Hillgrove updates exploration result of Sumba Project
Tuesday, November 23 2010 - 02:20 AM WIB
Drilling
Initial scout diamond drilling of selected targets within the Masu Project is now complete.
Deeper drilling on the West Vein target largely confirmed elevated gold values in trenching and earlier shallow drilling, with better results being:
? MADPH022: 5.4m @ 3.60g/t Au,
? MADPH024: 10.1m @ 2.58g/tAu.
The West Vein dips steeply towards the west and remains open at depth and along strike to the north, where it disappears under younger sedimentary cover. Gold mineralisation is hosted in low sulphidation quartz - sulphide epithermal veins. Although open along strike and at depth, the overall grade/thickness properties of the West Vein suggest it would not be of sufficient size to support a standalone gold operation.
East Vein sampling has encountered broad, low grade gold values in surface trenching, modest gold grades and widths in shallow drilling but almost universally thin, low gold grades in deeper drilling. Structural interpretation of the East Vein complex shows the vein system flattening out significantly, with a corresponding decrease in observed width and gold grade. No further drilling is proposed on this target at this time, with one drill rig demobilised and the second placed on standby. Drilling will recommence at Masu on completion of the planned geophysical survey and after re-evaluation of all data and thence geochemical sampling of selected targets based on this re-evaluation.
Trenching
Trenching of observed epithermal veins, silicified zones and higher soil gold values is continuing.
Mapping and Soil Sampling
Regional reconnaissance geological mapping continues to expand the known extent of hydrothermal alteration, quartz veins and silicification along the Masu Corridor.
Soil sampling is ongoing over altered volcanic lithology identified through the mapping process. Geophysical Survey
An airborne magnetic and radiometric survey is planned to commence over the Masu Project in early December. The geophysical survey is designed to provide a clearer picture on the regional-scale structural picture at Masu, to assess for the presence of favourable structural targets beneath shallow cover and to assess the potential for shallow buried porphyries.
Project Review
At the invitation of Hillgrove, the Masu Project area has recently been visited by an internationally reputed epithermal gold mineralisation specialist over a six day period with a brief to review existing exploration results and provide comparisons to similar epithermal gold systems in the Pacific Rim. The review concurred with Hillgrove?s emerging view that the West and East Veins are intrusion-related low sulphidation epithermal quartz-sulphide Au ? base metal occurrences that were unlikely to be of sufficient size to support an economic mining proposition, but that further exploration of the Masu corridor was definitely warranted.
Tanah Daro Project ? Pelitalira Prospect
Surface sampling at the Pelitalira Prospect, located in Central Sumba, resumed after the successful completion of land access socialisation.
The Pelitalira prospect comprises a prominent hill of silicified, intermediate volcanic lithology cut by quartz lodes in a number of locations. Intense hydrothermal alteration is also evident across the entire prospect area.
Soil sampling has to date identified a 200m x 300m gold anomaly grading > 1 g/t Au, trending WNW where it disappears under shallow cover.
Rock chip sampling of altered volcanic lithology and quartz lodes has returned significant gold, silver and in places copper values.
These results are very encouraging and support a decision to undertake scout drilling in the near term. Sampling, mapping and planned trenching will continue, in preparation for a planned drilling campaign in Q1, 2011.
Commenting on the results, Hiligrove Managing Director Drew Simonsen said ?Drilling and sampling has confirmed widespread gold mineralisation across the Masu project area. Although results to date indicate tested targets are relatively small, the Masu corridor is both large and significant, and remains highly prospective for large gold deposit occurrences. Our activity to date is really only just scratching the surface. The more we look, the more we find.
?With the help of specialists in this type of extensive epithermal mineralogy, Hillgrove has now determined to undertake a geophysical examination of the Masu project area and re-evaluate work and interpretation to date with a view to gaining a deeper understanding of controls on gold mineralisation. In addition, Pelitlaira is shaping up as a very interesting target and we look forward to bringing news of our progress there over the coming months.? (end of edited release)