Celsius Resources Ltd (ASX:CLA, AIM:CLA) will expand exploration efforts in northern Luzon, the Philippines, after receiving an exploration permit for the Botilao Porphyry Copper-Gold Prospect, southwest of the flagship Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Copper-Gold (MCB) Project.
Philippine subsidiary Makilala Mining Company, Inc. (MMCI) has been granted a two-year exploration permit by the Philippine Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for Botilao.
Two-year permit
Celsius’ planned Exploration Work Program under the initial two-year permit aims to define the extent and distribution of the observed mineralisation along Botilao Creek.
This will consist of regional to semi-detailed geochemical sampling and mapping to generate future targets for possible geophysical surveys and eventual diamond drilling activities.
“Additional value”
Celsius managing director Peter Hume said: “Given its location, it is possible that the mineralisation controls in the Botilao Prospect are similar to those at the Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Copper-Gold Project deposit.
"Thus, they may have the same mineralisation style and grades which will be confirmed once we progress the exploration.
“This prospect, once developed, will bring additional value to Celsius’ portfolio and complement the MCB Project.”
Exploration plan
Along with geochemical sampling, mapping of different rock types or lithologies in the area will be carried out to characterise and delineate mineralised or altered zones.
Detailed mapping will focus on identified mineralised outcrops to ensure proper understanding of the classification and controls of mineralisation.
Location of the Botilao tenement with respect to the MCB tenement. The Pasil River Fault, which is the mineralisation control for MCB Deposit, extends towards Botilao Prospect.
Botilao prospect is in the Cordillera Administrative Region about 320 kilometres north of Manila and has a tenement area of 947.67 hectares.
Previous exploration
Historical exploration by Lepanto Consolidated Mining Inc. in the 1970s included drilling diamond bore holes and geochemical sampling along exploratory tunnels.
A 1973 inspection and verification report by the Bureau of Mines indicated that Lepanto delineated two major mineralisation zones striking northeast.
Drilling and exploration tunnel works were concentrated around Botilao Creek, south of Pasil River. The report indicated tunnel samples with copper grades up to ~1%.
The result of historical exploration and MMCI's understanding of the MCB deposit will provide the initial working model for Botilao.