Sirios hits zinc, gold in Quebec

Drilling on its Escale property in north-central Quebec, Sirios Resources (ME) has discovered both gold and zinc mineralization.

Mineralized iron formations with pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite and pyrite were intercepted in drill hole E-4, where there are two distinct zones grading 1.9 grams gold per tonne over 1.5 metres and 1.5 grams gold over 2 metres. The zones are open in all directions.

Hole E-4 was drilled to test parallel geophysical anomalies caused by iron formations that extend over several kilometres.

Three short holes were drilled elsewhere on the property, returning gold values of between 0.5 and 1 gram.

In 1995, Sirios discovered eight gold showings over a strike length of 25 km, with values ranging from 1 to 5 grams.

In hole E-5, 2 km southwest of E-4, Sirios intercepted a mineralized iron formation with pyrrhotite and sphalerite grading 3.5% zinc over 1.5 metres.

The hole was drilled to test a 300-metre-long electromagnetic anomaly selected because of the occurrence of altered felsic volcanic rocks in the vicinity.

“That type of zinc mineralization occurring in this particular geological setting suggests an excellent potential for the discovery of zinc-copper-silver deposits,” says Dominique Doucet, president of Sirios.

He compares the setting of the Escale zinc prospect to Noranda’s (TSE) Geco mine in northern Ontario, and the gold prospect to Echo Bay Mines’ (TSE) Lupin mine in the Northwest Territories.

The reconnaissance drilling program on Sirios’ Escale property has been completed, as has the program at the Trieste project, 30 km to the south. Three holes on the Trieste property intersected mineralized iron formations with pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite and pyrite. However, no economic values have been detected to date.