Minsud Finalizes Chinchillones Infill Drilling and Expands Exploration with New Scouting Targets at Chita Valley
TSX-V: MSR
The infill drilling program is being carried out by Minera Sud Argentina S.A. ("MSA"), a joint venture between a wholly owned subsidiary of South32 Limited ("South32") (50.1%) and a wholly owned subsidiary of
Since
Additionally, MSA has commenced a scouting drilling program across three (3) targets at the
Key highlights and associated figures are provided below. Summary of drilling results is shown in Table 1. Drillhole locations are shown in Map 1.
CHDH24-120 was drilled with an orientation of 135°/-75° to a depth of 551.0 m:
-
Significant Drill Intercepts:
- 118.00 m @ 0.55% Cu, 0.20 g/t Au, 3.91 g/t Ag, and 44 ppm Mo, from 262 m depth.
- Including 21.85 m @ 1.72% Cu, 0.74 g/t Au, 11.70 g/t Ag, and 53 ppm Mo, from 262 m depth.
- 20.00 m @ 1.03% Cu, 0.17 g/t Au, 3.65 g/t Ag, and 77 ppm Mo, from 470 m depth.
-
Geology:
- This drill hole, located on the southwest side of the dome, begins with the first 30 m consisting of a surface layer of mixed rock fragments and iron oxides. From 30.0 to 91.4 m, a dacitic unit displays moderate argillic alteration with minor pyrite mineralization.
- Between 91.4 m and 543.4 m, quartzite and shale intercalations from the Agua Negra Formation show a combination of argillic, phyllic, and advanced phyllic alterations. The interval from 163.0 m to 295.0 m features high-sulfidation (HS) mineralization in cavity-filled fractures and veins (pyrite, bornite, tennantite-tetrahedrite with chalcopyrite) and HS veins, 10-30 cm thick, carrying high-grade copper-arsenic values. Advanced argillic alteration, dominated by pyrite and high-sulfidation veins, is observed between 340 m and 426 m.
- Finally, from 543.4 m to 551.0 m, the drill hole encounters a medium-grained dioritic porphyry with moderate phyllic alteration (sericite, muscovite, illite). Veins in this zone include B veins, pyrite, and quartz veins associated with molybdenum, with 2-3% sulfides, predominantly pyrite, and molybdenum found in quartz veins and fracture fillings.
CHDH24-122 was drilled with an orientation of 300°/-70° to a depth of 546.0 m:
-
Significant Drill Intercepts:
- 438.0 m @ 0.13% Cu, 16 g/t Ag, 73 ppm Mo and 0.49% Zn, from 108.0 m depth.
- including 22 m @ 0.17% Cu, 0.20 g/t Au, 30.29 g/t Ag, and 1.69% Zn, from 230 m depth.
-
Geology:
- This drill hole, located on the northern side of the dome, intersected 68 m of soil and rock fragments. From 68.3 m to 212 m, the hole intersected a dacitic matrix supported breccia with polymictic fragments (Dac1, E_D1-E_QD1, Agua Negra), exhibiting moderate to strong phyllic and argillic alteration and increasing sulphide content (1-7%), with notable values of Zn, Pb, and Cu, especially in high-sulphidation (HS) zones.
- Between 212 m and 415 m, various breccia types (mainly hydrothermal breccia) were encountered, containing 5-8% sulphides, including sphalerite, galena, tennantite, and chalcopyrite. A high-grade Zn-Pb-Cu zone was identified from 212 m to 248 m, along with another zone containing 60-70% massive sulphides between 376 m and 380 m.
- From 415 m to 510 m, a coarse-grained dioritic porphyry (E_QD1) exhibited 3-5% sulphides, along with
IS veinlets and stockwork zones. Significant mineralization was observed in a quartz-sulphide vein from 468 m to 483 m, with strong values of pyrite, molybdenite, sphalerite, tennantite, and galena.
CHDH24-126 was drilled with an orientation of 310°/-65° to a depth of 450.0 m:
-
Significant Drill Intercepts:
- 130.0 m @ 0.31% Cu, 8.71 g/t Ag, from 256 m depth.
-
Geology:
- This drill hole, located on the eastern side of the dome, encountered a cover zone in the first 40 m. Between 40 m and 106 m, massive quartzite with dacitic dykes showed 1-3% sulphides (mainly pyrite), including 2.0 m of a high-grade Zn-Pb-Cu interval. From 106 m to 115 m, andesitic porphyry was present with 2-3% sulphides, predominantly pyrite. Between 115 m and 19 0 m, quartzite with moderate argillic alteration contained 2% sulphides and some high-grade Zn-Pb-Cu zones. From 190 m to 334 m, andesitic porphyry with dacitic dyke intrusions showed 3-4% sulphides with high Zn-Pb-Cu values. Finally, from 334 m to 450 m, quartzite and breccia with 3-7% sulphides exhibited high values of Cu and As.
MSA has successfully completed the Chinchillones infill drilling program over 2 square kilometres, designed to support a potential resource estimate for the prospect. Since the start of the Earn-in Agreement, now a joint venture with South32, a total of one hundred twenty-six (126) drill holes, covering 80,342.2 m, have been completed up to hole CHDH24-126.
The infill drilling program, initially planned for 27,084 m, has now been successfully completed with a total of 41 drill holes and a total drilled length of 27,012.1 m. By the end of 2023, 13 drill holes (CHDH23-86 to CHDH23-98), totaling 9,838 m, had been finished. The remaining 28 drill holes, covering 17,174.1 m, have now been completed, marking the conclusion of the infill drilling program in the Chinchillones sector. The drill grid spacing is set at approximately 100-150 m, with an average drilling depth of around 800 m per hole.
