The $1.5-million program is funded by operator Cominco, which has a 60% interest, and by junior partner Redfern Resources (VSE). Cominco operated a 500- ton-per-day mine at Tulsequah Chief from 1951 to 1957 until falling metal prices forced a shut-down.
At the time of closure, the mine contained proven and probable reserves of 780,000 tons grading 1.3% copper, 1.6% lead, 8.0% zinc, 0.07 oz gold and 2.9 oz silver per ton, hosted in several massive sulphide lenses.
Described as a Kuroko-type volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit, Tulsequah Chief was recognized as having potential for new reserves in 1980. After a successful exploration program in 1987, Cominco and Redfern funded an underground program last year which increased total reserves (in all categories) to the current 2.38 million tons grading 2.03% copper, 1.25% lead, 6.25% zinc, 0.075 oz gold and 2.68 oz silver as released by Redfern.
The first phase of the 1989 program will extend the 2,700-ft long 5,400 level a further 650 ft to establish a drill station to accommodate two underground diamond drills.
About 10,000 ft of drilling in seven wide-spaced holes is planned to test a 1,000-ft strike length of the mineral horizon to a depth 1,000 ft below the lowest levels explored to date.
According to Bill Wolfe, exploration manager for Cominco, the minimum threshold for a potential mining operation would be in the order of about five million tons. “These are widely spaced holes and while we wouldn’t call anything we get reserves, the drilling should tell us if the potential is there,” he said of the first phase program. The second phase would involve fill-in drilling to firm up the project’s reserve status.
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