Alta Zinc Limited (ASX: AZI) has discovered new, closely spaced, mineralised sub-veins in a successfully completed field campaign at Punta Corna in Italy.
Comprehensive surface mapping and sampling observed cobalt, nickel, copper and silver mineralisation in seven sub-vertical main veins.
Managing Director, Geraint Harris, said the discovery has the potential to significantly extend mineralisation beyond the main mineralised vein sets.
Recent mapping confirmed mineralisation has so far been discovered over a strike length of at least 2500m and between elevations of 2480m and 2820m above sea level (a vertical range of 340m) suggesting that the total mineralised system has the potential to be extensive as it is open in all directions and also vertically. Further results from this new campaign are awaited.
Our work at Punta Corna confirms that the Project hosts a number of parallel vertical veins containing high- grade samples of cobalt, nickel, copper and silver mineralisation and these veins show good structural continuity over long strike lengths and with the mineralisation having at least 340m of down dip extent,” Mr Harris said.
“It is also very exciting to discover a system of mineralised sub-veins sitting between several of the main veins, which has the potential to significantly add to the mineral endowment of the area.
“We therefore look forward to the further results of our 2020 field campaign and to planning the next steps of our exploration at Punta Corna.”
The Punta Corna Project is located in the Italian Alps, at an elevation of approximately 2800m and is a short distance from the Northern Italian town of Usseglio, less than a four hour drive from the company’s Gorno Project.
The Punta Corna deposit was extensively mined in a period of three years from ca. 1756 to ca. 1759 as an important source of cobalt for use as a natural vibrant blue pigment in European industry.
The short mine life was as a result of these natural cobalt oxide pigments being replaced by synthetic substitutes. Subsequent exploration carried out in the early 20th century demonstrated that mineralisation remained in-situ after mine closure and no further mining has taken place since.