ASX listed Emu NL has received support for its interpretation that the Vidalita project in the well-endowed Maricunga Belt in Chile is a strongly mineralised epithermal system with the potential to host a large gold-silver-base metal deposit.
A Chilean-based geological consultant has completed a review of the project which found that the high sulphidation mineralisation at Vidalita is likely to be largely intact due to limited erosion over the project area.
The review added that the mineralisation observed in drill core was of the classic precious metal-polymetallic style of high sulphidation mineralisation with better mineralised intercepts associated with vuggy-silica development within strong alteration zones.
Emu’s exploration drilling, the first ever in the area, returned up to 8.4 grams per tonne of gold, up to 1049g/t silver and 5.4% copper earlier this year.
Adding interest, the report found that an electrical conductor mapped by induced polarisation, strengthened to the north in areas that have yet to be tested by exploratory drilling.
The report incorporated both downhole and surface assay data, existing drill core from the company’s aircore and diamond drilling campaigns along with Aster satellite imagery, geological mapping, IP and ground magnetic data.
Emu outlined two styles of mineralisation at Vidalita during drilling and says it plans to target both types in the upcoming field season.
The first type was a shallow, vuggy silica mantle style of mineralisation that was dominated by silver, but with gold credits to boot.
The second, deeper style of mineralisation has higher grades of gold and silver mineralisation, associated with elevated levels of copper, lead and zinc.
Emu plans to test for this higher-grade gold and silver mineralisation with a diamond drilling campaign at Vidalita in the next few months.
The company will also investigate the shallower mineralisation with a significant amount of infill aircore drilling.
