Geddes confirms third zone at Windy Craggy

The discovery of a third massive sulphide zone at the Windy Craggy project in the far northwestern corner of British Columbia is being viewed by Geddes Resources (TSE) as an important new development. The project already has preliminary reserves totalling 165 million tonnes, in all categories, averaging 1.9% copper in the North and South zones. Although not enough drilling has been done on the new Ridge zone to allow reserve calculations, the company said results to date indicate the average copper grade is more than 2%.

President Gerald Harper said reserves in the Ridge zone will have an “important impact” on the company’s open pit mine plan as they will reduce the waste-to-ore mining ratio and provide higher-grade ore for milling. The current open pit mining plan for the North and South zones encompasses the Ridge zone within the waste excavation along the east margin of the pit.

So far, six holes have been drilled to confirm the presence of the new zone. The most recent, 179A, was drilled east from the North zone to delineate the wall rocks of the proposed pit. The surface hole intersected a 66-metre core length averaging 2.5% copper, 0.16 grams gold, 6.7 grams silver and 0.08% cobalt.

The zone has been traced over a strike length of 390 metres. It plunges to the north and parallels the east boundary of the North zone 20-100 metres distant.

Assay results from other holes drilled in the zone are (excluding minor gold, silver, cobalt and zinc values): 18.3 metres of 2.72% copper (hole stopped in zone); 50 metres of 2.01% copper; 12 metres of 1.87% copper; 68 metres of 2.85% copper and 24 metres of 1.64% copper.

Geddes is completing a final feasibility study for the Windy Craggy project, which is expected to become one of the province’s most important new mine developments.

At last report, the company was envisioning a 20,000-tonne-per-day mining operation that would produce about 120,000 tonnes of copper per year. Capital costs would be in the order of $400 million, and the mine would employ about 500- 650 people for at least 20 years, with potential for an additional 20- 30 years.