Magna Terra Reports Final Assays From First Phase Drilling on the 100% Owned Luna Roja Project
TORONTO, June 19, 2019 - Magna Terra Minerals Inc. (the “Company” or “Magna Terra”) (TSX-V: MTT) (SSE: MTTCL) is pleased to announce complete assay results from an eight hole (1,184 meter) first phase drill program on its Luna Roja Project in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. The drilling began on January 12, 2019 and was completed on January 31. The program was designed to test three target areas – Cruz Del Sur, Orion and Estrella del Norte, which constitute a mineralized surface footprint of approximately three kilometers by one kilometer. Assays have been received from three holes in the Cruz del Sur Target area, three from the Orion area and two from the Estrella del Norte area.
Drill hole LR_DDH001 intersected 51.4 m of 0.26 g/t Au and 9.37 g/t Ag at a depth of 44.6 to 96.0 m. Included in this intercept are 2.0 m of 1.08 g/t Au and 79.60 g/t Ag at a depth of 62.0 to 64.0 m.
Drill hole LR_DDH002 intersected 75.0 m of 0.62 g/t Au and 5.6 g/t Ag (from 37.0 m to 112.0 m). The deepest part of the zone, which is oxidized, included 42.0 m of 1.01 g/t Au and 4.6 g/t Ag (from 68.0 m to 110.0 m - Table 1), indicating increased grade with depth.
Drill hole LR_DDH006 intersected 15.6 m of 0.11 g/t Au and 0.81 g/t Ag (from 130.0 m to 145.60 m). The 15.6 m sample is at the bottom of the hole, indicating mineralization to be potentially open at depth.
“These results represent the first, very successful drill campaign, on the Luna Roja Project, where we tested a variety of target types and have firmly illustrated the potential of this Project. Now that we know what works we are currently planning the next phase of drilling which will focus on structurally controlled mineralization in faults, hanging wall recessive tuffaceous hosts, and rhyolite stockworks with strong surface precious metal and geochemical anomalies.” Dr. Paul David Robinson, Vice President of Exploration
Mineralization in LR_DDH001 and LR_DDH002 is disseminated in tuffs and in the hanging wall of the Via Lactea Fault zone. These two holes are the only holes testing the Via Lactea Fault zone, which is recessive and associated with surface gold, silver and trace element anomalies along its 3 km N-NW strike. Mineralization remains open-ended in all directions along the Via Lactea Fault, and at depth.
Mineralization in LR_DDH006 occurs in the last 15.6 m of the hole and does not appear to be directly related to faulting but may be strata bound.
Holes LR_DDH007 and 8 reported traces of gold associated with silicification along their entire lengths accompanied by anomalous arsenic, zinc and occasional antimony whereas holes LR_DDH003, 4 and 5 reported sporadic traces of gold with the same geochemistry. (Tables 1 and 2).
Key Characteristics of Luna Roja
- Long, 75 meter intercept of 0.62 g/t Au, in LR_DDH002, suggests possibility of bulk minable potential
- A 42 meter oxidized intercept of 1.01 g/t Au, in LR_DDH002, suggests potential for low cost and high gold recovery (see Figure 1 b)
- Shallow mineralization, at Cruz del Sur, between surface and 80 meters vertical depth, offers the possibility of an open pit operation
- A mineralized strike length of 145 meters at Cruz del Sur, between LR_DDH001 and LR_DDH002, shows potential for continuity along the Via Lactea structural zone, the extension of which is evidenced in trenches and rock chips, extending through the Orion and Estrella del Norte Zones to the north.
- Favorable tuffaceous stratigraphy, with gold anomalies in historic trench channels to the west, hanging wall side, of the Via Lactea Fault system, is thus far not drill tested.
- The concept of targeting disseminated gold in tuffs is a new paradigm for the Deseado Massif, but the Luna Roja mineralization is more analogous of Round Mountain in Nevada than it is to any of the operating mines in Santa Cruz.
- Mineralization at the end of hole LR_DDH006 implies potential for a strata bound deposit in the Orion Zone.
