AVU:CC - Avrupa Minerals Prepares for Drilling at the Sesmarias Copper-Zinc Massive Sulfide Prospect Portugal
(TheNewswire)
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Up to nine holes and 5,400 metersplanned along 600-meter strike length in the Central and NorthernSectors of the Sesmarias VMS prospect;
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Program targets the potentiallyhigh-grade hinge zone of the Sesmarias synform-shaped copper-zincmassive sulfide deposit;
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Two rigs contracted with start-upexpected by the mid-June.
June 3, 2024 – TheNewswire - Avrupa Minerals Ltd.(TSXV:AVU) (OTC: AVPMF) is pleased toannounce that planning is nearly completed for a new phase of drillingat the Sesmarias copper-zinc volcanogenic massive sulfide prospectwithin the Alvalade Joint Venture Project in Portugal. The Companyplans to drill seven 600-meter holes along a strike length of 550-600meters in the Central and Northern sectors of the Sesmariasmineralization (Sections 250S through 800S), potentially followed bytwo more 600-meter holes that will be collared where necessary, for apossible total of 5,400 meters. The new program follows on asuccessful 6-hole campaign completed during Q3-Q4 2023. The drillingprogram at Sesmarias is part of a joint venture between AvrupaMinerals and Sandfire Mineira Portugal, Unipessoal Lda. (“SandfirePortugal”), a 100%-owned subsidiary of Minasde Aguas Teñidas, S.A. (“Sandfire MATSA”) .Avrupa continues to operate the project through the JV entityPorMining Lda., and Sandfire Portugal continues to fund theexploration work.
Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals,commented, “We are excited about the detailed targetingpossibilities in the upcoming program. Over the course of thepresent JV, we have identified the hinge zone of the Sesmarias synformas the host of higher-grade copper-zinc-lead-silver mineralization,particularly along a strike length of 500 to 600 meters betweenSections 250 and 800 South, shown on the map below. The PorMiningteam has spent the past few months fine-tuning the targeting through afull-scale review of the existing data from the inception of theproject. We expect to start the drilling at Sesmarias with two drillrigs by mid-June and continue through the summer.”
Starting from the north and moving south, in physicallocation order, we anticipate the following drill holes:
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Section 250S – one drill hole behind (to the NE) ofSES21-045/046;
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Section 350S – one drill hole behind (steeper)SES21-043/043A;
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Along strike, in the never-been-tested area and depthbetween Sections 350S and 500S and behind SES015 – two holes atdifferent inclinations;
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Between Sections 500S and 650S – one drill holebehind (steeper) SES23-051;
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Section 650S – one drill hole from SES23-047/041location at an intermediate- inclination between high grade SES23-047and SES21-041;
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Section 800S – one hole behind SES23-048 (to theNE);
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Possibly two more holes, collar location to bedetermined on basis of results.
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Exact collar locations will be determined closer to thetime of drilling.
The following map summarizes the work completed andplanned at Sesmarias:
Figure 1. History of drilling at Sesmarias. In the Central Zone, theblue shape between Sections 650S and 800S represents the surfaceprojection of the potential high-grade hinge zone, while the blue areaintersected by the discovery holes, SES002 and SES003, is thought tobe a faulted-off block from the hinge in that area. In the NorthZone, the red area is the projection of the east limb of the synform,while purple is the west limb. In the South Zone, green representsthe surface projection of the west limb of the synform, while no drillholes, to date, have targeted the east limb in the South Zone. Thereis a long, completely untested strike length of potentialmineralization between 350S and 500S. Drill hole locations in redrepresent drilling from last year’s 6- holeprogram, and notations in turquoise highlight the sections where theupcoming program will test the mineralized massive sulfidebody.
The following conceptual cross section summarizes thegeology and location of massive sulfide mineralization hosted in theSesmarias synformal structure:
Figure 2. Compilation of geological results from drilling in theNorthern and Central sectors at Sesmarias, courtesy of PorMiningstaff. The field of view is 500 meters left to right, andapproximately 1,400 meters of depth (strike length) SE to NW. Theinterpretation demonstrates potential for more massive and stockworkmineralization in both limbs of the synform and in the hinge areaalong a significant strike distance. The expectation is to findhigher grades in and around the hinge of the synform in the CentralZone, and also to the north into the Northern Zone. Drilling in theupcoming campaign will target the hinge zone and environs of the foldalong a strike length of 500-600 meters NW to SE.
