Imperial Metals announces Ruddock Creek drill hole results

Highlights include 21.7 m grading 16.99% zinc and 3.44% lead and 2.41 g/t silver, which included 10.4 m grading 25.70% zinc and 5.41% lead and 3.44 g/t silver. The drill hole targeted the V-Zone mineralisation 425 m below surface and about 300 m below the deepest previous mineralised intercept in the zone. Drill hole RD-18-V41 was collared near the valley floor of Oliver Creek at an elevation of approximately 1191 m above sea level and drilled to a final depth of 828.8 m.

The V-Zone is located near the western edge of the Ruddock Creek massive sulphide horizons, which have an indicated strike length of about 5 km, and is approximately 2 km west of the Creek Zone, the nearest zone of detailed drilling. Little or no exploration drilling has been conducted along the intervening section of the horizon. The V zone strikes east west and dips at about 70° to the north. The zone had been traced with surface showings and by shallow drilling for a horizontal distance of about 700 m, and with this recent intersection to a depth of approximately 425 m.

Due to the steep terrain long, nearly flat drill holes from near the valley bottom were designed to test the zone at depth. Hole RD-18-V41 was drilled using an underground diamond drill rig bolted to a road accessible cliff face at an azimuth of 27° and a dip of plus 10°. Core size was HQ to a depth of 450 m when the core size was reduced to NQ size, the hole was drilled to a final depth of 828.8 m.

The decision to drill test the V-Zone at such a depth beneath the nearest intercept was supported by the highly predictable nature of the zinc-lead mineralisation intercepted in the shallower helicopter supported surface diamond drill holes, electromagnetic and magnetic geophysical anomalies, and a re-interpretation of the geology. The V Zone in hole RD-18-V41, which was projected to be intersected at a depth of 750 m, was intercepted at 751.5 m confirming the anticipated predictability of the zone at depth. The highest grades previously intersected in the V Zone were in holes RD-12-V38, which intercepted 17.77% zinc and 3.72% lead over a true width of approximately 7.6 m and RD-12-V40, which intercepted 10.00% zinc and 1.80% lead over a true width of approximately 10.9 m.

The second drill hole being completed from the same setup, currently at about 700 m, is at the same azimuth of 27 degrees as hole RD-18-V41 but started at a dip of minus 10° targeting the mineralisation approximately 275 m below the intercept in RD-18-V41. A second drill has recently been set up on the same drill pad and is drilling a flat hole aimed to intersect the V-Zone between and southeast of the targeted V-Zone intersections first two drill holes.

The Ruddock Creek project is operated by way of a joint venture with Imperial, Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. and Itochu Corporation. Imperial operates the project through its wholly owned subsidiary Ruddock Creek Mining Corporation. Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) has agreed to fund Imperial’s share of the 2018 drilling programme and upon the completion of the programme has the assignable right to be vested in an approximate 1.57% participating interest in the joint venture. At that time Imperial’s interest will be reduced to approximately 48.43%.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/20092018/imperial-metals-announces-ruddock-creek-drill-hole-results/