Azucar Minerals Ltd. ("Azucar" or the "Company") (TSX-V: AMZ;
OTCQX: AXDDF) is pleased to announce completion of its initial
mineral resource estimate (MRE) with respect to the Norte Zone of
the El Cobre porphyry copper-gold project (“El Cobre Project”, or
the “Project”) in Veracruz State, Mexico.
The Norte Zone is one of five copper-gold
porphyry zones identified to date within the El Cobre Project and
has been the focus of the majority of exploration work conducted at
the El Cobre Project since 2016 (see Figure 1, Exploration
Targets).
Highlights:
-
Indicated Mineral
Resource of
1.2Moz
AuEq (million ounce gold
equivalent) using the base case
NSR (net smelter return)
cutoff of
US$12/tonne,
comprised of 47.2 million tonnes grading at 0.77 g/t AuEq (0.49 g/t
Au, 0.21% Cu and 1.4 g/t Ag);
-
Inferred Mineral Resource
of 1.4
Moz
AuEq using the base case
NSR cutoff of
US$12/tonne,
comprised of 64.2 million tonnes grading at 0.66 g/t AuEq (0.42 g/t
Au, 0.18% Cu and 1.3 g/t Ag);
- Amenable
to an open pit mining
method;
- Potential for resource
expansion at depth within
the Norte Zone
as well as at other significant porphyry bodies identified
across 5km strike length at the
Project.
The El Cobre Project has a total area of
approximately 7,000 hectares and is located adjacent to the Gulf of
Mexico, about 75 kilometres northwest of the major port city of
Veracruz, Mexico in an area of excellent infrastructure. The
Project is situated 200 metres above sea level with extensive road
access and is located less than 10 kilometres from a power plant,
highway, gas line and other major infrastructure. Major power lines
cross the Project area (see Figure 2, Infrastructure).
The Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and NSR
cut-off sensitivities are presented in Table 1 with the base case
cutoff at $US12.00 NSR highlighted. The favorable infrastructure at
the El Cobre Project suggests that the threshold for economic
mineralization will be low relative to many other deposits. Copper
and gold mineralization at the Norte Zone is associated with a
multiphase variably potassic-phyllic altered porphyritic diorite
intrusive complex that is cut by late mafic and intermediate dykes
and post mineral feldspar porphyry. The Norte Zone is approximately
0.6 km x 0.4 km along an E-W strike. Sulphide mineralization, which
extends up to 900 metres depth, consists of disseminated and
vein-hosted chalcopyrite and trace bornite (Cu mineralization)
exposed in surface outcrops and intersected in drill core.
J. Duane Poliquin, Chairman of Azucar commented,
“We are pleased to provide this initial resource estimate for the
Norte Zone, which is a significant mineral endowment at just one of
the many targets at the Project. This resource provides an
excellent basis for continued exploration at the El Cobre Project,
both at the Norte Zone itself as well as at the other significant
zones discovered between the Norte Zone and the Encinal Zone, 5km
to the southeast.”
Table 1. Indicated and Inferred
Mineral Resource and Sensitivity
Analysis
Classification |
Cutoff |
in situ |
In situ Grades |
In situ Metal Content |
(NSR$US) |
(ktonnes) |
NSR |
Au(gpt) |
Cu(%) |
Ag(gpt) |
AuEqv(gpt) |
Au(kOz) |
Cu(Mlbs) |
Ag(kOz) |
AuEq(kOz) |
Indicated |
7.5 |
52,828 |
29.17 |
0.45 |
0.20 |
1.3 |
0.72 |
772 |
230 |
2,189 |
1,217 |
9 |
51,134 |
29.86 |
0.47 |
0.20 |
1.3 |
0.73 |
766 |
228 |
2,150 |
1,207 |
12 |
47,211 |
31.47 |
0.49 |
0.21 |
1.4 |
0.77 |
748 |
221 |
2,049 |
1,175 |
20 |
42,923 |
33.26 |
0.52 |
0.22 |
1.4 |
0.82 |
723 |
211 |
1,924 |
1,131 |
25 |
34,711 |
36.99 |
0.59 |
0.24 |
1.5 |
0.91 |
660 |
187 |
1,630 |
1,020 |
30 |
19,092 |
47.07 |
0.78 |
0.29 |
1.6 |
1.17 |
482 |
123 |
982 |
718 |
40 |
10,634 |
56.97 |
0.98 |
0.34 |
1.7 |
1.42 |
336 |
79 |
569 |
487 |
Classification |
Cutoff |
in situ |
In situ Grades |
In situ Metal Content |
(NSR$US) |
(ktonnes) |
NSR |
Au(gpt) |
Cu(%) |
Ag(gpt) |
AuEqv(gpt) |
Au(kOz) |
Cu(Mlbs) |
Ag(kOz) |
AuEq(kOz) |
Inferred |
7.5 |
103,105 |
20.31 |
0.30 |
0.14 |
1.2 |
