TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 18, 2013) - Minsud Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE:MSR) ("Minsud" or the "Company") announces exploration results from the Chinchillones Complex area of the Chita Valley diatreme volcanic vent/porphyry complex.
The following is an update on recent exploration work conducted on the Chinchillones Complex sector of the Chita Valley Project (the Project") located in San Juan Province, Argentina. The Project is a large exploration stage diatreme volcanic vent/porphyry complex with classic alteration features, widespread porphyry style Cu-Mo-Ag-Au mineralization, and associated gold and silver-bearing polymetallic veins.
Exploration Work First Half 2013
Minsud's current strategy for the Chita Valley Project is the continuation of systematic detailed geological mapping and alteration studies with selective surface sampling. This document provides an update on a geological assemblage, herein termed the Chinchillones Porphyry Diatreme Complex, that was once considered to be several target areas (Chinchillones, Chinchillones South, Porphyry A, Breccias Ridge and De los Pozos breccia). Ongoing and follow up work in other parts of the Chita Valley Project including Chita North Porphyry, Placetas Porphyry and Pinto will be reported upon as results are available.
Chinchillones Porphyry Diatreme Complex
The strategy is to continue expanding the areas covered by detailed mapping to eventually include the entire Chita Valley Properties area. Lithological, alteration, structural and mineralization studies that initially focused on the Chinchillones and Chita South Porphyry areas are being expanded to include other nearby sectors (Chita North Porphyry, Breccias Ridge, Placetas Porphyry, Romina and Pinto) to eventually produce a coordinated exploration and mineral deposits model for the entire property.
The Chita Valley Project is located within the eastern part of the mountain range known as the Andean Frontal Cordillera. The palaeozoic basement of the Andean Frontal Cordillera is exposed on its easternmost margin, where it meets the Rodeo-Calingasta basin. To the west of the Chita Valley area is the high mountain range, or Andean Principal Cordillera, including the El Indio Belt. The Chinchillones Porphyry Diatreme Complex is a component part of the larger Tertiary age Chita Valley diatreme volcanic vent/porphyry complex.
The exposed basement of the Chinchillones Complex comprises quartzites, siltstones and shales of the Carboniferous age Agua Negra Formation. The sedimentary succession is cut by several phases of intrusive porphyries and related breccias of probable Miocene age. The Agua Negra sediments in the southwestern corner of the area are overlain by felsic volcaniclastics and mafic flows/dykes of probable Miocene age. The area is structurally controlled by the Chita Valley (NW striking valley associated with a regional transfer fault), at a turning point or break in orientation. In addition the Chinchillones Complex is locally characterized by radial and ring fractures around its margins that may be associated with caldera subsidence and resurgent dome phenomena. The lithological and structural setting is shown in Figure 1 with a more detailed geological map available on the Company's website.
Alteration is variable and pervasive throughout most units. Figure 2 shows the alteration patterns in outcrop areas and a more detailed map is available on the Company's website.
Precious and base mineralization is widespread and variable in host rock, metal content and ratios. Earlier information releases have reported on some of the component parts of the Chinchillones Complex, namely:
- Porphyry A Target: The felsic porphyry hosted mineralization comprises low to moderate grade disseminations, stockwork and veinlets with widespread Mo + Cu mineralization along with localized Au + Ag values (28/04/2011).
- Chinchillones Breccias Target: is a complex breccia hosted by Agua Negra sediments near the porphyry contact, with a superimposed epithermal system (15/11/2012).
- Breccias Ridge Target: located in the northern segment of the Chita Valley, with many similarities to the Chinchillones Breccias area.
- South Chinchillones Targets: are NE trending structurally controlled Au+Ag bearing polymetallic veins hosted by Agua Negra Formation quartzite. Vein systems develop in at least three corridors (14/09/2011).
The 2012 ground magnetic survey, the continuation of detailed lithological, structural and alteration mapping into the Breccias Ridge and Breccias de los Pozos sectors, and a re-examination of historical RC drilling data were the final threads bringing the Chinchillones Complex geological model together.
- The magnetic data, even at relatively wide 200m line spacing, is helpful for defining structural, lithological and alteration features beneath areas covered by Quaternary deposits.
- The geological mapping/surface bedrock sampling program greatly enhanced the geological knowledge of the area and produced a comprehensive database to build upon.
- The historical RC drilling data can now be viewed in a fuller context.
Mapping at Breccias Ridge resulted in a much clearer understanding of that sector. The rugged terrain has enabled a clear understanding of the paleotectonic details of the northern margin of the Chinchillones Complex. The area is thought to represent the outer marginal part of a caldera/resurgent dome structure related to the Chinchillones Complex. The sector is extensively fractured and altered, with widespread quartz-sulphides disseminations, stockwork and discreet veins. Various breccias also typify the sector. Interpretive cross sections are shown in Figure 3.
