Oct 6 2010
Ecometals Limited (TSX VENTURE:EC)(BERLIN:GDQ)(FRANKFURT:GDQ) - Ecometals Limited announces receipt of analytical results from drill hole RZDDH10-07 and RZDDH10-08 on the Rio Zarza gold project in Ecuador.
Highlights
- The deep diamond drilling programme completed 8 holes to target depth for a total of 4700m
- Anomalous Au intersections partly controlled by chrono-stratigraphic horizon at Suarez- Misahuallí unconformity suggest geochemical leakage from mineralized source towards the structural and depositional centre of the basin
- Intersection of 1.245g/t Au over 2m composite sample in RZDDH10-08 at depth of 646m to 648m suggests deeper mineralized source possibly related to floor of basin
- Other shallow targets to be investigated with small diamond drill rig, while deep-looking geophysics surveys to be undertaken to identify targets at basin floor and towards basin centre
- Phase II of the deep diamond drilling to follow compilation of results to date, planned to restart January 2011
- Ecometals opinion is that the deep drilling programme to date has been a technical success and the results warrant continued drilling
Summary Geology Hole RZDDH10-07
- Drill hole RZDDH10-07 is located at UTM777634E/9582945N (PSAD56/UTM17S) elevation 1598m, azimuth 315° and inclination -70º
- Intersected 0 to 94.75m of Hollín Fm sandstone, shale and carbonaceous mudstone, 94.75m to 435.10m Fruta Andesite, pervasive propyllitic alteration with zones of carbonate-alunite- silica veins ±chalcopyrite
- From 435.10 to 501.8m Suarez Fm polymictic conglomerate, sandstone, wacke and carbonaceous mudstone, conglomerate clasts dominantly granodiorite and quartz feldspar porphyry and minor chert and volcanics. Alteration zones include illite-smectite-chlorite and silicification with disseminated and veinlet pyrite and chalcopyrite. The Suarez and Misahuallí volcanics are interfingered at the base of the sequence, and a significant fault zone was encountered at 490 to 500m.
- From 501.8m to 613.3m is variously silicified, carbonate veined, propyllitic altered porphyritic andesite of the Misahuallí Fm
- Geochemical anomalous levels of Au and base metals at base of Fruta Andesite and sub- Suarez unconformity with Misahuallí Fm
- Alteration assemblages indicate this is in the distal hydrothermal halo
Summary Geology Hole RZDDH10-08
- Drill hole RZDDH10-08 is located at UTM777652E/9583023N (PSAD56/UTM17S) elevation 1585m, azimuth 315° and inclination -70º
- Intersected Hollín Fm sandstone to 90.8m, Fruta andesite to 389m, Suarez Fm conglomerate, wacke and sandstone to 501m
- The contact of the Suarez sediments and Misahuallí Fm volcanics is interlayered from 501 to approximately 505m indicating contemporaneous deposition
- From 505m to end of hole 656.4m intersected feldspar porphyritic andesite of the Misahuallí Fm with various overprinted alteration facies including chlorite-carbonate, epidote, and veins of quartz-carbonate with pyrite and chalcopyrite
- Generally low level Au through the Suarez-Misahuallí section, one intercept of 1.245g/t over 2m composite sample of quartz veins in feldspar porphyritic andesite from 646 to 648m depth
The section through this hole indicates there is a chrono-stratigraphic component to anomalous Au, following the lower Suarez-Misahuallí Fm unconformity. This may be geochemical leakage following the hydrogeological pathway from hydrothermal mineralization towards the depositional centre of the basin.
The highest grade intersection is 1.245g/t Au in with quartz veins, which is some 150m below the unconformity. This indicates that there is mineralization below the sub-Suarez unconformity, and the floor of the basin (ie. contact of the Misahuallí and the Zamora Batholith is a conceptual target.
Sample Preparation, Analytical Protocol and Quality Control
Drill core samples were taken from half core split with a diamond saw, and composited over 5m intervals in the Hollín Fm and 2m in the Suarez and Misahuallí Fms. Composite samples were crushed to 70% passing 2mm and riffle split 250g subsample for pulverizing to 85% passing 75µm for analysis.
Samples were prepared at the ALS Chemex sample preparation laboratory in Quito, and analysed at the ALS Chemex South American regional laboratory in Lima, Peru. Gold was assayed using the fire assay technique, and multi element analysis using ICP-MS.
Control samples are included in each batch of 100 drill core samples, including 6 Certified Reference Material (CRM), 5 field duplicates prepared from quartered split core, and 4 blanks. CRM and blank material is internationally certified and supplied by Ore Research and Exploration (Pty) Limited (OREAS) in Australia.
Quality control results indicate there is no apparent analytical bias or systematic contamination of samples, and analyses are accurate compared to CRM stated performance criteria.