Step-out hole hits new copper mineralization At Sheep Creek

A recent step-out hole intersected new copper mineralization grading 11% copper over 20 ft at a depth of 1,522 ft. The company said the hole, No 55, was drilled on the same section line as hole 46 which intersected 41 ft grading 5.7% copper, and hole 51 which intersected 24 ft of 6% copper. Holes 46 and 51 were drilled in 1988 and are located 500 ft north and 700 ft north respectively of hole 55.

The company said previous holes drilled west of the section line containing holes 46, 51 and 55 also intersected this Lower zone mineralization. Results include:

Distance Copper Interval Hole ft west % ft 50 500 7.8 8 36 1,200 1.0 16 34 1,800 7.6 16 21 2,200 4.8 20 17 2,500 4.1 14

According to Cominco Resources, preliminary metallurgical tests of the Lower zone mineralization suggest that good copper recovery and good copper concentrate grades are feasible.

The Sheep Creek project also has an Upper zone which has inferred reserves of five million tons grading 2.5% copper, however the company said metallurgical tests for the Upper zone “suggest that more work would be required to achieve satisfactory copper recoveries.”

George Tikkanen, president, told The Northern Miner that one of the main objectives of the current program is to get a better definition of the Lower zone. “We think there is a fair chance the zone is continuous,” said Tikkanen. “But at this stage we’re just going to wait and see.”

Although considerably more drilling is necessary before any kind of reserve estimate can be made for the Lower zone, Tikkanen said an average grade “in the order of 5% or 6% copper should be mineable underground, assuming we get the tonnage.”

With good grades, less complex metallurgy, and indications the Lower zone is more extensive than originally thought, the company intends to step up the pace by moving a second drill rig to the property.

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