IDO misses the mark at Stillwater

Vancouver — A seven-hole drill program by Idaho Consolidated Metals (IDO-V) has failed to cut any significant platinum-palladium mineralization at the Stillwater property in Montana.

Five of the holes were collared in the Iron Creek area of the property.

Holes 4 and 5 confirmed the stratigraphic sequences but returned only elevated platinum-palladium values.

Hole 1 cut two zones of gold mineralization grading 1.08 grams gold per tonne over 2.6 metres from 32 metres down-hole and 1.16 grams gold over 7.3 metres from 43 metres down-hole.

At the Fishtail Creek prospect, the company drilled two holes near the eastern end of the Stillwater Complex.

The first hole was designed to test a geophysical conductor and cut 92 metres of overburden before entering Paleozoic sediments. The source of the geophysical anomaly was not identified.

Moving 1.8 km to the west, the second hole cut the contact between the ultramafics and sediments but failed to return any significant mineralization.

Some 1.3 km southeast of the Stillwater mine, Idaho Consolidated is targeting the extension of the high-grade J-M reef. This mineralized horizon hosts a proven and probable reserve of 36 million tonnes grading 22 grams combined platinum-palladium.

The 111-sq.-km property contains numerous platinum-palladium prospects. Most notable are:

• The Fishtail Creek area — represents the possible extension of the J-M reef, which is being mined by Stillwater Mining;
• The Crescent Creek area — hosts PGM-bearing chromite zones;
• The Iron Mountain area — hosts PGM-bearing chromite zones and drill-indicated nickel-copper resources;
• The Chrome Mountain area — hosts PGM-bearing chromite zones; and
• The Blakely Creek area the company believes this area may host the J-M reef structural offset.

A second round of drilling is being planned for later in the year.