Aldebaran Resources Inc. (“
Aldebaran” or the
“
Company”)
(TSX-V: ALDE, OTCQX:
ADBRF) is pleased to report the remaining drill holes from
the 2021/2022 drill program at the Altar copper gold project
located in San Juan, Argentina. Holes QDM-22-47B, QDM-22-48B,
QDM-22-49 and QDM-22-50B were designed to test for extensions of
porphyry mineralization and provide sufficient drill hole density
to support a maiden 43-101 mineral resource calculation at the
Radio Porphyry target. Drill holes QDM-22-45U, QDM-22-45L and
QDM-22-45D were designed to test the areas around the high-grade
gold intercept from the QDM Gold deposit intercepted in QDM-21-45
(see news release dated February 24, 2022). The holes drilled at
the Radio Porphyry successfully extended the mineralized footprint
and indicated the system remains open in various directions. The
holes following up on the previously reported high-grade gold
intercept hit mineralization but were unable to reproduce the
previous long runs of higher-grade. However, QDM-22-050B drilled
through the western portion of the QDM Gold deposit and intercepted
another high-grade gold intercept, providing more evidence that the
QDM Gold deposit remains open in several directions and has the
potential to host multiple high-grade mineralized structures.
Highlights
Radio Porphyry
QDM-22-047B
- 1,034.5 m of
0.39% CuEq from 207 m depth
- Including 72 m
of 0.58% CuEq from 491 m depth
- The easternmost
hole drilled to date at the Radio Porphyry indicates that
mineralization is still open to the east
- The hole ended
in mineralization
QDM-22-048B
- 334.0 m of 0.49% CuEq from 245 m
depth
- Including 106.95 m of 0.61% CuEq
from 464 m depth
- 535.8 m of 0.45% CuEq from 913.5 m
depth
- Including 106.5 m of 0.59% CuEq
from 913.5 m depth
- The hole ended in
mineralization
QDM-22-049
- 611.80 m of 0.45% CuEq from 475 m
depth
- The hole ended in
mineralization
QDM Gold
QDM-22-050B
- 10.35 m of 11.14 g/t AuEq from 94.3
m depth
- Mineralization hosted in
hydrothermal breccias
- Intercept outside of current
resource pit for the QDM Gold deposit, indicating potential for
growth
- Hole was ended early due to end of
the field season and did not meet its intended depth – will likely
be re-entered and completed in the upcoming 2022/23 field
season
QDM-22-045D
- 1 m of 18.77 g/t AuEq from 44.5 m
- Mineralization is within the
current conceptual resource pit for QDM Gold but will likely result
in a positive increment to the grade in this area
- 187 m of 0.63 g/t AuEq from 151 m
- Including 14 m of 1.59 g/t AuEq
from 303 m
QDM-22-045L
- 10 m of 0.74 g/t AuEq from 264
m
QDM-22-045U
- 65.1 m of 0.52
g/t AuEq from 195 m
- Including 1.3 m
of 4.25 g/t AuEq from 203.15 m
John Black, Chief Executive Officer of
Aldebaran, commented as follows: “The holes that were
drilled into Radio Porphyry continue to demonstrate the continuity
of the system. With this information in hand, we will begin to
evaluate whether we have completed enough drilling to move to a
resource update for Radio Porphyry or whether additional drilling
will be required. The holes that tested the QDM Gold deposit are
encouraging as we now have multiple occurrences of quite attractive
grade gold mineralization throughout the deposit. We have yet to
determine the controls on mineralization, however, it appears the
higher grades are structurally controlled. We have now reported all
the results from the 2021/2022 drilling campaign and are already
preparing to return to the Altar project in the coming months to
begin the 2022/2023 drill campaign, which will largely be focused
on testing the very large and encouraging geophysical anomaly we
have delineated at the Altar Central and Altar East deposits.”
Table 1 below displays detailed assays results.
Figure 1 displays a plan map with the location of the reported
drill holes, Figure 2 displays the QDM/Radio plan map, Figures 3 to
8 display cross sections of the results of the holes reported
herein, and Figure 9 displays an oblique view of drill holes
QDM-21-045, QDM-22-045U, QDM-22-045L and QDM-22-045D.
