Jan 19 2011
Empire Mining Corporation (TSX VENTURE:EPC) has announced drilling results for the first hole completed on the Demirtepe target at its Bursa project located in Turkey.
Empire is earning a 65% interest in Bursa from Anatolia Minerals Development Limited. There are three identified porphyry target areas at Bursa of which Demirtepe is the second to be drill tested by Empire.
The scout drilling program of up to 1,000 meters in four holes at Demirtepe, which was first announced in November 2010, was designed to test copper-gold-molybdenum soil anomalies over an area of 1,500 by 500 meters. However, given the very encouraging results received in the first hole, Empire has accelerated the drilling campaign and arranged for a second diamond drilling rig at Demirtepe, which has now commenced drilling. It is also anticipated that the current drilling campaign will be extended beyond the originally planned four holes.
The first hole DTH-001 was stopped at 202.10m as a result of drilling difficulties before reaching target depth where geophysical surveys identified an anomaly that could be attributed to a blind porphyry system. However, the hole intersected the following copper-gold-silver skarn mineralization as follows:
-
from 112.2m to 159.55m: 2.02%Cu, 0.96g/t Au, 21.64g/t Ag over a sampled width of 47.35m within which there are the following higher grade intercepts.
-
from 112.2m to 117.55m: 2.09% copper, 0.72/t gold, 22.6g/t silver over a sampled width of 5.35m
-
from 127.4m to 130.55m: 0.78% copper, 0.26g/t gold, 8.9g/t silver over a sampled width of 3.15m
-
from 140.3m to 153.0m: 6.29% copper, 3.1g/t gold, 66.1g/t silver over a sampled width of 12.7m
-
the above zone includes; from 140.3m to 148.3: 9.1% copper, 4.68g/t gold, 95.3g/t silver over a sampled width of 8.0m
-
from 158.55 to 159.55: 2.49% copper, 0.63g/t gold, 25.2g/t silver over a sampled width of 1.00m
Visible mineralization occurs in skarn, marble and wollastonite (a mineral used in ceramics) and consists of bornite, with subordinate chalcopyrite (both copper minerals) forming intergrowths with wollastonite. Wollastonite is present though an estimated 25% of the hole length and appears to be a receptive host for copper. Lower grades are scattered throughout the remainder of the hole, but individual assays are generally below 0.2% copper. The drill-hole appears to have intercepted the copper mineralization at an angle approximate to true widths.
The drill rig has been moved approximately 100m south to drill on the interpreted structural trend. The second drill rig has commenced drilling at another copper-gold anomaly located 700m from hole DTH-001.
Skarn ore deposits are important contributors to enhanced grades in porphyry copper orebodies. Notable examples include Grasberg (Indonesia), Bingham Canyon, (USA) and, in the Tethyan Belt, Recsk (Hungary). They are formed by reaction between carbonate host and intrusive rocks accompanied by mineralizing fluids.
QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL
All core was sawn in half with sample widths determined by geology and mineralization. Individual samples within visible mineralisation did not exceed 1.0m, while the maximum sample interval was 2.0m. Samples were bagged, security tagged and sent to the ALS Chemex sample preparation facility in Izmir and, following preparation, to the ALS Chemex laboratory in Vancouver. Gold was determined by fire assay with AA finish, ore grade repeats were run with ICP-AES and a total of 33 elements determined by ICP after four acid digestion. Blank, replicate and Certified Reference Material made up approximately 15% of the batch. Additional check assays are under consideration, as is the acquisition of certified reference material in the higher grade range of the received assays.
Empire's Qualified Person, David C. Cliff, BSc (Hons), MIMMM, C Eng, FGS, also Empire's President & CEO, has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.
Source: Empire Mining Corporation