Avrupa and Antofagasta Intersect Copper-Rich VMS in Pyrite Belt,
Portugal
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb 27, 2014) -
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSX-VENTURE:AVU)(FRANKFURT:8AM) -
- First greenfields discovery of massive sulfide mineralization
in 20 years in the Iberian Pyrite Belt
- 10.85 meters of massive and semi-massive/stockwork sulfide
mineralization grading 1.81% Cu, 2.57% Pb, 4.38% Zn, 0.13% Sn, and
75.27 ppm Ag
- Including 7.95 meters @ 2.21% Cu, 3.05% Pb, 4.82% Zn, 0.15% Sn,
89.8 ppm Ag
- Followed by 2.90 meters @ 0.71% Cu, 1.27% Pb, 3.17% Zn, 0.092%
Sn, 35.4 ppm Ag
- Avrupa and Antofagasta sign an amended Joint Venture
Agreement
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is pleased to announce that recent drilling
at Sesmarias South in the Alvalade Joint Venture project, located
in the Pyrite Belt of southern Portugal, intersected copper-bearing
massive and semi-massive sulfide mineralization. The Alvalade
Project is operated by Avrupa and funded by a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Antofagasta plc ("Antofagasta"). As previously
reported, Antofagasta has earned-in to 51% of the project with
total funding of US$4.3 million. Since the beginning of the
project, the partners have drilled 28 holes and nearly 12,250
meters in all phases of drilling around the project area.
The discovery of massive sulfide mineralization occurred in the
second drill hole at the new Sesmarias South target area, which is
covered by approximately 100 meters of young cover sediments that
completely obscure visual sighting of the target rocks. Sesmarias
South is located approximately seven kilometers south of the
past-producing Lousal Mine and 50 kilometers northwest of Lundin
Mining's Neves Corvo Mine, along the Neves Corvo trend of the
Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. The discovery is the first
greenfields success in the Pyrite Belt of both Portugal and Spain
since 1994.
The mineralized intercept in SES002 totals 16.85 meters, as
described in the table below. The intercept includes a zone of
massive sulfide mineralization, then underlain by a zone of
semi-massive sulfides and strong stockwork sulfide veining. There
follows a narrow shear zone, which is, in turn, underlain by a
further zone of strong alteration with anomalous disseminated and
stockwork sulfide mineralization. The analytical results for each
of the three zones follow:
SULFIDE TYPE |
FROM |
TO |
TOTAL |
Cu % |
Ag ppm |
Pb % |
Zn % |
Sn % |
Co % |
Massive |
151.65 |
159.60 |
7.95 |
2.21 |
89.8 |
3.05 |
4.82 |
0.15 |
0.084 |
Semi-massive/stockwork |
159.60 |
162.50 |
2.90 |
0.71 |
35.45 |
1.27 |
3.17 |
0.092 |
0.051 |
TOTAL |
|
|
10.85 |
1.81 |
75.27 |
2.57 |
4.38 |
0.13 |
0.075 |
|
FROM |
TO |
TOTAL |
Cu ppm |
Ag ppm |
Pb ppm |
Zn ppm |
--- |
Co ppm |
Weak/moderate stockwork |
162.50 |
168.50 |
6.00 |
4514 |
10.57 |
1886 |
4838 |
--- |
528 |
Follow-up drilling at Sesmarias South will commence on March
1st. Up to three holes are initially planned in order to determine
the orientation of the potential mineralized body, which is totally
blind from the surface.
Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, commented,
"The discovery of the Sesmarias South mineralization is really and
truly an exciting event! This is the first greenfields VMS
intersect the Pyrite Belt in 20 years. This discovery of massive
sulfide mineralization is the result of three years of study,
drilling, re-study, more drilling, reliance on the still-evolving
structural and geological model for mineralization in the Pyrite
Belt, full dedication from both the Avrupa and Antofagasta teams,
and a willingness by Antofagasta to continue the necessary funding
for the program. We are looking forward to the start of the
follow-up drilling at Sesmarias, as well as continued first-pass
exploration in our other target areas."
