Drilling programs are being conducted on two porphyry copper deposits near the Island Copper mine, operated by BHP-Utah Mines, near Port Hardy, B.C. Drilling on the Expo property by Moraga Resources (VSE), which is earning a 45% interest from BHP- Utah, has increased the potential width of the Hushamu deposit by 1,000 ft.
A recent stepout hole, EC176, intersected 171 metres from 15.24 metres to 186.73 metres grading 0.28% copper and 0.012 oz. gold per ton.
The company plans to begin an infill program immediately to confirm the extension, noting the drilling suggests that the currently established geological reserves of 158 million tons of 0.32% copper and 0.012 oz. gold in the Hushamu zone could almost double to 300 million tons.
Peter Dasler, geologist on the project, noted that an extension of the zone to the south could have a significant impact on the stripping ratio of the project.
McIntosh Mountain, to the south of the main reserves, is largely responsible for a relatively high strip ratio of 2.2-to-1 on the current reserves. Dasler indicated that this number could be reduced significantly if the infill drilling is successful.
The second property in the vicinity of the Island Copper mine is the Red Dog, owned by Crew Natural Resources (VSE) and also under option to Moraga, which can earn a 50% interest by spending a total of $4 million.
Infill drilling on the property returned an intersect of 210 metres from three metres to 213 metres grading 0.36% copper and 0.017 oz. gold with a second hole intersecting 125.3 metres from 3.7 metres to 129 metres grading 0.30% copper and 0.013 oz. gold.
The results confirm the spacing of infill drilling which will continue on about 100-metre centres. (A triangular grid is used.) Reserves on the Red Dog were previously reported at 51.8 million tons grading 0.32% copper and 0.012 oz. gold with a relatively modest stripping ratio of about 0.36-to-1.
Be the first to comment on "Moraga and Crew drilling for copper"