Strong assays expand known mineralisation and confirm higher-grade gold & copper zones Sunstone Metals Ltd is pleased to announce that the latest assays at El Palmar continued to expand the area of known mineralisation and reveal significant higher-grade zones of >0.2% copper and 0.35g/t gold. The results demonstrate that El Palmar now has substantial scale and grades which are in line with those seen in many of the world’s high-profile porphyry deposits, including those nearby such as Alpala and TandayamaAmerican.
Sunstone Managing Director Malcolm Norris stated that with nearly every drill hole, the El Palmar project’s size and consequently its value continue to increase. He noted emerging evidence of higher-grade copper zones exceeding 0.2% copper and gold grades above 0.35 g/t, which are expected to yield an attractive gold-equivalent grade once metallurgical test results are available.
Norris emphasized that the combination of the scale and grade being encountered at El Palmar clearly positions it as a highly valuable project, especially in a global context where large new discoveries are urgently needed. He expressed confidence that the market will increasingly recognize the significance of Sunstone’s two major discoveries, particularly as the company progresses toward its maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate at Bramaderos and further defines the El Palmar orebody in the coming months.
EEl Palmar is situated in northern Ecuador within the same regional structural belt that hosts major deposits such as the 2.66 billion tonne Alpala copper-gold deposit grading 0.25 g/t gold and 0.37% copper, the 0.53 billion tonne Tandayama-America deposit grading 0.19 g/t gold and 0.24% copper within the Cascabel project, and the nearby 1 billion tonne Llurimagua copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit grading 0.89% copper and 0.04% molybdenum.
The recent assay results include data from drill holes EPDD0012, 013, 014, 015, and 017, predominantly targeting the upper 500 meters of the eastern sector of the main El Palmar target. Hole EPDD012 tested a deeper margin of the porphyry system, intersecting strongly mineralized intervals near surface and multiple zones between 673.5 m and 1087 m containing anomalous gold, copper, molybdenum, lead, and zinc. Hole EPDD013 encountered a well-mineralized gold and copper interval within the upper 100 meters of the southern portion of the main target and was extended toward the southeast satellite target. However, it appears to have passed along the edge of this satellite target at depth, intersecting 0.11 g/t gold and 0.07% copper from 402 m to 461.1 m. The southeast satellite target features outcropping stockwork mineralization, with surface rock chip sampling averaging 0.33 g/t gold and 0.12% copper over a 60-meter strike length.
Geological modeling indicates a steep northerly plunge of the intrusive bodies associated with the gold-copper mineralization. This evolving 3D model, based on drill logs and assay data, is guiding the placement of upcoming drill holes such as EPDD020 and EPDD021, as well as targeting currently untested areas.
Soil sampling is advancing rapidly, delineating additional targets within the concession ahead of drilling. Porphyry targets have been identified near the Toachi fault to the southeast and immediately northeast of the main El Palmar target, both exhibiting geochemical signatures typical of alteration caps overlying porphyry systems.
To the north, soil sampling is expanding over multiple zones of outcropping epithermal gold mineralization. Historical surface rock chip sampling in this area revealed an 85-meter-long, open zone where 101 samples averaged 1.2 g/t gold, 25 g/t silver, and 0.16% copper, with peak values reaching 6.47 g/t gold, 225 g/t silver, and 0.78% copper.
Interpretation of Spartan magnetotelluric survey data is ongoing and being integrated with magnetic modeling. Additionally, an Orion 3D-DCIP geophysical survey is planned for 2022 to generate high-confidence deep drilling targets.
Sunstone maintains a strong financial position with approximately AUD 26 million in cash and equity investments, supporting expanded exploration programs at both El Palmar in northern Ecuador and Bramaderos in southern Ecuador.
(Source: Press Releases – www.sunstonemetals.com.au/site/PDF/f93f8c17-5865-4aea-9bff-557d2626d466/ElPalmardrillingexpandsgoldcopperdiscovery)
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