Guardian Metal Resources plc (LON:GMET)(OTCQX:GMTLF), a strategic development and mineral exploration company focused in Nevada, USA, is pleased to announce rock sample assay results confirming a copper-molybdenum (Cu-Mo) mineralized hydrothermal breccia nested within the Company's Porphyry South target at its 100% owned Pilot Mountain Project ("Pilot Mountain" or the "Project) located within the prolific Walker Lane Mineral Belt in Nevada, USA. Pilot Mountain is the Company's flagship tungsten asset where drilling on the deposit continues with a plan to continue to pre-feasibility engineering study in 2025. Tungsten skarn deposits globally can be associated with source intrusive rocks and "porphyry" bulk mineralization. Exploration for both deposit types has been part of the Company's broader geological model and exploration programme.
On 11 November 2024 results were released from a widely spaced sampling programme which returned elevated copper results from the Porphyry South target*. The results supported the possibility of a copper-rich shell existing within this target and the Company immediately commenced a more comprehensive sampling programme, the results of which are presented herein.
Significant copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo) mineralization identified within an outcropping mineralized hydrothermal breccia zone at the Porphyry South Target.
The hydrothermal breccia zone has returned the first at-surface high-grade copper results from this burgeoning porphyry target, further supporting the potential for a higher-grade copper mineralized shell within the molybdenum-rich mineralized porphyry system identified by drillhole PM24-0021.
Highlight rock chip samples from various breccia outcrops include: 1.93% Cu, 204 ppm Mo and 0.94% Cu, 287 ppm Mo.
The Porphyry South target, one of 3 porphyry targets identified to date at Pilot Mountain, has a current surface expression of 1,250m x 1,500m. This represents a substantial target for further exploration, along with the nested 380m long, east-west striking mineralized breccia zone, which warrants immediate follow up.
The surface copper mineralization complements the highly anomalous downhole molybdenum enrichment noted in diamond drillhole PM24-002, which is the only drillhole at the Porphyry South target.
Oliver Friesen, CEO of Guardian Metal, commented:
"We are very pleased with the confirmation of high-grade copper and molybdenum mineralization at surface from a newly discovered mineralized breccia found within the Porphyry South target. These results validate our belief in the significant potential of Pilot Mountain as a large-scale multi-metal project. The discovery of a hydrothermal breccia zone with outcropping Cu-Mo mineralization is a game-changer for this underexplored target area and underscores the potential scale and quality of this asset."
Further Information
Previous rock chip sampling across the Porphyry South target identified elevated Cu and Mo concentrations across the expansive zone of quartz-sericite-pyrite ("QSP") hydrothermal alteration. Subsequent geological fieldwork across this area has identified an outcropping, highly oxidized, magmatic-hydrothermal breccia which can be traced for several hundred metres and other gossanous outcrops (Figure 1 & 2). Copper surface showings across the area include chrysocolla, malachite and chalcocite associated with oxidized sulphide bearing quartz veins. Magmatic-hydrothermal breccias are thought to form during the porphyry intrusion, they can often contain high-grade mineralization because of their intrinsic permeability (Figure 3).2
The rock chip sample assay results from multiple outcrops of hydrothermal breccia and gossans (indicating oxidized sulphides) at Porphyry South are presented in Table 1 and Figure 4. These results illustrate the presence of a copper mineralized shell within the molybdenum mineralized porphyry system discovered by PM24-02, and further support the Company's belief that a large but almost entirely untested sub cropping Cu-Mo porphyry system exists within the Project.
Table 1:Rock chip sample assay results
Sample
Lat
Long
Description
Cu (ppm)
Mo (ppm)
PMLC-01-01
38.37539
-117.87047
Hydrothermal breccia
19,250*
204
PMLC-01-02
38.37533
-117.87062
Hydrothermal breccia
9,540
287
PMLC-01-05
38.37537
-117.86980
Hydrothermal breccia
3,240
392
PMLC-01-03
38.37462
-117.87404
Hydrothermal breccia
274
242
PMLC-01-04
38.37433
-117.86999
Gossan, boxwork texture
2,500
904
PMLC-01-06
38.37442
-117.87059
Gossan, boxwork texture
928
498
Note: ALS Laboratory analytical methods ME-ICP61. * Overlimit copper analyzed by method Cu-OG62
Media
Figure 1: Field photograph of outcropping magmatic-hydrothermal breccia at Porphyry South. The breccia is gossanous and has visible secondary copper mineralization (malachite and chrysocolla).
Figure 2: Field photograph of outcropping magmatic-hydrothermal breccia at Porphyry South.
Figure 3: Schematic depiction of a magmatic-hydrothermal breccia body genetically linked to the apex of an inter-mineral porphyry intrusion2.
Figure 4: Map of the Pilot Mountain Project showing magnetic intensity, whole rock copper concentrations and key features annotated.
2: Sillitoe, R.H., 2010. Economic Geology, 105, pp. 3-41.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 (which forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). The Directors of the Company are responsible for the contents of this announcement.
COMPETENT PERSON STATEMENT
The technical information contained in this disclosure has been read and approved by Mr Nick O'Reilly (MSc, DIC, MIMMM QMR, MAusIMM, FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Competent Person under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr. O'Reilly is a Principal consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd which has been retained by Guardian Metal Resources plc to provide technical support.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, competition for qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties exploration, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of prospecting rights, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of regulatory and other third party consents and approvals, uncertainties regarding the Company's or any third party's ability to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events.
Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors.
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