Alien Metals Ltd provides further update on Donovan 2 Cu-Au Project

Highlights

• Drilling at the Donovan 2 Cu-Au Project has intersected a 78 m zone of alteration and disseminated sulfides, including pyrite and arsenopyrite, from 107 m (assays pending) in DONDD-A04.
• DONDD-A01 to A03 appear to have intersected a steeply dipping alteration zone at the Los Alamos 'well' target, associated with the 3.3% copper bearing samples historically taken by Alien in the well.
• A 40 m long trench excavated above an intensely altered intersection identified in historic drill hole DON-21-003 intersected a calcite bearing vein, trending northeast for about 11m. This may be associated with a mineralised system.
• Initial drilling at the high-grade San Celso Silver project has intersected the targeted mineralised zone. The recently completed programme included three holes for 201 m:
  • Hole SCDD-A01 intersected a 4.9 m zone of quartz/calcite alteration from 27.4 m depth, as well as a zone interpreted to be historic underground working that the Company was not aware existed in this area.
  • SCDD-A02 intersected a strongly altered, calcite rich zone from 28.5 m to 31.6 m depth and a second quartz-rich alteration zone at 71 m for 1 m.
  • SCDD-A03 intersected a strongly altered, calcite-rich zone from 71 m to 73.8 m depth, similar to the intersection in hole SCDD-A02.
• Samples from drilling at San Celso and Donovan 2 have been submitted to the laboratory for analysis, with results expected in the coming weeks.

Bill Brodie Good, CEO and Technical Director of Alien Metals, commented: “We are very pleased to see this initial drilling at San Celso and Donovan 2 intersect showing encouraging zones of alteration. The Donovan 2 drilling has returned some strong disseminated sulphide intersections, which is highly promising for the potential presence of a VMS type mineralised system. In particular, hole A04 returned a 78 m thick zone of intense alteration and visible sulfides, including pyrite and arsenopyrite.

“The team continues trenching and sampling activities at priority zones at San Celso, Donovan 2 and Los Campos. We look forward to receiving the assays results from this initial work and sharing them with the market.”

Further to the announcement of 28 March 2022, the inaugural drilling programme commenced at San Celso with three diamond holes drilled on the western end of the vein targets to test this area, while understanding the drilling conditions prior to moving to the central targets. 201 m were drilled in these initial three holes. Due to the inadequate quality of core at San Celso, the company moved the drill rig to the Donovan 2 to understand if it was the ground or the drilling that caused issues at San Celso and an initial four holes were drilled there. To date, a total of 611 m have been drilled; the rig is now on standby due to the continued poor core recovery from both project areas pending results.

At San Celso, three holes (SCDD-A01 to SCDD-A03) were drilled for 201 m along the western strike of the main historic mines. All three holes intersected zones of alteration, calcification and silicification associated with possible mineralised zones similar to the historic mineralisation identified on the permit. Hole SCDD-A01, targeting the extension of the Christinatis vein, drilled through a 2 m cavity that appears to be historic workings. The unexpected cavity is highly encouraging, as the company interprets this as a positive sign for additional silver mineralisation in this area. Core recovery in the targeted zones, however, were below expectations. The company has submitted samples to the local laboratory for analysis. A review of the drilling method is in progress to increase effective core and sample recovery in future drilling.

At the Donovan 2 Cu-Au project, four holes (DONDD-A01 to DONDD-A04) were drilled for 411 m. Three holes were aimed at testing the Los Alamos 'well' target, stepping back on each previous hole to pick up the zone of interest underneath each previous hole to better define the zone of interest and test its continuity. These holes defined what appears to be a steeply dipping alteration zone with calcrete, quartz and trace sulphides. Only hole DONDD-A02 returned sufficient core to be able to clearly define the geology of the zone.

The fourth hole, DONDD-A04, tested a geophysical target south west of Los Alamos, which the company believes has similarities to the geophysical targets from the San Nicolas VMS Copper deposit owned by TECK, and which aided in the discovery of San Nicolas.

Hole DONDD-A04 at Donovan 2 intersected a 77.85 m wide zone of strong-to-intense silicification, with finely disseminated pyrite and traces of arsenopyrite. This layer of silicification could be part of a lateral or deeper mineralised body.

With low core recovery in the critical intersections of all holes drilled to date, the company decided to submit as many samples to the laboratory as possible. Results from the initial drilling will help define the follow-up drilling options at both projects whilst continuing with the planned Los Campos drilling campaign. RC drilling is being considered as an alternative to core drilling.

The trench put across the top of the drill hole D0N-21-003 (which intersected an 11.5 m zone of intense alteration returning on average 0.4% zinc (Zn) and 0.4% lead (Pb) from 12.4 m depth (announcement of 28 March 2022)) intersected a calcite-rich structure in the southern end of the trench over several metres. Samples were taken along the entire trench for submission to the laboratory. Based on results, additional trenching in the area could follow.

The company has submitted 436 samples to Actlabs in Guadalupe, Zacatecas State, for analysis of 38 main elements, including gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc, as well as other trace elements to aid in identifying mineralisation. The company looks forward to updating the market once all the results are available.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/10052022/alien-metals-ltd-provides-further-update-on-donovan-2-cu-au-project/