Anatolia expands in Turkey

Junior Anatolia Minerals Development (AMCD.U-C) has acquired a new property in central Turkey, adding to its large holdings in that country.

The 100,000-ha Ilich property, situated 120 km southeast of the city of Sivas, contains several prospective porphyry targets. Anatolia will explore targets outlined by the Turkish Geological Survey, the most promising of which is Kabatash, where mapping has outlined concentric porphyry alteration associated with a copper anomaly measuring 1,500 by 800 metres and a gold anomaly measuring 600 by 400 metres.

Several kilometres away is the Copler prospect, which consists of a small basin of mineralized granodiorite intruding limestones. The rocks are highly leached, with several silicified breccia pipes containing large blocks of mineralized marble and skarn. Chip samples assayed as high as 7 grams gold per tonne and 1.9% copper. The property also contains ancient mines and copper-rich slag piles dating back thousands of years.

The nearby Yakuplu skarn target, measuring 1 by 3 km, contains traces of base metals, as well as gold.

Other prospects on the Ilich property, including Bakir Dag, have yet to be investigated.

Anatolia controls more than 1 million ha in various parts of Turkey and recently flew an airborne geophysical survey over the Yenipazar property. Rio Algom (ROM-T) can earn up to a 70% interest in that project by arranging a US$1.5-million private placement in the junior late in 1998. The major must spend US$27.5 million and produce a feasibility study.

The companies flew 1,000 sq. km over a Precambrian Basin near the town of Kayseri, exploring for base metals and gold. Field checking of the geophysical anomalies for massive sulphide bodies is already under way, with drilling scheduled for later in the year.