Table 1 - 2021/2022 Altar Drill Hole
Results |
|
From(m) |
To(m) |
Interval(m) |
Cu(%) |
Au (g/t) |
Ag(g/t) |
Mo(ppm) |
As(ppm) |
CuEq (%) |
AuEq(g/t) |
QDM-22-047B TD=1,241.50 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interval |
207.00 |
1241.50 |
1,034.50 |
0.31 |
0.08 |
1.12 |
39 |
21 |
0.39 |
n/a |
incl |
491.00 |
563.00 |
72.00 |
0.47 |
0.14 |
1.69 |
17 |
31 |
0.58 |
n/a |
and |
753.00 |
781.00 |
28.00 |
0.47 |
0.14 |
1.58 |
15 |
23 |
0.58 |
n/a |
QDM-22-048B TD=1,449.30 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interval |
25.00 |
57.00 |
32.00 |
0.10 |
0.22 |
1.08 |
17 |
333 |
0.30 |
n/a |
Interval |
119.00 |
139.00 |
20.00 |
0.16 |
0.11 |
0.81 |
18 |
342 |
0.24 |
n/a |
Interval |
162.00 |
219.00 |
57.00 |
0.24 |
0.06 |
0.81 |
29 |
289 |
0.29 |
n/a |
Interval |
245.00 |
579.00 |
334.00 |
0.39 |
0.13 |
1.24 |
21 |
34 |
0.49 |
n/a |
incl |
464.00 |
570.95 |
106.95 |
0.44 |
0.22 |
1.77 |
12 |
56 |
0.61 |
n/a |
Interval |
913.50 |
1,449.30 |
535.80 |
0.33 |
0.13 |
1.66 |
28 |
24 |
0.45 |
n/a |
incl |
913.50 |
1,020.00 |
106.50 |
0.42 |
0.21 |
2.43 |
21 |
35 |
0.59 |
n/a |
QDM-22-049 TD=1,086.80 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interval |
23.00 |
126.00 |
103.00 |
0.12 |
0.17 |
0.76 |
38 |
317 |
0.25 |
n/a |
Interval |
259.00 |
422.00 |
163.00 |
0.18 |
0.04 |
0.57 |
40 |
86 |
0.22 |
n/a |
Interval |
475.00 |
1,086.80 |
611.80 |
0.35 |
0.10 |
1.34 |
41 |
154 |
0.45 |
n/a |
QDM-22-050B TD=898.40 m (terminated early due to end of
field season) |
|
|
|
|
Interval |
65.60 |
315.40 |
249.80 |
0.05 |
0.81 |
1.51 |
4 |
111 |
n/a |
0.90 |
incl |
84.00 |
125.00 |
41.00 |
0.06 |
3.45 |
5.64 |
9 |
149 |
n/a |
3.62 |
incl |
94.30 |
104.65 |
10.35 |
0.08 |
10.81 |
15.82 |
19 |
141 |
n/a |
11.14 |
QDM-22-045DTD=407.50 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interval |
44.50 |
45.50 |
1.00 |
0.06 |
17.30 |
107.00 |
3 |
873 |
n/a |
18.77 |
Interval |
151.00 |
338.00 |
187.00 |
0.08 |
0.49 |
0.66 |
3 |
192 |
n/a |
0.63 |
Interval |
303.00 |
317.00 |
14.00 |
0.21 |
1.26 |
1.13 |
4 |
355 |
n/a |
1.59 |
QDM-22-045LTD=299.00 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interval |
264.00 |
274.00 |
10.00 |
0.05 |
0.66 |
0.32 |
3 |
104 |
n/a |
0.74 |
QDM-22-045UTD=301.40 m |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interval |
195.00 |
260.10 |
65.10 |
0.13 |
0.41 |
0.54 |
2 |
145 |
n/a |
0.52 |
Interval |
203.15 |
204.45 |
1.30 |
0.76 |
3.08 |
3.30 |
4 |
308 |
n/a |
4.25 |
The grades are uncut. CuEq values were calculated using copper,
gold, silver and molybdenum. Metal prices utilized for the
calculations are Cu = US$3.00/lb, Au = US$1,400/oz, Ag = US$18/oz,
and Mo = US$10/lb. No adjustments were made for recovery as the
project is an early-stage exploration project and metallurgical
data to allow for estimation of recoveries is not yet available.
