VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 10, 2022 / CopperBank Resources Corp. ("CopperBank" or the "Company") (CSE:CBK) is pleased to report the commencement of drilling at its 100% owned Copper Creek project, approximately 120 kilometers northeast of Tucson, Arizona.
Paul Harbidge President and CEO stated, "After a hiatus of a decade on Copper Creek, the new team is excited about starting our first drilling program to test both high-grade, near surface mineralization to advance the open pit concept, as well as deeper holes to test the underground bulk-mining opportunity."
Highlights:
- Diamond drilling commenced on February 8, 2022;
- Initial 5,000 meter, eight-hole program designed to drill both high-grade, breccia and porphyry copper mineralization;
- Geological model development underway through the relogging of historic drill core and the interpretation and integration of historic data sets;
- Geotechnical program initiated, including comprehensive assessments of both open pit and underground bulk-mining opportunities;
- Metallurgical data review in progress, targeting a proactive testing program ahead of further near-term technical studies; and
- Survey program commenced with high-resolution topographic data collection, update of survey controls and historic data digitization.
Figure 1: Diamond drilling in Hole #3
Copper Creek Phase I Drilling Program (refer Figure 2 below)
The diamond drilling program is designed to test previously undrilled areas between zones of known high-grade mineralization, confirm historic drill results, obtain geotechnical information needed to advance mine planning, provide samples for metallurgical test work and commence hydrogeological studies, as outlined below:
Figure 2: 2022 Phase I Drilling Program - Copper Creek, Arizona, USA
- Hole #1 (~500 meters): Drilled from Childs-Adwinkle to Mammoth breccias (north to south) to provide infill drilling between the Childs-Adwinkle, White Bear and Mammoth breccias. Additionally, it will provide geotechnical information and seek to confirm historic drilling results from the Mammoth breccia.
- Hole #2 (~450 meters): Drilled below the Glory Hole breccia (north-northwest to south-southeast) at the northwestern margin of the resource area and aiming to confirm mineralization hosted in several high-grade breccias.
- Hole #3 (~500 meters): Drilled from the Glory Hole breccia southeast towards the Copper Prince breccia, targeting confirmation of high-grade mineralization at the Copper Prince breccia, in addition to testing the previously undrilled area between the Glory Hole and Copper Prince breccias.
- Hole #4 (~1,200 meters): Angled from northwest to southeast across the Copper Creek fault to the Keel deposit - the longest of the planned holes designed to provide geotechnical and structural information to support the open pit potential - targeting the upper portion of the Keel high-grade zone below the Mammoth breccia. Instrumentation will be installed to gather hydrogeological data.
- Hole #5 (~550 meters): Drilled from the Copper Prince to the Copper Giant breccia to the north, this infill drill hole is expected to expand the existing resource and extend the Copper Giant breccia below its current known extent.
- Hole #6 (~500 meters): Drilled from the Copper Giant to the Copper Prince breccia to the south and intended to further define the eastward extent of the Copper Prince breccia, while allowing for drill results below known breccia bodies to the south.
- Hole #7 (~800 meters): Angled to the north across the American Eagle resource, targeting an area of mineralization above the American Eagle porphyry deposit, while providing geotechnical information for the planned underground mine design. Instrumentation will be installed to gather hydrogeological data.
- Hole #8 (~500 meters): Drilled from northeast to southwest below the Old Reliable historic mining location - for which no data exists below 300 meters from surface - and is designed to test the areas below the breccia and to the northeast of known mineralization.
In parallel with the drilling program, a geological model for the Copper Creek deposit is under development to support a new Mineral Resource Estimate, currently expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022. The scope of work includes an audit of previous logging, relogging of select drill core, assaying of previous unsampled core, collection of hyperspectral data and the interpretation and integration of multiple technical datasets including lithology, petrography, geochemistry and geophysics.
Zach Allwright, VP Projects and Evaluations stated, "The team has taken a proactive approach to data gathering at Copper Creek to ensure the highest quality technical assessment can be delivered. As such, the comprehensive geotechnical program encompasses photo logging, televiewer deployment in key drillholes, structural analysis and geotechnical interpretation. A preliminary review of existing metallurgical data is underway to drive an effective and rigorous metallurgical test work program later this year to complement the historic data and studies."
Qualified Person(s)
The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by CopperBank's VP of Exploration, Dr. Thomas Bissig, P.Geo, and CopperBank's VP of Projects and Evaluations, Zach Allwright, P.Eng, both of whom are Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About CopperBank
CopperBank is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing two copper projects in The United States of America. The Company trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "CBK".
www.copperbankcorp.com
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