Jan 31 2017
Alianza Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:ANZ) ("Alianza" or the "Company") reports results of fieldwork at the Horsethief sediment-hosted gold project, one of three properties in eastern Nevada where Alianza is actively exploring. Mapping, prospecting and sampling at Horsethief identified multiple areas of favourable alteration, structure and stratigraphy. This program also confirmed the presence of anomalous gold and pathfinder element geochemistry in both jasperoid and carbonate rocks with 10 of 68 samples returning more than 0.10 gram/tonne ("g/t") gold with a high of 1.22 g/t gold. These results, in combination with historic structural and stratigraphic data, will be used in prioritizing drill targets for the next phase of exploration.
"The Horsethief area isn't typically considered prospective for sediment-hosted gold ("SHG") deposits, however, a considerable amount of exploration has recently recognized potential SHG prospects outside of the Carlin and Cortez trends," noted Jason Weber, P.Geo., President and CEO of Alianza, "Horsethief clearly shows potential for SHG mineralization. Modelling of previous drill and geophysical data with our recent field observations, we will be able to select high priority targets for drill testing."
Horsethief Exploration Results
The 2016 program focussed on gaining an understanding of the property stratigraphy and potential structural controls for mineralization. It was successful in identifying multiple new occurrences of jasperoid alteration in limestone and dolostone rocks considered to be Upper Cambrian age Dunderburg Formation. Sampling of both the jasperoids and carbonate rocks returned gold values ranging from below detection to 1.22 g/t gold and 11 of 68 rock samples collected returned gold values more than 0.10 g/t gold. A further 10 samples were considered anomalous in gold.
Two primary target areas have emerged, both characterized by jasperoid alteration, anomalous gold and pathfinder element (silver ("Ag"), arsenic ("As"), mercury ("Hg"), molybdenum ("Mo"), antimony ("Sb")) geochemistry and complex structural setting. The North Horsethief target is dominated by a 900 by 150 metre jasperoid breccia occurrence at the contact of the Cambrian carbonate stratigraphy with Tertiary age volcanic tuffs that surround the property. Strongly anomalous gold geochemistry and coincident pathfinder element geochemistry in rocks and soils are associated with north-south, northeast and east-west oriented faulting. The highest rock sample reported from the property (sampled by a previous operator - 21.94 g/t gold) is located in this area. Immediately east of the main jasperoid body, vuggy fluorite and barite were noted in a smaller outcrop of jasperoid located on an east-west fault.
The second area, Horsethief South, lies approximately one kilometre southeast of Horsethief North. This area hosts jasperoid alteration coincident with east-west and lesser north-south and northeast oriented structures. Gold values are subdued as compared to the northern target, but pathfinder geochemical anomalies are strong for As, Hg, Sb and Mo in soils. A strong Induced Polarization ("IP") geophysical anomaly exists at this target, persisting to depth to the limits of the survey (approximately 250 metres).
The Horsethief property is located in Lincoln County, Nevada, approximately 20 km northeast of Pioche. Work by prior operators included mapping and sampling hematite-rich jasperoid breccia outcrops followed by shallow drilling. Historic drilling, generally 100 metres or less in depth, returned multiple intervals of gold mineralization including 13.7 metres averaging 1.2 g/t gold and 39.6 metres averaging 0.79 g/t gold with four holes terminating in mineralization. Gold mineralization was hosted in both silty limestone and jasperoid.
Source: http://alianzaminerals.com/