Auryn Identifies 3.5 Kilometer Drill Target at Sombrero and Initiates Permitting
Illustrates the 3.5 kilometer long target zone situated between the Ferrobamba limestone and the diorite to monzodiorite intrusive bodies. This target is defined by surface mineralization in trenches in the intrusive bodies, strong copper, bismuth, and tellurium geochemical signatures on the southern boundary of the intrusive bodies, lead anomalies within the limestone sequence, and strong chargeability anomalies.
Illustrates the latest trench results from the endo-skarn mineralization within the intrusive bodies. These trenches demonstrate consistent broad zones of copper and gold mineralization. Importantly, the mineralization occurs in deeply weathered rocks where significant leaching of copper has occurred. Auryn’s technical team believes that the copper grades could improve at depth within primary sulphide mineralization.
Illustrates the strengthening of copper-in-soil anomalies within the endo-skarn intrusive bodies toward the contact zone with the Ferrobamba limestone.
Illustrates a strong lead-in-soils anomaly within the Ferrobamba limestone close to the contact zone with the intrusive bodies to the northwest. The lead anomaly provides a clear vector to the northwest.
Illustrates the development of marble within the Ferrobamba and the presence of limestone near the contact zone with the intrusives to the northwest. These geologic relationships are another clear vector toward the northwest and the contact zone.
Illustrates large-scale chargeability anomalies at shallow depths between the mineralized endo-skarn intrusive bodies and the Ferrobamba limestone. These chargeability anomalies are considered to have the potential to host copper-gold sulphide bodies.
Vancouver, British Columbia – September 5th, 2018 – Auryn Resources Inc. (TSX: AUG, NYSE AMERICAN: AUG, “Auryn” or the “Company” - ) is pleased to provide an update on its Sombrero copper-gold skarn project in southern Peru, where the Company has conducted extensive surface exploration programs over the past three months.
Auryn’s technical team has defined a significant copper-gold skarn target, beneath volcanic cover, along the contact zone between mineralized intrusives and the Ferrobamba limestone formation. The 3.5-kilometer-long drill target has been defined by copper-gold surface mineralization in trenches and well-developed copper-gold soil anomalies. Strong chargeability anomalies also indicate the potential for sulphide bodies along the contact zone between the Ferrobamba limestone and monzodiorite intrusives (Figure 1). Based on these results, Auryn is now working to obtain a drill permit for Sombrero’s first drill program, which is expected to start in Q1 of 2019.
A Message from Ivan Bebek, Executive Chairman & Director:
“The opportunity for discovery at Sombrero is substantial. It is extremely well-situated with excellent access to infrastructure and all the results to date give us the confidence that major gold-copper skarn and/or porphyry bodies could be present.”
“The Sombrero concessions are approximately 200km northeast of some of the world’s largest skarn and porphyry deposits. Our program in Q1 of 2019 will be the first drilling this project has ever seen, which will be a very exciting time for Auryn shareholders.”
Summary of Technical Results:
Additional trench results from the endo-skarn mineralization have yielded broad zones of copper and gold oxide mineralization in highly weathered intrusive rocks on the periphery of the contact with the Ferrobamba limestone exo-skarn target area (Figure 2) as presented below in Table 1. Detailed mapping of the endo-skarn area where these trenches (and those reported on June 19th, 2018) are located demonstrate that the mineralization is hosted within a deeply weathered setting where extensive leaching of copper mineralization has occurred.
Auryn’s technical team is anticipating higher copper grades within the primary sulphide mineralization, which could be located subsurface as observed in similar settings within copper skarn and porphyry bodies in Peru.
Table 1: Trench results
To further define the geochemical vectors as part of the targeting effort an extensive portable X-Ray fluorescence (pXRF) soil survey (5950 samples) was completed. The geochemistry of the soils has produced clear copper-rich zones in the area of the trenches over an approximate width of one kilometer (Figure 3). The copper values are strongest in the southern area of the intrusive bodies and are associated with elevated bismuth and tellurium encountered in ICP data from trenching and rock samples.
The strengthening of the copper, bismuth and tellurium values in soils and rocks demonstrate a clear vector towards the contact zone with Ferrobamba limestone. Along the northern margin of the Ferrobamba limestone, strong marble development can be observed, coinciding with a strong pXRF lead anomaly. These factors provide further evidence that the contact between the intrusive bodies and the limestone is potentially mineralized (Figures 4 & 5).
In addition to geological and geochemical studies, Auryn completed ground-based induced polarization (IP) and magnetics geophysical surveys. A total of 87 line kilometers were completed in an effort to image potential sulphide bodies under the shallow volcanic cover at the contact zone between the mineralized intrusives and the Ferrobamba limestone. The results illustrate a 3.5-kilometer-long chargeability anomaly that Auryn believes has the potential to host multiple copper–gold bearing sulphide bodies (Figure 6). Importantly, the observed strength of the chargeability anomalies is consistent with other sulphide bodies measured in mineralized skarn and porphyry systems in the region.
A Message from Michael Henrichsen, COO & Chief Geologist:
“The very clear target zone is extremely well-supported by geological, geochemical and geophysical lines of evidence and gives us a high degree of confidence for drilling significant copper-gold mineralization. The scale of the project and the clear mineral endowment in the region re-emphasizes our impression that Sombrero is the best pre-drilling project many of us have seen in our careers.”.
About Sombrero
This project consists of the North Sombrero and South Sombrero properties, comprising approximately 100.