Aber/Hemisphere potential expands on Sunrise project

Drilling on the Sunrise project is continuing to add to the reserve base, say Aber Resources (VSE) and Hemisphere Development Corp. (VSE), 50/50 joint venture partners in the polymetallic project located near Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories.

In May of this year the companies released independently calculated probable and possible reserves of 1.8 million tons grading 14.4 oz silver, 10.0% zinc, 4.2% lead, and 0.023 oz gold per ton (approximately 0.64 oz per ton gold equivalent).

One of two rigs now on site is defining the shallower part of the zone and the companies report “excellent continuity” is being demonstrated internally, while externally the outer limits of the high grade mineralization are being expanded.

A higher grade gold zone was discovered on the margin of the zone, the companies say. Hole R-46 intersected 5.6 ft grading 0.142 oz and drilling to expand the gold zone is under way.

The second rig, which is probing the depth extension of the deposit, intersected 10.8 ft grading 14.8 oz silver, 12.3% zinc, 6.0% lead and 0.056 oz gold at a vertical depth of 1700 ft.

This intersection is reported to lie within a broader mineralized envelope of 36.7 ft which assayed 5.3 oz silver and 9.2% zinc-lead combined. The deposit remains open laterally to the south and to depth, the companies say.

Surface exploration on the 30,000-acre land package held by the joint venture is ongoing, and the companies report that a number of geologically and geophysically favorable areas have already been defined. Helicopter supported reconnaissance drilling to test these new targets is scheduled to start in mid-August.

Accessibility can often be the make-or-break issue for any project in the north, particularly when a concentrate must be shipped. The Sunrise property has relatively favorable logistics, being located 40 miles from an all-weather road and 10-15 miles from a right-of-way cut during a “roads to resources” project in the 60s.