Hawk Resources (ASX:HWK) has logged visible copper mineralisation in five of seven holes completed during drilling along the Cactus Corridor at its Cactus Copper-Gold Project in Utah, US.
Spot readings taken using a portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analyser range from 1% to 66.6% copper (Cu). The highest reading came from possible chalcocite mineralisation at 59.82m in hole DD26CT010, while readings from the dominant chalcopyrite mineralisation reached 35% Cu.
Hawk cautions that the spot readings are not representative laboratory assays and cannot be used to determine mineralisation grades or widths.
Copper has been observed in veins, fractures, coarse blebs, and disseminations, predominantly within tourmaline breccia. The longest mineralised breccia section logged to date spans 18m in hole DD26CT008.
Managing Director Scott Caithness says the drilling indicates copper mineralisation may extend beyond the tourmaline breccias.
“The copper occurs in coarse blebs, fractures, veins, veinlets, and disseminations primarily in tourmaline breccia; however, preliminary logging of hole DD26CT012 suggests that the mineralisation can extend into altered intrusive interpreted to be along the margins of breccia,” Caithness says.
Spot pXRF readings from holes DD26CT008, DD26CT010, and DD26CT011 also returned anomalous silver, arsenic, and antimony. Hawk interprets these elements as indicators of potential gold mineralisation based on their correlation with gold in laboratory-assayed soil samples across the project.
Historical drilling at Comet returned results including 25.9m @ 1.53 grams per tonne gold (Au) from surface.
Holes DD26CT006 and DD26CT009 did not encounter significant visible mineralisation, although Hawk says laboratory assays will determine whether DD26CT006 intersected an extension of the Comet gold zone. DD26CT009 may have ended before reaching its target.
The company notes its drilling is progressing northwest from Comet into the Cactus zone, with four holes remaining in the current program. The 1km-long corridor extends from the historical Comet deposit through the Cactus mine to the New Years prospect.
Hawk says it is sampling the core for multi-element analysis at ALS (ASX:ALQ) Laboratories in Nevada, with results expected during September and October. The company plans to review the assays before considering further drilling in the December quarter.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Hawk Resources
