Yamana Resources (YRI-T) reports that new assay results from drilling in Patagonia have extended the area of known mineralization at the Lejano silver-gold prospect, part of Yamana’s Santa Cruz project.
The company completed 19 shallow reverse-circulation drill holes, preliminary results from which show high-grade silver and gold values.
More than half of the 1,188 metres of drilling targeted the Western Lejano area, which includes South Ridge, the site of the company’s initial discovery. Two of the new holes intercepted massive sulphide mineralization within a large induced-polarization (IP) anomaly that extends northwest of the discovery gossan.
Starting at a depth of 20 metres, hole 78 encountered 4 metres of mineralization grading 232 grams silver and 2.45 grams gold per tonne, plus 5.3% zinc, 2.9% lead and 0.44% copper. Included in the interval was a 2-metre interval grading 350 grams silver, 2.94 grams gold, 7.1% zinc, 4.4% lead and 0.62% copper.
Collared 50 metres to the west, hole 79 hit 4 metres grading 537 grams silver, 1.79 grams gold, 3.5% zinc, 6.1% lead and 0.21% copper, including a 2-metre interval of 901 grams silver, 2.29 grams gold, 4.5% zinc, 10.9% lead and 0.28% copper.
Collared at the other end of the discovery gossan, hole 73 encountered, near the surface, 8 metres grading 206 grams silver. This hole, combined with the new holes at the other end, brings the strike length of the gossan mineralization to more than 500 metres; it remains open to the northwest.
At a newly recognized target on the South Ridge, known as Tumba, drilling encountered wider zones of mineralization with good continuity. Hole 71 hit 26 metres grading 113 grams silver, including 4 metres of 471 grams silver and 1.79 grams gold.
According to Yamana geologists, drilling and geophysical results indicate that the Tumba area is likely a faulted extension of the discovery gossan.
They followed the structure northward, where it plunges under an area known as Grassy Valley.
“We now believe the Western Lejano mineralization is associated with a large, volcanic rhyolite dome,” says Santa Cruz project manager Mel Klohn.
Yamana is still waiting on the results from six more holes at the South Ridge.
In the Eastern Lejano area, the company drilled 10 holes totalling 1,116 metres to test several distinct mineralized outcrops. Hole 44, drilled at East Ridge, hit 2 metres grading 653 grams silver, 1 gram gold and 2.7% lead.
At the Broken Saddle target, hole 38 cut 4 metres of 152 grams silver and 1.94 grams gold. At the Red Slope target, hole 58 cut 8 metres grading 4.92 grams gold and 24 grams silver.
Yamana found an IP anomaly, measuring 700 metres by 100 metres, in the vicinity of the holes drilled at East Lejano. Klohn believes drilling completed to date at East Lejano only tested the hydrothermal alteration halo. “The main target has not yet been drill-tested, which makes the positive results we have achieved here more encouraging.”
Winter weather recently put a halt to work at Lejano, so the company will spend the next few months analyzing and compiling data gained from the exploration season. Yamana expects to resume exploration by September, employing a core rig at Lejano and at the Bacon property to the south. Work could begin at Bacon sooner because of its lower elevation.
The company expects to be able to calculate a preliminary resource for Lejano by January 1999.
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