Aldebaran Resources Inc.
("
Aldebaran" or the "
Company")
(TSX-V: ALDE, OTCQX: ADBRF) is pleased to report
additional results from two holes at its ongoing drilling campaign
at the Altar copper-gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina.
Hole ALD-22-222 was drilled in an area with no
previous drilling and was designed to test a favourable geophysical
signature coincident with a strong, multi-element talus fines
geochemical anomaly at surface. Drill hole ALD-22-222 was
terminated at 1,226.00 m depth. Hole ALD-22-223 represents a 500 m
step out from previously drilled hole ALD-22-221 (see Company news
release dated August 19, 2022) and was designed to test a
geophysical anomaly in an area of favourable geological and
geochemical information gleaned from nearby shallow drilling. Hole
ALD-22-223 was terminated at 1,287.50 m depth. The Company notes
that its CuEq formula has changed from previous press releases and
that the updated CuEq formula incorporates estimated recoveries for
all reported commodities.
Highlights
ALD-22-223
- 1,167.50 m of 0.48% CuEq from 120 m
depth
- Including 418.00 m of 0.67% CuEq
from 848 m depth
- Hole ended in mineralization
ALD-22-222
- 25.30 m of 0.40% CuEq from 196.70 m
depth
- 48.00 m of 0.27% CuEq from 248 m
depth
- 378.00 m of 0.46% CuEq from 848 m
depth
- Hole ended in mineralization
John Black, Chief Executive Officer of
Aldebaran, commented as follows: “Anytime you
intersect over a kilometre of good-grade mineralization, it’s
exciting. In the case of hole 223, it’s very encouraging as the
mineralization starts near surface and is in an area with no
previous drilling. This opens a very large area for potential
resource expansion and demonstrates that the Altar deposit, while
already very large, has the potential to become significantly
larger.”
Dr. Kevin B. Heather, Chief Geological
Officer of Aldebaran, commented as follows: “Drill
hole 223 should be viewed as a new brownfield discovery hole,
considering that it was drilled into a previously undrilled area
between Altar Central and Altar East, a significant distance from
either of those known areas of mineralization. This is further
verification that the geophysical anomaly is a reasonable proxy for
mineralization and confirms our long-held belief that there is
mineralization connecting Altar Central and Altar East together
into a mega deposit. Drill hole 222 is also noteworthy as it
encountered mineralization in an area within the 2021 conceptual
open pit shell that is currently classified as “undefined waste”
because there was no previous drilling. This hole demonstrates that
additional, in-pit shallower drilling is justified to potentially
convert more of the undefined waste into mineralization which could
reduce the strip ratio of the conceptual resource pit.”
Table 1 – Altar Drill Hole Results |
|
From(m) |
To(m) |
Interval(m) |
Cu(%) |
Au(g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Mo (ppm) |
As(ppm) |
CuEq (%) |
ALD-22-222 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interval |
196.70 |
222.00 |
25.30 |
0.31 |
0.24 |
2.03 |
3 |
729 |
0.40 |
Interval |
248.00 |
296.00 |
48.00 |
0.24 |
0.08 |
1.81 |
2 |
854 |
0.27 |
Interval |
848.00 |
1,226.00 |
378.00 |
0.42 |
0.03 |
1.52 |
106 |
296 |
0.46 |
ALD-22-223 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interval |
27.20 |
82.00 |
54.80 |
0.21 |
0.05 |
0.28 |
29 |
88 |
0.23 |
Interval |
120.00 |
1,287.50 |
1,167.50 |
0.43 |
0.05 |
1.41 |
100 |
243 |
0.48 |
Incl. |
803.00 |
1,221.00 |
418.00 |
0.61 |
0.05 |
1.51 |
188 |
208 |
0.67 |
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. Recoveries used for the supporting metals found
in the CuEq equation are as follows: Au = 50%, Ag = 51%, (based on
historical metallurgical test work) and Mo = 70% (benchmarking from
similar deposits). The formula utilized to calculate equivalent
values is CuEq % = Cu % + (Au g/t * 0.34025) + (Ag g/t *
0.00446) + (Mo ppm * 0.00023). |
Discussion of Results
ALD-22-222
Drillhole ALD-22-222 was collared in an
unexplored zone called Altar South. Its final depth was 1,226.00 m,
and the hole was drilled at -75 degrees inclination and 324 degrees
azimuth.
Drillhole ALD-22-222 intersected a very long run
of rhyolite porphyry, which is a less-favourable host rock, from
surface to 870 m depth, after which it cut several intercalations
of andesitic volcanic rocks, which is a more-favourable host rock,
with rhyolite until the bottom of the hole.
