Alta Zinc Ltd (ASX:AZI) has returned very high-grade zinc-lead results from drilling and channel sampling at a new target area 320 metres north of the high-grade Pian Bracca corridor and from the Ponente area at Gorno Zinc Project in northern Italy.
The results are from areas inside one of the 13 exploration target areas, but significantly outside the recently announced mineral resource estimate.
It is the first time that drilling has intersected Pian Bracca-style mineralisation outside the well-defined corridor and presents the opportunity to find this ‘high-grade’ mineralisation style in other areas.
The results of up to 39% zinc and 4.6% lead, along with silver, validate a combination of recent structural interpretation and geophysical survey responses, allied with historic drill results.
AZI’s next phase of drilling will focus on exploration target areas, which lie proximal to and outside of the mineral resource estimate area.
Potential Tier-1 asset
Managing director Geraint Harris said: “We are very pleased that our recent drilling is already delivering results that support our exploration target assessment and we are expanding the known mineralisation outside of our JORC mineral resource area.
“We believe in this way Gorno will grow to be recognised as a Tier 1 base-metals asset”.
Pian Bracca corridor
The drilling north of the Pian Bracca corridor targeted an area identified by its similar structural geology and is adjacent to a geophysical anomaly outlined by an earlier surface Induced Polarisation (IP) program.
Multiple intervals of the distinctive and high-grade Pian Bracca style mineralisation were intersected confirming that this style of mineralisation is far more widespread than previously seen.
The results endorse Alta’s systematic exploration process, which is now delivering new zones of mineralisation within the highly prospective Gorno Project area.
Highlights of the results include:
- 2.3 metres at 18.6% zinc and 4.6% lead (23.2% zinc + lead) and 90 g/t silver;
- 2.4 metres at 39.0% zinc and 2.8% lead (41.8% zinc + lead) and 90 g/t silver; and
- 4.7 metres at 29.0% zinc and 3.7% lead (32.7% zinc + lead) and 90 g/t silver.
Ponente area
Drilling at Ponente intersected mineralisation outside of the mineral resource estimate area, extending the mineralisation 100 metres to the east and west.
Hole POD44 intersected 4.9 metres at 8.6% zinc and lead, increasing the thickness of the known mineralisation while hole POD39 extends the mineralisation south into an area where historical drilling returned a number of intersections of high-grade mineralisation.
The potential extension of this mineralisation down-dip towards the Zorzone area can be drill tested from existing development
All new drilling and channel sampling tested areas outside of the current resource estimate and has intersected mineralisation which adds support for the exploration target at Areas 10 and 11.
Highlights of the drilling at Ponente include:
- 2.2 metres at 7.0% zinc and 2.2% lead (9.2% zinc + lead) and 29 g/t silver;
- 3.7 metres at 7.3% zinc and 1.8% lead (9.1% zinc + lead) and 19 g/t silver; and
- 4.9 metres at 6.9% zinc and 1.8% lead (8.6% zinc + lead) and 9 g/t silver.
Next steps
Alta Zinc company will now pause drilling to undertake a full reconnaissance in preparation to step out the exploration campaign into the vicinity of accessible historical development.
The work involves laser survey and geological mapping to further refine the structural understanding of the area and channel sampling of any new mineralisation discovered.
This low-cost exploration methodology has been used as a precursor to both the Pian Bracca and Ponente drill campaigns with great success.
The work is also intended to provide JORC compliant channel samples for future mineral resource assessment and assay data generated will be announced as it becomes available.
