par Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (isin : CA2699062022)
Eagle Plains Reviews 2023 Drilling Results at Vulcan, Engages Sinn for Communications and Marketing
CRANBROOK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2024 / Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:EPL) ("EPL" or "Eagle Plains") reports that final analytical results have been received from its Summer, 2023, seven-hole, 4253m (13,953') drill program on Eagle Plains' 100% owned Vulcan Project located 30km west of the world-class Sullivan deposit in Kimberley, BC. The Vulcan Property is accessible by an extensive network of well-maintained forest service roads. All holes completed during the 2023 program successfully intersected alteration and mineralization interpreted to represent stratabound Sedimentary Exhalative ("Sedex") style zinc-lead-silver. Drilling was successful in further defining sub-basin architecture and expanded the known area of bedded mineralization hosted in the Lower Aldridge Formation, first intersected in 2022 (DDH VU22004). Mineralized clasts within a fragmental unit have been defined over a strike length of approximately 700m and approximately 250m down-dip (west). In addition to the reported mineralization, significant tourmaline alteration of sediments, coupled with an increase in fragmental thicknesses suggests close proximity to basin-controlling faults and a mineralized feeder zone. Downhole electromagnetic surveying (BHEM) was carried out at the completion of drilling activity, though due to caving hole conditions only select holes could be adequately surveyed. Results and interpretation for this survey are pending.
View Vulcan Project Drillhole Plan here
2023 Drilling Highlights/Observations:
- All holes drilled in 2023 intersected mineralized clasts within a broad fragmental package. Mineralized fragmental has been defined over a strike length of ~700 m and ~250 m down-dip;
- Bedded mineralization in lower-Aldridge sediments (newly defined "Vulcan Horizon") appears to be best defined in southern drill holes (VU22004, VU23001, VU23002);
- Intense tourmaline alteration associated with semi massive pyrrhotite-pyrite±chalcopyrite±arsenopyrite increases in intensity and thickness to the south.
2023 Drill-hole Summaries:
- DDH VU22004 (extension)
- Drillhole extended to test for additional mineralization intersected in VU22004
- DDH VU23001
- further defined lower Aldridge "Vulcan Horizon" mineralization first intersected in 2022 (DDH VU22004);
- intersected a 38.0m interval of intensely tourmaline altered sediments associated with chaotic quartz veining and semi-massive disseminated and next-textured pyrrhotite-pyrite±chalcopyrite±arsenopyrite;
- DDH VU23002
- mineralized clasts start at the fragmental / wacke contact;
- DDH VU23003
- 362.7m thick fragmental package (321.0-683.7m) indicating thickening of the unit to the west;
- DDH VU23004
- hole shut down in a >643.00m wide fragmental displaying textures consistent with a discordant clastic dyke, similar to footwall feeder zones observed beneath the Sullivan Deposit;
- DDH VU23006
- Collared 475m northwest of VU22004, VU23001-004
- mineralized fragmental clasts up to 39 cm in length.
