Rio Tinto’s drilling leaves partners bullish on Cukurdere’s grade potential

Reverse-circulation drilling by Anatolia Minerals Development (YMC.U-V) and Rio Tinto (RTP-N) at the Cukurdere gold project in Turkey has returned short intervals grading better than 1 gram per tonne.

Highlights are as follows:

– Hole 21, collared 100 metres south of CDD-1, intersected 149 metres (from surface) grading 0.4 gram gold, including 14 metres (from 74 metres below surface) of 1.3 grams.

– Another 125 metres to the south-southeast, hole 22 cut 148 metres (from surface) averaging 0.3 gram gold, including 21 metres of 1.3 grams in two zones. The hole bottomed in gold-mineralized intrusive rock.

– Hole 23, drilled halfway between holes CDD-2 and -4, was highlighted by a 8-metre interval (from 8 metres below surface) grading 2.3 grams gold, and 18.2 metres (from 30 metres) of 1.1 grams. Two other intervals in the hole averaged 0.3 gram. The hole was lost at a depth of 48 metres. Offset hole 24-a averaged 0.3 gram gold before being lost at a depth of 77 metres.

– Hole 24, drilled 140 metres south of hole 23, returned 49 metres (from surface) grading 0.6 gram gold, including 11 metres grading 1.2 grams. The hole was lost at a depth of 49 metres.

– Hole 25, an offset to hole CDD-5, was highlighted by a 48-metre interval running 2.3 grams gold and a 20-metre section averaging 3.6 grams. Two other intervals (30 and 12 metres) ran 0.3 gram. The hole was lost at a depth of 110 metres and bottomed in mineralization averaging 4.1 grams gold.

Previously collared on the Main zone, core hole 7 cut two zones totalling 9 metres of 2.3 grams gold, beginning at 22 and 53 metres down-hole. Stepout hole 8A, drilled 145 metres northeast of hole 7, cut 32 metres of 1.4 grams gold, starting at 2 metres below surface. The two holes appear to represent the northwestern and northern edge of the main zone of gold-mineralization.

Further, core drilling is planned in an attempt to define high-grade mineralization.

Rio Tinto is earning a 70% interest in the property by spending US$10.5 million on exploration and paying US$1.5 million. As part of a 4-year agreement with Anatolia, Rio Tinto is also interested in the Uckapili and Karagoz gold prospects.