UK-listed mining firm Savannah Resources has discovered a number of potential new copper targets at Block 5 in the mineral-rich Semail Ophiolite Belt in Oman
Field-based geological mapping over onshore Block 5 has highlighted a number of highly prospective stratigraphic positions with associated visible copper mineralisation, which have not been previously identified or explored using modern exploration techniques, the company said in a statement.
Mapping has identified mineralised umber units up to five metres wide, indicating excellent conditions for the potential development of copper bearing volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. Many of the prospective stratigraphic positions identified by the geological mapping also have associated versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEM) anomalies, a technique used to map potential mineral occurrences from the air. An orientation geochemical programme is under way to determine the best geochemical sampling methods to explore for new VMS deposits in the region, it said.
A more detailed report will be released at the completion of the mapping programme, with a ground based electromagnetic (EM) survey as a precursor to drilling currently scheduled to commence in Q4 2014, Savannah Resources added.
David Archer, CEO of Savannah Resources, said, ?We have successfully identified a large number of new target areas within Block 5, which have the potential to host significant, copper bearing VMS mineralisation in the highly prospective Semail Ophiolite sequence. Many of these targets show all the right features for the discovery of copper mineralisation: they are in the right contact areas between the most prospective rock units, with the right indicator minerals; co-incident geophysical anomalies are present; and some are associated with visible copper oxide mineralisation.
?The results received to date have been highly encouraging and have shown that the mineralisation identified is much more widely spread through the local Ophiloite sequence than previously thought, significantly enhancing the prospects of Block 5.?
Savannah Resources has interests in two copper projects in the highly prospective Semail Ophiolite Belt in Oman. The projects have an Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.7 metric tonnes at 2.2 per cent copper and high grade intercepts of up to 56.35 metres at 6.21 per cent copper.
