Vuda Project
A gradient array Induced Polarisation (IP) survey was undertaken at Vuda during 2007. Elliot Geophysics Ltd undertook the ground grid-based survey over areas of clay alteration and surficial gold mineralisation along 100m space lines.
Results of the work were integrated with geological mapping, airborne magnetic and radiometric data to provide detailed framework for the large epithermal alteration system at Vuda and to help determine the source of the high surface gold values within the project.
Preliminary studies have outlined several excellent correlations between geophysical features and surface gold anomalies. Plots of resistivity data from the survey together with the locations of some prospect areas, prominent structural trends and bedrock alteration types as observed from field mapping show considerable areas of coincident high resistivity values and prospective alteration types. Correlation between altered bedrock and structural zones occur where silicification and possible associated gold mineralisation may be more pronounced. The chargeability data from the IP survey show markedly higher chargeability values in the southern part of the survey area and these correlate more closely to higher sulphide content in bedrock. Both the Natalau and Ista’s (Location 2A) Prospects are located on the margins of an oval zone characterised by both low resistivity and chargeability values.
Natalau Prospect
Three diamond drill holes (VN001-3) were completed at the Natalau Prospect. VN001 was undertaken in December 2006 and follow-up drill holes VN002 (total depth 150m) and VN003 (total depth 186.5m) were drilled in early 2007. VN001 and VN002 intersected anomalous base metal mineralisation ranging up to 0.67ppm Au, 0.39% Pb and 0.44% Zn in one metre sample intervals.
Both holes are thought to have intersected low grade ‘halo’ mineralisation marginal to the main mineralised Natalau shoot which appears to plunge towards the south. VN003 was drilled from the same collar as VN002, to the west of the Natalau workings, and was located to test for a deeper, southern extension to the southerly plunging high-grade gold mineralisation which occurs near surface at the old workings where rock chip samples of up to 16g/t Au have been collected by Geopacific. VN003 intersected the target, a pyritised and mineralised fault zone between 158-170m. Assay data for samples in VN003 range to 1.01g/t Au.
Ista’s Prospect
At Ista’s Prospect 1km SW of Natalau two drill holes completed by other exploration companies during previous exploration intersected near-surface gold mineralisation (RC89 reported 3m @ 6.84g/t Au and VDRC166 intersected 5m @ 2.25g/t Au). Prospecting by Geopacific in 2006 to the south of these drill holes located high grade gold mineralisation in outcrop (Ista’s outcrop) where panned samples of crushed pyritic outcrop contain abundant visible gold.
During 2007 Geopacific mapping at Ista’s Prospect identified pipe-like dykes of silica-adularia alteration and mineralised outcrop with channel samples ranging to 17g/t Au.
This surface expression of an intrusive pipe is approximately 3m wide and plunges to the south. A second pipe is 2-3.5m wide and appears to be plunge toward the SE. Trenching and outcrop channel sampling of this mineralisation
was undertaken.
Two drill holes were completed at Ista’s Prospect (VN004 and VN005). VN004 was drilled towards grid east at a 60 degree dip from a collar located south of Ista’s outcrop and was planned to intersect two mineralised targets. VN005 was located near the same collar but drilled towards grid NW to test beneath the gold mineralisation reported during previous drilling. Both drill holes intersected broken and mineralised rock with visible pyritic mineralisation. Samples of sawn VN004 drill core contain 6 metres averaging 3.84 g/t Au between 19-25m directly underlying gold mineralised outcrop with grades ranging up to 9g/t Au. VN005 was drilled from beside the VN004 drill collar location to test at depth and north of the gold mineralised outcrop and intersected similar clay-quartz-pyrite alteration with gold mineralisation between 14.1-18.6m (1.92g/t Au).
Planned follow-up work at Ista’s Prospect includes, detailed mapping, soil sampling and trenching, possibly followed by deeper, step-out drill testing.
Teitei Prospect
Surface sampling at the Teitei Prospect located visible gold in pyritic and gossanous outcrops and bedrock channel sampling of these defined a nine metre wide zone with an average gold grade of 4.77g/t Au (includes 3m of 9.33g/t Au).
Drill testing during previous programmes by other companies indicated potential for deeper, high-grade gold mineralisation at Teitei. Samples from these previous drill holes no longer exist but records indicate that sample recovery was typically poor. Geopacific undertook follow-up drilling to assess these earlier results and during 2007 four diamond drill holes (DDHVT001-4) were completed. Drill core of target intervals for these holes contain coarse ‘nuggetty’ gold and were selectively sampled for gold determination through a programme of screen fire assaying and leach testwork which specifically designed for these samples and which requires considerably more laboratory time than routine assaying. Results for DDHVT001-4 are summarised in Table 2. DDHVT001 included numerous low grade gold mineralised intersections including 49.0-56.20m of 0.92g/t Ag. High gold (11.50g/t Au) was intersected between 38.20-39.70m in DDHVT002 and deeper intercepts of low grade mineralisation were returned from both DDHVT003 and DDHVT004 core samples.
Sabeto prospect
South of Vuda at Sabeto (SPL1361), stream sediment and outcrop sampling was completed within an area of strongly anomalous gold in soils and outcrops which define a gold anomaly of approximately 400m x 200m. Stream sediment BCL samples collected at about 100m spacing ranged up to 0.928ppm Au. Assay data from outcrop samples in the anomalous area range to 60g/t Au. Planned follow-up work at Sabeto includes a geophysical IP survey and surface mapping and sampling followed by drill testing.