2023 Drill Collar Locations:
Hole ID | Easting* | Northing* | Elev (m) | Final Depth (m) | Az (°) | Dip (°) | Status |
VU22004 (extension) | 547009 | 5516172 | 2258 | 829.0** | 106.0 | -45.0 | Complete |
VU23001 | 547009 | 5516172 | 2258 | 765.6 | 130.0 | -45.0 | Complete |
VU23002 | 547009 | 5516172 | 2258 | 715.6 | 78.0 | -45.0 | Complete |
VU23003 | 547009 | 5516172 | 2258 | 824.8 | 78.0 | -70.0 | Complete |
VU23004 | 547009 | 5516172 | 2258 | 931.8 | 106.0 | -80.0 | Complete |
VU23005 | 546864 | 5516625 | 1997 | 39.6 | 103.0 | -55.0 | Abandoned |
VU23006 | 546864 | 5516625 | 1997 | 744.0 | 90.0 | -55.0 | Complete |
*All coordinates are projected in NAD83 UTM Zone 11N
** In 2023 DDH VU22004 was extended from 597.0-829.0m (232.0m)
Significant Drill Results:
| Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Core Interval (m)*** | Ag (g/t) | Zn (%) | Pb (%) | Zn+Pb (%) | Cd (ppm) | Sn (ppm) |
| VU22004(ext) | No significant results | ||||||||
| VU23001 | 501.65 | 530.50 | 28.85 | 0.92 | 0.17 | 0.10 | 0.27 | 7.28 | 150.61 |
| including | 505.60 | 506.60 | 1.00 | 4.35 | 0.47 | 0.66 | 1.13 | 21.91 | 111.20 |
| and | 530.50 | 548.00 | 17.50 | 0.68 | 0.20 | 0.06 | 0.26 | 13.24 | 130.63 |
| including | 532.00 | 533.50 | 1.50 | 1.43 | 0.21 | 0.35 | 0.56 | 14.65 | 106.00 |
| and | 569.00 | 574.00 | 5.00 | 5.36 | 0.23 | 0.18 | 0.41 | 25.94 | 139.28 |
| VU23002 | 327.50 | 347.00 | 19.50 | 1.17 | 0.17 | 0.15 | 0.32 | 4.59 | 27.11 |
| and | 512.62 | 526.40 | 13.78 | 1.51 | 0.21 | 0.12 | 0.34 | 10.08 | 54.18 |
| including | 523.24 | 523.77 | 0.53 | 9.21 | 0.79 | 0.94 | 1.73 | 35.17 | 26.41 |
| and | 604.05 | 609.68 | 5.63 | 0.89 | 0.21 | 0.09 | 0.30 | 8.23 | 60.49 |
| VU23003 | 526.50 | 543.25 | 16.75 | 0.87 | 0.20 | 0.12 | 0.32 | 6.08 | 28.00 |
| and | 578.70 | 605.70 | 27.00 | 1.43 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.25 | 4.77 | 27.59 |
| including | 578.70 | 580.34 | 1.64 | 5.74 | 0.45 | 0.52 | 0.97 | 18.86 | 38.21 |
| including | 579.59 | 580.34 | 0.75 | 4.67 | 0.87 | 0.63 | 1.50 | 34.6 | 27.5 |
| including | 602.90 | 604.20 | 1.30 | 3.64 | 0.39 | 0.51 | 0.91 | 13.18 | 30.14 |
| including | 603.30 | 603.60 | 0.30 | 13.35 | 1.17 | 1.92 | 3.09 | 40.30 | 24.40 |
| and | 661.80 | 683.70 | 21.90 | 0.91 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 2.13 | 108.09 |
| and | 691.80 | 703.25 | 11.45 | 0.60 | 0.14 | 0.02 | 0.16 | 6.74 | 125.34 |
| VU23004 | 715.00 | 731.50 | 16.50 | 0.36 | 0.11 | 0.02 | 0.13 | 4.82 | 16.43 |
| VU23005 | hole abandoned; no significant results | ||||||||
| VU23006 | 492.15 | 493.55 | 1.40 | 2.62 | 0.75 | 0.27 | 1.02 | 33.34 | 12.15 |
*** all intercepts are believed to approximate true widths
Drill-hole VU23001 intersected cm-scale stratabound (laminated) and fragmental (clast) zinc, lead and silver mineralization 130m SE along strike from mineralized horizons observed in DDH VU22004. Mineralized clast textures indicate reworking and redeposition of primary bedded sulphides. Mineralized intercepts near the base of the fragmental include 28.85m (501.65-530.5m) of 0.17% Zn and 0.10% Pb (0.27% Zn+Pb) including 1.00m of 0.47% Zn and 0.66% Pb (1.13% Zn+Pb). Mineralization continues immediately underlying the fragmental, hosted in thin bedded wackes of the Lower Aldridge Formation and is interpreted to represent the Vulcan Horizon. Assays returned 17.50m (530.50-548.00m) of 0.20% Zn and 0.06% Pb (0.26% Zn+Pb). Laminated mineralization continues as discrete horizons in the Lower Aldridge sediments, returning 5.00m (569.00-574.00m) of 0.23% Zn and 0.18% Pb (0.41% Zn+Pb).
