Kookaburra releases additional assays from Longshot Ridge

Additional assay results from drilling on the Longshot Ridge copper-oxide project were released by owners Kookaburra Gold (VSE).

The property, near Hawthorne, Nev., hosts a large copper-oxide deposit, estimated to contain preliminary reserves of 15 million tons grading 0.55% copper.

Hole 92-5, drilled between 92-4 (160 ft. grading 0.62% copper) and 92-1 (70 ft. grading 0.20% copper), intersected mineralization averaging 0.36% copper from surface to a depth of 80 ft.

Hole 92-6, drilled about 200 ft. north of Conoco hole 231 (205 ft. grading 0.48% copper), intersected mineralization averaging 0.65% copper from surface to 272 ft. The hole bottomed in mineralization grading about 0.7% copper and should increase the grade and tonnage in the northern section of the deposit, according to the company.

Hole 92-7, drilled in the eastern section of the deposit about 300 ft. south-southeast of hole 92-6, intersected 0.49% copper from surface to 190 ft. Hole 92-8, drilled about 200 ft. south and 100 ft. east of hole 92-7, intersected 40 ft. grading 0.63% copper from surface to 40 ft. Hole 92-9 was abandoned because of poor ground conditions, while hole 92-10 encountered 60 ft. from 175 ft. to 235 ft. grading 0.54% copper. The hole was drilled in the southeastern portion of the deposit about 650 ft. to the southeast of hole 92-7.

Mountain States R&D is now conducting metallurgical tests on the mineralization to determine leachability and acid consumption rates for a solvent extraction operation.

Preliminary economic and technical studies are also under way and Kookaburra is reviewing further work including detailed drilling, metallurgical testing and environmental studies to bring the project to a production decision.