VANCOUVER, BC, May 25, 2022
/CNW/ - Astra Exploration Inc. (TSXV: ASTR) ("Astra" or the
"Company") is pleased to provide results from the remaining 18 of
30 completed drill holes at the Pampa Paciencia gold-silver project
in northern Chile.
Highlights
- New results expand mineralization at the Paciencia Vein to over
300 metres where it remains open at depth and along strike
- Second zone at Paciencia Oeste Vein now defined over 200 metres
where it remains open at depth and along strike
HOLE PPRC-22-36:
- 3.96 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 37.67 g/t silver over three
metres downhole (mDH) within a broader zone of 0.92 g/t gold and
8.61 g/t silver over 31 mDH at the Paciencia vein
HOLE PPRC-22-24:
- 5.53 g/t gold and 47.1 g/t silver over one metre and 2.78 g/t
gold and 75.6 g/t silver over two mDH within a broader zone of 0.72
g/t gold and 19.38 g/t silver over 25 mDH at Paciencia Oeste
vein
HOLE PPRC-22-28:
- 4.02 g/t gold and 26.9 g/t silver over two mDH within a broader
zone of 1.45 g/t gold and 12.59 g/t silver over nine mDH at
Paciencia Este vein
Astra's CEO, Brian Miller
commented: "Astra's maiden drill program has accomplished two
important goals at Pampa Paciencia. First, we have identified two
high-grade shoots within the Paciencia Vein system, both of which
remain open along strike and at depth. Second, we have made blind
vein discoveries which demonstrates the effectiveness of the
Company's geologic model and exploration methods. Early indications
suggest that we could be in the upper levels of the gold
mineralization with significant room to grow beneath these shallow
intercepts. Astra will next complete a Phase 2 program to expand
these open interstections and explore for new vein structures."
Drill Results Discussion
Pampa Paciencia is a 3,840 hectare road-access low-sulphidation
epithermal (LSE) gold-silver project located within an active
mining district less than 15 kilometers from two major mines
(Sierra Gorda and Spence) and five
kilometers from the Faride LSE mine (Figure 5).
Astra has completed property wide mapping and sampling,
geophysical surveys, and localized trenching and in doing so, has
defined a vein boulder field over approximately 75% of the project
area. The veins do not outcrop as the majority of the project area
is covered by a thin layer of gravels and caliche but the vein
float can be used to identify areas of high prospectivity.
Most drilling focused on the 1.4 km long Paciencia Vein system
located in the North Zone, which is comprised of Paciencia Oeste,
Paciencia, and Paciencia Este vein segments (Figures 3 & 4).
The Company previously reported results for 11 of 29 drill holes
(May 2nd news release)
which were from the Paciencia Vein, and the holes reported herein
are for the remaining 18 drill holes as follows:
- Paciencia Vein – 1 hole
- Paciencia Oeste – 9 holes
- Paciencia Este – 3 holes
- Geophysical Targets – 2 holes
- 15 Vein/Central Zone – 3 holes
Two mineralized shoots are being defined at Paciencia and
Paciencia Oeste, where quartz texturing and geochemistry indicates
that these two shoots could be higher elevations of the mineralized
precious metals horizon. Both shoots are open along strike and at
depth. Hole PPRC-22-36 from the Paciencia Vein further extended one
mineralized shoot to the east while a second shoot is being defined
by shallow drilling at Paciencia Oeste (Figures 1 & 4).
Drill holes at Pacienca Oeste and Paceincia Este intercepted
thick (10 - 20 metres true thickness) vein structures which
occurred in shallow drill holes approximately 15 to 25 metres below
surface, with one hole reaching 75 metres below surface in
Paciencia Oeste. Detail interpretation shows one to two parallel
branches in both veins, with higher grades located in the more
vertical portion of the Paciencia Oeste vein, as was also detected
in Paciencia vein segment (Figure 2 and 3D Movie).
The three vein segments along the Paciencia Vein System are
separated by ENE-striking faults that were interpreted with
geophysical magnetics and confirmed with trenching. Plan map
(Figure 4) and an integrated longitudinal section (Figure 1)
clearly show this continuous but segmented nature of the Paciencia
Vein System, and the presence of two high grade mineralized shoots
with similar behaviour (45° SE plunge) which are both open along
strike and at depth.
Geochemical results (Table 1) show the variation in the of
Ag:Au ratios in the Paciencia Vein System, with an average Ag to Au
ratio of 47 in the higher grade portions of the Paciencia Oeste
vein, that decrease to 16 in Paciencia vein, and to 4 in Paciencia
Este vein. Preliminary results for the two blind geophysical vein
discoveries returned Ag:Au ratios of 61 and 2 in Geophysical
targets 2 and 1, respectively (Figure 4). Company geologists
believe this further demonstrates the potential for finding Au-rich
veining in the eastern portion of this vein network and/or at
depth.