Avrupa President/CEO Paul Kuhn further commented,“The Company continues to be excited by the long-term possibilitiesfor the Sesmarias VMS prospect. Recent interpretative work coveringthe mineralized zone shows the potential for a continuous, significantdeposit approaching 1,500 meters in strike length in the Northern andCentral sectors of the prospect. Avrupa discovered the deposit in2014 and has guided the program since that time through self-fundedwork and several joint ventures, including the present intensiveprogram with Sandfire Portugal. This JV is now entering its fifthyear, and the work at Sesmarias continues to produce strong resultsthrough dedicated work by the JV team and continued financial supportfrom Sandfire Portugal.”
Figure 3. Contour map showing inferred massive sulfide mineralization,using copper equivalents (CuEq) as an exploration targeting tool .
Note: We use CuEq strictly as a proxy fortotal metal content, and as such, simply as an exploration targetingtool. In no way, are we commenting on a possible resource size orvalue. When reporting drill results, we utilize only individualmetals’ values, as reported by an accredited laboratory.
For exploration purposes, using theresults from Sesmarias drilling, 2014 to present, we calculate thetotal amount of copper, lead, zinc, silver, and gold, without respector indication of any/all further downstream activities, followed bycalculating the value of said total metal content (in this case, as ofApril 3, 2024, using: Cu =US$ 4.11/lb.; Pb = US$ 0.92/lb.; Zn = US$ 1.13/lb.; Ag = US$26.25/oz.; and Au = US$ 2273/oz.). Finally, we calculate theequivalent content of copper, or CuEq, by dividing the value of thetotal contained metals by the price of copper at that time. Theshape and contouring of the inferred Sesmarias mineralization, usingLeapfrog geological modeling software, is courtesy of the SandfirePortugal geological team. While metals’ prices have increasedsharply since the original CuEq calculations, the shape of the VMStarget area remains much the same.
We have designed the upcoming drillprogram to upgrade the +2% CuEq zone in the SES Central sector andexpand the potential +2% CuEq domain into the SES North sector wherehistoric drilling is less concentrated. Yellow and gray zonesgenerally indicate areas where historic drilling missed the targetand/or recent, better-targeted drilling is sparse.
AVU will continue to update the market as to progressof the drilling program. In addition to drilling, the JV initiatedbasic metallurgical testing of massive, semi-massive, and stockworkpolymetallic mineralization. These tests are expected to continuethroughout the remainder of Q2 and well into Q3 2024.
Sandfire Portugal is a 100%-owned subsidiary of SandfireMATSA, a modern mining company which owns and operates the MATSAMining Operations in the Huelva province of Spain. With a processingplant located to the north of the Iberian Pyrite Belt that sources orefrom three underground mines, the Aguas Teñidas and Magdalena Minesin Almonaster la Real and the Sotiel Mine in Calañas, Sandfire MATSAproduces copper, zinc and lead mineral concentrates that are sold fromthe port of Huelva.
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and developmentcompany directed to discovery of mineral deposits, using a hybridprospect generator business model. The Company holds one 49%-ownedlicense in Portugal, the Alvalade VMS Project, presently optioned toSandfire Portugal in an earn-in joint venture agreement. The Companynow holds one 100%-owned exploration license covering the Slivova goldprospect in Kosovo, and is actively advancing four prospects incentral Finland through its in-process acquisition of Akkerman FinlandOy. Avrupa focuses its project generation work in politically stableand prospective regions of Europe, presently including Portugal,Finland, and Kosovo. The Company continues to seek and develop otheropportunities around Europe.
For additional information, contact Avrupa Minerals Ltd. at1-604-687-3520 or visit our website at www.avrupaminerals.com .
On behalf of the Board,
Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director
This news release was prepared byCompany management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a LicensedProfessional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society ofMining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by NationalInstrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He hasreviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP,has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation orapproval of the scientific and technical content in the newsrelease.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor itsRegulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policiesof the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacyor accuracy of this release.
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