Joutel reports mixed drill results from Cuba

Drill results from the Cuban projects of Joutel Resources (TSE) have confirmed gold mineralization on three prospects.

On the Camaguey concession, 500 km southeast of Havana, three new mineralized occurrences have been tested and three other known mineralized zones have been drilled.

Drill holes at the Purisima prospect, an induced-polarization anomaly 800 metres long, went through 121 metres of mineralized and highly altered volcanic and sedimentary rocks and a shorter intersection of altered and mineralized granodiorite.

Two drill holes on another prospect, the Vista de Principe, intersected several 10-metre lengths of mineralized, volcanic rocks with quartz-carbonate veining. A new occurrence has also been identified at Tres Antena, where chip samples of outcrops returned assays ranging from 7.8 to 26.2 grams gold per tonne.

The drill program also tested three known occurrences. Widespread, low-grade gold mineralization was found in six holes drilled to test the 1.2-km-long Loma Caridad zone. Other drill holes on the Demaneucos prospect uncovered no significant mineralization, and Joutel is awaiting assays on samples from the Tamarindo prospect.

At its Santa Clara concession, 140 km southeast of Havana, Joutel has drilled six holes on the Los Cerros zone. Average assays were 0.5 gram gold and 2.8 grams silver per tonne over widths of 7 to 30 metres. Two drill holes testing the Vega geochemical anomaly intersected 19.45 metres grading 0.72 gram gold and 4.9 metres grading 0.14 gram.

Joutel staff took grab samples that returned as much as 11 grams gold per tonne and 11% copper from the recently discovered Brenas occurrence, and geophysics and drilling are planned. At two other prospects, Antonio and Fortuna, no significant mineralization was encountered.

The next major exploration effort will be mounted on Joutel’s third Cuban holding, the Sierra Maestra concession on the southeastern coast. A 43-hole drill program on the Zona Barita prospect will attempt to delineate the mineralized zone and provide an initial estimate of reserves. Six other holes will be drilled to test geophysical anomalies around Barita, and drilling is also planned for geophysical targets in the Vega Grande area. Local sampling has also identified more gold occurrences around the Infierno prospect.