Sandfire Resources America Inc. Reports High Grade Copper Intersections at the Black Butte Copper Project
Sandfire Resources America Inc. reported high-grade copper intersections at the Black Butte Copper Project. Initial drill results included hole SC24-279 with 5.37m of 10.2% copper and hole SC24-284 with 6.26m of 10.7% copper. The ongoing 2024 drill program focuses on upgrading and expanding the Johnny Lee Lower Copper Zone resource. The Company has drilled 4,420 meters of a planned 20,000-meter program. The Johnny Lee deposit has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 10.9Mt at an average copper grade of 2.9% and an Inferred Resource of 2.7Mt at an average copper grade of 3.0%. The Company received a Mine Operating Permit for mine development and completed a majority of Phase I construction.
High-grade copper intersections reported at the Black Butte Copper Project.
Initial drill results show promising copper grades of 10.2% and 10.7%.
Ongoing 2024 drill program aimed at upgrading and expanding the Johnny Lee Lower Copper Zone resource.
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 10.9Mt at an average copper grade of 2.9% at Johnny Lee deposit.
Received Mine Operating Permit for mine development and completed Phase I construction.
Uncertainty around the remaining drill program and its impact on resource estimation.
Potential environmental concerns or community opposition related to the mining activities.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Mt., April 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sandfire Resources America Inc. (“Sandfire America” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce initial drill results of its winter exploration drilling program. This includes hole SC24-279 which intercepted 5.37 meters of
The ongoing 2024 drill program focuses on upgrading and expanding the Johnny Lee Lower Copper Zone resource which at last estimate consists of a measured and indicated resource of 1.2 million tonnes grading
Table 1. Black Butte Copper 2024 Exploration Drilling Program
Drill hole ID | collar x | collar y | collar z | azimuth | dip | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | Cu % | Resource |
SC23-278 | 506700.0 | 5180717.0 | 1741.0 | 28.9 | -72 | 64.98 | 81.36 | 16.38 | 1.4 | Upper Copper Zone |
SC23-278 | 433.46 | 446.37 | 12.91 | 4.7 | Lower Copper Zone | |||||
SC24-279 | 506628.0 | 5180702.0 | 1748.0 | 15 | -67 | 62.86 | 76.25 | 13.39 | 2.3 | Upper Copper Zone |
SC24-279 | 461.73 | 467.10 | 5.37 | 10.2 | Lower Copper Zone | |||||
SC24-280 | 507100.0 | 5180848.7 | 1709.4 | 40 | -70 | weakly mineralized | Lower Copper Zone | |||
SC24-281 | 506441.5 | 5180834.2 | 1736 | 32.5 | -78 | 94.98 | 100.58 | 5.60 | 1.8 | Upper Copper Zone |
SC24-281 | 431.66 | 437.54 | 5.88 | 4.6 | Lower Copper Zone | |||||
SC24-282 | 507650.0 | 5180746.0 | 1736.0 | 208 | -80 | weakly mineralized | Lower Copper Zone | |||
SC24-283 | 507213.0 | 5180540.0 | 1713.0 | 44 | -71 | 471.44 | 477.93 | 6.49 | 2.4 | Lower Copper Zone |
SC24-284 | 506900.0 | 5180832.0 | 1721 | 35 | -86 | 383.44 | 392.98 | 9.54 | 7.4 | Lower Copper Zone |
with | 386.72 | 392.98 | 6.26 | 10.7 | ||||||
SC24-285 | 506900.0 | 5180832.0 | 1721 | 28 | -66 | Assays pending | ||||
SC24-286 | 506609.0 | 5180868.0 | 1779.0 | 43 | -73 | Assays pending | ||||
SC24-287 | 506850.0 | 5180852.0 | 1731.1 | 336 | -72 | In progress |
Intercept calculations included a minimum of 2 samples above a
1) Drilling conducted by Ruen Drilling of Hope, ID. HQ3-sized core was collected. Drill holes were oriented with dips varying between -80 to -70 degrees in relatively variably dipping mineral zones. Intercepts may be slightly longer than true thickness.
2) After being logged, photographed in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, all mineralized zones were sampled by cutting half-core splits which were delivered to ALS labs in Reno NV for processing. ALS crushed the entire sample to
3) ALS Labs are accredited by ISO/IEC 170205:2017 methods for North America.
4) Drillhole collars are surveyed conforming to UTM NAD83 Zone 12.
5) The Company is aware of no drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to above.
VP of Exploration, Jerry Zieg shared, “We’re very pleased with these results which continue to show that additional exploration drilling has the potential to increase our mineral resource and extend the projected mine life of the Black Butte Copper project.”
Figure 1: Drilling completed at the Black Butte Project December 2023-April 2024; black dots show locations of past pierce points in Johnny Lee Lower Copper Zone; red dots show locations of pierce points in Johnny Lee Lower Copper Zone from this drill program; and colored areas show Measured (brown), Indicated (yellow) and Inferred (blue) resource areas.
Johnny Lee Copper Deposit
The Johnny Lee deposit has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 10.9 million tonnes (Mt) at an average copper grade of
Qualified Person
Jerry Zieg, Sr. Vice President of Exploration for the Company, is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has also reviewed and approved the information of a scientific or technical nature contained in this news release. Mr. Zieg verified the data disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in this news release.
*(2020 Technical Report)- Feasibility Study (Johnny Lee Deposit) and Mineral Resource Estimate Update (Lowry Deposit) – Technical Report NI 43-101” dated October 19, 2020, and news release “Sandfire Resources America Achieves Major Milestones with Completion of Black Butte Copper Project Feasibility Study and Updated Mineral Resource for Lowry Deposit” October 27, 2020.
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.
Contact Information:
Sandfire Resources America Inc.
Nancy Schlepp, VP of Communications and Government Relations
Mobile: 406-224-8180
Office: 406-547-3466
Email: nschlepp@sandfireamerica.com
www.sandfireamerica.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this document constitute “forward looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding further expansion and upgrade of the Johnny Lee Lower Zone. In making these forward-looking statements, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including that the Company will be able to achieve further expansion of the Johnny Lee Lower Zone, that the Company will be able to complete any environmental review, permitting process, or engineering and economic studies required for resource development of the Johnny Lee copper deposit. However, the forward-looking statements in this document are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors, including factors relating to the inability to achieve further expansion of the Johnny Lee Lower Zone, the inability to complete any engineering and economic studies required for resource development of the Johnny Lee copper deposit that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including that results of exploration and development activities will not be consistent with management’s expectations, delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals or financing, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the risk of accidents, labor disputes, inclement or hazardous weather conditions, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground control problems, earthquakes, flooding and all of the other risks generally associated with the development of mining facilities. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65ee5b45-87c4-440f-be71-15c83d3f7e7a
FAQ
<p>What were the copper grades intercepted in drill holes SC24-279 and SC24-284?</p>
Hole SC24-279 intercepted 5.37 meters of 10.2% copper, and hole SC24-284 intercepted 6.26 meters of 10.7% copper.
<p>What is the current focus of the 2024 drill program by Sandfire Resources America Inc.?</p>
The current focus is on upgrading and expanding the Johnny Lee Lower Copper Zone resource.
<p>What is the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource at the Johnny Lee deposit?</p>
The Johnny Lee deposit has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 10.9 million tonnes at an average copper grade of 2.9%.
<p>What major milestone did the Company achieve regarding the mine operating permit?</p>
The Company received a 5-2 decision from the Montana Supreme Court upholding the mine operating permit.