Copper Oxides and Gold (Fe) under the Caliche cover
The Victoria Oeste Project is located in Region I, 80km southeast of Iquique and near the town of Pozo Almonte (45km). The area was identified by the exploration of a remobilized caliche cover, where areas with obvious and wide color anomalies are exposed. In an area of 2km by 2km sampling identified copper oxide mineralization (mainly chrysocolla and malachite), primary chalcocite and gold (visible) at surface. Approximately 60% of the area is covered by removed caliche that exposes hematitic areas of great extension. In addition, principal (?) mineralized veins have a NW-SE preferential trend. This project has geological mapping, some surface samples (with values of up to 2%Cu and 5g/t Au), caliche drill hole data, ground magnetometry (2018) and with a litho-structural interpretation that highlights targets of interest. A total of 1308m in 12 holes (RC) with an average depth of 100 meters, highlighting intercepts with 60 meters with 0.15% CuT in addition to 0,5 g/t of Au; Cu is represented by oxide as drilling to date is very shallow and has not encountered the primary zone.
In matters of lithology, drilling intercepted volcanic units of andesitic composition and tuffs corresponding to the Punta Barranco Fm (Lower Cretaceous), intrusive units of monzodioritic to dioritic composition. The most recent work carried out in the sector includes a structural analysis of a ground magnetometry survey that identifies new favorable areas of potential mineralization that comprise new recommendations for diamond drilling, which will allow the determination of the continuity and extension of the structures and mineralization already recognized. This early stage project is modeled as a system of veins (Cu-Au-Fe; IOCG?) with structural trend NW-SE, with projection to covered areas highlighting targets of new mineralizing structures and bodies with great geological potential
This project has easy access, is 8km from the 5-North road (Oficina Victoria) and is approximately 45km south of Pozo Almonte. It comprises a total of more than 4000 hectares, where less than 20% of the hectares have been investigated.
Jose Dias Cifuentes Daniel Alarcon Bustamante
Metal Business Development Geologist Leader of Metallic Projects and Infrastructures
Jose.dias.cifuentes@sqm.com daniel.alarcon@sqm.com
+56 9 7465 7359 +56 9 7608 3379
Leave a Reply