Exploration
The 2010 surface drill program at Neves-Corvo saw the completion of 58,250 metres of diamond drilling with a total of 53 individual targets tested.
Surface exploration drilling focusing on a prospective area close to the Neves-Corvo mine has discovered a new high-grade, copper-rich massive sulphide deposit, "Semblana", one kilometre to the northeast of the Zambujal copper-zinc ore body. An 80,000 metre surface drilling program is planned for 2011 which is intended to deliver an initial resource estimate for Semblana prior to the end of 2011.
Approximately $20 million is expected to be spent on exploration drilling to delineate additional copper resources at Neves-Corvo. A further $4 million is allocated for a 24 square kilometre, high resolution, 3D seismic survey to cover the entire near-mine area, which will attempt to detect other nearby massive sulphide lenses. Drill testing of copper-gold targets will be conducted in Spain and drilling at the Company's Clare joint-venture property in Ireland will continue.
- Initial Inferred Resource for the Semblana Copper Deposit of 6.58 million tonnes at a grade of 3.0% copper and 24 g/t silver is reported in accordance with the definitions in the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101).
- Potential for width, strike and depth extensions of this initial copper-silver resource is considered excellent.
- Hole PSM46B-1, which is included in the initial resource reported herein, intercepted 20.5 metres of massive sulphides grading 6.1% Cu; including a high-grade interval of 5.0 metres of 16.0% Cu.
- A new zone of high-grade copper sulphides, which is not included in the initial resource reported herein, has been discovered approximately 300 metres to the south of the initial resource. Step-out hole PSR42, at a starting depth of approximately 930 metres, intercepted 14 metres of massive sulphides including a 5.0 metre interval grading 4.6% Cu. A second step-out hole, PSQ44, located approximately 80 metres to the northeast of PSR42, intercepted 8.4 metres grading 5.2% Cu at a starting depth of 920 metres.
- A new copper discovery has been made approximately 1.4 km south of Semblana and approximately 1.3 km southeast of the Zambujal copper-zinc orebody. Hole SCA26, intercepted a 32.5 metre thick section of strong stockwork-type copper sulphides grading 2.2% Cu including a higher grade interval of 11.0 metres grading 3.9% Cu.
- At the Clare Project in Ireland, a potential new zone of high-grade zinc-lead-silver mineralization, including 16.3 metres of 10.2% Zn+Pb, 22 g/t Ag in Hole 11-3679-161 at a starting depth of 601 metres, has been discovered approximately 750 metres west of the original Kilbricken discovery hole.
- Also in Ireland, a new grassroots zinc-lead discovery has been made in the Lakelands Project, located in County Leitrim, 80 km west of the Tara Mine.
A total of 72,450 metres in 75 diamond drill holes, including 52 parent holes and 23 wedged holes, has now been completed at the Semblana Copper Deposit, extending the zone of copper-silver mineralization that was first discovered in September, 2010. Although additional resource expansion drilling is planned for 2012, an initial resource estimate has been prepared for Semblana to aid in mining concept and underground access optimization studies that are ongoing and are expected to be completed in early Q1/2012.
The Semblana Copper Deposit comprises two zones:
- A recently discovered, high-grade massive copper sulphide zone at the southern end of the deposit of 0.64 million tonnes grading 6.2% copper and 62 g/t silver, overlying a stockwork copper sulphide zone. This massive copper sulphide zone measures approximately 150 metres north to south and 100 metres east to west, and is open to the east and west for expansion.
- An extensive stockwork-type copper sulphide zone of 5.94 million tonnes grading 2.6% copper and 20 g/t silver. This zone occurs as one continuous zone measuring approximately 700 metres north to south and 250 metres east to west. Given the wide current spacing of drill holes, the zone appears to be open to the east and west.
This initial copper resource estimate for Semblana is a progress report on an on-going exploration project that in mid-2010 first discovered thick but barren massive sulphides, followed later in 2010 by the discovery of copper stockwork-type sulphides, and more recently by the discovery of high-grade massive copper sulphides. The highest grade massive copper sulphide intercept drilled to date was just recently completed; Hole PSM46B-1 intercepted 20.5 metres of massive sulphides grading 6.1% Cu, 4.0% Zn, 1.2% Pb, 75 g/t Ag, 0.23 g/t Au including a high-grade interval of 5.0 metres of 16.0% Cu, 10.1% Zn, 1.7% Pb, 110 g/t Ag, 0.37 g/t Au.
See attached table for the complete set of Semblana drill results.
