Sur bulks up at Comval (January 05, 2004)

Junior Sur American Gold (SUR-V) has pulled more bonanza grades from its Comval gold project in the Philippines.

Two bulk samples from the rechristened Amy vein (formerly known as Tarale #7 and part of the Tarale system) averaged 656 grams per tonne. The samples, weighing 1,000 and 750 kg each, were taken 1 metre apart and about 5 metres below a surface outcropping that ran 148.3 grams over 0.65 metre. The difference is considered to be a reflection of weathering.

To date, Sur American has mapped and sampled dozens of gold-bearing quartz veins at Comval. The Tarale system itself consists of 20 individual veins outcropping on the southeastern flank of the Batoto hill, across of a width of 200 metres but often connected by stockworks.

Although exploration is still early-stage, Sur American believes the Tarale veins connect with the Batoto system to immediate north and to the Maglente system, about 500-700 metres to the west. Strike and dip measurements are unknown, owing to soil cover.

All three systems are hosted by an altered diorite intrusion, and many individual veins carry visible gold.

Bulk sampling continues, and geophysical surveying and underground development are now under way. The development program is focused on nine of the known veins in order to provide fresh material for sampling and metallurgical testing, as well as to enable the driving of crosscuts to test for bulk-tonnage potential.

Drilling will follow the geophysical survey.

Exploration at Comval began in early 2003, when Sur acquired a 70% interest in it and two other properties on the island of Mindanao. In return, the company issued 5 million shares to an Australian-listed company and agreed to spend up to $4 million on exploration over 5 years.