Earlier previously reported detailed mapping and sampling results were primarily from the South Chinchillones polymetallic vein corridors and the upper stratigraphic and marginal areas of the Chinchillones breccias areas. The veins contain widespread concentrations of gold and silver including some that may be economically significant either alone or probably more importantly when superimposed upon earlier porphyry/diatreme breccia complex mineralization. The exposed marginal parts of the diatreme breccia complex also contain localized Au and Ag.
In 2008, Minera Sud Argentina S.A. (MSA), now 98.3% controlled by Minsud, drilled three diamond drill holes (845 m) in the areas of Chinchillones South and Breccias Chinchillones testing geophysical anomalies from a previous Schlumberger Vertical Electrical Sounding resistivity survey. Each hole intersected low sulphidation mineralization, MSA geologists recognized that the Breccia Chinchillones was a phreatomatic breccia containing anomalous precious metal values within an ENE to NE striking structure and that several other large breccia on the property with anomalous precious metal values required detailed examination.
Drillhole MSA-08-A intersected 274 m of strongly argillic and phylic altered porphyry containing crystalline quartz veins and veinlets, disseminated sulphides and sulphide veinlets. The entire hole contained anomalous copper and molybdenum values with localized elevated gold and silver values. Drillhole MSA-08-B intersected a series of sub-vertical polymetallic (base metals and Au and Ag) veinlets within a Paleozoic quartzite. This hole was abandoned due to stuck rods before its targeted depth. Drillhole MSA-08-C intersected a series of polymetallic veins and veinlets (base metals and Au and Ag) within the Paleozoic quartzite. In 2011 five diamond drill were completed in the area of drill hole MSA-08-C. The highlight results of the 2008 and 2011 Minsud drilling are presented in the following table.
Chinchillones Complex Previous Minsud Drilling Highlights
Hole # |
Intersection |
Assays |
From |
To |
Interval |
Au |
Ag |
Cu |
Mo |
M |
m |
m |
g/t |
g/t |
ppm |
ppm |
MSA08-A |
26.0 |
300.45 |
274.45 |
0.035 |
0.55 |
990 |
100 |
MSA08-B |
42.0 |
43.0 |
1.0 |
3.40 |
60.10 |
n/a |
Tr |
MSA08-C |
104.0 |
198.0 |
94.0 |
0.12 |
51.00 |
1,500 |
Tr |
ChS11-01 |
112.0 |
114.0 |
2.0 |
0.18 |
105.00 |
13,400 |
Tr |
ChS11-04 |
62.0 |
63.0 |
1.0 |
0.44 |
393.00 |
14,600 |
Tr |
ChS11-05 |
135.0 |
137.0 |
2.0 |
0.40 |
136.00 |
n/a |
Tr |
The De los Pozos Breccias area along the eastern margin of the complex is in essence the mirror image of the Chinchillones Breccia sector to the west. Like Chinchillones the De los Pozos area contains a variety of sedimentary and igneous lithologies, breccias and mineralization types.
The Breccias Ridge and De los Pozos areas were mapped in detail and selectively channel sampled during the first half of 2013. As noted above, historical reverse circulation data in the De los Pozos area was re-examined and incorporated into the overall interpretation. The following table shows highlights of the surface outcrop channel sampling. It is noted that the channel sample base metal values are typically significantly understated due to surface weathering and leaching. This is clearly demonstrated for general comparison purposes by the historical drilling analyses from below the weathering profile. Highlights of the 2013 channel sampling program and the historical drill sampling are presented in the following table. Full sampling results can be seen on the Company's website (www.minsud.com).
