BMC Minerals has identified a number of follow up targets following the successful completion of a detailed three dimensional (3D) Induced Polarisation (IP) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Aeromagnetic (UAV-MAG) geophysical survey at its 100% owned Kudz Ze Kayah Project in southeast Yukon, Canada.
The project is host to the polymetallic ABM Deposit and the survey, completed by Discovery International Geophysics Inc. with the assistance of Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd, was designed to aid in identifying target areas that may host potential extensions to the ABM Deposit.
The IP survey focused on a corridor of interest located on the southern edge of the ABM Deposit and trending toward the southwest for approximately 1,500 metres. The corridor of interest was identified based on field work previously undertaken by BMC that included geological mapping, surface geochemical sampling and diamond drilling.
This field work identified corridors of highly altered host rocks, the presence of sulphide mineralization in both outcrop and diamond drilling, and anomalous geochemical responses in both rock chip and soil sampling.
These features, along with spatial offsets in bedrock geology, are interpreted to be related to the presence of syngenetic fault structures comprising the “plumbing system” that carried upwelling metal- rich mineralising fluids during formation of the ABM Deposit. In this context, the IP survey has returned numerous elevated chargeability and conductivity responses that are interpreted to reflect potential zones of copper-rich sulphide mineralization within the stratigraphic footwall to the ABM Deposit. A series of multi-component drill targets have been outlined adjacent to the ABM Deposit that are ready for testing with diamond drilling.
The ABM Deposit has a current Mineral Resource estimated at 18.3Mt @ 6.3% Zn, 1.6% Pb, 0.9% Cu, 148g/t Ag, 1.4g/t Au (Indicated and inclusive of Mineral Reserve) and 0.8Mt @ 7.2% Zn, 1.7% Pb, 1.0% Cu, 143g/t Ag, 1.2g/t Au (Inferred), which forms the basis of the proposed ABM Mine Project.
We are very pleased both to have successfully completed the next planned phase of exploration work and at the quality of the results achieved,” Scott Donaldson, President and CEO of BMC Minerals, said.
“It appears that we have identified/confirmed multiple prospective drilling targets within this highly prospective area adjacent to the existing known orebody. We will now move to finalise planning for a drilling programme that is aimed at testing for extensions to the known ABM mineralisation.”
Geological Context
The ABM Deposit is a volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) deposit, a style of mineralization that formed at or near the ancient seafloor through the mixing of hot upwelling hydrothermal fluids with cold seawater. In this context, several modes of mineralization have been identified associated with the mineralizing system of which the ABM Deposit is a component.
- Stratiform subseafloor replacement style semi-massive and massive sulphide mineralisation that broadly parallels the host rock units and comprises the majority of the ABM Deposit. The ABM Deposit was emplaced within a mix of porous volcaniclastic and coherent felsic to intermediate volcanics, a mode of mineralization that is significantly more efficient than mineralisation that takes place on the seafloor. Subseafloor mineralisation can therefore lend itself to the formation of large deposits comprising multiple lenses. Proposed geological analogues for the ABM Deposit including the Golden Grove (Australia), Rosebery (Australia) and Aguas Teñidas (Spain) Deposits, all of which are large -scale, multi-lens deposits.
- Stratiform mineralisation formed on the sea floor as semi-massive and massive sulphide mineralization that broadly parallels the host rock units in a process that is interpreted to be analogous to black smoker hydrothermal vents found on the modern seafloor. Mineralization encountered at the contact of the Kudz Ze Kayah formation and the overlying Wind Lake formation, K16-415 is currently interpreted to fall into this category.
- Vein (stringer), disseminated and semi-massive style mineralisation that is transgressive to the host rock units stratigraphically underlying the ABM Deposit. Such mineralisation is interpreted to be associated with syngenetic structures or “feeder zones” that acted as the “plumbing system” for metalliferous hydrothermal fluids at the time of mineralisation. This style of mineralisation is often formed within the higher temperature zone of the hydrothermal system, which makes it more likely to be associated with copper ± gold rich mineralisation.
The IP survey was specifically aimed at identifying potential areas of copper-gold rich vein and disseminated “feeder zone” style mineralisation within the stratigraphic footwall of the ABM Deposit (i.e. to the southwest of the deposit).