0.49 |
998 |
324 |
3,819 |
1,630 |
9 |
86,821 |
22.57 |
0.34 |
0.16 |
1.2 |
0.55 |
949 |
298 |
3,414 |
1,531 |
12 |
64,191 |
26.88 |
0.42 |
0.18 |
1.3 |
0.66 |
860 |
254 |
2,768 |
1,354 |
20 |
51,617 |
30.16 |
0.48 |
0.20 |
1.4 |
0.74 |
792 |
224 |
2,338 |
1,226 |
25 |
37,381 |
35.03 |
0.57 |
0.22 |
1.5 |
0.86 |
685 |
182 |
1,790 |
1,036 |
30 |
20,314 |
43.84 |
0.74 |
0.26 |
1.6 |
1.09 |
485 |
116 |
1,067 |
709 |
40 |
10,280 |
52.93 |
0.93 |
0.29 |
1.8 |
1.32 |
307 |
67 |
582 |
435 |
Notes for Mineral Resource Table:
- The Mineral Resource Estimate was
prepared by Sue Bird M.Sc., P.Eng. of Moose Mountain Technical
Services, the QP, in accordance with NI 43-101, and with an
effective date of August 3, 2020.
- Mineral Resources are not Mineral
Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
- The NSR and AuEq values were
calculated using US$1,500/oz gold, US$3.00/lb copper and US$18/oz
silver, and using metallurgical recoveries of 88% for gold and
copper, and 70% for silver. Smelter terms and offsite costs have
been applied as follows: gold payable = 94%, copper payable =
96.5%, silver payable = 90%, gold refining costs = US$5.00/oz,
silver refining costs = US$0.50/oz, copper treatment and offsite
(transportation) costs = US$0.30/lb. NSR royalty = 2.5%. The final
equations for NSR and AuEq are:NSR = Au*(US$44.04*88%) +
Cu%*(US$2.53*88%) + Ag*(US$0.49*70%);AuEq = Au(g/t) +1.27*Cu(%) +
0.009*Ag(g/t).
- The MRE has been confined by a
“reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction” pit using 45
degree slopes, with the pit size determined at a gold price of
US$1,950/oz, a copper price of US$4.50/lb and a silver price of
US$28.50/oz. The mining costs used are US$2.00/tonne. A process
cost of US$12.00/tonne is used as the cutoff of processed
material.
- The specific gravity of the deposit
is estimated to be 2.68
- Numbers may not add due to
rounding.
The Norte Zone MRE is classified in accordance
with guidelines established by the Canadian Institute of Mining
(CIM) “Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best
Practice Guidelines” dated November 29, 2019 and CIM “Definition
Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves” dated May 10,
2014.
There are no other known factors or issues known
by the QP that materially affect the MRE other than normal risks
faced by mining projects.
The El Cobre Project is subject to the same
types of risks that large base metal projects experience at an
early stage of development in Mexico. The nature of the risks
relating to the Project will change as the Project evolves and more
information becomes available. The Company has engaged experienced
management and specialized consultants to identify, manage and
mitigate those risks.
The El Cobre Project is located in a general
region where Pre-Columbian archaeological sites are known. To date
exploration programs on the project have been conducted in
consultation with Mexico’s Federal Agency for Archeology, INAH,
which resulted in the identification of several small areas for
further study and classification, including one area lying within
the MRE pit outline. As is standard practice in Mexico, areas
required for development and mining activity would require a
clearance from INAH following the implementation of more detailed
archaeological investigations and an archaeological salvage
program, if necessary. The Company is committed to working with
INAH as part of its future exploration and development plans.
Mineral Resource Estimate
Details
The drillhole database used to calculated the
MRE is comprised of 45 exploration diamond drillholes completed
between 2008 and 2019 totalling 28,448 metres, containing a total
of 27,173.12m of drill core analyzed for gold and copper by fire
assay and Inductively Coupled Plasma – Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
(“ICP-AES”), with four acid digestion. Sample intervals within the
mineralized domains ranged from 0.45m to 3.81m in length, with 98%
of the intervals having a length of 3.0 metres or less.
