oxides.

The southern zone is reportedly associated with a zinc-copper skarn body, which has been traced for 1.2 km along strike and up to 300 metres in width. The partners have not determined the thickness of the body.

Both zones are hosted in Copacabana limestone and show potential for hosting a large-tonnage zinc deposit.

Under the joint-venture agreement, Inco must spend US$1 million on the project. This year’s program is slated to include geochemics, chip-sampling, geophysics and drilling.