In addition to the Sesmarias South success the Alvalade JV
partners have also signed an amended Joint Venture Agreement (JVA)
which allows for more interim funding by Antofagasta, an expanded
time frame in which to get to a feasibility study decision, and a
means for Avrupa to be carried to production, if there is a
production decision to be made for the project. The amended
agreement carries the following terms (in summary):
- After due diligence, exploration funding of US$ 300,000
(completed).
- Antofagasta must spend US$ 4 million on exploration to earn-in
to 51% of the joint venture (Option 1 completed).
- To earn a further 9% of the JV (for an aggregate total of 60%),
Antofagasta must fund US$ 2 million exploration by December 31,
2015 (Option 2 underway).
- To earn a further 5% of the JV (for an aggregate total of 65%),
Antofagasta must prepare, fund, and deliver a Preliminary Economic
Assessment on a project within the JV area by December 31, 2017
(Option 3).
- To earn a further 10% of the JV (for an aggregate total of
75%), Antofagasta must prepare, fund, and deliver a Feasibility
Study on a project within the JV area by December 31, 2022 (Option
4).
- And to earn a further 5% of the JV (for an aggregate total of
80%), Antofagasta must fund 100% of all work programs during this
phase and make a Development Decision within one year of the Option
4 exercise date (Option 5).
- Antofagasta will carry Avrupa through to production, and Avrupa
will repay Antofagasta from proceeds, dividends, and sales
generated by the actual production from any mine within the project
area.
Notes on analytical methods and quality control. All samples
were sent to the ALS Chemex sample preparation facility in Seville,
Spain. Chemex shipped the prepped material to their main European
analytical laboratory located in Loughrea, Ireland. In the main
sulfide zone from 151.65 to 162.50 meters, total copper, silver,
lead, zinc, and cobalt results were obtained using a metals'
extraction method developed specifically for analysis of massive
sulfide mineralization. This includes metals' digestion by strong
oxidizing agents, followed by analysis using the industry-standard
technique of inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission
spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Total tin results were obtained using a
lithium borate fusion with the addition of a strong oxidizing
agent, and followed by x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. In the
lower anomalous zone from 162.50 to 168.50 meters, all metals'
results were obtained using a four-acid digestion, followed by
ICP-AES analysis for near-total results in all metals with the
exception of tin, which was not re-analyzed due to low levels. In
addition to ALS Chemex quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of
all work orders, the Joint Venture conducted its own normal,
internal QAQC from results generated by the systematic inclusion of
certified reference materials, blank samples and field duplicate
samples. The analytical results from the quality control samples in
the SES002 work order have been evaluated, and conform to industry
best practice standards.
Antofagasta plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange, is a
constituent of the FTSE-100 Index, and has significant mining
interests in Chile. Antofagasta plc operates four copper mines: Los
Pelambres, Esperanza, El Tesoro and Michilla. Total production in
2013 was 721,200 tonnes of copper, 9,000 tonnes of molybdenum, and
293,800 ounces of gold. Antofagasta plc also has exploration,
evaluation and/or feasibility programs in North America, Latin
America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and
development company focused on discovery, using a prospect
generator model, of valuable mineral deposits in politically stable
and prospective regions of Europe, including Portugal, Kosovo, and
Germany.
The Company currently holds 15 exploration licenses in three
European countries, including nine in Portugal covering 2,980 km2,
five in Kosovo covering 153 km2, and one in Germany covering 307
km2. Avrupa operates three joint ventures in Portugal,
including:
- The Alvalade JV, with Antofagasta, covering one license in the
Iberian Pyrite Belt of southern Portugal, for Cu-rich massive
sulfide deposits;
- The Covas JV, with Blackheath Resources, covering one license
in northern Portugal, for intrusion-related W deposits; and
- The Arga JV, also with Blackheath Resources, covering one
license located adjacent to the Covas JV, for intrusion-related
Au-W deposits.
Avrupa is currently upgrading precious and base metal targets to
JV-ready status in a variety of districts on their other licenses,
with the idea of attracting potential partners to project-specific
and/or regional exploration programs.
For additional information, visit our website at
www.avrupaminerals.com.
On behalf of the Board,
Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director
This news release was prepared by Company management, who
take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President
and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a
Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a
Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the
Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical
disclosure in this release.
Neither 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.
Avrupa Minerals Ltd.(604) 687-3520(888)
889-4874www.avrupaminerals.com
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