The Norte Zone 3D geological model created by
Azucar integrates assay and geological data collected from diamond
core drilling; surface geologic mapping; soil geochemical; and
geophysical surveys. Based on these data, the Norte Zone is
modelled as an east-west elongate 600 metre x 400 metre subvertical
zone of porphyry copper-gold mineralization extending to a maximum
depth of approximately 900 metres vertically below surface.
Mineralization is constrained by 3D geological solids representing
host diorite intrusive, and peripheral andesite and dacite tuff
volcanic rocks.
Length-weighted averaged composites of 3 metre
core length, restricted to each rock type, were calculated and used
for exploratory data analysis and resource estimation. Assays were
capped by zone and domain based on cumulative probability plots to
remove outliers. The modelled variograms from each domain were used
for resource estimation.
A block model with a regularized cell size of 20
m by 20 m by 10 m was used to estimate grade for each metal using
Ordinary Kriging (OK). The percentage of each block below the
overburden surface and within each domain is used for interpolation
and the resource calculations. A total of 489 density measurements
have been collected at site. Based on this data, the specific
gravity (sg) within the sulphide material is consistent with a mean
value of 2.68. The final grade estimates are validated visually by
comparing each block’s metal estimates to the raw downhole assay
data and statistically by comparing the modelled grades to the
de-clustered composite grades (NN model), by swath plots and by
grade-tonnage curves.
About the El Cobre Project
To date, Azucar has discovered five copper-gold
porphyry zones within the El Cobre Project along an approximately
5km trend, stretching from Norte down to Encinal in the southeast
(see Figure 1, Exploration Targets). These zones are defined by
distinct Cu-Au soil anomalies, discrete, positive magnetic
features, a large IP chargeability anomaly, and drilling. A summary
of the various zones is provided below.
NORTE ZONE: All five holes
drilled in the Norte Zone prior to 2016 intersected porphyry-style
mineralisation. Hole 08-CBCN-022, one of the deepest holes drilled
at Norte in 2008, returned values of 0.14% Cu with 0.19 g/t Au over
259 m and 08-CBCN-19 intersected 41.15 metres averaging 0.42 g/t
gold and 0.27% copper to the end of the hole at 187.45 metres.
Drilling at the Norte Zone in 2016 and 2017 resulted in
intersections including 114.60 metres grading 1.33 g/t Au and 0.48%
Cu (Hole EC-17-018, see press release of April 5, 2017), 80.50
metres grading 1.34 g/t Au and 0.46% Cu (Hole EC-16-012, see press
release of October 24, 2016), and 70.45 metres grading 2.32 g/t Au
and 0.59% Cu (Hole EC-17-026, see press release of July 25, 2017).
Continued drilling through 2018 and 2019 has culminated in the
mineral resource estimate released today.
VILLA RICA ZONE:
The Villa Rica Zone is located about 1.8 km south of the Norte
zone, and comprises a roughly 2.5 kilometre by 1 kilometre area of
hydrothermal alteration defined also by a strong north-northwest
trending magnetic-chargeability high and associated copper-gold
soil geochemical anomalies. Past mapping and sampling defined
several areas of exposed porphyry mineralisation within the Villa
Rica zone, including the Raya Tembrillo target and the Naranjo
target, both at the north end of the Villa Rica zone. Initial
drilling in 2017 on the Raya Tembrillo target intersected two
styles of mineralisation; hypogene copper-gold porphyry
mineralisation (115.00 metres of 0.57 g/t gold and 0.27% copper,
see press release of November 28, 2017) and near surface exotic
enriched copper mineralisation with an apparent tabular
distribution (94.00 metres of 1.36% copper; see press release of
December 13, 2017).
The Primo target
area, first announced on October 16, 2019, is also considered to be
part of the Villa Rica zone, and is located approximately 1km south
of Raya Tembrillo. Primo has been the location of some of the
highest copper grades intersected at the Project, such as 200
metres of 0.40 g/t gold and 0.24% copper from 718 metres downhole,
which included 86.50 metres of 0.70 g/t gold and 0.42% copper from
831.50 metres (see press release of October 16, 2019).
