Elevado Project Chile 2019 Drilling and Exploration Update
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
2019 DRILL SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS
Emu NL completed 6,314 metres of aircore drilling in the 2019 season (Table 1).
Assay results for all drill holes have been received. Significant gold-silver
intercepts of this programme are provided in Table 2.
Detailed review and interpretation of results is underway.
Planning for the Spring 2019 – Summer 2020 season at Elevado is underway,
activities to commence in August.
EMU NL (ASX: EMU and EMUCA) has finalised its Summer 2019 drilling and exploration
campaign at its Elevado project in the Maricunga Belt, Chile and is: (i) reviewing the drilling
results, including the assay results, to develop a fuller understanding of the distribution of
and controls to mineralisation; and (ii) designing work plans for the coming Spring 2019 –
Summer 2020 campaign.
The recently renamed Elevado project is comprised of the Vidalita, Vidalota, Arroyo Ancho
and Jotahues concession areas which contain a number of prospects including the Vidalita,
Alunita, Northeast Plains, North Plains, Peon, Jotahues and Arroyo Ancho. (Figure 2)
The multi-element assays confirmed the presence and continuation of a High Sulphidation
Epithermal (HSE) gold-silver mineralisation system over the Vidalita prospect. The style of
mineralisation intersected bears all the hallmarks of the Salares Norte (Goldfields) and
Alturas (Barrick) occurrences located to the north and south respectively along extensions
of the Maricunga - El Indio Belt. Mineralisation at Vidalita, hosted in a sequence of volcaniclastics and intrusive stocks, demonstrates local breccia development plus quartz-alunite
(advanced argillic) alteration consistent with HSE mineralisation models.
Geochemical results highlight the importance of locating the structural controls and feeder
systems to the near-surface mineralisation. Ongoing work will zero-in on these deep targets
within the Vidalita prospect.
EMU’s geologists are evaluating the latest assay results in conjunction with the overall
geological, geochemical and geophysical project database and will be working with a team
of renowned experts to verify the controls on this system. This work is expected to generate
new targets and refine existing drill targets.
Favourable drilling conditions during the summer 2019 drilling season provided a partial
offset to, yet again, a significant downtime component on the part of the Wallis Drilling’s
equipment which, disappointingly, caused a number of holes, including those planned for
targets outside the Vidalita prospect, to remain undrilled. Nevertheless, EMU regards the
season as having been effective in terms of many outcomes including the discovery hole
(see ASX announcement 8 March 2019).
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
In the face of the abridged drilling programme, EMU took the measured and prudent decision
to extend, rather than exercise, the option over the Vidalita prospect (see ASX
announcement 24 June 2019).
Plans for the Spring 2019 - Summer 2020 season
EMU plans to resume work in Chile next month, with an extensive core relogging (geology)
plus Terraspec Halo NIR spectrometry (alteration geochemistry) programme. This activity,
utilising the latest technology and equipment, will assist in the overall work of 3D vectoring
towards the source of mineralisation. Information from this activity is expected to further
delineate and define the deep diamond drill hole targets in the upcoming campaign directed
at discovering a major, high-grade gold-silver ore body.
A project-wide exploration programme is planned to run in parallel with the 2019-2020
drilling campaign. This work will be directed at delineating, prioritising and advancing, to drillready status, the numerous targets identified within EMU’s 136km2 tenement holding at the
Elevado project. Geological mapping, soil and rock chip sampling is planned to commence
in mid-September and progress into the new year.
Diamond drilling at the Vidalita prospect is planned to commence in October with the
programme expected to be completed in December. Following this, EMU plans to complete
an aircore drilling programme over the priority regional targets defined from the project-wide
exploration programme.
All field activities will be supported by an on-site exploration camp with logistical support to
come from EMU’s new Copiapo base. This new, entirely fit-for-purpose, base features
accommodation, offices, and core-yard premises that will facilitate ongoing warehousing
and technical work by the EMU exploration teams. The investment in a new base is
testament to EMU’s commitment to the Elevado project and exploration more broadly in
the Maricunga Belt.
