Starfield delineates 119 zone

Vancouver-based Starfield Resources (SRU-V) has cut more massive sulphides at its Ferguson Lake polymetallic project, near Rankin Inlet in Nunavut.

In late August, Starfield discovered the so-called 119 zone, about 800 metres west of the main West zone. Three recent holes have since confirmed its continuity over a strike length of 400 metres.

Hole 137, collared on line 8000W, yielded 2.21 metres grading 0.55% copper, 0.47% nickel and 0.06% cobalt, plus 1.18 grams palladium and 0.29 gram platinum per tonne, as well as 6.22 metres of 1.25% copper, 0.8% nickel, 0.1% cobalt, 2.18 grams palladium and 0.13 gram platinum. The first interval began at 1,039 metres down-hole, and the second, at 1,096 metres.

Starfield notes that both intervals occur in footwall gneisses and amphibolites, not gabbro, so remobilization probably took place here. Last year, hole 74 returned similar core from the West zone — 64 metres of gneiss running 0.96% copper, 0.53% nickel, 0.06% cobalt, 1.4 grams palladium and 0.24 gram platinum.

From the same station as 137 but drilled more steeply, hole 139 returned the following:

q 2.23 metres (starting at 1,072 metres down-hole) carrying 0.27% copper, 0.35% nickel, 0.05% cobalt, 0.86 gram palladium and 0.03 gram platinum;

q 12.48 metres (at 1,095 metres) carrying 0.89% copper, 0.77% nickel, 0.1% cobalt, 2.08 grams palladium and 0.2 gram platinum; and

q 7.78 metres (at 1,142 metres) carrying 2.23% copper, 0.61% nickel, 0.07% cobalt, 2.01 grams palladium and 0.57 gram platinum.

All are hosted by gabbro, and the deeper ones are notably enriched in spots.

At presstime, hole 141 was being drilled to test the horizons 140 metres downdip of hole 139.

Collared on 7800W, hole 138 pierced two sulphide horizons — one in gabbro and the other in mixed gabbroic and footwall rocks. The upper gabbroic unit averaged 1.47% copper, 0.49% nickel, 0.6% cobalt, 1.39 grams palladium and 0.16 gram platinum over 8.72 metres (at 1,025 metres), whereas the lower mixed unit ran 1.19% copper, 0.7% nickel, 0.07% cobalt, 2.06 grams palladium and 0.37 gram platinum over 14.36 metres (at 1,045 metres). Higher grades also were reported for both intervals.

A follow-up hole, 140, yielded 12 metres of stringer to massive sulphide mineralization in gabbro, but assays are pending. Mineralization occurs 120 metres downdip.

To date, Starfield has sunk more than 8,000 metres in the 119 zone. Stepout drilling to the east and west is planned.

Mineralization generally dips northwards at a shallow-to-moderate slope. As with the West and East zones, it coincides with a prominent geophysical anomaly that runs across the property for 1.6 km.

Meanwhile, drilling has resumed at the West zone, between lines 4200W and 5300W. Holes are being drilled deep enough to test the footwall sulphides, which, in this area, are 30 metres deeper than the more sulphide-rich gabbro.

At last report, the West zone hosted an inferred resource of about 55 million tonnes grading 0.95% copper, 0.59% nickel, 0.065% cobalt, 1.35 grams palladium and 0.23 gram platinum per tonne. The estimate is based on a cutoff grade of 1% combined copper and nickel.

On the eastern side of Ferguson Lake, the separate East zones host 5 million tonnes at just under 1% copper and 0.8% nickel. The larger East 1 zone, which hosts 3.5 million tonnes, also carries 1.18 grams combined palladium and platinum.