Dr. Neil O'Brien, Senior Vice President of Exploration and New Business Development for Lundin Mining commented, "Our sustained efforts over the past year have led to the discovery of two centres of very high grade massive copper sulphides that are open to expansion. It is our expectation that the discovery of these massive copper sulphide zones will lead us to a significantly greater resource, and in turn, result in the fast-tracking of the underground development at Neves-Corvo to Semblana."
Significant drill intercepts of zinc-lead, gold and tin have also been made but drilling was designed around developing a copper resource and therefore no resources for these other metals have been estimated.
Semblana 3D View
Semblana Deposit Cross Section
Semblana Resources Drilling with Cross Section Profile
Semblana Seismic Reflectors
New Discoveries - Neves-Corvo Near-Mine Exploration
As a result of a high-resolution 3D seismic survey completed earlier this year over a 21 square kilometre area, several new exploration targets near the Neves-Corvo mine were identified. Since last reporting, two significant new discoveries have been made:
- 3D seismics clearly indicate a southerly extension of the Semblana Deposit. Follow-up drill-testing has confirmed the existence of the "Semblana South Extension". Hole PSR42 intercepted a 5.0 metre thick interval of massive copper sulphides starting at a depth of 935 metres and grading 4.6% Cu, 3.1% Zn, 0.2% Pb, 65 g/t Ag, 1.47 g/t Au; it is visually similar to the massive copper sulphides that comprise the initial Semblana resource and so is believed to represent a continuation.
- Hole SCA26, located approximately 1.4 km south of Semblana and approximately 1.3 km southeast of the Zambujal copper-zinc orebody, intercepted a 32.5 metre thick section of strong stockwork copper sulphide mineralization starting at a depth of 751 metres and grading 2.2% Cu including a higher grade interval of 11.0 metres grading 3.9% Cu. This intercept is especially significant as it suggests the possible nearby presence of high-grade massive copper mineralization, also supported by the presence of two other mineralized intercepts contained in Holes SDA44-1 and PMB01 drilled in 1983 and 1994, respectively.
An aggressive surface drill program is planned for 2012 to test several high-priority targets including the two mentioned above.
Clare Zinc-Lead-Silver-Copper Project, Ireland
Resource exploration drilling continued at the Kilbricken Deposit, located within the large Clare property situated in County Clare, Ireland. Significant new massive sulphide mineralization has been discovered 750 metres west of the original Kilbricken discovery hole suggesting the edge of a new high-grade zone. Significant zinc-lead and now also copper sulphide mineralization has been intersected in four holes (11-3679-153, -161, -167*, and -171*) drilled on 50 metre centres in this newly discovered zone. The following table summarizes the assayed intercepts (true thicknesses) to date from this new discovery:
| Hole No. | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Zn (%) | Pb (%) | Zn+Pb (%) | Ag (ppm) | Cu (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-3679-153 | 640.6 | 650.2 | 9.6 | 6.18 | 1.65 | 7.83 | 20 | 0.08 |
| And | 656.5 | 659.5 | 3.0 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 119 | 6.80 |
| 11-3679-161 | 601.0 | 617.4 | 16.3 | 7.14 | 3.06 | 10.20 | 22 | 0.10 |
| And | 624.4 | 633.0 | 8.6 | 12.38 | 0.04 | 12.42 | 18 | 0.02 |
* assays pending for holes 167 and 171
Hole 11-3679-167, intercepted two separate high-grade zinc-lead sulphide intervals of 6.6 and 5.8 metres true thickness, composed of massive and semi-massive sphalerite, galena and pyrite, in addition to a 12.0 metre thick interval of high-grade copper sulphide mineralization that is rich in both chalcopyrite and bornite; assays are pending.
Zinc-lead-silver sulphide mineralization has now been identified to extend over an area of 1800 metres by 600 metres at Kilbricken. The focus of the exploration drilling this year has been on broader step-out holes aimed at identifying a large new zone of high-grade zinc-lead-silver mineralization that is required to provide enough conceptual resource tonnage to warrant an intensive resource definition drilling program. The latest discovery, reported herein, provides strong evidence that such a large resource is present at Kilbricken. The presence of unusually thick and high-grade copper sulphides underlying the thick, high-grade zinc-lead-silver massive sulphide intervals intercepted in drillholes 11-3679-153, -161, and -167, is interpreted to be indicative of a robust and extensive mineralization system present at Kilbricken.