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
Table 1: Aircore Drilling Programme Summary
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
Table 2: Significant Gold-Silver Intercepts (> 0.2ppm Au, >5ppm Ag)
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
Table 2: Significant Gold-Silver Intercepts (continued)
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
About the Elevado Project
Figure 1: Location of the EMU NL project in relation to
other advanced projects and mines in the Maricunga El Indio Belt
The Elevado Project is located
within the Maricunga gold belt in the
Atacama Region, northern Chile.
This belt hosts numerous worldclass gold and silver projects (see
Figure 1).
EMU’s tenure interests cover an
area of approximately 136km2
including applications for and
granted concessions held in its own
right and concessions held under
option that host High Sulphidation
Epithermal (HSE) alteration and
mineralisation similar to other
precious metal Au-Ag deposits in
the Maricunga and El Indio gold
belts (see Figure 2).
The project is accessed using
established infrastructure of roads
linking Copiapo (regional capital
and service town for the major
mining projects) with the Maricunga
mine (Kinross), Marte-Lobo project
(Kinross) Cerro Casale project
(Newmont/ Barrick) and Caspiche
project (Newmont). The Maricunga
gold mine owned by Kinross, is
located approximately 10km to the
northwest of Emu’s Elevado project
concessions.
Wallis Drilling has served a writ on Emu seeking recovery of US$148,000 which EMU will
defend, setoff and counterclaim its unliquidated damages thought, on a preliminarily basis,
to amount to well in excess of A$1,000,000.
Emu continues to look for mineral exploration, development, and mining opportunities in
Australia and overseas jurisdictions.
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
Figure 2: The Elevado Project tenure map showing Area of Interest (AOI) and prospect
locations:
1. Vidalita Prospect
2. Alunita Prospect
3. Northeast Plains Prospect
4. North Plains Prospect
5. Arroyo Ancho Prospect
6. Peon Prospect
7. Jotahues Prospect
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
COMPETENT PERSON’S STATEMENT
EMU NL
ABN 50 127 291 927
ASX Code: EMU and EMUCA
10 Walker Ave
West Perth, WA 6005
T +61 8 9226 4266
E info@emunl.com.au
PO Box 1112
West Perth, WA 6872
Fully paid shares (listed)
158,072,613 (inc. 7.4m which Emu can
buy back for nil consideration)
Contributing Shares (listed)
33,668,824 paid to $0.03, $0.03 to pay,
no call before 31/12/2020
Options to acquire fully paid shares
(to be listed)
84,355,000 exercisable at $0.20 each,
expire 15 January 2021
Options to acquire partly paid
shares (unlisted)
6,000,000 options to acquire partly
paid shares, exercisable at $0.03 each,
on or before 28 February 2020
Directors:
Peter Thomas
Non-Executive Chairman
Terry Streeter
Non-Executive Director
Gavin Rutherford
Non-Executive Director
Any details contained herein that pertain to exploration
results, mineral resources or mineral reserves are
based upon information compiled by Mr Francisco
Montes, a Senior Geologist working for Emu NL. There
are no material changes to previously reported results.
Mr Montes is a Member of the Australian Institute of
Geoscientists and has sufficient experience in the
activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a
Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the
“Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results,
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves” (JORC Code).
Mr Montes consents to the inclusion herein of the
matters based upon his information in the form and
context in which it appears.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
As a result of a variety of risks, uncertainties and other
factors, actual events and results may differ materially
from any forward looking and other statements herein
not purporting to be of historical fact. Any statements
concerning mining reserves, resources and exploration
results are forward looking in that they involve estimates
based on assumptions. Forward looking statements are
based on management’s beliefs, opinions and
estimates as of the respective dates they are made. The
Company does not assume any obligation to update
forward looking statements even where beliefs, opinions
and estimates change or should do so given changed
circumstances and developments.
