Alexco Resource Corp. (TSX:AXR)(NYSE Amex:AXU) has announced results from 2010 follow-up core drilling at the Onek historical mine area, Keno Hill Silver District in Canada's Yukon Territory.
Follow-up exploration drilling southwest of the historical Onek underground and open pit mine has extended the zone of significant indium-bearing zinc-silver and silver-zinc mineralization an additional 100 meters along strike, bringing the total strike length of mineralization to a minimum of 500 meters. The zone extends down dip a minimum of 220 meters and remains open both down dip and along strike to the southwest. As reported earlier this year (see news release dated November 1, 2010 entitled "Alexco Receives Balance of Assays from Onek Zinc - Silver Deposit; Indium Association Confirmed"), the Onek deposit is emerging as a distinctly zoned body, with high silver grades in the upper portion of the deposit and zinc-indium rich mineralization at depth. A resource estimate for the Onek deposit is currently being prepared.
Highlights
Complete assay results have been received for the final 4 holes drilled southwest of the historical Onek mine, located in the eastern part of the Keno Hill Silver District. Results include the following:
- DDH K10-309 cut an interval grading: 1,080 grams per tonne silver (31.5 ounces per ton), 0.346 grams per tonne gold, 0.6% lead, 24.8% zinc and 204 parts per million indium over 1.25 meters from 105.62 to 106.87 meters.
- DDH K10-308 cut an interval grading: 1,100 grams per tonne silver (32.1 ounces per ton), 0.620 grams per tonne gold, 18.8% lead, 6.3% zinc and 23 parts per million indium over 1.06 meters from 118.94 to 120.00 meters.
- DDH K10-306 cut an interval grading: 296 grams per tonne silver (8.6 ounces per ton), 0.560 grams per tonne gold, 2.0% lead, 35.6% zinc and 453 parts per million indium over 5.46 meters from 92.75 to 98.21 meters.
- DDH K10-311 cut an interval grading: 233 grams per tonne silver (6.8 ounces per ton), 0.520 grams per tonne gold, 3.2% lead, 13.2% zinc and 138 parts per million indium over 0.33 meters from 156.88 to 157.21 meters in a broader zone grading 42.9 grams per tonne silver (1.3 ounces per ton), 0.188 grams per tonne gold, 0.4% lead, 5.4% zinc and 60 parts per million indium over 4.59 meters from 152.89 to 157.21 meters.
These additional drill results continue to confirm the presence of high-grade zinc-silver-lead and local gold and indium mineralization in the area of the historical Onek mine, as reported in the news release of October 6, 2010 entitled "Alexco Intersects 10.4 Meters of 44.3 Ounces per Ton Silver, Expands Onek Zinc-Silver Deposit at Keno Hill". Mineralization at Onek is strongly zoned, with higher silver-to-zinc ratios prevalent in the upper portion of the deposit and predominately zinc-rich material, including indium, down dip. The successful 2010 drill program at Onek was designed to test the upper, more silver-rich mineralization as defined in the historical resource by the property's former owner, United Keno Hill Mines Limited ("UKHM"), and to better delineate the transition from silver rich to zinc dominant material.
Onek Drilling, Production and Historical Resource
Drilling at Onek by Alexco now covers a strike length in excess of 500 meters along the Onek mineralized structural zone, located adjacent to the historical Onek mine where reported past production totaled 93,000 tons averaging 13.77 ounces per ton silver, 5.54% lead and 3.43% zinc. An historical resource estimate for the area encompassing the existing underground workings was calculated by the staff of UKHM in approximately 1997. This historical resource estimate, including proven, probable and inferred mineralization, totals 85,734 tons grading 12.63 ounces per ton silver, 4.71% lead, 16.41% zinc and 0.01 ounces per ton gold. Although believed by Alexco management to be relevant and reliable, this historical resource estimate pre-dates National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and is not compliant with NI 43-101 resource categories. Alexco plans to complete an interim NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate for Onek, primarily to rank the deposit as part of an ongoing district-wide strategic development plan. The importance of the Onek deposit is enhanced by its proximity to the newly constructed Bellekeno mill, ease of underground access, and the identification of newly defined areas of the deposit with significant silver credits. Additionally, the extents of the deposit remain open.
Other Miscellaneous 2010 Drilling Results
NE Onek/Keno Hill Drilling
Five step-out holes were drilled in late 2010 on Keno Hill, exploring for possible extensions of the Onek mineralized structural zone. The holes were located between 300 and 800 meters northeast of the historical Onek mine, and approximately 600 meters from the center of the currently identified Onek deposit. Three of the five holes encountered anomalous silver grades ranging between 1.1 and 2.3 ounces per ton silver over drill widths of up to 2.13 meters. This area is currently being evaluated for possible follow-up drilling in 2011.
Preliminary McQuesten Valley Drilling
A reverse circulation drill program covering three areas within the McQuesten Valley was completed in October. The primary goals of the program were to determine depth to bedrock and obtain stratigraphic information to assist in geologic modeling. Thirty-four holes were drilled with depths ranging from 3.05 to 114.30 meters. Approximately 45% of the holes reached bedrock with one (KR10-005) intersecting 1.52 meters grading 1.2 ounces per ton silver hosted in schist and quartzite. Evaluation of the results is in progress.
Keno Hill Silver District History
Between 1921 and 1988, the Keno Hill Silver District produced more than 217 million ounces of silver with average grades of 40.5 ounces per ton silver, 5.6% lead and 3.1% zinc (Yukon Government's Minfile database). The historical production grades would rank Keno Hill in the top 3% by grade of today's global silver producers. The Keno Hill district is the second-largest historical silver producer in Canada.