Empire Resources Limited (ASX: ERL) has announced a highly positive update on the drilling at its Yuinmery Copper-Gold project in WA.
The company reported further high-grade results from the drilling at its YT01 prospect and Smith Well prospect.
At the YT01 prospect, ERL announced that Step out RC drilling in March demonstrated broad copper-gold sulphide mineralisation within the newly identified southern horizon.
Significant results from 4m composite sampling include 30m @ 0.50% Cu & 0.07g/t Au from 108m to EOH, including 12m @ 0.73% Cu & 0.10g/t Au from 112m ; 4m @ 0.61% Cu & 0.37g/t Au from 152 to EOH; and 4m @ 0.82% Cu & 0.11g/t Au from 56m.
The high-grade copper in recently returned 1m composite samples taken during January RC drill program include 12m @ 1.02% Cu from 44m including 1m @ 2.56% Cu from 44m and 3m @ 1.31% Cu from 48m; and 3m @ 1.01% Cu from 57m and 1m @ 1.03% Cu from 79m.
ERL reported that the follow up RC drilling at Smith Well continued to demonstrate the potential of the prospect to host substantial copper-nickel sulphide mineralisation.
Significant results include 12m @ 0.49% Cu, 0.28% Ni & 0.03% Co from 86m including 4m @ 0.61% Cu, 0.32% Ni & 0.04% Co from 94m; and 12m @ 0.38% Cu & 0.01% Ni from 60m.
ERL said that follow up RC drilling is planned to commence in May to test depth extensions of the Smith Well sulphide mineralisation, while Downhole Electromagnetic (DHEM) geophysical surveys are planned for the June quarter to test for massive sulphide mineralisation within the YT01 prospect.
Yuinmery project
The Yuinmery Copper-Gold project is located in the Mid-West region of Western Australia and consists of five granted tenements, two mining and three exploration, for a total area of 84.5 km2.
Several zones of copper – gold mineralization have been identified within the project area by previous surface sampling and drilling. Significant prospects include Constantine, A Zone, Smith Well, YT01, and Just Desserts prospects.
Drilling at Yuinmery
The company had recently completed a seven-hole reverse circulation (RC) drill program for 780m at the Yuinmery Copper-Gold Project. The program tested for copper-gold sulphide mineralisation at YT01 prospect and followed up encouraging RC results from the January RC drill program at Smith Well.
The March 2020 RC drilling program continues Empire’s staged approach to identifying and testing copper-gold anomalism analogous to the current Just Desserts JORC 2012 Resource of 2.52Mt @ 1.31% Cu, 0.49g/t Au & 1.76g/t Ag.
Further high-grade results reported
The Company had completed its maiden RC drilling program of the YT01 and YT19 prospects with results demonstrating the excellent potential for discovery of new copper-gold mineralisation.
YT01 prospect
The company reported that high-grade copper in recently returned 1m composite samples taken during January RC drill program include 1m @ 2.56% Cu from 44m and 3m @ 1.31% Cu from 48m within 12m @ 1.02% Cu from 44m (YRC20-03); and 3m @ 1.01% Cu from 57m and 1m @ 1.03% Cu from 79m (YRC20-02).
ERL said that the Initial 4m composite assays sent for multi-element analysis have been received with significant results from drilling.
Highlights include 30m @ 0.50% Cu & 0.07g/t Au from 108m to EOH, including 12m @ 0.73% Cu & 0.10g/t Au from 112m (YRC20-14); 12m @ 0.37% Cu & 0.14g/t Au from 144m to EOH, including 4m @ 0.61% Cu & 0.37g/t Au from 152m to EOH (YRC20-15); and 24m @ 0.44% Cu & 0.12g/t Au from 56m including 4m @ 0.82% Cu & 0.09g/t Au from 56m (YRC20-16).
The company said that select original 1m splits samples from the March 2020 drilling have been collected and submitted for analysis.
DHEM surveys planned
ERL said that Downhole Electromagnetic (DHEM) geophysical surveys are currently being planned for the June quarter. The DHEM surveys will test for electromagnetic signatures commonly associated with sulphide mineralisation. The company noted that any encouraging electromagnetic responses returned from the DHEM surveys will assist in designing future drilling programs targeting sulphide mineralisation.
Smith Well prospect
Empire Resources reported that two holes were drilled in the March RC program to confirm the dip and orientation of the mineralisation identified in YRC20-10.
The company said that both holes intercepted mineralisation as either oxide or sulphide.
Significant intercepts for this drilling include 28m @ 0.33% Cu & 0.01% Ni from 60m (YRC20-12) and 12m @ 0.49% Cu, 0.28% Ni & 0.03% Co from 86m, including 4m @ 0.61% Cu, 0.32% Ni & 0.04% Co from 94m (YRC20-13).
The company reported that additional 1m split samples from the March 2020 drilling at Smith Well have been collected and submitted for analysis.
RC drilling, DHEM surveys planned
ERL announced that further RC drilling is planned for Smith Well in May 2020 to continue testing the extent and orientation of mineralisation at this exciting prospect.
Following the drilling, and subject to results, the company said that a program of Downhole Electromagnetic (DHEM) geophysical surveys has been planned for the June quarter. The DHEM surveys will test for off-hole electromagnetic sulphide mineralisation signatures.
What’s next?
The company announced that further work planned at Yuinmery includes down hole surveying using a north seeking gyro tool; reconnaissance drilling programs planned to test high priority target areas; soil and rock sampling programs; prospect scale mapping; reinterpretation of geophysical data, including EM and aeromagnetic / radiometric data; RC drilling; and Down hole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys.
Management comments
Empire Managing Director, Sean Richardson said: “RC drilling at Yuinmery continues to return excellent results. The results from drilling reaffirms the Company’s view that the Yuinmery Project has strong potential to host multiple copper-gold and copper-nickel deposits.
The excellent results from drilling at YT01 highlight the potential for discovery of new copper-gold deposits within the new southern horizon. Meanwhile, Smith Well continues to demonstrate potential with more broad zones of sulphide mineralisation returned from this prospect. The Company looks forward to further investigation of this exciting prospect.
The Company’s systematic approach to undertaking exploration activities continues to return positive results.”