# Alba Mineral Resources plc Assay Results four principal anomalies to become target

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/alba-mineral-resources-plc-assay-results-four-principal-anomalies-become-target/412723806
- Published: 2017-02-14T07:13:00+00:00
- Author: Giles Arbor

**Alba Mineral Resources plc** (LON:ALBA) in the announcement made on 16 December
2016, reported the results of a microgravity study and portable XRF shallow soil
sampling programme from the Limerick base metal project (“Limerick” or the “Project”)
in Co. Limerick, Republic of Ireland. Interpretation of the gravity data suggests
the presence of gravity anomalies consistent with brecciation of the host limestone,
with zinc and lead anomalism in shallow soil samples collected above or adjacent
to gravity anomalies. The Company has now received the full laboratory assay results
from select soil samples taken during the recent programme.

Highlights

· Assay results confirm four main areas of anomalism
 · Most pronounced anomalism
for copper-silver-arsenic (Cu-Ag-As) similar to that found at former Gortdrum copper-
silver (Cu-Ag) mine 25 km due east · Gortdrum was mined for copper-silver-mercury(
Cu-Ag-Hg) between 1967 and 1975, producing 3.8 million tonnes containing 1.19% Cu
and 25.1 g/t Ag · This target in particular will be the focus of the next stage 
of work

Four areas displaying coincident metal anomalism were noted. One area with zinc-
silver-manganese-barium (Zn-Ag-Mn-Ba) anomalism over a north trending, 600 x 200
m zone is centred over a gravity high and is interpreted to be near-surface bedrock.
Three hundred metres to the west of this anomaly, a 400 m by 200 m east-trending
lead-silver-zinc (Pb-Ag-Zn) anomaly occurs. The eastern edge of this anomaly was
drilled by Teck Ireland during a JV with Alba, but did not encounter mineralization.
A barium (Ba) anomaly is present at the margins of a possible zone of brecciation(
interpreted from the gravity data). Barite mineralization is often associated with
mineralization in the Irish orefield, and sometimes forms a primary ore, such as
the Ballynoe mines, near Silvermines in Co. Tipperary (5.13 Mt at a grade of 90%
BaSO4).

The most pronounced anomalism occurs over a 600 m by 200 m area, 2 km from the village
of Bruff. At this location, copper-silver-barium (Cu-Ag-Ba) anomalism follows the
trace of a mapped east-west trending fault, and is intersected by a northeast-trending
zone of copper-arsenic-antimony-silver-barium (Cu-As-Sb-Ag-Ba) anomalism coincident
with the mapped contact of the Argillaceous Bioclastic Limestone (“ABL”) and Waulsortian
Limestone Formation. The ABL-Waulsortian contact is the main target for zinc mineralization
in Ireland. However, the metal assemblage is similar to that encountered at the 
former Gortdrum copper-silver mine, located 25 km due east of the anomaly. Gortdrum
was mined for copper-silver between 1967 and 1975, producing 3.8 million tonnes 
containing 1.19% copper and 25.1 g/t silver, as well as recoverable quantities of
mercury. Ore from Gortdrum contained four principal minerals, mercurian tennantite,
chalcopyrite, bornite, and chalcocite. Mercurian tennantite also contains appreciable
concentrations of arsenic. The metal anomalism noted over this target, with the 
exception of mercury, matches the principal metals found at Gortdrum, i.e. copper-
silver-arsenic-antimony (Cu-Ag-As-Sb). This new target will now form the focus for
additional work on the licence.

The Company is now considering the next stage of work on the Limerick Project which
may include conducting several Induced Polarization (IP) lines over potential targets
not previously tested. If warranted, follow-up exploration drilling will take place
to determine the cause of geochemical and geophysical anomalism.

> **Michael Nott, Alba Mineral Resources plc Chief Executive Officer, commented:**“
> The four principal anomalies that have been identified provide us with targets
> for follow-up exploration. In particular, the copper-silver-arsenic-antimony anomaly
> discovered matches quite closely the profile of the copper-silver-mercury mine
> at Gortdrum, just 25km to the east. Gortdrum was mined for copper-silver between
> 1967 and 1975, producing 3.8 million tonnes containing 1.19% copper and 25.1 g/
> t silver, as well as recoverable quantities of mercury. This is further evidence
> that we are in the right address geologically. This target will be our focus for
> ongoing work at Limerick.”

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