Brunswick uncovers new sulphide zone north of minesite

A deep hole, A-248, from surface intersected a 13.4-m lens of massive sulphides about two kilometres north of the No 3 shaft and 1,100 m below surface. Size of the zone has yet to be determined.

Core assays include 8.5 m of 4.61% lead, 9.91% zinc, 0.22% copper, 183.4 g silver per tonne and 1.65 g gold. A pyrite section of the hole intersected 4.9 m of 0.55% lead, 1.5% zinc, 0.18% copper, 17.5 g silver and 0.34 g gold.

The company reports the surface hole was a follow-up of a massive pyrite intersection encountered in underground exploration drilling from the 1000 level in September, 400 m south of A-248.

While the underground drill continues to probe the southern end of the new zone, the surface drill has been idled while company geologists plan their strategy based on the 1-hole discovery, a spokesman said.

The property to the north of No 12 mine is owned by Brunswick. Company geologists had already determined the potential to uncover new mineralization lay in a northerly direction, and not to the south of the mining operation.

Current reserves (all classes) at the No 12 mine stand at 97 million tonnes averaging 3.65% lead, 8.99% zinc, 0.32% copper and 99 g silver.

In the same part of the province, 65 km southwest of the town of Brunswick, the company is involved in a joint venture mining operation with its parent, Noranda Inc. (TSE), at the Heath Steele project. The lead-zinc-copper mine was placed in production in August.

Back at the No 12 mine, Brunswick this past summer changed over to a deepened No 3 shaft which substantially reduced ore hoisting capacity and concentrate supply to the smelter during the third quarter. Net earnings were down substantially compared with the same period in 1988.

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