Native Copper is usually in the supergene/hypogene enrichment zone along with chalcocite. I doubt that it is hypogene native copper as they say here. This stuff sounds a tad like Olympic dam IOCG a bit. These have differing metallurgy and may be associated with intrusives. Native copper can be leached cheaply by SXEW.
PAPUAN PRECIOUS METALS CORP announces that Hole KUD007 drilled at the Kuliuta gold-copper prospect, has intersected a 189m (620’) interval of porphyry copper style mineralization with visible copper from 112m (367’) downhole. Hole KUD007 tested a conductivity anomaly detected during the recently completed 3D-Induced Polarization ground geophysical survey. Mineralization over this 189m interval is dominated by an unusual primary (hypogene) native copper of hydrothermal origin.
Dr. David Lindley, PPM’s President & COO commented "this exciting discovery hole
demonstrates the important role geophysics and the planning efforts of our technical team
played in leading us to this drill target."
The PPM Board has approved an expansion of the Kuliuta drilling programme, which is testing both the near surface gold potential and the deeper porphyry copper potential. An additional 2,500m (an estimated 10 holes) of close-spaced step-out drilling is underway to delineate the copper mineralization found in Hole KUD007.
Hole KUD007
Hole KUD007 (azimuth 070o, dip 45 degrees ) was drilled on Line 17 and was terminated due to drilling difficulties at a depth of 316.6 m (1,039’) on July 28, 2011. The hole remained in clay altered hydrothermal breccias with hematite and fine disseminated sulphides at termination. It tested a prominent conductivity anomaly detected during the recently completed 3D-Induced Polarization ground geophysical survey ( ppmpng.com’mau’sing_drillholes.pdf ).
This hole is located 100-150m northeast of the La’mau’sing breccia cluster mapped in Trench 12, which averaged 3.89g/t Au over 39m and Trench 11, which averaged 0.90g/t Au over 51m (see news release dated February 22, 2011), and manganese breccia that assayed 128g/t Au, 184g/t Ag and 1.87% Cu (see news release dated May 2, 2011). The breccia cluster was tested by Holes KUD001, 002, 005 and 006. ( ppmpng.com’mau’sing_drillholes.pdf ).
Hole KUD007 intersected hydrothermal breccia flooded by intense hematite and manganese alteration to 48m depth. From 112.2 m to 301.1 m copper-mineralized pyroclastic breccia and latite intrusive with mineralization consisting predominantly of native copper, was intersected. Native copper occurs as (1) void fillings (up to 3mm width; see photo- ppmpng.com ) and rimming clasts in pryoclastic breccia; (2) disseminations in latite (usually within grain boundaries, such as in feldspar crystals); and (3) vein association with quartz+haematite+dickite. Pyrite is typically rare or absent across the entire copper interval.
The La’mau’sing breccias are believed to be a breccia swarm that has streamed off the margins of the porphyry copper/intrusive system intersected in Hole KUD007. The 3D-IP conductivity anomaly measures 400m x 300m and provides excellent potential to expand upon the intersection in Hole KUD007.
Hole KUD001
Hole KUD001 (azimuth 130 degrees dip 45 degrees ) was drilled below Trench 12 to test the near surface gold and copper potential. KUD001 intersected the target hydrothermal breccia from 2.0m to 28.0 m down hole, and was drilled to a total depth of 79.60 m.
Assay results from Hole KUD001 have been received. Gold and copper results are presented in the following table:
2
From To Width Result
0.0 m 14.0m 14 M 0.86 g/t Au
Incl. 2.0m 1.60 g/t Au, 0.10% Cu
2.0m 1.39 g/t Au
20.0 m 26.0m 6.0m 0.17% Cu, 0.31 g/t Au
Cutoffs: 0.5g/t Au; 0.10% Cu
Assays
Drill core from Holes KUD002, 003, 004, 005 and 006 has been logged and sampled. Logging and sampling of Hole KUD007 is nearing completion. Samples are being sent to Genalysis Laboratory in Lae, PNG, for sample preparation prior to pulps being sent to Townsville, Australia for analysis. Gold analyses will include standard 25g lead collection Fire Assay followed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Assays will
be reported when available.
The New Hanover Project
New Hanover is an outstanding opportunity for the discovery of Lihir-style gold mineralization and porphyry copper mineralization in a geological terrane that has been bypassed by modern mineral exploration for the past 22 years. The project comprises two 100% owned exploration licences (EL 1566 & ELA 1856) covering 591.6 km2 at the northwestern end of the Lihir-Tabar alkaline volcanic belt, host to the giant Lihir and Simberi gold deposits. Andesitic-dacitic volcanic rocks are widespread on New Hanover.
They were erupted from a coalesced complex of Late Miocene-Early Pliocene stratovolcanoes that were built upon older Late Eocene-Late Oligocene submarine andesitic and basaltic rocks. Diorite, microdiorite and micromonzonite stocks intrude the younger volcanic rocks. Of particular interest is the presence of alkalic rocks, having relatively low silica content and enriched in sodium and potassium, at the Kuliuta gold-copper prospect, indicating that New Hanover is geologically related to the Plio-Pleistocene Lihir-Tabar chain of alkaline volcanic islands.
Further details of the New Hanover project are available at ppmpng.com The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Ian David Lindley, President & Chief Operating Officer of Papuan Precious Metals Corp, a Qualified Person.
Dr. Lindley has First Class Honours and Ph.D. degrees in Geology, 34 years mining industry experience, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists.
David Lindley, President and COO |
