Jan 30 2016
Fura Emeralds Inc. ("Fura" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the progress being made at its emerald project located in the emerald belt in Boyacá, Colombia.
Fura is exploring the recently acquired exploration concession contract, ECH-121, a grassroots emerald license, located approximately 2 kilometers south of the famous Muzo emerald mine. Favorable zones for emerald mineralization have been identified on the basis of geological mapping, geochemical & geophysical surveys.
Fura hired Geoconsultora Fenix S.A. ("GF"), a consultancy firm with offices in Canada and Colombia, through a bid tender process. GF conducted a Phase I exploration program on behalf of the Company from September 2015 to December 2015.
The exploration program was divided into two stages. The first stage included the interpretation of satellite images and a lineaments analysis to define the most prospective areas for emerald occurrences within the license area.
This initial work defined two areas (Figure 1) featuring the absence of potassic zones and a greater presence of open structures that could have allowed the migration of mineralizing fluids making them more favorable to the presence of emerald occurrences.
To view 'Figure 1', please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/fura0129fig1.pdf
In these areas, now termed North and South areas, GF carried out the second phase of the exploration program with geological mapping, a soil sampling geochemical program and collection of geophysical data, in a grid of 200 x 40 meters.
Overall, the rocks in these areas consist of a monotonous succession of black mudstones with carbonaceous content and minor interbedded siltstones. The area is intensely deformed with two main faulting systems: N20E and N70E.
The soil samples were sent to Toronto where they were analyzed by Activation Laboratories Ltd. ("Actlabs") through the selective extraction enzyme method ("ESE"). ESE is one of the most discriminating of the selective analytical extractions in use today. A total of 14 geochemical anomalies were defined for follow-up work as a result of the interpretation of the pathfinder elements as indicators of the hydrothermal process responsible for emerald mineralization, including strong albitization with sodium adding and introducing of beryllium, chromium, vanadium and Earth Rare Elements, among others.
To view 'Figure 2', please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/fura0129fig2.pdf
In the anomalies identified, the exploration work will continue including the elaboration of a detailed geological map and a geochemical soil program, now in a detail grid of 50 x 20 meters. The collected samples will follow for preparation and chemical analysis in the laboratories of Actlabs in Medellin, Colombia and Toronto, Canada. The analytical method to be adopted will be the same as the previous step, ESE.
Fura plans the completion of this stage within the next 90 days, with the objective of identifying the most favorable areas to test the emerald mineralization by a diamond drilling campaign.
About Fura Emeralds Inc.
Fura Emeralds Inc. is a natural resource company which is engaged in the acquisition and exploration of resource properties in Colombia.
Ricardo A. Valls, M.Sc., P.Geo., a "qualified person" as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release and has approved its dissemination.