American Pacific Mining Corp (“American Pacific” or the “Company”) is pleased to report high-grade gold (“Au”) and copper (“Cu”) rock chip samples from a program conducted by Kennecott Exploration, a division of the Rio Tinto Group, at the Madison Copper-Gold Project (“Madison” or “the Project”) in Montana. Madison is under a joint-venture earn-in agreement, whereby Rio Tinto may earn up to 70% of the project by spending US$30 million.
Highlighted Sample Results:
- 40485321: 9.93 g/t Au; 3.40 g/t silver (“Ag”); 0.08% Cu
- 40485246: 13.30 g/t Au; 7.83 g/t Ag; 0.04% Cu
- 40485201: 12.35 g/t Au; 5.76 g/t Ag; 0.01% Cu
- 40485221: 32.40 g/t Au; 39.60 g/t Ag; 0.02% Cu
- 40485233: 0.13 g/t Au; 1.49 g/t Ag; 0.26% Cu
- 40485284: 7.36 g/t Au; 38 g/t Ag; 6.90% Cu
A total of 73 rock chip samples were collected from 5 specific exploration targets: the Archean Section, America Pit; Devonian Jefferson Dolomite; Hudson Mine; and Western Skarn Contact, each of which contained high-grade samples (see Fig 1).
“American Pacific is particularly encouraged by the high-grade gold values obtained from this program which confirm a large mineralized system,” stated President Eric Saderholm. “Surface gold and copper mineralization occurrences within this system have been identified over an 11 square kilometre area. A major thrust fault zone, the Silver Star Fault, dissects the property placing older Precambrian rocks against and above the favourable Paleozoic carbonates and the Radar Creek intrusive complex, the probable source of the Madison mineralization. The Silver Star Fault system appears to be related to a deep crustal fault zone that connects to the Butte porphyry deposits located 38 kilometres to the northwest. All five targets present significant exploration possibilities within the district. The Archean target is virtually untested and is of particular interest to our geologists due to the pronounced geophysical anomalies and the coincident historic gold values of up to 48.5 grams per tonne."
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ff7504cd-1bae-4036-8517-67c64fb1d070
Figure 1. Madison 2023 Gold Target Map
(Map shows anomalous gold values from historic sampling)
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99d90064-c3a0-4513-8589-0c96e009df66
Figure 2. Madison 2023 Copper Target Map
(Map shows anomalous copper values from historic sampling)
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/304bb23c-8544-45ec-8b90-38b9f1e12684
Figure 3. Madison Project Geology, Structure and Surface Sampling
Archean Section
Seventeen samples were collected in the Archean Section, primarily in and around historic prospect pits. Several quartz and carbonate veins were sampled. The quartz veins located within the Archean section are steeply dipping and generally trend east-west.
Table 1 Notable Assay Results - Archean
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American Pit
Three samples were collected on a ridge north by northwest of the American Pit. The American Pit was mined in the 1970s by open-cut mining methods along the Rader Creek-Madison Limestone contact. The American Pit marks the surface expression of the Madison Skarn deposit. Mineralized endo-skarn of the Rader Creek granodiorite hosts the deposit. High-grade quartz sulfide veins are found outside the pit boundary.
Table 2 Notable Assay Results – American Pit
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f08494e-f863-491b-bc4f-e27688b90c63
Rio Tinto has conducted several successful sampling programs in the American Pit area, with results ranging from 0.25 g/t Au to 124.50 g/t Au. Copper values have ranged from 0.006% Cu to 0.264% Cu. (see December 9, 2021 press release).
Devonian Jefferson Dolomite
Twenty-nine rock samples were collected along the footwall of the Silver Star Fault within the Devonian Jefferson Dolomite. These samples were collected from several historic prospect pits and scattered outcrops. The Jefferson in this area shows strong limonite-jasperoid vein and veinlet mineralization, and high-grade Au values track with the jasperoids. The Jefferson Dolomite can be a great host rock due to contained relic hydrocarbon content mixing with metalrich hydrothermal fluids.
Table 3 Notable Assay Results – Dj (Devonian Jefferson Dolomite)
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eddb6b4d-405d-416d-87ce-cd782f045b36
Hudson Mine
Fifteen samples were collected in and around the Hudson Mine workings. The Hudson Mine was a past producer of high-grade Au-Cu skarn mineralization hosted in the Rader Creek granodiorite-Madison limestone contact.
Table 4 Notable Assay Results – Hudson Mine
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/419bf985-a8aa-44f3-aef5-cd02c6791436
Western Skarn Contact
Six samples were collected along the western edge of the Madison Skarn. Here the sediments form a thin skin covering the granodiorite-sediment contact with widespread hornfels and scattered structurally controlled skarn occurrences. Numerous historic prospects can be found on these structural skarn zones.
Table 5. Notable Assay Results – Western Skarn
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/180d0f06-0029-4217-883e-1eddea5bfb6e
QAQC Procedures
QAQC samples were inserted into every laboratory batch commensurate with the stage of exploration and sample type in the batch. Rio Tinto uses blanks, certified reference materials and field duplicate samples for QAQC. Blank material is a >2cm diameter washed granitic gravel material from landscape supply stores. Certified reference materials are either commercial standards from Ore Research Pty Ltd or in-house standards created from Bingham Canyon Mine material and certified through a robust round robin process signed off by an independent geochemist. Field duplicates are created at the time of original sampling and are designed to replicate the primary sample. In addition to RTX-inserted QC samples, ALS includes in-laboratory QC as preparation duplicates (crush and pulverizer duplicates), reagent blanks and a wide range of certified reference materials.
Engage Market Provider
The Company also announces that it has engaged Petergrandich.com/blog as its marketing provider for an initial term of 6 months and has agreed to pay US$60,000 for its services.
Qualified Person
Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed and approved by the designated Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101, Eric Saderholm, P.Geo.
Source: https://americanpacific.ca/