Exploration pit EP-LC11-TR-10, representing the southwest extension of the Intermediate Area, exposed the true thickness of the highly mineralized vein averaging 1.62 metre of 2.52 g/t Au and 6.0 g/t Ag. Systematic sampling along the strike and dip of the vein returned extremely high gold and silver values ranging from 1.53 to 122.40 g/t Au and 2.9 to greater than 100 g/t Ag. A bulk sample will be collected to more accurately evaluate the grade of this target. Only one sample was collected from the surrounding country rock (phyllites), which returned 0.12 g/t Au and 1.1 g/t Ag.
Trenching
Trenching has outlined 4 parallel NE/SW trending structurally controlled mineralized zones (see attached map) ranging from 300 to 1,500 metres in length, located approximately 1.5 kilometres south of the San Albino Gold Deposit and covering a 2.5 square kilometre area.
The Intermediate Area, outlined by 13 trenches, has been traced at surface over a strike length of approximately 1 kilometre, remaining open along strike in both directions and down-dip. A total of 353 samples were collected from 13 trenches (see Table 2 below) spaced approximately 50 metres apart (see news releases dated April 12, 2011, May 25, 2011 and October 20, 2011). Two trenches (LC11-TR-27 and LC11-TR-28) were not deep enough to expose the vein. A further two trenches were completed at and near Mina Francisco (see news release dated September 24, 2012), which appears to represent the northeast extension of the zone, with the best intervals returning:
- SAM-12-TR-07 8.0 metres of 4.28 g/t gold and 12.6 g/t silver, comprised of 4.0 metres of 3.29 g/t gold and 18.0 g/t silver from quartz vein, and 4.0 metres of 5.28 g/t gold and 7.3 g/t silver from host rock (phyllites)- SAM-12-TR-08 1.0 metre of 4.52 g/t gold and 11.1 g/t silver from quartz vein, and 2.0 metres of 7.44 g/t gold and 6.5 g/t silver from host rock (phyllites)
The near-surface Mina Francisco has now been exposed for 12 metres in strike length and 7 metres down-dip at a depth of only 5 metres from surface. Underground sampling, also completed in 2012, returned an average thickness of 1.56 metres grading 13.04 g/t gold and 22.7 g/t silver, including:
- 2.0 metres of 33.35 g/t gold and 42.8 g/t silver- 2.0 metres of 26.45 g/t gold and 30.7 g/t silver- 2.0 metres of 23.87 g/t gold and 40.8 g/t silver
Highlights from trenching completed to date include:
- INT11-TR-01 8.2 metres (from 9.0 m to 17.2 m) averaging 20.64 g/t gold and 26.87 g/t silver including 5.2 metres (from 9.0 m to 14.2 m) averaging 28.69 g/t gold and 38.8 g/t silver- INT11-TR-02 8.0 metres (from 13.0 m to 21.0 m) averaging 4.37 g/t gold, minor silver including 3.0 metres (from 18.0 m to 21.0 m) averaging 8.83 g/t gold, minor silver and 5.0 metres (from 30.0 m to 35.0 m) averaging 9.44 g/t gold and 9.9 g/t silver and 1.0 metre (from 37.0 to 38.0 m) averaging 32.87 g/t gold and 51.5 g/t silver- INT11-TR-03 12.8 metres (from 7.0 m to 19.8 m) averaging 16.05 g/t gold and 9.9 g/t silver including 3.0 metres (from 11.0 m to 14.0 m) averaging 40.97 g/t gold and 23.7 g/t silver and 1.8 metres (from 17.0 m to 18.8 m) averaging 42.33 g/t gold and 15.9 g/t silver- INT11-TR-04 1.0 metre (from 4.0 m to 5.0 m) averaging 4.52 g/t gold, minor silver and 2.0 metres (from 19.0 m to 21.0 m) averaging 3.11 g/t gold and 9.1 g/t silver- LC11-TR-10 5.3 metres averaging 48.28 g/t gold and 20.98 g/t silver including 2.0 metres averaging 118.91 g/t gold and 40.20 g/t silver- LC11-TR-14 1.0 metre of 2.25 g/t gold and minor silver and 1.0 metre of 0.88 g/t gold and minor silver- LC11-TR-15 1.0 metre of 2.00 g/t gold and minor silver and 1.0 metre of 2.47 g/t gold and 1.20 g/t silver- LC11-TR-16 8.4 metres of 6.53 g/t gold and 6.9 g/t silver including 3.0 metres of 14.44 g/t gold and 13.1 g/t silver