Drilling at Geophysical targets 1 and 2 resulted in the
discovery of two blind veins (Figures 3 & 4). Geophysical
target 1 intercepted two parallel structures composed of a 1 meter
Mn-rich quartz vein and 3 meters limonitic breccia with anomalous
precious metals (2m @ 0.28 g/t Au
equivalent). Geophysical target 2 intercepted a shallow 14 meters
thick structure composed by a chalcedonic quartz vein and limonitic
breccias reporting similar anomalous results (5m @ 0.14 g/t Au equivalent). Additional drilling
will be required to find the hidden mineralized shoots that may be
associated with these new vein discoveries.
The remaining three holes in the Central Zone confirmed thin (up
to 2m thick) chalcedonic vein and
veinlet structures hosted in the Paleocene andesites which overlay
the Cretaceous granitoids. Drill holes did not reach sufficient
depth to intersect the more competent granitoid rock where thicker
veins develop as indicated by field mapping. These results indicate
a shallow system elevation and deeper drilling is required to
properly test the Central Zone targets.
Exploration Program Discussion
2,981 metres of RC drilling were completed in thirty holes
between February and March 2022 at
Pampa Paciencia. These mostly concentrated on defining the strike
and depth continuity of the Paciencia Vein System in the North Zone
with three holes were drilled to test veins at depth in the Central
Zone and two holes tested geophysical targets in the North Zone
(Figure 1). A total of 1,233 samples, including blanks, duplicates
and standards, were sampled and sent to ALS lab in Santiago, Chile.
The drill program was completed for ~C$650,000 of all-in costs highlighting the
ability to complete cost-effective exploration at low elevations in
Chile.
Eleven historical holes had been drilled previously on the
property and Astra's geologists continued with the numbering
system, so holes PPRC-22-12 to PPRC-22-41 are the thirty holes
completed by Astra Exploration.
|
Drill
Hole
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length
(m)
|
Aueq_80
(ppm)
|
Au
(ppm)
|
Ag
(ppm)
|
|
PPRC-22-23 - Paciencia
Oeste
|
16
|
38
|
22
|
0.76
|
0.57
|
15.32
|
|
including
|
20
|
37
|
17
|
0.91
|
0.69
|
17.23
|
|
and
including
|
20
|
24
|
4
|
1.31
|
0.88
|
34.62
|
|
and
including
|
29
|
33
|
4
|
1.08
|
0.93
|
11.82
|
|
PPRC-22-24 - Paciencia
Oeste
|
10
|
35
|
25
|
0.96
|
0.72
|
19.38
|
|
including 1
|
14
|
23
|
9
|
1.69
|
1.21
|
38.62
|
|
and
including
|
15
|
20
|
5
|
2.36
|
1.66
|
56.14
|
|
and
including
|
15
|
17
|
2
|
3.73
|
2.78
|
75.60
|
|
including 2
|
33
|
34
|
1
|
6.12
|
5.53
|
47.10
|
|
PPRC-22-25 - Paciencia
Oeste
|
10
|
26
|
16
|
0.50
|
0.33
|
13.71
|
|
including
|
10
|
17
|
7
|
0.94
|
0.67
|
21.76
|
|
and including
1
|
11
|
14
|
3
|
0.91
|
0.75
|
12.00
|
|
and including
2
|
16
|
17
|
1
|
2.33
|
1.12
|
96.00
|
|
PPRC-22-26 - Paciencia
Oeste
|
12
|
17
|
5
|
0.17
|
0.12
|
4.50
|
|
PPRC-22-28 - Paciencia
Este
|
26
|
36
|
10
|
0.46
|
0.41
|
3.81
|
|
including
|
31
|
32
|
1
|
2.08
|
1.92
|
13.10
|
|
56
|
65
|
9
|
1.61
|
1.45
|
12.59
|
|
including
|
56
|
61
|
5
|
2.69
|
2.44
|
19.72
|
|
and
including
|
59
|
61
|
2
|
4.36
|
4.02
|
26.90
|
|
PPRC 22-29 - Paciencia
Este
|
48
|
52
|
4
|
0.20
|
0.15
|
3.60
|
|
PPRC-22-30 - Paciencia
Este
|
46
|
58
|
12
|
0.54
|
0.51
|
2.65
|
|
including 1
|
46
|
49
|
3
|
0.90
|
0.86
|
2.93
|
|
and
including
|
46
|
47
|
1
|
1.68
|
1.65
|
2.10
|
|
including 2
|
53
|
55
|
2
|
0.99
|
0.94
|
3.65
|
|
and
including
|
54
|
55
|
1
|
1.37
|
1.33
|
3.20
|
|
PPRC-22-31 - Paciencia
Oeste
|
29
|
42
|
13
|
1.41
|
1.13
|
22.34
|
|
including
|
32
|
40
|
8
|
2.19
|
1.80
|
31.50
|
|
and
including
|
36
|
37
|
1
|
3.96
|
3.43
|
42.20
|
|
PPRC-22-32 - Paciencia
Oeste
|
14
|
27
|
13
|
0.34
|
0.19
|
12.09
|
|
including
|
19
|
22
|
3
|
0.75
|
0.27
|
38.00
|
|
PPRC-22-33 - Paciencia
Oeste
|
21
|
34
|
13
|
0.41
|
0.29
|
9.51
|
|
including
|
27
|
32
|
5
|
0.80
|
0.59
|
17.04
|
|
and
including
|
30
|
32
|
2
|
1.01
|
0.76
|
19.30
|
|
PPRC-22-34 - Paciencia
Oeste
|
22
|
24
|
2
|
0.18
|
0.10
|
6.20
|
|
PPRC-22-35 - Paciencia
Oeste
|
61
|
88
|
27
|
0.51
|
0.24
|
21.86
|
|
including 1
|
61
|
62
|
1
|
1.95
|
1.19
|
60.30
|
|
including 2
|
76
|
82
|
6
|
1.24
|
0.54
|
55.67
|
|
and
including
|
78
|
80
|
2
|
1.82
|
0.83
|
78.65
|
|
PPRC-22-36 -
Paciencia
|
55
|
86
|
31
|
1.03
|
0.92
|
8.61
|
|
including
|
57
|
67
|
10
|
2.14
|
1.94
|
16.35
|
|
and including
1
|
57
|
60
|
3
|
4.42
|
3.96
|
37.67
|
|
and including
2
|
74
|
75
|
1
|
4.62
