Mazarin seeks gold in Uzbekistan, Peru

Quebec-based Mazarin Mining (MAZ-T) has acquired the right to explore, develop and put into production gold-bearing properties in Peru and Uzbekistan.

A letter of understanding allowing Mazarin to acquire the Torrecillas property in southern Peru has been signed with local firm Minera Surex.

The 32-sq.-km Torrecillas property is 700 km south of Lima and is accessible from the city of Arequipa via the Pan-American Highway (along the Pacific coast) and a secondary gravel road which leads inland to the heart of the property. The topography is characterized by a moderately undulating desert terrain, varying in altitude from 2,600 to 3,000 metres. No systematic geological, geochemical or geophysical surveying has been completed on the property; nor has any drilling been carried out.

Gold mineralization at Torrecillas is associated with silicified and argillized zones containing quartz and sulphide stockworks.

Some 30 independent miners work on the property now, where semi-massive sulphide zones as-saying higher than 30 grams gold per tonne are exploited over a 1-sq.-km area. A highly silicified, brecciated zone, 20 metres wide and 800 metres long, has been found 2 km south of where independent miners are operating. A lone trench sample at that location yielded 2 grams gold over 20 metres.

To acquire the property, Mazarin must pay US$1.6 million over the next three years and invest US$1 million in exploration work.

Meanwhile, a final agreement has also been reached with the government of Uzbekistan, allowing Mazarin to acquire a minimum 50% interest in the Tandyr project.

The 620-sq.-km property is in the Tien Shan fold belt, one of the world’s major gold-producing regions. The geology of the Tandyr property and the surrounding Muruntau district comprises gold mineralization encased in sediments of virtually the same age and type as those found in the Carlin district of Nevada.

Tandyr lies at the northwestern extremity of the Muratau Mountains, between the large Muruntau and Zarmitan gold deposits.

Two mineralized zones have been identified, and more than 40 geochemical anomalies are known to exist on the property. In the coming weeks, Mazarin will review the extensive information available and formulate an exploration plan.

To buy into the project, Mazarin must invest US$4.5 million over the next six years, including US$300,000 over the coming year.