Drill-hole VU23002 extended mineralization along strike approximately 130 m NW of VU22004 and 300 m NW of VU23001. The hole intersected significant fragmental (clast) mineralization (pyrrhotite±sphalerite±galena) starting at the top of the thick fragmental unit, a trend not seen in previous holes. Thin beds (up to 5cm thickness) of undisturbed sediments with significant disseminated sphalerite (zinc) and galena (lead) occur at the base of the fragmental and correlate with mineralization in VU22004 and VU23001. Assay results from the fragmental package returned 19.50m (327.50-347.00m) of 0.17% Zn and 0.15% Pb (0.32% Zn+Pb). Zinc and lead mineralization in the Lower Aldridge sediments underlying the fragmental (Vulcan Horizon) form disseminations in distinct cm-scale beds up to 0.53m wide. Significant assay results within the Vulcan horizon include 5.63m of 0.21% Zn and 0.09% Pb (0.30% combined Pb+Zn) starting at 609.68m.
Drill-hole VU23003 intersected a significantly thicker interval of fragmental, up to 362.70m (321.00-683.70), than seen in previous up-dip holes. Geological interpretation suggests that the rapid thickening of fragmental down-dip indicates that the axis of the structure controlling sub-basin/graben development is oriented north-south. Similar to other holes, fragmental clasts show compositional zoning down section, becoming increasingly sulphide-rich downhole, below 467.0m. Within the fragmental are sphalerite (Zn) and galena (Pb) mineralized beds up to 4 cm wide, interpreted to be in-situ. Mineralization within the fragmental forms three distinct horizons: The upper horizon returned 16.75m (526.50-543.25m) of 0.20% Zn and 0.12% Pb (0.32% Zn+Pb). The middle horizon returned 27.00m (578.70-605.70m) of 0.13% Zn and 0.12% Pb (0.25% Zn+Pb). The lowermost horizon 21.90m (661.80-683.70m) returned 0.07% Zn and 0.08% Pb (0.15% Zn+Pb). The Vulcan horizon is less developed, returning 11.45m (691.80-703.25m) of 0.14% Zn and 0.02% Pb (0.15% Pb+Zn).
Drill-hole VU23004 was an undercut to VU22004. A broad fragmental package was intersected between 288.8-931.8m (end of hole), significantly thicker than intersections of the same horizon in previous holes. Similar to other holes the fragmental clasts show compositional zonation. Assays returned 16.50m (715.00-731.50m) of 0.11% Zn and 0.02% Pb (0.13% Zn+Pb). The presence of the significantly thicker fragmental may indicate that the hole was drilling down a discordant clastic dyke, similar to footwall feeder zones observed beneath the Sullivan Deposit.
Drill-hole VU23006 extended the mineralized fragmental trend approximately 400m along strike from VU23002. Mineralization of fragmental clasts increases in abundance downhole between 404.1-630.1m, reaching a maximum mineralized clast size width of 39 cm, with an average width of 2-4 cm. Assay results within the mineralized fragmental package returned 1.40m (492.15-493.55m) of 0.75% Zn and 0.27% Pb (1.02% Zn+Pb). No significant mineralization was intersected within the thin bedded sediments of the Lower Aldridge formation (Vulcan Horizon).
C.C. (Chuck) Downie, P.Geo, President and CEO of Eagle Plains commented recently on the Vulcan program: "The results from the 2023 drill program continue to support the potential for a Sedex deposit at Vulcan. Widespread low-grade stratabound mineralization associated with tourmaline alteration and thick mineralized fragmental units is commonly associated with the ‘Sullivan Corridor'. Although the analytical data returned relatively modest results, we believe that the Vulcan is underlain by a mineralized vent system, and we will continue to work toward finding the source of the mineralization"
Given the recognition of persistent mineralization at depths well below the Lower/Middle Aldridge contact ("LMC"- the interpreted Sullivan time horizon), management intends to review all available historical drill core relating to the Vulcan property, as most historical holes were stopped stratigraphically above the mineralized intervals intersected in Hole VU22004 and all 2023 holes. Future exploration at the Vulcan project will be guided by this re-interpretation of the geology. A 5-year area based permit application has been filed to facilitate ongoing exploration of the property.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
All drill core samples were analyzed at ALS Canada Ltd. in North Vancouver