FEW POINTS - I wonder if, Afton is usining a ( Cu Eq ) to augment their copper grades ?
If i recall... Afton has a 0.07% Molybdenum
Ajax and Afton are quite close in proximity.
My hunch was correct ( former post )
Ajax does host Molybdenum.
And... platinum and paladium.
And, Epidotite. ( Green silicate )
Harbors solution minerals.
Which brings subject round to... are copper values only oxide or...
total copper which include ( solution + oxide + carbonate )
Page 72 2012 Report
The discussion below focuses on copper, gold,
molybdenum, and silver assays. Palladium and platinum were analyzed for certain
drill campaigns but are not considered relevant to the mineral resource at Ajax.
Any of the base metal elements (silver, lead, zinc) that are over limit (more than 1.0%)
are immediately run as an assay as per the copper assay protocol above.
Molybdenum is run as an assay if it exceeds 500 ppm during the ICP-AES method.
Page 78 ( ho hum )
AMEC recommended reviewing the sample preparation procedures to improve the precision
achieved by the assay laboratory. Possible improvements include finer
crushing of the sample prior to splitting, better blending and/or splitting of the
sample, and splitting of a larger sub-sample for pulverization.
https://amemining.com/site/assets/files/5750/2012_01_06_feasibility_study_ajax.pdf
What i would do ?
Reassay using finer grind = would liberate more mineras
Factor solution minerals, look for total = copper, plat groups in the epidotite
reassy for Moly values
Extend deposit ( drill holes seen outside of pit constraint ) far larger footprint
In another report ( took screenshot ) and as mentioned in post,
there are other outlier drills outside the main pit constraint which would
add mega tonnage to resources if...mineralized. Outside host rock has same
color ( aqua green as inside pit shells )
Expansion of pit could offer the option of, open pit not as deep.
Here... i'll post the image, ( have to upload ) grrr
Upper left side - outside of pit - i'm seeing very faint round drill hole logs. ( magnify glass )
And...2 more easterly which are apparent.
And.... why would Afton perform such a large raise ?
Interesting.