NGEx Drills 19.00m at 25.84% CuEq Within 57.75m at 9.41% CuEq at Lunahuasi
NGEx Minerals Ltd. has announced significant high-grade copper-gold-silver drill intersections from the Phase 4 program at its 100% owned Lunahuasi project in Argentina, highlighting the expansion of the Jupiter and Saturn zones. The results underscore the continuity and grade potential of these major mineralized zones within the deposit.
Drillhole DPDH077, targeting the Jupiter Zone, intersected 57.75m at 9.41% CuEq from 310.25m. This broader interval included 19.00m at 25.84% CuEq from 326.00m, which further contained 8.00m at 37.38% CuEq from 331.00m. The high-grade interval of 8.00m contained 27.23% Cu, 8.44 g/t Au, and 454.6 g/t Ag. These results extend the Jupiter Zone approximately 100m down-dip from previous intersections in DPDH009 and 70m from DPDH010, confirming exceptional massive sulphide grades.
In the Saturn Zone, drillhole DPDH071 intersected a massive 573.40m interval at 2.17% CuEq from 274.60m. This long intersection included several higher-grade sub-intervals: 22.10m at 4.98% CuEq from 339.70m; 9.00m at 13.07% CuEq from 489.00m; 30.00m at 4.99% CuEq from 645.00m; and 46.00m at 4.83% CuEq from 733.00m, which included 15.00m at 8.74% CuEq from 764.00m. The intersection reflects part of the strike length of the Saturn Zone, cutting diagonally across moderate grade disseminated and stockwork mineralization cut by high-grade veins.
Step-out drilling further expanded the known dimensions of the Saturn Zone. Drillhole DPDH069, an up-dip step-out, intersected 21.30m at 5.99% CuEq from 522.00m, including 2.45m at 20.66% CuEq from 540.85m. This hole extended the Saturn Zone over 145m (from 518m to 663m), with the zone remaining open between the intersection and the surface, over 300m above.
Drillhole DPDH072, a down-plunge step-out, intersected a shallow high-grade zone of 11.40m at 8.08% CuEq from 215.00m, which may be part of a new emerging zone. It also intersected the Saturn Zone beginning at 639.00m for at least 207.00m to 846.00m. This interval included 3.50m at 30.49% CuEq from 726.00m and 11.50m at 8.95% CuEq from 760.50m, expanding the Saturn Zone over 100m down-plunge.
Additional drilling in the Saturn Zone included hole DPDH074, which intersected 121.50m at 1.35% CuEq from 408.00m. This interval included 16.35m at 2.98% CuEq from 408.00m and 9.00m at 3.32% CuEq from 501.00m. The lower grades in this hole are attributed to the number and width of high-grade veins intersected.
The Phase 4 program comprised a total of 27,318m drilled across 32 holes. Assay results from the final five holes (DPDH073, 075, 076, 078, and DPGT004) are pending or complete as noted in Table 2.
Copper equivalent (CuEq) was calculated based on US$3.00/lb Cu, US$1,500/oz Au, and US$18/oz Ag, with 80% metallurgical recoveries. The formula used is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.7292 * Au g/t) + (0.0088 * Ag g/t). The Qualified Person for the technical information is Bob Carmichael, B.A.Sc., P.Eng., VP, Exploration.
Wojtek Wodzicki, President and CEO, commented on the results: "Drillhole DPDH077 is a good reminder that the Jupiter Zone, which was first intersected by the Lunahuasi discovery drillhole, is not to be overlooked. We have fewer holes into Jupiter than Saturn or Mars, but several intersections across an area of 400 x 500m highlight the potential of this third major zone within the overall Lunahuasi deposit."
Regarding the Saturn Zone expansion, Wodzicki added: "Holes DPDH069 and DPDH072 are step out holes on Saturn, expanding the zone by over 100m up-dip and down-plunge, respectively. Saturn remains open in all directions. Our team is now focused on updating our geological interpretation with the information gathered during the Phase 4 drill program and developing a robust geological model which will guide our planning for Phase 5 drilling."