VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Azucar Minerals Ltd. ("Azucar" or the "Company") (TSX-V: AMZ; OTCQB: AXDDF) is pleased to announce that it has completed drilling a second hole into the large lithocap target discussed in its press release of March 10, 2022. Similar to the first hole (see Azucar release dated May 27, 2022), the second hole in this area (EC-22-115) passed through typical clay dominant lithocap alteration into phyllic alteration. Large intervals of brecciated rock were intersected possibly reflecting a diatreme like body that may have disrupted any earlier porphyry alteration zonation in this area. Alteration data has been collected from the core using a Terraspec infrared spectrometer along with samples for assay and fluid inclusion analysis. Any future drilling in this area will be guided by the results and interpretation of these analyses from both holes. The drill rig has been demobilised from the pad where these two holes were drilled as any future drilling to test this lithocap target will need to be conducted in other accessible portions of this very large area.
J.D. Poliquin, Chairman of Azucar Minerals stated, “These two holes were the first to be drilled into this newly defined alteration target. It is important to remind shareholders that this zone is one of many porphyry targets and centres on the project. We have defined a preliminary resource on the most explored Norte Zone, and we intend to continue our exploration on this project to further unlock the potential of the multiple zones and targets which are yet to be fully tested.”
About the El Cobre Project
A detailed summary of the project is provided on the Company’s website but in brief the El Cobre project covers a 5 km trend of porphyry copper-gold associated alteration and mineralisation along which five separate zones have now been identified and explored in past drilling campaigns (see Figure 1). On September 29, 2020, the Company released an initial mineral resource estimate on the project from only the Norte Zone. The base case resource estimate (using a net smelter return cutoff of US$12/tonne) for the Norte Zone is comprised of an indicated resource of 1.2 Moz AuEq (47.2 million tonnes grading 0.49 g/t Au, 0.21% Cu and 1.4 g/t Ag) and an inferred resource of 1.4 Moz AuEq (64.2 million tonnes grading 0.42 g/t Au, 0.18% Cu and 1.3 g/t Ag). Further details of the resource estimate are provided below.
Past drilling campaigns have returned significant porphyry copper and gold assays from multiple targets. High grade intersections from these targets highlight the potential for significant mineral endowment and for higher grade porphyry mineralisation including those tabularised below (see Figure 1 for locations). The known targets include the Villa Rica, Porvenir, Encinal and Primo Zones. At the Villa Rica Zone, located about 1.8 km south of the Norte Zone, initial drilling in 2017 (on the Raya Tembrillo Target area) intersected two styles of mineralisation; hypogene copper-gold porphyry mineralisation (115.00 metres of 0.57 g/t gold and 0.27% copper, see press release of November 28, 2017) and near surface enriched copper mineralisation with an apparent tabular distribution (94.00 metres of 1.36% copper; see press release of December 13, 2017). At the Encinal Zone, located 4.3 kilometres to the southeast of the Norte Zone, Azucar reported (see press release of June 29, 2017) the results of initial drilling on an exposed stockwork zone (Hole EC-17-025) that returned results including 34.47 metres grading 0.73 g/t Au and 0.20% Cu. The Company continues to review the geology and past exploration results in order to plan future exploration programs.
Norte Zone
| Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Au (g/t) | Cu (%) |
| EC-17-018 | 222.40 | 334.50 | 112.10 | 1.35 | 0.48 |
| EC-17-026 | 543.45 | 609.90 | 66.45 | 2.41 | 0.61 |
| Including | 543.45 | 569.45 | 26.00 | 4.15 | 1.00 |
| EC-17-029 | 204.15 | 314.15 | 110.00 | 1.87 | 0.48 |
| Including | 208.15 | 240.15 | 32.00 | 2.57 | 0.57 |
| and | 264.15 | 300.15 | 36.00 | 2.02 | 0.51 |
Raya Tembrillo (1.8km South of Norte)
| Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Au (g/t) | Cu (%) |
| EC-17-037 | 302.00 | 320.00 | 18.00 | 1.25 | 0.52 |
Primo Zone (1.4km South of Raya Tembrillo)
| Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Au (g/t) | Cu (%) |
| EC-19-086 | 868.40 | 918.00 | 49.60 | 0.99 | 0.61 |
| Including | 878.40 | 914.40 | 36.00 | 1.10 | 0.68 |
Porvenir Zone (2.5 km SE of Norte, 1.0 km west of Primo
| Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Au (g/t) | Cu (%) |
| EC-17-040 | 243.00 | 255.00 | 12.00 | 2.43 | 0.82 |
| EC-18-056 | 381.50 | 408.00 | 26.50 | 1.72 | 0.34 |
More information on El Cobre is available on the Azucar website at http://www.azucarminerals.com.
Technical Details and the El Cobre NI 43-101 Technical Report
For details on the estimation of mineral resources, including the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resources at the El Cobre property, Canadian investors should refer to the report dated effective November 13, 2020, and titled “NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimate on the El Cobre Copper-Gold-Silver Property, Veracruz State, Mexico” which is available under Azucar Minerals’ profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company’s website. The Technical Report was authored by Kris Raffle, P.Geo. of APEX Geoscience Ltd., and Sue Bird, M.Sc., P.Eng. of Moose Mountain Technical Services. The NSR and AuEq values were calculated using US$1,500/oz gold, US$3.00/lb copper and US$18/oz silver, and using metallurgical recoveries of 88% for gold and copper, and 70% for silver.
Morgan Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng. a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 the President and CEO as well as a Director of the Company reviewed and approved the other technical information. The porphyry mineralisation and past drilling results discussed and reviewed in this news release are associated with broad areas of alteration and stockwork and sheeted porphyry style veining. True widths cannot be determined at this time. The analyses reported were carried out at ALS Global Laboratories of North Vancouver using industry standard analytical techniques. For gold, samples are first analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy (“AAS”). Samples that return values greater than 10 g/t gold using this technique are then re-analysed by fire assay but with a gravimetric finish. For copper, samples are first analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (“ICP-AES”), with four acid digestion. Samples that return values greater than 10000 g/t copper using this technique are then re-analysed by HF-HNO3-HCLO4 digestion with HCL leach and ICP-AES finish. Blanks, field duplicates and certified standards were inserted into the sample stream as part of Azucar’s quality assurance and control program which complies with National Instrument 43-101 requirements.
About Azucar
Azucar is an exploration company exploring the El Cobre project in Veracruz, Mexico, which covers multiple gold-rich porphyry targets, as demonstrated by past drilling. Azucar holds a 100% interest in the El Cobre project, subject to net smelter returns (“NSR”) royalty interests, assuming production from the property exceeds 10,001 tonnes per day of ore, totaling 2.25% which can be reduced to 2.0% though the payment of US$3.0 million.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
“J. Duane Poliquin”
J. Duane Poliquin, P.Eng.
Chairman
Azucar Minerals Ltd.
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.
This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within it, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws.
Contact Information:
Azucar Minerals Ltd.
Tel. 604.689.7644
Email: info@azucarminerals.com
http://www.azucarminerals.com/
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d4645fd-52b1-4312-9943-ddd05523d976