EL
PORVENIR ZONE:
The El Porvenir zone is located about 2 km east of the Villa Rica
zone. Significant copper and gold grades have been intersected at
El Porvenir, such as 0.16% Cu and 0.39 g/t Au over 290 m in hole
DDH04CB1. Results from minimal drilling in 2017 include hole
EC-17-040 which intersected 108.00 metres grading 0.88 g/t Au and
0.29% Cu, and hole EC-17-044 which intersected 40.25 metres grading
0.50 g/t Au and 0.25% Cu.
SUEGRO
ZONE: Drilling in 2019 identified this
new porphyry centre between the El Porvenir and Encinal Zones. The
Suegro Zone is located approximately 250 metres south of the
Porvenir Zone, within a large area of alteration associated with
more subdued magnetics, and low zinc and manganese in soil. The
Suegro mineralisation intersected in the drilling to date is
associated with an altered (locally intense phyllic alteration
overprinting potassic) intrusive. Intercepts to date include 28.20
m of 0.54 g/t Au and 0.17% Cu (hole EC-19-064; see press release of
March 19, 2019).
ENCINAL ZONE: The Encinal zone is
located approximately 1km south of the El Porvenir zone. Previous
drilling at Encinal has intersected a highly altered breccia pipe
containing fragments of stockwork veining and porphyry
mineralisation across which 18.28 metres returned 1.42 g/t Au and
0.10% Cu (Hole CB5). The breccia pipe occurs in a large alteration
zone, IP chargeability high and magnetics low which has not been
tested to depth. On June 19, 2017 Azucar announced that a new area
of exposed stockwork quartz veining and gold mineralisation had
been identified in the Encinal Zone. On June 29, 2017 Azucar
announced the results of initial drilling on this exposed stockwork
(Hole EC-17-025) which returned results including 34.47 metres
grading 0.73 g/t Au and 0.20% Cu.
More information on El Cobre is available on the
Azucar website at http://www.azucarminerals.com.
QAQC and Reporting
Azucar is currently preparing the NI 43-101 El
Cobre Project Technical Report, which will contain details of the
MRE. This report is required to be announced and filed on SEDAR and
the Azucar website within 45 days of this news release and is
authored by Kris Raffle, P.Geo. of APEX Geoscience Ltd., and Sue
Bird, M.Sc., P.Eng. of Moose Mountain Technical Services both of
whom act as independent consultants to the Company, are Qualified
Persons (QPs) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI
43-101") and have reviewed and approved the contents of this news
release.
The analyses which underpin the MRE were carried
out at ALS Chemex Laboratories at Guadalajara, Zacatecas, Mexico;
and North Vancouver, Canada using industry standard analytical
techniques. For gold, samples were first analysed by fire assay and
atomic absorption spectroscopy (“AAS”). Samples that returned
values greater than 10 g/t gold using this technique were then
re-analysed by fire assay but with a gravimetric finish. For
copper, samples were first analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma –
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (“ICP-AES”), with four acid digestion.
Samples that returned values greater than 10000 g/t copper
using this technique were then re-analysed by HF-HNO3-HCLO4
digestion with HCL leach and ICP-AES finish. Blanks, field
duplicates and certified standards were inserted into the sample
stream as part of Azucar’s quality assurance and control program.
The QPs detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the
data. Azucar is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery or
other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or
reliability of the data referred to herein.
About
Azucar
Azucar is an exploration company with a mandate
to thoroughly explore the El Cobre Project in Veracruz, Mexico,
which covers multiple gold-rich porphyry targets, as demonstrated
by recent drilling. Azucar holds a 100% interest in the El Cobre
Project, subject to net smelter returns (“NSR”) royalty interests,
assuming production from the property exceeds 10,001 tonnes per day
of ore, totaling 2.25% which can be reduced to 2.0% though the
payment of US$3.0 million.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
“J. Duane Poliquin”J. Duane Poliquin, P.Eng.
ChairmanAzucar Minerals Ltd.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies
of the TSX VentureExchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.
This news release includes forward-looking
information that is subject to risks and uncertainties. All
statements within this news release, other than statements of
historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the
Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking
information are based on reasonable assumptions, such as those set
forth in this news release, such statements are not guarantees of
future performance and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and
other factors may cause actual results or developments to differ
materially from those as expressed or implied in forward-looking
information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking
information include those stated in the news release, and, among
others, market prices, exploitation and exploration successes,
risks related to international operations, continued availability
of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business
conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will
prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their
own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume
any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, other than
as required pursuant to applicable securities laws.Contact
Information: Azucar Minerals Ltd.
Tel. 604.689.7644Email:
info@azucarminerals.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
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