2013 De los Pozos and Breccias Ridge Sampling Highlights (with historical RC drilling)
Area |
Trench |
From |
to |
length |
Au |
Ag |
Cu |
Mo |
Pb |
Zn |
|
(Historical RC Hole) |
(m) |
(m) |
(m) |
(g/t) |
(g/t) |
(ppm) |
(ppm) |
(ppm) |
(ppm) |
De los Pozos |
Chinch-2013-03 |
0.00 |
24.00 |
24.00 |
0.04 |
2.2 |
285 |
11 |
160 |
370 |
|
Chinch-2013-04 |
0.00 |
30.00 |
30.00 |
0.14 |
6.7 |
251 |
22 |
97 |
43 |
|
incl. |
0.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
0.27 |
10.5 |
169 |
28 |
43 |
35 |
|
Chinch-2013-05 |
0.00 |
48.00 |
48.00 |
0.05 |
3.4 |
86 |
14 |
269 |
82 |
|
C96-01 |
66.0 |
74.00 |
8.00 |
0.11 |
14.0 |
4967 |
n/a |
1883 |
3759 |
|
C96-02 |
56.00 |
58.00 |
2.00 |
0.25 |
17.0 |
1383 |
n/a |
4744 |
10116 |
|
C96-03 |
108.00 |
116.00 |
8.00 |
0.22 |
9.0 |
8901 |
n/a |
250 |
453 |
|
C96-04 |
160.00 |
162.00 |
2.00 |
1.33 |
81.0 |
8902 |
n/a |
10001 |
20001 |
Breccias |
Chinch-2013-06 |
12.00 |
54.00 |
42.00 |
0.04 |
4.6 |
179 |
5 |
566 |
91 |
Ridge |
incl. |
12.00 |
15.00 |
3.00 |
0.17 |
15.1 |
141 |
6 |
306 |
81 |
|
Chinch-2013-07 |
0.00 |
57.30 |
57.30 |
0.16 |
3.4 |
105 |
39 |
44 |
18 |
|
incl. |
21.00 |
39.30 |
18.30 |
0.33 |
2.1 |
70 |
14 |
28 |
12 |
|
Chinch-2013-08 |
0.00 |
36.00 |
36.00 |
0.03 |
2.3 |
117 |
69 |
58 |
17 |
|
incl. |
30.00 |
33.00 |
3.00 |
0.13 |
7.7 |
263 |
175 |
86 |
21 |
Chinchillones |
Chinch-2013-09 |
0.00 |
42.00 |
42.00 |
0.07 |
4.4 |
145 |
8 |
346 |
85 |
Breccia |
incl. |
0.00 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
0.39 |
17.9 |
175 |
3 |
608 |
51 |
|
Chinch-2013-10 |
0.00 |
14.00 |
14.00 |
0.04 |
2.4 |
167 |
13 |
812 |
116 |
All 2013 samples were submitted to the Alex Stewart (Assayers) Argentina S. A. laboratory in Mendoza, Argentina for preparation and analysis. The laboratory is certified to ISO-9001 international standards. All geochemical grab and channel rock samples were analyzed for Au by fire assay/ AA finish, 50 g, (Au4-50) plus a 39-element ICP scan (AR-39). The sampling and analytical procedures for the historical RC samples are unknown.
THIRD PARTY CLAIM
Within the Chita Valley Project a gap of 6.6 ha between the properties of Chita and Brechas Vacas has been claimed by third parties and is currently under dispute with the local mining authority. The Graphic Register of Mines (Registro Gráfico de minas) has denied registration to such third party's claim. This step is in line with the stance of MSA in the sense that such claim has not enough size either for mineral disseminated or for vein mineralization according to the Argentine Mining Code. This resolution has to be confirmed by the Legal Department of the Secretary of Mines in the San Juan Province.
ONGOING WORK RECOMMENDATION
The combination of mapping, geophysics, surface sampling and previous drilling has clearly defined diatreme volcanic vent/porphyry and epithermal vein target areas. The next proposed steps are:
- Infill magnetometer survey lines in selected key areas to fine tune the details of the geological/mineralization model.
- Evaluate the potential of advanced geophysical methods such as 'state of the art' IP/resistivity and/or CSAMT test surveys.
- Design drilling program to test high quality exploration targets.
Mr. Howard Coates, Professional Geoscientist, Director and Vice President Exploration of the Company and a geological consultant, is a qualified person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Coates visited the property and has read and approved the contents of this release.
Carlos Massa Minsud's President & CEO, states: Even though the mining business chain is under immense stress, we are proud for having the possibility to continue exploring in this enigmatic Chita Valley Project adding increased potential by mean of the identification of high quality targets.
To view the figures and photographs accompanying this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/msr718i.pdf
About Minsud Resources Corp.:
Minsud is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring its flagship Chita Valley Project, primarily for gold, silver and copper in San Juan Province, as well as advancing its La Rosita gold and silver project at the Deseado Massif - Santa Cruz Province, República Argentina. The Company also holds a 100% owned portfolio of selected early stage prospects, approximately 60,000 hectares distributed within the Provinces of Santa Cruz, Chubut and Rio Negro, República Argentina.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
This news release includes certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements about strategic plans, spending commitments, future operations, results of exploration, anticipated financial results, future work programs, capital expenditures and objectives. Forward- looking-information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the risks identified in the Company's TSXV Filing Statement dated April 27, 2011 under the heading "Risk Factors". There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking-information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.