MSA is advancing its exploration efforts at the
-
Link Zone : A total of 7,650 m in 13 drill holes will test the NE Zn-Ag-Cu corridor, where previous drilling returned 52 m @ 0.35% Zn (CHDH22-55) and 42 m @ 0.74% Zn (CHDH22-51). This corridor is associated with a high magnetic anomaly related to a Dacitic porphyry body. -
Placetas North: 1,800 m of drilling will target a geophysical anomaly in Placetas North, aiming to identify an intrusive center at depth and validate the Chinchillones geological model. During
October 2024 , geophysical work is being carried out on an IP (Induced Polarization) grid, using the pole-dipole (PDP) method, with a line spacing of 200 m and covering an approximate total area of 2 km². - Dacites North: An additional 2,400 m will test dacitic bodies with phyllic alteration, targeting potential Dacite porphyry systems and stockwork zones associated with high-sulphidation mineralization.
To date, MSA has completed 3,383 m across 6 drill holes, from CHDH24-127 to CHDH24-132, with analytical results still pending. These drill holes are concentrated in the
(1) Flotation metallurgical testing at ALS Kamloops is ongoing. These metallurgical tests are a prerequisite for a resource estimate for the Chinchillones polymetallic deposit discovery.
(2) Continuation of the remaining exploration program, totaling approximately 11,850 m, aimed at exploring new targets identified during geological mapping studies completed in 2023, with completion expected by Q4 2024.
(3) The company expects to complete to identify a potential mineral resource in accordance with NI 43-101 reporting standards for the Chinchillones prospect, part of the
All core samples were submitted by MSA to the
María del Carmen Muñoz Lizarve,
Table 1: Phase IV Diamond Drilling Program – Summary of Results
PHASE IV: Diamond Drilling Program – Summary of Analytical Results |
|||||||||
Hole ID |
From (mt) |
To (mt) |
Length (mts) (*) |
Cu % |
Au g/t |
Ag g/t |
Mo ppm |
Pb % |
Zn % |
CHDH24-119 |
74.00 |
94.00 |
20.00 |
0.33 % |
0.21 |
16.88 |
31 |
0.05 % |
0.17 % |
|
376.00 |
379.00 |
3.00 |
0.24 % |
0.35 |
65.17 |
226 |
0.22 % |
11.22 % |
|
404.00 |
414.00 |
10.00 |
0.51 % |
0.22 |
60.44 |
62 |
0.13 % |
0.62 % |
CHDH24-120 |
106.00 |
187.70 |
81.70 |
0.36 % |
0.13 |
6.47 |
37 |
0.00 % |
0.01 % |
|
262.00 |
380.00 |
118.00 |
0.55 % |
0.20 |
3.91 |
44 |
0.01 % |
0.00 % |
Inc |
262.00 |
283.85 |
21.85 |
1.72 % |
0.74 |
11.70 |
53 |
0.01 % |
0.00 % |
|
470.00 |
490.00 |
20.00 |
1.03 % |
0.17 |
3.65 |
77 |
0.00 % |
0.01 % |
CHDH24-121 |
8.00 |
26.00 |
18.00 |
0.43 % |
0.31 |
41.02 |
29 |
0.07 % |
0.07 % |
|
56.00 |
92.00 |
36.00 |
0.08 % |
0.08 |
11.81 |
88 |
0.09 % |
0.31 % |
CHDH24-122 |
108.00 |
546.00 |
438.00 |
0.13 % |
0.09 |
16.00 |
73 |
0.14 % |
0.49 % |
Inc |
230.00 |
252.00 |
22.00 |
0.17 % |
0.20 |
30.29 |
39 |
0.74 % |
1.69 % |
Inc |
376.00 |
396.00 |
20.00 |
0.19 % |
0.24 |
25.70 |
23 |
0.45 % |
1.01 % |
CHDH24-123A |
558.00 |
660.00 |
102.00 |
0.16 % |
0.14 |
1.76 |
36.29 |
0.00 % |
0.06 % |
|
724.00 |
804.00 |
80.00 |
0.19 % |
0.05 |
2.39 |
40.30 |
0.01 % |
0.02 % |
CHDH24-124A |
73.00 |
276.00 |
203.00 |
0.13 % |
0.09 |
12.80 |
74 |
0.05 % |
0.41 % |
Inc |
134.00 |
170.00 |
36.00 |
0.14 % |
0.13 |
19.15 |
69 |
0.06 % |
0.98 % |
CHDH24-125 |
274.00 |
288.00 |
14.00 |
0.42 % |
0.69 |
8.51 |
15 |
0.01 % |
0.03 % |
|
288.00 |
396.00 |
108.00 |
0.03 % |
0.02 |
4.73 |
15 |
0.09 % |
0.62 % |
|
406.00 |
418.00 |
12.00 |
0.50 % |
0.32 |
12.47 |
16 |
0.01 % |
0.02 % |
CHDH24-126 |
256.00 |
386.00 |
130.00 |
0.31 % |
0.08 |
8.71 |
8 |
0.04 % |
0.06 % |
Minsud is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring its flagship Chita Valley Cu-Mo- Au-Ag-Pb-
South32 Limited is a globally diversified mining and metals company. The company's purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people's lives now and for generations to come. South32 Limited is trusted by its owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources. South32 Limited produces commodities including bauxite, alumina, aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, silver, nickel and manganese from its operations in
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