DIAMOND PAGE — Multi-mineral hunt under way at Hackett River

Ongoing exploration by Etruscan Enterprises (VSE) is aimed at testing kimberlite, gold and massive sulphide targets on the Hackett River property in the Northwest Territories.

The property, about 100 km south of Bathurst Inlet on the Arctic Coast, is 46%-owned by Etruscan and 54% by Cominco (TSE). The former is the operator, provided it spends at least $400,000 annually and the programs meet with Cominco’s approval.

Previous work was focused on outlining massive sulphide reserves, now in the order of 20 million tonnes in five separate deposits. The most significant is the West Limb of the A zone, which has proven and probable reserves (near surface) of four million tonnes grading 12.76% zinc, 1.38% lead, 0.3% copper, 0.46 grams gold and 231 grams silver per tonne.

This year’s 2,500-metre-deep drilling program is focused on this zone, as well as on the East Cleaver Lake zone where previous drilling returned 0.67 oz. gold and 62 oz. silver per ton over 15 ft. Previous shallow drilling did not test the depth extensions and some of the lateral extensions of the key zones, including those with the best grades and greatest widths. Based on results from a recent geophysical survey, Etruscan regards the potential for adding to base metal discoveries as “unlimited.” Ground follow-up was recommended for 20 massive sulphide targets.

“We think this property has good potential for new zinc-rich massive sulphide discoveries and to expand tonnage in existing high-grade targets such as the West Limb of the A zone,” Etruscan Exploration Manager Donald Burton told The Northern Miner.

The property is also considered prospective for gold mineralization in three geologic environments: massive sulphides, calc-silicate formations, and banded iron formations similar to those being explored on the nearby George Lake, Goose Lake and Boot Lake properties of Homestake Canada. Etruscan said metamorphosed banded iron formation associated with the massive sulphide horizon has been mapped for more than 12 km. The recent airborne survey delineated a second banded iron formation over a strike length of eight kilometres.