Opawica Explorations (TSX-V:OPW) has intersected a 60m long mineralised zone at its Bazooka Property in Québec that has measured grades of up to 234 grams per tonne gold.
The zone was intersected at a depth of between 190m and 250m, with the hole drilled down to a total depth of 303m.
CEO Blake Morgan says the results so far have given Opawica a strong understanding of the mineralised system, with multiple holes intersecting broad zones of mineralisation, including visible gold.
Within the 60m interval, a 12m section – running from 189.8m to 202.5m depth – returned an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) reading of 66 parts per million (ppm), which equates to 66 grams per tonne, gold at a depth of 196m.
This was followed by a 30.4m intermediate zone that returned lower levels of mineralisation, but also a deeper and well mineralised zone that contained about 2% arsenopyrite and delivered an XRF reading of 234g/t gold.
Earlier in April, Opawica reported XRF grades of up to 190g/t.
XRF is a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials such as drill core.
Analysers determine the chemistry of a sample by measuring the fluorescent (or secondary) x-ray emitted from a sample when it is excited by a primary x-ray source.
The results only provide an indication of the amount of minerals present. Certified assaying of the core samples is still required to accurately determine the amount of base metal and precious metal mineralisation.
Opawica says the 12m section, which started at 189.8m below surface, exhibited strong silicification and sericitization with visible arsenopyrite – which are all key indicators of possible gold mineralisation.
The presence of silicification can indicate the proximity of potential ore bodies, while increased sericitization can be a key sign of the presence of gold and other metals.
Arsenopyrite, meanwhile, is commonly found in hydrothermal ore deposits, particularly gold deposits, and can assist in determining the extent and nature of the mineralisation.
Opawica notes that between 189.8m and 202.2m, the drill hole encountered a yellowish-grey-green rock unit that is “intensely” silicified and sericitized, with abundant quartz veins and veinlets throughout.
A higher concentration of arsenopyrite was observed between 195m and 196.5m.
The XRF reading taken at 196m returned values of 8,514ppm arsenic, 66ppm gold, 49ppm nickel, and 139ppm chromium.
Core samples are now being analysed at the ALS Chemex lab in Québec.
The Cadillac-Lake Larder Fault Zone, also known as the Cadillac Break, is a 150m wide structure that controls the location of major gold deposits within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, which extends from Quèbec into neighbouring Ontario and has produced over 200 million ounces of gold since the early 1900s.
Opawica’s project is located in the Rouyn-Noranda region of the Abitibi Gold Belt.
The company’s latest discovery comes close on the heels of the gold price hitting US$3,300 ($5,198) an ounce. Saxo Bank has lifted its 2025 gold price target up to US$3,500 an ounce and expects support for the safehaven metal to continue in the short to medium term.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Opwica Explorations