The formulas utilized to calculate equivalent values are CuEq
% = Cu % + Au g/t * 0.6805 + Ag g/t * 0.00875 + Mo ppm / 3000
and AuEq g/t = Au g/t + Ag g/t / 77.7778 + Cu % * 1.4694 + Mo
ppm / 2041.7092. TD = Total Depth. |
Discussion of Results
QDM-22-045U / QDM-22-045D /
QDM-22-045L
Holes QDM-22-045U (135 degrees azimuth / -63
degrees dip / 301.4m depth), QDM-22-045D (135 degrees azimuth / -75
degrees dip / 407.5m depth) and QDM-22-045L (119 degrees azimuth /
-68.5 degrees dip / 373.3m depth) were collared on the same drill
pad as the previously released QDM-21-045.
The objective of this set of three shallow
drillholes was to test the extension in all directions of the
high-grade gold interval intersected in hole QDM-22-045. All the
drillholes intersected rocks with very similar characteristics. The
holes begin in intervals of multistage breccia units including a
strongly altered magmatic breccia within a dacite porphyry matrix,
which is crosscut by several pulses of rock milled matrix breccias.
Alteration in the upper portion is characterized by strong
sericite-pyrite-sphalerite-quartz-tourmaline assemblages associated
with high gold-zinc mineralization that pervasively replaces the
rock and is associated with the occurrence of veins within discrete
corridors where the alteration is intense and the sulphide content
increases. The holes transition into the andesitic
volcanic-sedimentary host rock package of early Miocene age,
crosscut by narrow dacite dykes. The intensity of alteration is
variable on the lower portion of these holes, with a notable
increase in pyrite content associated with intense
quartz-tourmaline alteration.
QDM-22-047 / QDM-22-047B
Drillhole QDM-22-047 was lost prematurely at
172.4 m depth due to drilling-related operational problems. Twin
hole QDM-22-047B was collared a few meters away and drilled up to a
depth of 1,241.5 m. Both holes were drilled at -75 degrees dip and
00 azimuth to test for the eastern extension of the higher-grade
mineralization found in hole QDM-21-043.
QDM-22-047B encountered a leached and oxidized
zone up to 207 m depth, followed by a long run with moderate grades
of copper-gold mineralization associated with the occurrence of
moderate “k feldspar-biotite-magnetite-quartz-chalcopyrite-bornite”
potassic alteration with weak quartz-chalcopyrite-pyrite-magnetite
veining, overprinted by weak “green
sericite-chlorite-chalcopyrite-pyrite / quartz-tourmaline-sericite”
assemblages. Potassic alteration increases to moderate-strong from
450 m depth and up to 1,177 m.
Potassic alteration progressively decreases from
1,177 m depth until the bottom of the hole, accompanied by the
occurrence of increasing
quartz-anhydrite-molybdenite-chalcopyrite-pyrite veins.
QDM-22-048 / QDM-22-048B
Drillhole QDM-22-048 was lost prematurely at
165.5 m depth due to drilling-related operational problems. Twin
hole QDM-22-048B was collared a few meters away and drilled up to a
depth of 1,449.3 m. Both holes were drilled at -70 degrees dip and
138 degrees azimuth. The purpose of these holes was to test for the
vertical extension of higher-grade mineralization found in
QDM-21-034 and QDM-22-043.
The top third of drillhole QDM-22-048B cuts
through a package of andesitic rocks. The upper 150 m of the hole
displays moderate to strong sericite-pyrite-tourmaline alteration,
associated with gold mineralization typical of that observed at the
QDM Gold deposit. From 150 m to 565 m, the rocks display strong
potassic alteration accompanied by moderate vein stockworks of
quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite-magnetite / quartz-green
sericite-chalcopyrite-pyrite ±bornite /
quartz-pyrite-molybdenite-chalcopyrite.