Investor enquiries:
Karen Oswald
NWR Communications
T +61 8 9226 4266
E info@emunl.com.au
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
Appendix 1
JORC Code, 2012 Edition – Table 1 report, EMU NL
Elevado Drilling
Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data
Criteria
Commentary
Sampling
techniques
Air core (AC) samples – samples are collected from the rig cyclone in a bucket
over each metre drilled. The larger intact core segments are recovered and
stored in core trays for logging and geological reference. This material is not
oriented.
The remaining fine material in the bucket is transferred to a sample bag in
total. This sample is usually around 1.0 – 1.5kg representing ~ 15 to 20% of
the mass of the 1m interval.
Overall, 40 sample despatches in this campaign were prepared at Actlabs in
Copiapo where they were crushed to 2mm, split to an 800g sample then
pulverised and split again to 25g. The final split was sent to Actlabs,
Coquimbo for analysis. These pertain to the period 01 Jan – 30 Mar 2019.
The final 9 sample despatches were prepared and assayed by ALS Copiapo
and Lima using techniques directly comparable to those utilised at Actlabs.
These pertain to the period 01 April – 26 April 2019.
Drilling
techniques
Air core (AC) drilling using NQ-size aircore bits (approximately 75mm
diameter).
Drill sample
recovery
Geological team makes a qualitative estimate (as good, moderate or poor) of
sample recovery for each one metre down hole sample interval.
Supervising geologist ensures that representative chip and AC samples are
collected during drilling.
Sampling is considered to be unbiased.
Logging
Alteration, mineralisation, rock type, and structure, where evident, are logged
and recorded from the core drill samples.
Pieces of core recovered by the AC system are stored in core trays for logging
and geological reference.
Total hole length is logged.
Sub-sampling
techniques and
sample
preparation
AC samples (fines) from each one metre of drill hole are collected in a bucket,
with the sample (usually 1.0-1.5kg) collected using a PVC spear.
The 1m samples are prepared for analysis by standard laboratory
procedures.
Sub-sampling at the sample processing facility is done using splitters.
The samples collected are representative of the insitu material.
Sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
Quality of assay
data and
laboratory tests
A 50g split from each one metre AC pulp is taken from four consecutive one
metre samples, combined, re-pulverised to homogenise and a composite
sample of 200g is prepared for analysis.
All samples are digested using 30g aqua regia and analysed using ICP-MS
at Actlab’s laboratory in Coquimbo using method UT-1EMU. Select samples
are re-analysed using fire assay techniques (RX-1) in both 4m composites
and individual 1m intervals.
All but the final 9 holes were prepared and assayed by Actlabs. In order to
assist and improve sample turn-around times, the final 9 holes were diverted
to ALS Copiapo for sample preparation and ALS Lima for analytical work.
Sample preparation at ALS was by method PREP-41, compositing by HOM01 and analytical work by 50g aqua regia and ICP-MS analysis using method
AuME-ST44, which is directly comparable to Actlab’s method UT1-EMU.
All drill samples results are reported.
The aqua regia digest in this instance is considered appropriate given the
stage of the program and the altered nature of the rocks.
Following the completion of the ongoing data review, 10% of drilling samples
will be sent for check analysis to another laboratory.
Laboratory geochemical standards and blanks are used for QA/QC purposes.
Verification of
sampling and
assaying
All significant (anomalous) four metre composites are identified and the one
metre samples from which they were composited are re-assayed by 30g fire
assay technique at Actlabs.
Check-assaying will be completed at an alternative laboratory.
No twinned holes have been drilled.
Assay data are not adjusted.
Location of data
points
Drill hole collars are located using handheld GPS accurate to < 5m in the first
instance. Holes are subsequently surveyed in using DGPS accurate to
<0.02m.
WGS 84 UTM zone 19J (south) grid system.
Topographic control is deemed adequate at this stage of the exploration
program.
Data spacing and
distribution
The drill holes are irregularly spaced (but generally >100m) as they are
testing geological, geophysical or geochemical targets.
No mineral resources are being reported at this time.
The AC samples are composited into four metre composites in the
laboratory.
