ECR Minerals plc (LON: ECR), the gold exploration and development company focussed on gold exploration in Australia, is pleased to provide updated results from the initial first drill section across the ‘Maori’ Anticline target within HR3 at Bailieston, Victoria, Australia.
ECR Minerals plc has 100% ownership of the Bailieston Project (EL5433), which is operated under its Australian wholly owned subsidiary Mercator Gold Australia Pty Ltd (“MGA”).
ECR Chairman David Tang commented: “We are pleased with the follow-up results for holes BH3DD010 and BH3DD011 at HR3. Our understanding of the Maori Anticline, along with the extent and types of mineralisation, has grown exponentially, and our team on the ground continues to work to a tight schedule and maintain our aggressive drilling programmes. Further assay results and data are due very shortly, and I look forward to sharing those with our shareholders as they become available.”
“As our search for a new CEO continues, our committee of directors, including myself, Trevor Davenport and Adam Jones continue to drive the business forward. I would also like to stress that we are all easily contactable should shareholders and investors have any queries during this transition period”
SUMMARY:
- Assay results now received for holes BH3DD010 and BH3DD011, completing the first diamond drill section across the upper part of the ‘Maori’ Anticline.
- Highest results are from hole BH3DD011 with 0.4m @ 4.65 g/t Au from 39.8m and 0.5m @ 6.97 g/t Au from 68m down-hole.
- Three mineralised zones within each drill hole identified.
- Structural observations from drill core show how dilational gold / antimony mineralised zones form at favourable intersections between NW and NE striking veins.
Assay results for a further two diamond holes across the first drilled section of the upper part of the ‘Maori Anticline’ target have now been received. These results follow-up ECR’s previous announcement released on the 29/11/2021 in regards to hole BH3DD009 where an initial successful result of 0.7m @ 28.06 g/t Au from 52.7m was recorded. Holes BH3DD010 and BH3DD011 were subsequently drilled on the same azimuth, but at two different angles to test the up and down dip continuance of the grade in BH3DD009.
The following link to the interpreted geological section for holes BH3DD009, BH3DD010 and BH3DD011 relates to the detailed information in the paragraphs below.
https://www.ecrminerals.com/images/2021/ECRsection.jpg
BH3DD010
Hole BH3DD010 was collared with a dip of -67 degrees. Three mineralised ‘zones’ have been drilled through with the best intercept of 0.9m @ 1.18 g/t Au from 64.4m down-hole. This intersection is part of a broader anomalous halo as shown as ‘Zone 2’ on the accompanying figure 1. Drilling passed through the Maori Anticline where drilling ended at a depth of 111.2m.
BH3DD011
BH3DD011 was drilled with a dip of -50.5 degrees from horizontal to a final depth of 102.2m. Three mineralised zones were also passed. The upper ‘Zone 4’ is a hanging-wall system to the Maori Reef. Interpretations from orientated drill core show this to be a linking quartz-splay system between the Hard Up and Maori Reef. Best intersection in Zone 4 was 0.4m @ 4.65 g/t Au from 39.8m depth.
The Maori Reef was intercepted as expected around 55m depth where a fault zone with complex folding on the immediate hanging wall was identified. This zone contained no significant intercepts. A broad quartz mineralised ‘Zone 5’ was encountered at 60.1m depth. Best intersection within Zone 5 was 0.5m @ 6.97 g/t Au from 68m depth. This intercept is supported by a lower grade halo with other results of 1m @ 2.68 g/t from 65.4m and 0.7m @ 2.05 g/t Au from 69m. Structural logging of veining through this zone shows the vein to strike NNE with a dip direction to the NW which correlates well to the cross-vein known as the Hard Up Reef. Further drilling passed a faulted system ‘Zone 6’ which returned a best grade of 0.5m @ 1.09 g/t Au. Drilling ended at 102.2m depth on the eastern dipping sediments of the anticline.
MINERALISATION MODEL REVEALED
Drilling of BH3DD009, BH3DD010 and BH3DD011 shows three broad mineralised zones that are accompanied by visual evidence of stibnite (a sulphide of Antimony). Relating to figure 1, orientated drill core shows that quartz mineralisation is bedding parallel in Zone 1 and Zone 2, oblique to bedding in Zone 5 and hosted in brittle faults between Zone 3 and Zone 6. Best intercepts from all three holes suggests the best gold developments have formed where structures are favourable to dilate adjacent to structures that compress and pinch as seen at 55m depth in BH3DD011. Stockwork veining and oblique structures to bedding also relate spatially to elevated gold values as seen in Zone 5 in BH3DD011 and the stockwork veining in BH3DD009. At the goldfield level of scale, there is a close spatial development of such structures within the acute angle of intersecting NNW and NE striking veining where a ‘wrench’ or dilational ‘jog’ develops. This pattern is also observable and outlined in plan view by the numerous historic mined trenches and pits across the HR3 goldfield. Information gleaned from drilling this first drill section may also apply to other similar lineation trends across the field.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
ECR Minerals plc
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7929 1010
David Tang, Non-Executive Chairman
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ecrminerals.com
