Nov 30 2010
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:AVU) has announced that drilling has started at the Marateca Cu-Zn project in the northernmost extension of the Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal.
Three holes total are planned for three separate targets in an exposed window of the same package of Paleozoic volcano-sedimentary rocks that hosts the giant Neves-Corvo massive sulfide deposit, located 115 km to the southeast in the IPB and presently being mined by Lundin Mining Company. Two of the targets, the São Martinho and Volta anomalies, are classic volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) targets based on interpretation of gravity, reflection seismic, and IP-Resistivity geophysical data. The third target, at the Serrinha anomaly, is based more on the surface presence of exhalitive-style mineralization and alteration, anomalous soil geochemistry (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, As, Sb, Ba, Mn, Hg), and a broad subsurface IP chargeability anomaly that may indicate the possibility of stockwork or VMS feeder-zone mineralization.
Avrupa will pre-collar the São Martinho and Volta holes, using a percussion drill to quickly cut through 50 to 100 meters of Tertiary cover, followed by the use of core drilling to pass through the Paleozoic rocks down to the target zone of 350 to 500 meters depth. Drilling at Serrinha will directly start with the use of the core drill rig down to a target zone of 250 to 300 meters depth. The Company anticipates the drilling program to continue into early 2011, with approximately 1,300 meters of drilling completed.
Paul W. Kuhn, CEO of Avrupa, commented, "We are excited to start the drilling program at Marateca. This may be the northernmost drilling attempted in the Pyrite Belt, and almost 30 kilometers north of the blind Lagoa Salgada Cu-Zn deposit, presently the farthest-north-known VMS deposit in the IPB. We accomplished the generation of these first three Marateca targets using sound surface geologic mapping and anomalous soil and rock geochemistry, integrated with the use of historical airborne geophysical information and recently-applied ground geophysical surveys. The three first-pass, exploratory drill holes were designed to better understand the targets, and to add to our total knowledge of the target area, making the project even more attractive to potential joint venture partners. Adding to the excitement is the fact that the Marateca property also contains at least six other target areas that have not yet been advanced to the degree of understanding that we have at São Martinho, Volta, and Serrinha."
Avrupa Minerals holds two contiguous licenses, Alvalade and Ferreira do Alentejo, located 50-60 km south of Marateca in the northern Portuguese Pyrite Belt and has been granted a third (also contiguous) license, Canal Caveira, although the contract for this one has not yet been signed by the government of Portugal. The Caveira and Alvalade licenses cover a number of known deposits and formerly-working mines, including the Caveira Mine and Lousal Mine, respectively. Avrupa is currently working on compilation and re-interpretation of historic geophysical, geological, and geochemical data for the Lousal-Caveira district and will be able to greatly upgrade their understanding of the district over the next 3-6 months. The Company continues to generate new high quality drilling targets in the district and will look to potentially advancing these targets by joint venture-style partnerships with other companies.