Silver Century aims drills at Quebec properties — Work follows discovery of high-grade copper

Toronto-based Silver Century Explorations (SVC-A) has resumed drilling on two copper properties northeast of Sherbrooke, Que.

As part of an agreement to earn a 100% interest in the contiguous Stoke and Ascot properties from the Canadian subsidiary of Phelps Dodge (PD-N), Silver Century will conduct about 750 metres of drilling this season, with follow-up drilling scheduled for the autumn.

Arizona-based Phelps Dodge has been exploring the area since 1995 and is operating the current program.

Drilling will focus on strong induced-polarization (IP) conductors, some of which measure up to 600 metres long by 300 metres wide, as well as soil geochemical anomalies.

A year ago, Silver Century discovered high-grade copper mineralization on the 3,763-ha Stoke property, with hole 244-1 intersecting 5.78% copper across 5.6 metres (from 72.4 to 78 metres), including 7.84% copper across 4 metres.

The mineralization occurs as locally massive pyrite-chalcopyrite bands hosted in a mafic-to-intermediate pyroclastic unit.

Five follow-up holes totalling 698 metres were drilled last summer. The first 600 metres were a direct follow-up, within 100 metres, of the zone intersected in hole 244-01. The best intersection occurred in hole 244-05, which ran 2.1% copper over 3.1 metres. All holes intersected widespread, primarily pyritic, sulphide mineralization in the form of dissemination bands and stringers that locally carry base metal mineralization. Widespread chloritic alteration was also apparent in all holes, occurring most often with the best sulphide concentrations.

Hole 244-08 (98 metres) tested a narrow IP anomaly 800 metres west of hole 244-01. This hole intersected a 4.15-metre semi-massive pyrite zone with associated barite, base metal and gold mineralization. It also hit an 18.5-metre-wide zone of disseminated and stringer sulphide mineralization, with anomalous zinc values throughout and occasional copper and lead values.

The best zinc-rich section ran 0.53% zinc over 11 metres, including 1.04% zinc over 4 metres.

In addition to the drilling, a program of geophysics was completed on the Stoke property in 1997. The work consisted of 183 km of ground magnetics and very-low-frequency electromagnetic surveys, 28 km of horizontal-loop electromagnetic surveys, 127 km of time-domain IP surveys; and 1,503 soil samples. Numerous IP anomalies were detected in favorable geologic environments, with locally coincident zinc and lead anomalies.

In 1998, Silver Century intends to spend a total of $2 million on this and other exploration projects. Its portfolio of 15 projects represents a land position of 36,000 ha.

Gold producer Agnico-Eagle Mines (AGE-T) controls, directly and indirectly, about 77% of Silver Century’s common shares, and provides management, technical and financial assistance to the junior.