THE LATIN BEAT — Joutel encouraged by Cuban trenching

Trenching at the Barite zone on Joutel Resources’ (TSE) Sierra Maestra concession in Cuba has yielded encouraging gold values.

Recent sampling returned values of 0.053 oz. per ton across 131 ft. in Trench 8 and 0.044 oz. over 103 ft. in Trench 2.

The trenches were excavated in a 2,600-ft.-long-by-650-ft.-wide zone of altered volcanics containing appreciable barite. The zone, which is about 3,300 ft. from the open pit at the Cobre mine, is part of a silicified horizon which extends for 1.9 miles along strike.

Joutel President Charles Page says the company plans to drill this zone later this summer and he hopes the target can be quickly advanced to the production stage.

The Barite zone is just one of 33 major occurrences that the company plans to drill-test over the next year. “We’ve allocated $1.5 million for drilling in 1995 — and in order to cut costs, we’re negotiating the purchase of our own drill,” Page told The Northern Miner.