SMALL LOCAL EXPLORER MAKES MAJOR COPPER FIND IN MONGOLIA
Sydney - Tuesday - August 9: (RWE Aust Business News) *****************************************************
OVERVIEW ********
Voyager Resources Ltd (VOR:ASX) reports that its latest drill holes confirm a major new high-grade copper discovery in the south Gobi region of southern Mongolia. The company told the ASX that initial assay results have been received from the first three Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes completed on the Cughur discovery at the KM copper porphyry project. All three (80m deep) RC holes ended in high-grade copper mineralisation. Results include: * 66 metres at 1.48pc copper and 5.4 g/t silver from 14 metres to end of hole (KM0011RC); * 50 metres at 3.51pc copper and 10.8 g/t silver from 30 metres to end of hole (KM0012RCD); and * 10 metres at 4.06pc copper and 16.2 g/t silver from 70 metres to end of hole (KM0013RCD). Two RC holes have recently been extended by diamond core drilling with copper mineralisation of varying intensity being geologically logged as follows: * KM0012RCD, strong chalcocite to 86.5 metres with weaker chalcocite and moderate chalcopyrite to 156 metres depth; and * KM0013RCD, strong chalcocite to 84.0 metres with weaker chalcocite and moderate chalcopyrite to 118 metres depth. The Cughar discovery remains open at depth and along strike. Further geological mapping of the Cughar discovery has extended the alteration zone to an area covering 4.6 x 1.6 kms. Three drilling rigs are now operating on the KM copper porphyry project, with numerous other targets being drill tested. To date 40 RC holes and three diamond tail extensions have now been completed over four separate prospects for over 4,000 metres of drilling. Many drill holes are intersecting porphyry style copper mineralisation over broad intervals. Drilling is continuing to focus on the Cughur prospect area where drilling has intersected broad expanses of mineralised quartz tourmaline breccias (>100 metres). Voyager is fully funded with $9.67 million in cash reported at the end of the June quarter. As a result of the positive indications from the initial and current drilling, the company has expanded the planned RC drilling program and fast tracked two diamond core drill rigs to site to test high-order anomalies identified in the recent geophysical and geological mapping programs. The rigs will also complete diamond tails on the RC holes that have ended in high-grade copper mineralisation. Already diamond core extensions on KM0012RCD & KM0013RCD have intersected broad continuing copper mineralisation comprised of chalcocite and chalcopyrite beneath the currently assayed RC intervals to approximate depths of 150 metres. In addition to the RC and diamond drilling being conducted at the Cughur discovery, a deep diamond hole is currently being drilled at IP East. This hole has been designed to drill across a broad and intense Induced Polarisation (IP) chargeability anomaly that extends for over four kilometres.
SHARE PRICE MOVEMENTS *********************
Shares of Voyager Resources yesterday rose 0.7c to 5.6c and touched 6.5c during the session. Rolling high for the year is 13.41c and low 1.09c. All-time high is 30.88c. The company has 972.4 million shares on issue with a market cap of $53.4 million. Drilling has intersected weak to moderate disseminated sulphide occurrences (predominantly pyrite plus chalcopyrite) and minor chalcopyrite veining in altered rocks above the target zone. Ongoing geological mapping has continued to outline occurrences of quartz tourmaline breccias that contain copper oxide minerals, mainly malachite and azurite that occur within a leached alteration zone. This zone now extends over an area covering 4.6 by 1.6 kms and is coincident with a low-gravity response and the northern edge of a more extensive gradient IP anomaly that is currently being drilled at the IP East prospect. In addition to the reconnaissance mapping, the company recently completed planned IP gradient array and gravity geophysical programs. The KM copper-gold project is located in the Edrene Island Arc Terrain, which is one of a number of tectonic terrains that extend across the Gobi and southern regions of Mongolia, which have been proven to host a number of mineralised porphyry systems, including the giant Oyu Tolgoi deposit. Only limited exploration has been conducted over the project to date, results have been highly encouraging and support Voyager's belief that KM has the potential to host a significant copper porphyry system.
BACKGROUND **********
Voyager Resources re-listed on the ASX in September 2009 with the goal to create a sustainable exploration and development business focused on copper gold and gold resource opportunities, utilising a management team that has a proven track record of acquiring and developing mineral projects throughout the world. Since listing, the Board has acquired a number of quality copper-gold and gold projects that will allow the company to grow rapidly. This has culminated in the acquisition of the Khongor copper-gold porphyry project that is situated in a similar geological setting to the world-class Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold development. Voyager plans to aggressively explore and develop resources at the Khongor copper-gold project this year as well as further develop its other projects. Geographically, Mongolia is bordered by both Russia (north) and China (south, east and west) and is within 40 kms of Kazakhstan. In 1911 Mongolia declared independence from China but Chinese troops occupied the country. In 1920 Russian troops invaded Mongolia and defeated the occupying Chinese forces. In 1921 Russia declared Mongolia an independent state. The 1990s saw a shift to democracy with Presidential elections being held in 1993 and Parliamentary elections in 1996. Mongolia's total population is in the order of three million people. Mining and agriculture are key contributors to Mongolia's economy. Mongolia's mineral resources include gold, copper, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and coal.
Reuters.
VAL Price at posting:
5.4¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held