Spokane-based
Battle Mountain can earn into the 3,495-ha property, situated in the northern province of San Juan, by spending US$1.3 million and making unspecified cash payments over four years.
The company can acquire an additional 10% interest by spending another US$1.3 million in two more years.
Los Azules is contiguous with other ground held by Battle Mountain. Minera Andes, which has limited its exploration to preliminary surface mapping and sampling, believes the property has potential for volcanic-hosted gold mineralization related to sericitic and potassic alteration and quartz stockworking.
Meanwhile, Minera Andes has begun drilling at its wholly owned Agua Blanca copper-gold porphyry prospect, 100 km to the north. The property comprises 39,426 ha in the southern part of the El Indio gold belt in San Juan province. The program is targeting porphyry gold-copper mineralization, the focus being on phyllic and potassic zones with in a large alteration area.
Previous drilling, by Newcrest of Australia, included one hole that assayed 146 metres grading 0.5 gram gold and 0.19% copper.
Minera Andes has also begun trenching at the newly discovered Huevos Verdes zone at the Cerro Saavedra silver-gold property in southern Argentina.
Drilling is expected to follow.
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