Kilbricken Drill Results
Kilbricken-Drilling
Lakelands Zinc-Lead Project, Ireland
A single scout hole, completed at the Lakelands Property in County Leitrim, Ireland, intercepted seven metres of zinc-rich sulphide mineralization within stratigraphically equivalent rocks to the Navan Beds that host the giant zinc-lead Navan Deposit at Boliden's Tara Mine (initial reserves* of 69.9 million tonnes grading 10.1% zinc and 2.6% lead), located approximately 80 km to the southeast. The 7.0 metre mineralized interval contains a higher grade interval of 4.3 metres (true thickness) grading 3.94% Zn, 0.94% Pb (4.88% combined Zn+Pb) that includes narrower bedded intervals of higher grade zinc-lead sulphides. The mineralization is zinc-rich with pale sphalerite as the dominant sulphide mineral, displays a stratabound, bedding replacement nature and is hosted by a succession of calcareous sandstones and siltstones interbedded with muddy limestones stratigraphically interpreted as Navan Beds equivalent rocks.
The sulphides were encountered directly beneath a prominent fault juxtaposing much younger rocks over the mineralized Navan Beds equivalent host rocks. The fault clearly terminates the upper portion of the mineralized beds and so the 7.0 metre interval is considered to be a smaller portion of a thicker nearby zone of mineralization. There has been no known significant previous drilling on the property. Applications for additional prospecting licenses have been accepted and follow-up drilling is underway.
* historic initial reserves for Tara Mine are not compliant with NI43-101 regulations
Paul Conibear, President and CEO for Lundin Mining commented, "The resource growth and discovery of new mineralized zones at Neves-Corvo and in Ireland is a direct result of the doubling of our exploration spend in 2011 from 2010 levels. Our exploration team, led by Dr. Neil O'Brien, has carried out focused and successful programs and we will continue to invest strategically in both brownfields and greenfields exploration, with some $50 million to be directed to organically growing our resource base during 2012."
Sampling and Analytical Protocol:
In Portugal, NQ sized drill core was logged, cut in half with a diamond saw and sampled by Company personnel at its facilities in Portugal at the Neves-Corvo mine. Prior to the 2011 campaign mineralized intervals are analyzed for a suite of elements including Zn, Cu, Pb and Sn at the Neves-Corvo laboratory using XRF methods. For the 2011 campaign mineralized intervals were analyzed for a multi-element suite using industry standard ICP methods at ALS Chemex Laboratory, Vancouver.
In Ireland, NQ sized drill core was logged, cut in half with a diamond saw and sampled by Company personnel at its core facility in Ennis, County Clare. Mineralized intervals are analyzed for a multi-element suite at the laboratory using industry standard ICP methods. Values of Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe, As and Ag exceeding predetermined threshold values are re-analyzed by conventional assay methods.
QA/QC
In both Portugal and Ireland a standardised protocol of quality control sample insertion using certified reference material, blanks and duplicates are used to monitor the quality of the sampling process and assay results.
Qualified Persons
Jose Mario Castello Branco, EurGeol, General Manager of Exploration, Iberia, for Lundin Mining Exploration is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release regarding the near-mine resource exploration drilling, including the Semblana delineation drilling, at the Neves Corvo mine in southern Portugal.
Paul Gordon, PGeo (IGI), EurGeol (EFG), Manager, Geology (Ireland) for Lundin Mining Exploration is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release regarding the Clare and Lakelands Projects in Ireland.
The mineral resource estimates for the Semblana Project were prepared by Graham Greenway, Pr.Sci.Nat., Group Resource Geologist, Lundin Mining, in November 2011. Mr Greenway is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release concerning the Semblana Mineral Resource.
About the Semblana Initial Resource Estimate:
The Semblana Deposit occurs between 810 m and 900 m below surface. The geological model was created using drill core lithology and assay data with the mineralisation envelopes being defined using a 0.7% copper cut-off and a minimum drillhole intersection thickness of 4 m. Metal grades were interpolated into 3D blocks using Ordinary Kriging or Inverse Power Distance Weighting. The Mineral Resource was reported above a cut-off of 1.0% copper, as applied at the Neves-Corvo mine. The effective date of the Semblana resource estimate is 30 November 2011.
Quarterly Exploration Update
2011 Exploration Program
Exploration expenditures are expected to increase from around $43 million in 2011 to $50 million in 2012. Approximately $34 million of this will be spent at Neves-Corvo, where a 90,000 metre surface drilling program more...
is planned for 2012 which will continue to test resource expansion targets at Semblana in addition to drill-testing the multiple high priority targets recently identified within the Neves-Corvo near mine area. Additionally, next year's exploration program will also test several greenfield targets in the Iberian Region, as well as continued resource definition drilling at the Company's Clare exploration project in Ireland.
Exploration Maps
Click below to access current maps, figures and diagrames related to Lundin Mining's Exploration Programs.