The Cruz del Sur Target
The Cruz del Sur target lies toward the southern end of the Project, on the Via Lactea Fault, and is associated with Au in rock chips and trench channel samples on the southwestern edge of a major rhyolitic and tuffaceous dome complex, (see Figure 1 a).
LR_DDH001 and LR_DDH002 target structurally controlled mineralization beneath wide Au anomalies in trenches 1 and 2. Figure 2 illustrates a west-east cross section, which includes LR_DDH002 and LR_DDH003 where LR_DDH003 is a geophysical target and is collared 280 meters to the east of LR_DDH002. Trench 2 reported 55 meters of 0.41 g/t Au and 13.2 g/t Ag which occurs above the LR_DDH002 intercept and is structurally related to the oxidized zone of 1.01 g/t Au between 47 and 78 meters vertical depth. Mineralization appears to be controlled largely by the high permeability of the tuffaceous units to the west of the Via Lactea Fault, implying that the system is open in that direction. LR_DDH003 did not return reportable Au or Ag anomalies but was anomalous in arsenic along much of its length as well as having traces of antimony. Despite the distance east from hole LR_DDH002, this hole remains within the mineralized system and is potentially close to the Au mineralization.
Trench 1 reported 25 m of 0.1 g/t Au and 7.6 g/t Ag which occurs above the LR_DDH001 intercept and is structurally related to the mineralized zone with 0.26 g/t Au and 9.7 g/t Ag between 30 and 70 m vertical depth, (see Figure 3). Additionally, Trench 1 reported three zones of anomalous gold comprising 5 m of 0.1 g/t, 5 m of 0.13 g/t and a further 5 m of 0.6 g/t and together these anomalies support the concept of disseminated targets up to 250 meters to the west of the Via Lactea Fault.
Table 1: Drill hole collar details
Hole | Area | x | y | z | Azim | Dip | TD |
LR_DDH001 | Cruz del Sur | 589080 | 4759260 | 236 | 90 | 45 | 203 |
LR_DDH002 | Cruz del Sur | 589040 | 4759400 | 240 | 90 | 45 | 215 |
LR_DDH003 | Cruz del Sur | 589320 | 4759400 | 247 | 90 | 65 | 173 |
LR_DDH004 | Orion | 589240 | 4760050 | 270 | 90 | 75 | 139 |
LR_DDH005 | Orion | 589100 | 4760050 | 269 | 270 | 60 | 142.5 |
LR_DDH006 | Orion | 589100 | 4760200 | 272 | 270 | 60 | 145.6 |
LR_DDH007 | Estrella del Norte | 588900 | 4760950 | 250 | 270 | 60 | 74 |
LR_DDH008 | Estrella del Norte | 588700 | 4760950 | 237 | 90 | 60 | 92 |
Table 2: Drill assay results
Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Length (m) | Au (g/t) | Ag (g/t) |
LR_DDH001 | 44.6 | 96 | 51.4 | 0.26 | 9.7 |
Including: | 62 | 64 | 2 | 1.08 | 79.6 |
LR_DDH002 and: Including: Including: Including: | 22 37 68 91 108 | 26 112 110 110 110 | 4 75 42 19 2 | 0.27 0.62 1.1 1.41 2.84 | 0.25 5.6 4.6 5.0 2.7 |
LR_DDH003 | No Reportable Intercepts | ||||
LR_DDH004 | No Reportable Intercepts | ||||
LR_DDH005 | No Reportable Intercepts | ||||
LR_DDH006 | 130 | 145.6 | 15.6 | 0.11 | 0.81 |
LR_DDH007 | No Reportable Intercepts | ||||
LR_DDH008 | No Reportable Intercepts |
The Estrella del Norte Target
The Estrella del Norte target is the most northerly of the Luna Roja targets along the Via Lactea Fault and is the site of holes LR_DDH007 and 8. These holes do not have reportable intercepts but both are silicified and have traces of gold with arsenic and zinc along their lengths, implying that they are marginal to the gold bearing system. Hole LR_DDH008 was a geophysical target but was collared 7 meters to the south east of a 5 meter 0.5 g/t gold anomaly in trench 3 and 40 meters to the north east of a 2 meter 5.16 g/t a gold anomaly in a surface channel. These surface anomalies occur in a rhyolitic dome in a zone between the Via Lactea Fault and hole LR_DDH008 and constitute high priority targets for the next phase of drilling.