Orientation of
data in relation to
geological
structure
Drill hole azimuth was planned on indications of outcrop and/or subcrop
geology and lithological strike as indicated by a ground magnetic survey and
geologic mapping.
The controls on mineralisation are unknown at this time.
Sample security
Emu management supervises sample collection on-site and delivery to the
laboratory.
Audits or reviews
None undertaken.
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results
(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)
Criteria
Commentary
Mineral tenement
and land tenure
status
Emu has an interest in 51 concessions comprising the Elevado project.
Of these:
(i)
15 are granted exploration concessions that were applied for by
Emu in its own right (Tierra 1-15 concessions).
(ii)
30 are concessions the subject of an option to purchase
agreement with Chilean company BLC SpA (Peon 1-16 + Ciclope
Tuerto 1-9 + Vidalota A-E).
(iii)
6 are concessions the subject of an option to purchase agreement
with Chilean company Prospex SpA (Vidalita A-E concessions).
Of these, the 6 Prospex concessions (Vidalita A-E) and 2 BLC concessions
(Vidalota A, B) are in the process of conversion to mining concessions; and
The original 5 concessions in the BLC agreement (Ciclope Tuerto 7,8,9 and
Vidalota A,B), plus 6 concessions in the Prospex agreement (Vidalita A-F),
are subject to a 5km Area of Interest (AOI) from their respective boundaries.
To the extent concessions fall within the AOI, they are subject to a 1% NSR
whilst concessions Vidalita A-F are subject to a further 1% NSR.
The option may be exercised at any time before November 2022 on payment
of US$2.5M. Emu is also required to pay US$100k for each year it extends
the option from November 2019 to November 2022. If, on the concessions
the subject of the BLC and Prospex options, Emu defines a: (i) 0.5Moz of gold
in measured resources, 5M ordinary shares will be issued; and (ii) 1Moz of
gold in measured resources, a further 5M ordinary shares will be issued.
Exploration done
by other parties
Previous work was limited to rock sampling. There had been no drilling in the
area prior to Emu’s activities.
Geology
The prospect area is located within the early to late Miocene volcanics of the
Maricunga Belt. The project is a green fields exploration project however the
mineralisation style intersected in drilling is interpreted to be similar to known
high sulphidation epithermal style ore deposits in the same geological setting.
Rocks consist of volcanically derived lithologies, including tuffs, andesites,
dacites, polymictic and monomictic breccias, and minor sedimentary facies.
Major north-north-west trending faults may control the extent of mineralisation
and provide the bounds to that mineralisation. Lesser cross-cutting faults,
generally north-easterly, appear to affect mineralisation plunge and
repetitions.
Drill hole
Information
Refer Table 1.
Data aggregation
methods
Simple averages are calculated from mineralised zones.
Gold zones above 0.2ppm are aggregated within the mineralised zones to
calculate average gold intersections. Barren zones less than one sample
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EMU NL
ELEVADO PROJECT CHILE
2019 DRILLING AND EXPLORATION UPDATE
16 July 2019
interval may be included in a composite aggregation if occurring within the
overall mineralised zone.
Relationship
between
mineralisation
widths and
intercept lengths
Project is at an early stage of exploration and any conclusions at this stage
would be speculation. All widths quoted are down hole intersection widths.
Diagrams
No interpretive cross sections have been included in this announcement
(although preliminary sections have been included in previous
announcements).
Balanced
reporting
Emu considers all pertinent information pertaining to this prospect is supplied
in either this or previous announcements.
Other substantive
exploration data
Surface rock and talus sampling was undertaken at opportune locations
where outcrop allowed and appropriate. Summary maps were included in
previous announcements.
Satellite imagery is used to identify significant areas of alteration to guide
exploration.
Further work
Follow-up drilling at the Vidalita prospect, by infill and to extend into areas
that are considered “open” to mineralisation, is being planned.
Drill targets at other prospects will be planned for testing in the Spring 2019 Summer 2020 campaign.
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