AVU:CC - Avrupa Minerals Reports 2024 Drilling Results and Announces Recovery of 100% of the Sesmarias Cu-Zn VMS Project
(TheNewswire)
Vancouver, BC – TheNewswire - February 28, 2025 – Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: AVU) is pleased to report on the 2024 drillingprogram at the Sesmarias copper-zinc massive sulfide deposit in thePyrite Belt of South Portugal. The drilling program at Sesmarias hasbeen a part of the joint venture between Avrupa Minerals and SandfireMineira Portugal, Unipessoal Lda. (“Sandfire Portugal”), a100%-owned subsidiary of Minas de AguasTeñidas, S.A. (“Sandfire MATSA”) . Avrupahas operated the project through the JV entity PorMining Lda., andSandfire Portugal has funded the exploration work since startup in2020.
During the recent phase of drilling at Sesmarias, theCompany completed eight diamond drill holes in the extended centralzone at Sesmarias, totaling 4,828.4 meters.
Figure 1. Location of 2024 drilling in the SES Central area.
Results from the drilling included one excellenthigh-grade intercept in SES24-054, crossing the targeted hinge zone ata depth of around 400 meters, two moderate-grade intercepts inSES24-053 and SES24-055 that passed over the hinge zone and cut intothe west limb of the Sesmarias synform, and another moderate-gradeintercept in SES24-059 that passed through the east limb of thesynform and into the hinge zone. SES24-057 passed under the hingezone through weak stockwork sulfide mineralization. Both SES24-058and SES24-060 passed close under the synform through weak to moderatestockwork and replacement sulfide mineralization, but neither hole wassampled. Finally, SES24-056/056A passed well under the hinge zoneand was not mineralized. Highlights of theresults follow. Note that results forSES24-053 and SES24-054 were publishedpreviously ( NR -- September 19,2024 ).
SES24-053 : 9.15 m @ 0.40% Cu; 6.11% Pb+Zn; 0.23 g/t Au; and 50.50 g/tAg.
SES24-054 : 28.60 m @ 1.68% Cu; 7.17% Pb+Zn; 0.22 g/t Au; and 73.90 g/tAg.
SES24-055 : 21.60 m @ 0.55% Cu; 1.23% Pb+Zn; 0.56 g/t Au; and 18.55 G/tAg.
SES24-056/056A : no significant intercepts.
SES24-057 : 34.05 m @ 0.11% Cu; 0.26% Pb+Zn; 0.11 g/t Au; 1.68 g/t Ag.
SES24-058 : 21.90 m of weak stockwork/replacement mineralization; nosamples.
SES24-059 : 141.00 m @ 0.31% Cu; 1.97% Pb+Zn; 0.45 g/t Au; 19.74 g/t Ag.
SES24-060 : 16.00 m of weak stockwork/replacement mineralization; nosamples.
Table 1. Mineral intercept results from 2024 drilling atSesmarias.
Figure 2. High-grade results from SES24-054 highlight Section 850 S. We drilled SES24-058 too steeply and closely missed the bottom ofthe hinge zone, based on visual review of the intensity of alterationand sulfide mineralization in black shale and volcanogenic sedimentsat target depth. 1-2 more holes to the south should be considered toextend the high-grade zone.
Figure 3. Section 700 S covers SES23-047, with similar mineralizationas seen in SES24-054. The intercepts in 047 and 054 suggest apresent strike length of more than 150 meters of the high-gradepolymetallic mineralization. A 75-meter step out to the north shouldbe a next step. We drilled SES24-060 significantly under the hingezone, yet still crossed weak stockwork and replacement sulfidemineralization in altered black shale and volcanogenicsediments.
Figure 4. Section 450 S shows SES24-055 crossed well over the hingezone, but intersected mineralization in the west limb of the synform. SES24-056/056A crossed under the hinge zone, but extremely difficultdrilling conditions caused the hole to veer steeply away from thetarget. Another hole, between 055 and 056/056A should beconsidered.
Figure 5. Section 350 S suggests that the hinge zone is present, butthe grade is not so high. SES21-40 cut higher copper values in thelower part of the west limb, while SES24-057 intersected low coppervalues slightly below the hinge of the synform. Structuralrelationships in this section and in 450 S indicate more structuraldisplacement of the target than expected, leading to missing the heartof the hinge zone in these two sections.
Figure 6. Section 275 S shows robust, but medium-grade mineralization,particularly in SES24-059. At least one more hole should beconsidered below 059, as shown in this section.
Sandfire Portugal has also notified Avrupa Mineralsthat it intends to, pending the necessary approvals, transfer itsinterests in the project back to Avrupa Minerals. Sandfire Portugaladvised Avrupa that it has formed the view, based on on theexploration work conducted to date, that the Alvalade Project does notmeet Sandfire Portugal’s economic and operational interests forfurther mining development.
The parties have agreed to finalize current work on the project, andsubject to necessary regulatory approvals, the project will betransferred to Avrupa Minerals for a nominal sum, with the portion ofthe share capital of the joint venture entity PorMining now held bySandfire Portugal transferring to MAEPA Lda., Avrupa’s 100%-ownedsubsidiary in Portugal.
Avrupa is also drafting the final annual Alvalade License report andplans to submit it by the 14 th of August 2025. Much of the information compiled in thisreport will be utilized to construct a Mining License Application,required by the 14 th ofJune 2025. Further information concerning progress on all frontswill be disclosed in a timely manner, as the commercial documents arecompleted and signed, and the technical documents are submitted to theMining Bureau call the “DGEG” in Portugal.
Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, commented,“While we are disappointed to see Sandfire vacate the Project, wethank the company and its personnel for their financial and technicalinput to the exploration around the Alvalade license, and especiallyat our Sesmarias discovery. The joint venture team built a strong,successful working exploration model and followed it with overall goodresults. We continue to see plenty of opportunity directly atSesmarias and nearby surroundings, and look to the retention of 100%of the Project as a new opportunity to continue to build up theproject into a long-term copper-zinc-lead-silver mining solution.”
Avrupa will attend the upcoming PDAC convention, and will have a boothat the Investors’ Center, #2548. We invite investors,shareholders, and potential partners interested in working with us atSesmarias to visit the booth.
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 100%-ownedlicense in Portugal, the Alvalade VMS Project. The Company holds one100%-owned exploration license covering the Slivova Gold Project inKosovo, optioned to Western Tethyan Resources, and is activelyadvancing six prospects in central Finland through its partnershipwith Akkerman Finland Oy. Avrupa focuses its project generation workin politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, presentlyincluding Portugal, Finland, and Kosovo. The Company continues toseek and develop other opportunities 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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