Alicanto Minerals hits "exceptional" silver and zinc to further strengthen potential of Sala Project in Sweden

Alicanto Minerals Ltd (ASX:AQI)’s resource drilling program has returned high-grade zinc and silver intersections described as “exceptional” that further strengthen the potential of Sala Silver-Lead-Zinc Project in Sweden.

The results are important for two reasons - firstly, they will form part of the maiden JORC-compliant resource estimate scheduled for the coming months and secondly, the strong zinc assays complement the potential of the silver and lead while taking advantage of the mining infrastructure required to mine the silver.

Highiight results include:

• 3.9 metres at 313 g/t silver, 3.2% lead and 9.6% zinc, including 1-metre at 663 g/t silver, 5.8% zinc and 6.7% lead; and
• 14 metres at 30 g/t silver and 7.6% zinc, including 4.7 metres at 47 g/t silver and 13.6% zinc and metres at 41% zinc and 17 g/t silver.

“Strong pattern of exceptional results”

Overview map showing location of major polymetallic skarn deposits surrounding the Sala Silver-Lead-Zinc Project including Garpenberg and Falun.

Alicanto managing director Peter George said: “Sala goes from strength to strength with every round of assays. The silver, lead and zinc grades at Sala are spectacular.

“There is now a strong pattern of exceptional results, drilling is ongoing and we are on track for a maiden JORC-compliant resource within months.”

Drilling results

To date, Alicanto has completed six holes totalling 4,036 metres of resource drilling, which is part of a larger 14,000 metres ( 24-hole) program that covers the target area for the maiden resource at Sala.

Other strong results from this program include:

• 6.9 metres at 25 g/t silver, 0.2% lead and 1.8% zinc from 499.8 metres;
• 2.7 metres at 79 g/t silver, 0.4% lead and 0.4% zinc from 645.1 metres;
• 8.0 metres at 187 g/t silver, 1.7% lead and 4.9% zinc from 486.5 metres;
• 18.0 metres at 65 g/t silver and 1.3% zinc from 467.8 metres; and
• 49.7 metres at 18 g/t silver and 3.9% zinc from 331.9 metres.

These high-grade zinc and silver assays from multiple stacked lodes at Sala follow the previously reported round of bonanza-grade silver and zinc assays, which included:

• 7.1 metres at 81 g/t silver, 10.4% zinc and 0.6% lead;
• 5.5 metres at 69 g/t silver, 7.4% zinc and 0.8% lead;
• 11.9 metres at 15 g/t silver, 8.1% zinc and 0.1% lead;
• 9.85 metres at 203 g/t silver, 6.4% zinc and 0.8% lead;
• 0.8 metres at 1,034 g/t silver, 1.5% zinc, 2.4% lead; and
• 0.7 metres at 844 g/t silver, 1.8% zinc and 16.3% lead.

High-grade mineralisation

Long Section through the Prince Lode, looking towards the east with the Sala Mine in the background illustrated in blue.

The polymetallic high-grade nature of the mineralisation is typical of other world-class polymetallic mines, including Garpenberg located 50 kilometres to the northwest of the Sala Project.

Observations from drilling on the Sala Project identify two distinct mineralogies associated with the main lodes, with semi-massive sphalerite dominant zones and zones of silver-bearing galena with to a lesser extent native silver.

The mineralisation is observed to be both primary replacement style mineralisation as well as tectonically remobilised mineralisation.

This tectonic remobilisation is thought to act as a secondary enrichment process, locally resulting in Bonanza style mineralisation.

Tectonically remobilised sphalerite dominated mineralisation style at 419.5m in drill hole SAA08-03.

High-grade zinc intersections

Zinc intersections are important because they complement the potential of the silver and lead while taking advantage of the mining infrastructure which would be required to mine the silver.

The high zinc grades are analogous with world-class silver-lead-zinc systems, including Boliden’s nearby Garpenberg mine only 50 kilometres from Sala.

George adds: “These exceptional massive sulphide zinc intersections strongly complement the silver and lead at Sala – this is a key characteristic of some of the leading polymetallic silver-lead-zinc mines around the world.

“The Sala mine produced over 200 million ounces of silver from 5 million tonnes of ore down to the relatively shallow depth of 290m – there is a lot of potential left in this amazing asset.”

Forward plan

Alicanto remains fully funded with $3.2 million in cash in the bank to complete the remaining holes of the 14,000 metres of drilling estimated to produce the maiden resource at Sala.

There are two rigs operating on-site with a third rig awaiting drill crews, expected to begin drilling in the coming weeks.

With results now received for six holes and a further three holes in progress, drilling remains on track to deliver the maiden resource scheduled for the coming months.

Story by ProactiveInvestors