|
4.42
|
15.70
|
|
PPRC-22-37 -
Geophysical target 1
|
81
|
83
|
2
|
0.28
|
0.27
|
0.65
|
|
PPRC-22-38 -
Geophysical target 2
|
18
|
23
|
5
|
0.14
|
0.08
|
4.88
|
|
PPRC-22-39 - 15
Vein
|
No significant
results
|
|
|
|
|
PPRC-22-40 - 15
Vein
|
56
|
57
|
1
|
0.32
|
0.20
|
9.60
|
|
PPRC-22-41 - 15
Vein
|
52
|
53
|
1
|
0.15
|
0.09
|
5.20
|
|
|
Table 1: Summary
of the gold and silver geochemical results from Phase I drilling
program.
|
Sampling Procedures
Drill samples were sampled, bagged, and tagged by Astra´s
geologists and then delivered to the ALS sample preparation
laboratory in Santiago. Samples
were prepared with PREP 31B code, and
then analyzed with fire assay for gold (Au-AA24), acid digestion
for silver (Ag-AA62), and multi elements by ICP (ME-ICP61). Gold
overlimits were analysed by gravity method (Au-GRA22).
Qualified Person Statement
The technical data and information as disclosed in this report
has been reviewed and approved by Darcy
Marud. Mr. Marud is a Practicing Member of the
Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and is a qualified person as defined
under the terms of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards
of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About the Company
Astra Exploration Inc. is an exploration company based out of
Vancouver, BC. Astra is engaged in
the acquisition, exploration and development of epithermal
gold-silver properties in Chile
and is building a portfolio of high-quality projects. Astra's
current focus is the development of the Pampa Paciencia Project.
Additional information is available on the Compnay's website at
www.astra-exploration.com
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby and/or
geologically similar properties is not necessarily indicative of
mineralization hosted on the Company's properties.
This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking
Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian
securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the
words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target,
"plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or
expressions identify forward-looking statements or
information. These forward-looking statements or information
may relate to the Company's business activities; exploration on the
Company's properties; and marketing initiatives. Such
statements represent the Company's current views with respect to
future events and are necessarily based upon a number of
assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the
Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic,
competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and
uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could
cause results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from the results, performance or achievements that are or
may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such factors include, without limitation: development of the
industry in which the Company operates; risks associated with the
conduct of the Company's business activities; risks relating to
reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors;
currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate
sufficient cash flow from operations; laws and regulations
governing the industry in which the Company operates; the ability
of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope
with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial
implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical
difficulties; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability;
stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain
directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the
Company; litigation risk; and other risk factors disclosed in the
Company's public disclosure documents available on the Company's
profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned against
attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or
forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results
not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not
intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these
forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in
assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events
affecting such statements and information other than as required by
applicable laws, rules and regulations.
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SOURCE Astra Exploration Limited
