Vortex Metals Completes Trenching, Sampling and Mapping Program To Complete the Environmental Study at the Zaachila Project
- Successful completion of Phase 1 geologic field program for Environmental Baseline Study
- Trenching revealed significant copper values over several kilometers
- Results expected in late September 2023
- None.
Following from community agreements in both the
Phase 1 Field Studies at
A total of 13 trenches have been excavated (Figure 2) across exposures of weakly metamorphosed Upper Jurassic sedimentary, volcanic and intrusive rocks where historical surface sampling identified copper mineralization. A total of 387 meters of trench have been cut yielding a total of 271 chip samples (excluding QA/QC samples). The initial 175 samples have been sent to ALS and results are expected in late September 2023. An additional 96 samples are being prepared for shipment and should be available in late October. The trenches completed to date are shown in Figure 2.
Mapping of the trenches, along with the limited surface exposures, has provided Vortex with a more complete view of the surface geology (Figure 3). Historical samples, in context with the preliminary geologic model, reveal a roughly east-west trending belt of greenschist facies sediments, volcanics, volcanic breccia and exhalite lenses. This belt flanks the southern margin of a trondhjemite-diorite intrusive complex and dips to the south and southwest beneath alluvium.
Copper mineralization, dominantly as a copper carbonate, i.e. malachite and azurite, and more locally chalcopyrite and bornite, has been observed in several geologic settings exposed in the trenches including:
- As thin laminae associated with silica-rich exhalite beds. The laminae are generally less than 1cm thick and consists of calcite/ankerite, Fe + Cu-oxides and local, minor sulfides;
- As quartz-carbonate veinlets with Cu oxides cutting silicified and chloritized meta-sediments and volcanics (green schist facies); and
- As discrete, bedded units in the metasediments.
Owing to near surface oxidation, mineralization is dominated by iron and manganese oxides (gossan; Figure 4), hosting calcite to ankerite veinlets or stockwork, quartz veinlets, silicification and argillization; the latter is likely related to the oxidation of sulfides. In a few of the less oxidized exposures, sericite was widely observed.
Previous geophysical studies conducted across the
Phase 1 results are being incorporated into the EBS as the basis for a proposed drilling program. The results are also being considered in the design of a geophysical program across the property. A more focused electrical method, such as IP/Resistivity, will provide additional insight into the geometry and/or distribution of any sub-surface mineralization.
Chief Executive Officer of Vortex Metals Vikas Ranjan emphasized the significance of Phase 1 completion, stating: "The results of our finalized geological field program are very promising and mark a crucial milestone in the company's timeline. Data gathered from the now-complete Phase 1 will be instrumental in shaping future drilling initiatives, which we believe could ultimately lead us to the discovery of substantial VMS structures."
A final design for all proposed activities is pending the receipt of the analytical results and their interpretation. Phase 2 will consist of the above activities along with ongoing trenching which has proven to be a cost-effective method to identify and define copper mineralization, silica and carbonate exhalates and, in general, the stratigraphy of the prospective package.
Qualified Person / Quality Control and Quality Assurance
Robert Johansing, M.Sc. Econ. Geol., P. Geo., is a qualified person ("QP") as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.
Vortex Metals Inc. is the parent company of Mexican subsidiary Empresa Minera Acagold, S.A. de C.V., which is the owner of a
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SOURCE Vortex Metals