The top 720 m of the hole displays weak to
moderate sericite alteration and mineralization, largely consisting
of pyrite, chalcopyrite, with lesser galena, enargite and
molybdenite observed. Alteration significantly increases from 720 m
to the end of the hole, where sericite alteration is dominant and
biotite-feldspar potassic alteration is observed and quartz veining
increases substantially in this interval along with a significant
increase in chalcopyrite and molybdenite.
ALD-22-223
Drillhole ALD-22-223 was collared between the
Altar East and Altar Central zones. Its final depth was 1,287.50 m
and the hole was drilled at -78 degrees inclination and 185 degrees
azimuth.
Drillhole ALD-22-223 intersected a diorite
porphyry from surface until the very end of the hole before
terminating in rhyolite. From surface to 27.5 m, the hole
intersected leached (i.e., copper removed) and iron-oxide-stained
porphyry rocks displaying strong quartz vein stockworks. From 27.5
m to ~400 m depth, the hole encountered secondary copper enrichment
minerals chalcocite ± covellite coating and replacing primary
hypogene pyrite and chalcopyrite. The upper ~650 m of the hole
exhibits strong hypogene alteration characterized by white
sericite-pyrite-quartz-tourmaline assemblages overprinting earlier
green sericite-chalcopyrite-pyrite-(bornite), with increasing
potassic biotite-k-feldspar alteration with depth.
Quartz-chalcopyrite-molybdenite veins can be seen to be
increasing.
From approximately 650 m, the occurrence of
chalcopyrite ± bornite progressively increases and is associated
with the occurrence of hairline veinlets displaying centimeter-wide
halos of green sericite ± chlorite-quartz-chalcopyrite-bornite
overprinting potassic biotite-k-feldspar-magnetite alteration. The
frequency of quartz-chalcopyrite-molybdenite veining increases
considerably to the bottom of the hole.
From ~800 m depth to the bottom of the hole, the
occurrence of these green sericite halo veins increases
considerably, accompanied by the occurrence of hypogene chalcocite
along with chalcopyrite and bornite, which appear to be associated
with areas of much higher-grade.
Project Update
The Company is actively drilling with three
rigs. Locations of active drill holes can be observed in Figure 1.
Hole ALD-23-225 was abandoned/lost at 225 m due to operator issues
and hole ALD-23-225B was collared a few meters away to replace it.
The Company has since hired a drilling consultant to help work with
the drillers onsite to improve operator performance. Holes
ALD-23-224, ALD-23-225B and ALD-23-226 were 1,130 m, 390 m and 920
m deep respectively, at the time of this release.
Webinar
For more context, please join CEO John Black and
CGO Dr. Kevin B. Heather in a live event on March 1st at 2:30 pm
EST / 11:30 am PST. Q&A will follow the presentation. Click
here to register:
https://6ix.com/event/aldebaran-resources-corporate-update/.
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 THE ALDEBARAN BOARD
(signed) “John Black”
John BlackChief Executive Officer and DirectorTel: +1 (604)
685-6800Email: info@aldebaranresources.com
Please click here and subscribe to receive future news
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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 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 (independent technical report prepared by
Independent Mining Consultants Inc., Tucson, Arizona, titled
"Technical Report, Estimated Mineral Resources, Altar Project, San
Juan Province, Argentina", dated March 22, 2021 - see news release
dated March 22, 2021).
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 completed
(reported here) and active drill holes from the ongoing 2022/2023
drill program as well as ALD-22-220 and ALD-22-221 from the
2021/2022 drill
program: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b363fde3-9d09-4431-b2dd-ee477744f3b9
Figure 2 – Cross-section looking towards
the northeast displaying CuEq (%) values in
ALD-22-222: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0cff32d-fbdd-4490-a3d4-213c449d48c0
Figure 3 – Cross-section looking towards
the east displaying CuEq (%) values in
ALD-22-223: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8134b551-2743-4465-a34d-a4b2a8e846b2
Figure 4 – Oblique view looking towards the
north displaying CuEq (%) values overlain on the 3D MT Resistivity
anomaly showing the distances between drill holes ALD-19-212,
ALD-22-221 and
ALD-22-223: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/77342e2c-b53c-47f1-97cf-b63f0f7a6845
Figure 5 – Oblique view looking towards the
northeast displaying CuEq (%) values overlain on the 3D MT
Resistivity anomaly showing the distances between drill holes at
Altar Central and
ALD-22-222: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f01f192b-821d-40c3-9fb9-6a9e93939bde
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