Entree Gold Inc announced that it has received assay results from three additional holes drilled on the Ann Mason Deposit in Nevada. Hole EG-AM-12-030, one of the westernmost holes Entree has drilled to date, returned 760 meters of 0.29% copper or 0.32% copper equivalent including 272 meters of 0.38% Cu. These drill results extend the Ann Mason Deposit 100 meters west and were not included in the March 2012 resource estimate. The latest results will be included in the upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment scheduled for completion later this year.
Discussion of Results;
Hole EG-AM-12-028 is located on the north central margin of the deposit, 280 meters east southeast of EG-AM-12-025. It confirms the presence of copper and molybdenum mineralization in a sparsely drilled area between holes EG-AM-11-008, -011 and -014. Holes EG-AM-12-029 and -030 are located on the western limit of the deposit, 670 meters west southwest of EG-AM-11-028. They are spaced 170 metres apart and were drilled on a line, 100 meters west of hole EG-AM-11-015 - previously the westernmost hole drilled by Entree on the deposit.
EG-AM-11-028 returned higher molybdenum values than most other Ann Mason holes and at 0.016% Mo over 792 meters is higher than the indicated resource average for the deposit of 0.007% Mo. Along with hole EG-AM-011 located about 170 meters to the southwest, hole EG-AM-028 extends copper and molybdenum mineralization more than 200 meters below the previously defined limit of mineralization.
Holes EG-AM-12-029 and 030 confirm the continuity of copper and molybdenum mineralization an additional 100 meters to the west of EG-AM-11-015. Mineralized intervals in this area were encountered 100 meters closer to surface than anticipated.
Metallurgical Studies;
Metallurgical testing of two additional, chalcopyrite-pyrite sulphide core composite samples, averaging 0.20% and 0.28% Cu, respectively has been completed at METCON Research in Tucson, Arizona. Locked cycle flotation testing on a 105 micron grind size showed 92% Cu recovery on both samples into a 21% to 25% copper concentrate. These recent studies are in addition to the previous Ann Mason sulphide flotation study on two composite samples with head grades of 0.46% Cu and 0.37% Cu. These samples returned copper recoveries of over 93% in locked cycle flotation testing and yielded copper concentrate grades of approximately 27% and 36%, respectively.
Two additional rougher flotation variability tests were also completed at Metcon, one on the low grade chalcopyrite pyrite concentrate, at a coarser grind size of 146 microns and the other on the mid-grade chalcopyrite pyrite concentrate at a grind size of 126 microns. These tests were done to compare recoveries with the finer grind. The low grade concentrate at 146 microns showed a 6% drop in recovery, while the effect of using a coarser grind on the mid grade concentrate was minimal . Similarly, the previously reported higher grade composites at 0.46% Cu and 0.37% Cu showed very minimal drops in copper recovery in the rougher flotation tests with increased grind size.
Ann Mason metallurgical recoveries are extremely encouraging and produce a high quality copper concentrate with no deleterious elements. These additional results should drive further mill optimization in the PEA. A limited number of rougher flotation tests at varying grind sizes have indicated that there is a potential opportunity to coarsen the primary grind and reduce capital and operating costs with a minimal reduction in copper recovery.
Mr Greg Crowe president and CEO of Entree said that "These additional drill holes have expanded the limits of the Ann Mason Deposit which remains open in several directions. The results from the additional holes and from our historical core re sampling and assaying program will form the basis for an updated Ann Mason resource estimate which we plan to incorporate into the PEA along with the first resource estimate for Blue Hill. At the same time, results from additional metallurgical testing have been extremely encouraging, demonstrating around 92% copper recovery into a high quality, clean concentrate. Increased molybdenum values in hole 028 and other nearby holes suggest a possible higher-grade molybdenum zone in this area and therefore molybdenum by-product will also be an important consideration in our upcoming economic studies."
Source - Entree Gold
(www.steelguru.com)
