Dolly Varden drilling confirms base metal potential

The company recently completed its 1989 exploration program on the properties which include a number of former silver producers; the Dolly Varden, Torbrit, Wolf and North Star.

Situated near the head of Alice Arm, the properties are in the same Jurassic Hazelton group of volcanics and sediment rock formations that host gold mines in the Iskut River and Stewart camps. The topography is rugged. However, the property can be reached by an existing road from tidewater at Alice Arm to within 1.2 miles of the project area.

Dolly Varden’s recent drilling was focused on the North Star zone. It saw limited production several decades ago and still contains a mineable reserve of 193,000 tons of 9.9 oz silver, 3.1% zinc and 1% lead above the 1025-ft level (Wright Engineers, 1977).

The company said recent geological mapping on surface, underground and analysis of core from previously drilled holes has “confirmed the North Star zone as a zone of exhalative polymetallic mineralization.”

Dolly Varden said the new holes confirmed this interpretation by intersecting good values in zinc, copper and silver. Assays were received for four of the new holes drilled to about 300 ft below the 1025-ft elevation adit level that was driven several years ago to provide access to the down dip extension of good grade surface showings.

Results include: 13.5 ft of 4.46% zinc, 0.45% lead, 0.1% copper, 0.01 oz gold and 0.5 oz silver per ton; 13.7 ft of 3.48% zinc, 0.58% lead, 0.10% copper and 0.69 oz silver and 29.2 ft of 6.09% zinc, 1.67% lead, 0.10% copper and 3.5 oz silver, including 15.9 ft of 8.92% zinc, 2.92% lead, 0.13% copper and 6.21 oz silver per ton.

Dolly Varden believes results to date suggest a down dip length to the mineralization of 1,000 ft, thickening to depth. The strike length on t he 1025-ft level is estimated at about 300 ft and width 40-50 ft below the level.

Other former producers on the property still contain silver reserves. However, their base metal potential is unknown. But according to Alan Matthews, project manager, work to date on the North Star and other zones suggests potential for a large volcanogenic massive sulphide system with a strike length of 1.9 miles. A substantial drill program will test this theory along strike and to depth of the former producers in the 1990 season.

Earlier this year American Pacific Mining (TSE) acquired 1.5 million shares of Dolly Varden. American Pacific, which operates a profitable base metal mine in Honduras, has an option to buy a further 1.25 million Dolly Varden shares.

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