The hole intersected a late-mineral porphyry
unit from 565 m to 865 m depth which displays weak to moderate
potassic alteration and weak quartz veining. It is believed this
late porphyry unit has a sub-vertical geometry and is much narrower
than the intercepted width in the drill hole. At 917 m, the hole
goes back into the andesite wall rocks where mineralization
continues associated with quartz-pyrite-molybdenite-chalcopyrite
vein stockworks with moderate potassic alteration.
QDM-22-049
Drillhole QDM-22-049 was collared on the
southern edge of the QDM Gold Zone. The hole was drilled at -73
degrees dip and 40 degrees azimuth, reaching a final depth of
1,086.8m. It was intended to drill perpendicular to holes
QDM-22-045 and QDM-22-048B infilling an area with no previous
drilling. Ultimately the hole deviated over 100 m from its original
target due to operator issues.
QDM-22-049 intersected a dacite porphyry
starting from surface down to 81 m depth, before entering a
homogeneous and thick sequence of andesitic fragmental and massive
porphyritic rocks. From 902 m depth until the bottom of the hole,
several porphyry dykes were encountered. The top 130 m of the hole
displays sericite alteration associated with pyrite. Below 130 m
depth, alteration increases progressively from weak to moderate
potassic alteration associated with weak to moderate
quartz-chalcopyrite-pyrite-molybdenite veining. Mineralization
increases around 700 m depth and progressively increases towards
the bottom of the hole.
QDM-22-050 / QDM-22-050B
Drillhole QDM-22-050 was lost prematurely at
306.1 m due to drilling-related operational problems. Twin hole
QDM-22-050B was collared a few meters away and drilled up to a
depth of 898.4 m. The hole was drilled at -77 degrees dip and 225
degrees azimuth. The main objective of these holes was to test for
the northwestern extension of the Radio Porphyry system and the
western extension of the QDM Gold deposit. The hole ended
prematurely due to heavy snowfall that forced the shutdown of the
2021/2022 campaign.
Drillhole QDM-22-050B intersected a dacite
porphyry unit from surface to 560 m depth which is crosscut by
several hydrothermal breccias containing attractive gold grades,
and by minor late magmatic-hydrothermal breccias displaying in most
cases rock-milled matrix. From 560 m to the end of the hole, the
hole was predominantly in andesite volcanic wall rocks.
Very strong sericite alteration with associated
pyrite and galena predominates in the top 560 m of the hole
however, below this the alteration weakens and there is very little
mineralization until approximately 700 m depth when the potassic
alteration and mineralization increases until the end of the
hole.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical data contained in
this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Kevin B.
Heather, B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc, Ph.D, FAusIMM, FGS, Chief Geological
Officer and director of Aldebaran, who serves as the qualified
person (QP) under the definitions of National Instrument
43-101.
ON BEHALF OF ALDEBARAN RESOURCES
INC.
John BlackCEO and DirectorPhone: +1 604 685-6800
For further information, please consult
our website at
www.aldebaranresources.com or
contact:
Ben CherringtonManager, Investor RelationsPhone:
+1 347 394-2728 or +44 7538 244 208Email:
ben.cherrington@aldebaranresources.com
About Aldebaran Resources Inc.
Aldebaran is a mineral exploration company that
was spun out of Regulus Resources Inc. in 2018 and has the same
core management team. Aldebaran acquired the Rio Grande copper-gold
project located in Salta Province, Argentina from Regulus along
with several other early-stage projects in Argentina. Aldebaran
also has the right to earn up to an 80% interest in the Altar
copper-gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina from Sibanye
Stillwater Limited. The Altar project hosts multiple porphyry
copper-gold deposits with potential for additional discoveries.
Altar forms part of a cluster of world-class porphyry copper
deposits which includes Los Pelambres (Antofagasta Minerals), El
Pachón (Glencore), and Los Azules (McEwen Copper). In March 2021
the Company announced an updated mineral resource estimate for
Altar, prepared by Independent Mining Consultants Inc. and based on
the drilling completed up to and including 2020.
