Denver — Assays from the first five holes drilled at the Cukurdere copper-gold target in eastern Turkey have returned impressive gold grades.
Partners
Hole 3 hit 70.5 metres of sulphide mineralization grading 1.8 grams gold and 2.2 grams silver per tonne, starting at a depth of 13.5 metres. Below 189 metres, the hole cut porphyry-style mineralization, including 36.1 metres of 0.44 gram gold and 0.29% copper.
Hole 4 started with 11 metres grading 16.3 grams gold and 20 grams silver per tonne, though this was followed by 99 metres of lower-grade material averaging 0.12 gram gold. Hole 5 was cut short at 75 metres, though it still hit 13 metres of 2.7 grams gold.
Assays for the sixth hole, which bottomed at 223 metres, are pending. In all, the core drilling totalled 1,270 metres, testing a block of metasediments within a porphyry-copper target. The vertical holes were separated by 300 metres in a rectangular pattern, measuring 600 by 330 metres.
The drill rig has since moved to the nearby Kabatas target, where the partners plan at least three holes for a total of 1,000 metres. From there, the rig moves to the Uckapili gold project. Rio Tinto plans to return for a second round of drilling. The new phase will consist of 30 holes, or 4,500 metres.
In 2000, Rio Tinto formed an alliance with Anatolia for exploration in Turkey. The 4-year deal gives the major the opportunity to earn at least a 70% interest in projects within the junior’s 5,660 sq. km in that country.
Rio Tinto, which must spend US$10.5 million on each property, has already opted to earn 70% in Cukurdere and Kabatas, and 75% in Uckapili.
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