Drilling has begunMr. Bruce Briggs reports
REMAC COMMENCES 2007 EXPLORATION PROGRAM
Remac Zinc Corp. has started work on the 2007 surface exploration program at the Remac zinc project located 25 kilometres east of Trail in southeastern British Columbia. The planned program will consist of approximately 13,000 metres of diamond drilling to test the depth and strike extensions of the Reeves limestone unit stratigraphy which hosts several known zinc-silver-lead mineralized zones, some of which have been previously mined. It is expected that the $5-million drilling program will continue through November, 2007.
The Remac property consists of 78 contiguous mineral claims covering approximately 3,500 hectares and comprises several properties owned or held under option by Remac Zinc Development Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Remac Zinc. The claims include those that cover most of the old production areas of the Reeves MacDonald sulphide mine and adjoining Annex property, which produced a combined total of 7.25 million tons of ore over a 25-year period, before closing in 1975. The overlying oxide zones were not mined, as the technology to economically recover zinc in its oxide form was not available at that time.
Mineralization on the Remac property occurs in a series of carbonate-hosted base metal deposits and prospects exposed over a distance of approximately four kilometres, referred to as the Reeves-Red Bird corridor. The most significant mineralization is hosted by dolomitized limestone of the Reeves member of the Lower Cambrian Laib formation. The base metal zones are in the form of elongated lenses typically 100 to 200 m long, five to 25 m wide and extend over 1,000 m downplunge (before faulting). Historic mining records indicate extraordinary continuity in size and grade over these dimensions. There are four, and possibly five, known zones of mineralization, typically striking east to east-northeast, dipping 50 to 60 degrees south and plunging 45 to 60 degrees west. The zones have been offset by a number of east-dipping normal faults that repeat them several times to produce a series of distinct zinc deposits.
The sulphide deposits, which consist of laminations and lenses of mainly pyrite, sphalerite and galena, are structurally conformable and stratabound, and often contain a high-grade central core which feathers out along strike. Extensive barren pyritic zones are not known to occur. The upper portions of most of the zinc zones have been oxidized to zinc-rich limonitic gossans or soils. Based on data from underground workings and surface drill holes the oxidized zone is known to extend as deep as 450 m below surface in some areas.
There is the potential to develop significant mineral resources on the property, in both the sulphide and oxide zones. In 2001 a report by George Gorzynski indicated a sulphide reserve of 443,000 tons grading 5.35 per cent Zn and 2.45 per cent Pb in a zone immediately below the previous Annex mine workings. In addition, an oxide potential of approximately 5.4 million tonnes at 9.3 per cent Zn was estimated for all the zones recognized on the Reeves and Red Bird properties. These resource estimates do not comply with the guidelines of NI 43-101 but were calculated to provide a general indication of the possible amount of mineralization on the property. Gorzynski's sulphide estimate represents a portion of the total sulphide potential based on the current geological model, which suggests that normal faulting has brought the major sulphide units closer to surface, thereby providing prime exploration targets
The objective of the 2007 work program is to expand the overall resource potential of the property and identify those zones (oxide and/or sulphide) to be targeted for future exploration by underground development and drilling. The initial diamond drilling will target extensions of known sulphide mineralization below the existing Red Bird workings and then focus on exploring for new mineralized zones in the previously untested western portions of the property. In addition, a program will be developed to further explore the oxide mineralization, since recent metallurgical testwork by SGS Lakefield has indicated that a potentially viable extraction process can be developed for this material. Additional metallurgical testwork is currently planned to confirm and optimize the results of the preliminary test program.
The diamond drilling contract has been awarded to Midpoint Drilling Ltd. of Langley, B.C. Drilling has commenced on the first hole and a second drill is expected to be operational within 30 days. A camp facility has been constructed at the project site to accommodate the contractor as well as the company's project management, and geological and support personnel. Environmental consultant Gartner Lee Ltd. has conducted a preliminary site assessment and management is pleased to report that no significant environmental issues have been identified. Baseline data collection has now commenced, which will support the permitting requirements for a potential future mine development program.