Sampling and Analytical Procedures
Altar follows systematic and rigorous sampling
and analytical protocols which meet and exceed industry standards.
These protocols are summarized below and are available on the
Aldebaran website at www.aldebaranresources.com. All drill holes
are diamond core holes with PQ, HQ or NQ core diameters. Drill core
is collected at the drill site where recovery and RQD (Rock Quality
Designation) measurements are taken before the core is boxed and
transported to the Altar camp facilities, a short distance away,
where the whole core is photographed under more optimum lighting
conditions and geological quick log is produced. The whole-core is
then marked and sampled into geological defined, systematic 1- to
2-metre sample intervals, unless the geologist determines the
presence of an important geological contact, which should not be
crossed. The whole-core is then cut-in-half with a diamond saw
blade, with half the sample retained in the core box for future
reference and the other half placed into a pre-labelled plastic
bag, sealed with a two plastic security zip ties, and labeled with
a unique sample number. The bagged samples are then placed into
larger plastic sacks and those sacks are sealed with another
plastic security zip tie and labelled for shipment. The sacks are
then placed onto wooden pallets and wrapped in plastic shrink-wrap
and stored in a secure area pending shipment to a certified ALS
laboratory sample preparation facility located in Mendoza,
Argentina, where the samples are dried, crushed, and pulverized.
The resulting sample pulps are sent by batch to the ALS laboratory
in Lima for geochemical assay analysis, including a 30g fire assay
with an atomic absorption (AA) finish analysis for gold and a full
multi-acid digestion (4-acid) with ICP-AES analysis for other
elements. Samples with results that exceed maximum detection values
for gold are re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish
and other elements of interest are re-analyzed using precise
ore-grade ICP analytical techniques. Aldebaran independently
inserts certified control standards Super Certified Reference
Materials (SCRM’s), coarse field blanks, and duplicates into the
sample stream to monitor data quality. These standards are inserted
“blindly” to the laboratory in the sample sequence prior to
departure from the Aldebaran facilities.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements regarding Aldebaran,
including management's assessment of future-plans and operations,
may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable
securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, most of which are beyond Aldebaran's control. Often,
but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does
not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or
"believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements
that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would",
"might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
Specifically, and without limitation, all
statements included in this press release that address activities,
events or developments that Aldebaran expects or anticipates will
or may occur in the future, including the proposed exploration and
development of the Altar project described herein, and management's
assessment of future plans and operations and statements with
respect to the completion of the anticipated exploration and
development programs, may constitute forward-looking statements
under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond
Aldebaran's control. These risks may cause actual financial and
operating results, performance, levels of activity and achievements
to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such
forward-looking statements. Although Aldebaran believes that the
expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will
prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in
this press release are made as of the date hereof and Aldebaran
does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by
applicable securities law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Figure 1 – Plan map showing drill collar
locations: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ce023c7-b8c0-4e80-b4fb-37529dcb3272
Figure 2 – QDM/Radio plan
map: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/843148ab-4210-4cc6-ab0d-f0c05f5ea345
Figure 3 – Section displaying
QDM-22-047B: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/78eaa249-022b-4a1e-a5f3-c107b112fa3d
Figure 4 – Section displaying
QDM-22-048B: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6e8209d-9da3-4cf5-b2df-f6e6e8820291
Figure 5 – Section displaying
QDM-22-049: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bb1d4542-a21f-4f12-8db7-53e3ff9c601c
Figure 6 – Section displaying QDM Gold portion of
QDM-22-050B and
QDM-22-050: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d0015f4-9725-48ce-b457-4aadd479bf62
Figure 7 – Section displaying
QDM-22-050B: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/315e06d3-fe45-479d-8bb7-e5a2b2f57053
Figure 8 – Section displaying QDM-21-045,
QDM-22-045U and
QDM-22-045D: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a36e2a57-7ae3-42b5-a51e-2bbaba16aa31
Figure 9 – Oblique view displaying drill holes
QDM-21-045, QDM-22-045U, QDM-22-045L and
QDM-22-045D: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1d226af-5212-4886-ab38-ef5f957fcac3
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