Sep 27 2013
Blackheath Resources Inc. ("Blackheath") is pleased to announce that the Phase 2 diamond drill program has commenced at the past-producing Covas Tungsten Project, in northern Portugal. The program will include between 1,500 metres and 2,000 metres of drilling designed to expand the known zones of tungsten mineralization on the property.
The Phase 2 drilling program follows up the successful 15 hole Phase 1 drill program completed by Blackheath in early 2013.
The Phase 2 drill program will focus on step-out expansion targets in the known tungsten bearing skarn zones which were previously identified by Blackheath in the Phase 1 drill program and by the 329 drill holes conducted by Union Carbide and others prior to 1980. Initial holes will test the Lapa Grande area, followed by testing of the Telheira area and results will be reported when available. Further drilling in Phase 2 will test new expansion potential at the Castelo, Muito Seco, and Cerdeirinha targets
Blackheath's President & CEO, James Robertson, said: "The Phase 2 drill program at Covas is an exciting next step for Blackheath and our joint venture partner Avrupa Minerals. We achieved good success with our Phase 1 program and are eager to build on the historic resources at Covas through continued exploration and development."
Highlights from Phase 1 included high grade tungsten mineralization of 2.11% WO3 over 7.98 metres starting at a depth of 44.57 metres in Hole CO 7/12 at the Telheira target and 2.89% WO3 over 5.10 metres in Hole CO 13/12 starting at a depth of 52.70 metres at the Lapa Grande target at Covas, as previously reported. (See news releases dated November 26, 2012 and March 1, 2013 for details)
Covas is a past-producing tungsten mine and remaining historic resources on the property have been estimated at 922,900 tonnes of 0.78% WO3 (tungsten trioxide) by Union Carbide in 1980, based on work including 329 drill holes on the property. Mineralization is open to expansion. The price of tungsten has increased significantly in recent years and is currently approximately $41 per kilogram of contained tungsten trioxide. (These resources are historic in nature, prepared by Union Carbide Corp. in 1980 and are considered relevant. However, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and the Company is not considering the historical estimates as current mineral resources.)
The Covas property, which was awarded a three year Experimental Mining Licence (August 20, 2013) is located about 100 kilometres north of Porto, Portugal's second largest city. Blackheath holds the property under an option from Avrupa Minerals Ltd. to earn up to an 85% interest in a joint venture in the project, after incurring minimum exploration expenditures of €1 million in two stages to earn a 70% interest followed by completion of a prefeasibility study to earn the additional 15% interest.
About Avrupa:
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company focused on discovery, using a prospect generator model, of valuable mineral deposits in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, including Portugal, Kosovo, and Germany.
About Blackheath:
Blackheath Resources Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, and is focused on tungsten exploration and development in Portugal. The Company holds the Covas, Arga and Borralha tungsten projects and also the Bejanca tungsten/tin project. Exploration is currently underway at all four projects. Management of Blackheath has previous experience in tungsten mining operations in Portugal through Primary Metals Inc., the operator of the Panasqueira Tungsten Mine from 2003 to 2007.
Further information about the company's activities may be found at www.blackheathresources.com and under the company's profile at www.sedar.com