Elementos Ltd (ASX:ELT, OTC:ELTLF) has intersected two separate 10-metre-thick high-grade zones of tin, zinc and copper mineralisation (upper and lower) down hole within semi-massive to massive sulphides at the Oropesa Tin Project in Spain.
The exploration drill hole, outside and to the northwest of the current Oropesa resource, was designed as a re-drill of an earlier drill hole that was terminated due to drilling equipment failure at 152 metres.
Significant polymetallic zones
The new hole drilled through additional mineralisation down to a total depth of 189 metres and returned two significant zones of polymetallic – tin, zinc and copper – mineralisation.
Highlights include:
- 22.5 metres at 0.11% tin, 1.43% zinc and 0.77% copper from 92.6 metres (0.1% tin cut-off grade), including 10 metres at 0.24% tin, 2.44% zinc and 0.82% copper from 99.5 metres; and
- 2.2 metres at 0.05% tin and 3.78% zinc and 1.32% copper from 120.2 metres and 10.0 metres at 0.56% tin, 4.65% zinc and 0.32% copper from 152.9 metres (0.1% tin cut-off grade).
The semi-massive to massive sulphides are associated with intense silica and carbonate-altered host rocks over an interval that extends for 70 metres down hole from 90.5 metres.
The principal sulphides consist of pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite and galena. The drilling was planned to investigate potential extensions to mineralisation first intersected in a geotechnical drill hole in March 2022.
There appears to be strong evidence supporting the continuation of mineralisation between these two drill holes.
Managing director Joe David said: “We are excited to further confirm the intersection of semi-massive to massive sulphide mineralisation to the northwest of our Oropesa mineral resource.
“Following on from [the geotechnical and earlier drill holes], we now have additional evidence that the polymetallic mineralisation extends beyond the known mineral resource to the northwest of Oropesa.
“The main Oropesa tin deposit mineral resource is not a semi-massive or massive sulphide in nature, so it is likely that this new mineralisation intersected is due to an alternative hydrothermal event.
Zinc and copper grades elevated
“This is likely the cause of the mineralisation appearing more polymetallic, with zinc and copper grades more elevated, while the tin grade is lower in comparison to the main Oropesa tin mineral resource.
“We will continue to evaluate the exploration drilling results from this northwest area as they become available and we remain highly interested in furthering the exploration program as the interpretation of results is modelled and extensional targets further defined.”