Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported today that new assays results have increased the down-hole thickness of mineralized intervals in the previously reported hole 11CLM-023 and continue to demonstrate continuity of mineralization along strike to the northwest in the Blind Zone, on its Cerro Las Minitas project located in Durango State, Mexico.
Highlights from the latest assay results include:
- a 10.8 metre interval averaging 70.0g/t silver and 1.6% lead and 2.2% zinc which includes a 1.4 metre interval averaging 217g/t silver and 6.2% lead and 8.7% zinc from drill hole 11CLM-023,
- a 3.1 metre interval averaging 209g/t silver and 6.7% lead and 6.5% zinc from drill hole 11CLM-018 and,
- a 0.5 metre interval averaging 920g/t silver and 18.4% lead and 11.1% zinc from drill hole 11CLM-021.
The reported mineralized interval in hole CLM-023 is in addition to a previously reported 11.5 metre interval averaging 140g/t silver, 4.9% lead, and 4.1% zinc (see NR-20-11) that occurs deeper in the hole. Furthermore, new shoulder sampling of this previously reported mineralization has now extended the interval to a 25.3 metres thickness averaging 69.9g/t silver, 2.0% lead and 2.3% zinc (see Table 1). These two combined intervals represent 36 metres of strong polymetallic mineralization along the projection of the main target horizon of the Blind zone. All mineralization is reported as down-hole intervals.
Drill holes 11CLM-018 and 11CLM-021 tested the down-dip projection of the Blind Zone to 150 metres and 45 metres respectively. The holes continue to provide continuity along 500 metres strike-length tested to date. The Blind zone, open along strike and to depth, is outboard of both the main intrusive stock and areas of historic mining and exploration and is the first of several buried targets identified on the property through IP geophysics to be drill tested.
Analyzed by FA-ES/AA for gold and ICP-MS by ALS Chemex, Vancouver BC; Silver overlimits (>100g/t Ag) re-assayed with FA-Grav. AgEq calculation uses values that approximate the three year trailing average of the contained metals: $25 silver, $1150 gold, $2.5 copper and $1 lead and $1 zinc.
Exploration Program
Twenty-seven drill holes totalling approximately 7400 metres of an anticipated and fully funded 18,000 metre drill program have been completed on the project to date. Seventeen holes have now been completed on the Blind zone and assays for five of these drill holes are still pending.
Future drilling will target specific occurrences located within the area of historic mining and several targets derived from the recently completed surface IP geophysical program.
The Cerro Las Minitas property comprises 17 concessions which total 10,980 hectares and an approximate 25 kilometre lineal strike length. The property is located about 70 kilometres to the northeast of the city of Durango, Durango State, Mexico and is accessed easily by road.
Mining has been conducted on the property since Colonial times and has identified several types of silver-, lead- and zinc-enriched massive-sulphide pipes, veins and carbonate-replacement deposits (CRDs), as well as mineralized skarns at the margins of a large intrusive body. The Santa Eulalia replacement deposit (45Mt of 310g/t Ag, 7.1% Zn and 8.2% Pb) and the skarn deposit of San Martin (60Mt of 118g/t silver, 0.9% copper and 3.9% zinc) are examples of two major Mexican mines occurring in similar geological environments.
The mineralized zones at Cerro Las Minitas have been exploited to depths of 300 metres and over widths of 60 metres.