The Orion Target
The Orion target is in the center of the Luna Roja area, between the Cruz del Sur and Estrella del Norte targets. This target was based principally on Induced Polarization as surface outcrop and mineralization are sparse. Holes LR_DDH004, 5 and 6 were drilled in chargeable and resistive anomalies to the east of the Via Lactea Fault. LR_DDH006 reported 15.6 m of 0.11 g/t Au and 0.81 g/t Ag (from 130.0 m to 145.60 m). The 15.6 meter sample is the bottom of the hole, indicating mineralization to be potentially open at depth but it is also significant that the mineralization is hosted in fine tuffs without any indication of fracturing or faulting (see Figure 4). This mineralization, which occurs 220 meters to the east of the Via Lactea Fault and may constitute strata bound mineralization in a fluid trap created by an earlier stage of silicification. This intercept occurs 950 meters to the north of LR_DDH001.
LR_DDH004 and 5 do not have reportable intercepts but are silicified with occasional traces of gold and have anomalous arsenic and zinc.
Second Phase Planning
The Company is currently planning the second phase of diamond drilling and associated exploration activities on the Project in which we envisage the following:
- Ground magnetic survey for the Luna Roja and Signos Projects covering 10,000 hectares of highly prospective ground.
- Trench program of between 3 and 4 line kilometers, more than doubling the length of trenches currently on the Project.
- A drill program comprising not less than 3,000 meters, which will be focused on high grade targets in the Via Lactea Fault and cross cutting N-E striking faults as well as disseminated targets in the hanging wall of the Via Lactea Fault and in parallel faults to the west.
The 3,000 meters of diamond drilling are based upon our current knowledge of the mineralized footprint and are independent of any new targets that may arise from the magnetic survey and trenching programs. Nor does this include the Cae el Sol Zone of the Luna Roja Project or any targets on the adjacent Signos Project which are also currently under evaluation.
QAQC
Sampling was carried out with core being cut by angle grinder and half of the core retained for logging and potential re-analysis. Blind standards, blanks, and duplicates were inserted into the sample chain accounting for 10% of samples. Samples were then delivered, by Magna Terra staff, to Andesmar in Caleta Olivia, Santa Cruz, Argentina from where they were transported to ALS Chemex Laboratories in Mendoza, Argentina, for gold fire assay and multi element analysis.
Qualified Person
All technical data disclosed in this press release has been verified by Magna Terra’s Qualified Person, Paul D. Robinson Ph.D. and Certified Professional Geologist as recognized by the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO).
About Us
Magna Terra Minerals Inc. is a precious metals focused exploration company, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Magna Terra (MTT) has a significant interest in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina within the prolific Deseado Massif in southern Patagonia. With a recent precious metals discovery on its Luna Roja Project, and an extensive portfolio of district scale drill ready projects, along with a highly experienced management and exploration team, MTT is positioned to deliver significant shareholder value. For detailed information regarding our projects, please visit the Company’s website at: www.magnaterraminerals.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information
Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “may”, “will”, “should”, “continue”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “believe”, “intend”, “plan” or “project” or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, failure by the parties to complete the Transaction, failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, changes in world gold markets or markets for other commodities, and other risks disclosed in the Company’s public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6cd28b8-0743-457b-afdf-1378f1c30b44
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d63c4d2-ebe9-4fbe-a1bf-a38ae19aec87
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b99da528-5756-4cb4-9d61-ed32db69fbcb
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9ce27d8-4e0a-4a14-b8bf-2662c08c2f35
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Magna Terra Minerals Inc. Lewis Lawrick, President & CEO: 647-478-5307 Email: info@magnaterraminerals.com Website: www.magnaterraminerals.com