EXPLORATION ROUNDUP — Leeward begins field work on ground in Myanmar

With the monsoon season over, Leeward Capital (LWC-A) has started field work at two mineral concessions in Myanmar.

The junior says the combined land package is prospective for gold, platinum group minerals and base metal targets.

The first block is held 50% by the government of Myanmar, with Leeward and partner Consolidated Spectrum (CDP-V) splitting the remaining 50% interest.

The southern part of the property adjoins Newmont Exploration’s Kyapatoe gold mine, where the mill is being upgraded in order to enhance the recovery of gold from the deposit’s reserves of 4 million tonnes grading 3.1 grams gold per tonne. The mine is in a volcanic belt, and Leeward believes the location augurs well for the prospectivity of its adjoining ground.

The northeastern portion of the property, which is being worked by artisanal miners, is believed to have potential for porphyry gold deposits, as well as vein-type deposits where the gold is associated with silver or, in places, platinum group elements (PGEs), namely osmium. This area also hosts placer occurrences of platinum group metals in a mafic-ultramafic setting believed to have some similarities to the Stillwater mine in Montana.

“It is an unusual showing,” says Leeward President James Davis. “The microprobe work shows [that the PGEs] consist mostly of osmium, iridium and ruthenium, with less than 10% consisting of platinum, palladium and rhodium.” Davis notes that the Myanmar government has been working for years to define a PGE showing on its wholly owned ground adjacent to the Leeward-Spectrum joint venture. “There is only a hint of platinum in the mafic-ultramafic rocks, and they may need foreign expertise to help solve the riddle,” he adds. “Plus, the work is made more complex by the tropical weathering and lack of exposure.”

Using its geological office in Yangon as a base, Leeward plans to start a helicopter-borne magnetic and electromagnetic survey at Block 11, near the town of Leymyethna in western Myanmar.

The concession hosts two copper deposits, Dokhta and Thida, both of which were previously tested by limited drilling. This work returned grades up to 1.88% copper over 8.5 metres, as well as gold values of up to 1 gram. At least five other massive sulphide occurrences have been identified on the concession.

The Myanmar government has a 50% stake in Block 11. Leeward and partner Mindoro Resources (MIO-A) can earn 20% and 30% interests in the joint venture, respectively.

“If everything goes well, we should have some targets ready to drill on both blocks early next year,” Davis says.