Marifil Mines Ltd. has announced that it has initiated exploration campaigns on several of its properties in Argentina.
Cerro Samenta Copper
Marifil has hired a private geologic consulting group to carry out mapping and sampling on its Cerro Samenta porphyry and oxide copper project in Salta Province. The technical crew is on site carrying out re-sampling of old existing trenches, surveying all historic work, and mapping and sampling outcrops.
The Cerro Samenta property lies within the Archibarca corridor, a major northwest striking structural lineament that includes the giant La Escondida and La Escondida Norte copper deposits in Chile and the Rio Grande and Lindero deposits in Argentina.
Marifil's senior Argentinian geologists have made a preliminary field assessment returning with strong recommendations for the detailed exploration now in progress. Our geologists note that only 13 holes, totalling 1,800 meters, have been drilled and have only tested about 15% to 20% of what is a large and complex porphyry copper system.
Initial exploration is focusing on two primary targets: an exposed exotic oxide copper deposit, and an outcropping hydrothermal breccia pipe measuring 200 meters by 300 meters. Copper-mineralization is seen in many of the clasts (rock fragments) of the breccia body, suggesting it penetrated a mineralized mass of underlying rock.
Punta Colorado Limestone
A cement consultant has just completed a study of Marifil's Punta Colorado cement-grade limestone project on the Atlantic coast in Rio Negro province, and concluded that an evaluation drill program is warranted. Marifil is planning to hire a marketing consultant to find out what product should be produced (either clinker or cement), who would buy it, and its value.
Toruel Silver/Copper
Netco Silver has notified the Marifil that they have begun their surface exploration program of the Toruel silver property in Rio Negro province in preparation for a diamond core drilling program.
Phosphate Claims
Marifil has begun a follow-up reconnaissance sampling program for phosphate on its claims in southern Mendoza province. Marifil geologists have identified outcropping strata containing phosphate along a strike length of over 100 kilometers. A simple qualitative field test shows the nearly ubiquitous presence of phosphate. Rock chip sampling is underway to determine the quantitative amounts of phosphate. If successful, trenching would be done and then possibly a drilling program.
Satellite Image Program
A contractor for the Company recently completed a satellite image study encompassing parts of Mendoza, Neuquen, and Rio Negro Provinces as an aid to understanding structural and stratigraphic controls on a number of our projects in those Provinces.