VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2024 / Hannan Metals Limited's ("Hannan" or the "Company") (TSXV:HAN)(OTCPK:HANNF) surface sampling at the 100%-owned Valiente project in Peru has identified an 1,800 m by 400 m alkalic porphyry-epithermal target. The discovery, named Previsto East, contains anomalously high gold in soil samples, associated with multiple large local copper and gold mineralized boulders, in an area covered by scree and soil cover from 1 m to 5 m thick.
The Previsto East discovery is the eighth significant porphyry and/or epithermal target discovered within an area of 25 km by 10 km at Previsto and Belen which Hannan now believes represents a giant porphyry cluster. As surface field work continues, both the number and tenor of individual targets has continually improved (Figures 1 and 2).
Highlights:
Michael Hudson, CEO, states: "Hannan's 100%-owned Valiente project keeps getting better with our teams expanding and making new discoveries every month. The scale of the Previsto East gold-rich copper porphyry system identified here competes with some of the best pre-discovery stage porphyry projects. The larger Previsto area remains largely unexplored, and our teams are now actively expanding the footprint to identify additional copper and gold rich targets adjacent to Previsto East. Excitingly early-stage prospecting has identified large outcrops of copper oxide mineralization of a similar style 3.5 km west of the Previsto East target during recent field work. We believe our work is demonstrating a giant porphyry cluster with the footprint likely to expand with further mineral prospecting during 2024."
Geological discussion
During 2021 Hannan staked 1,002 km2 of 100% owned mining concessions at Valiente covering unexplored terrain for potential mineralized porphyry targets in central eastern Peru. Early surface prospecting discovered two outcropping copper-gold porphyry targets and one epithermal target at Belen (see Press Release Feb 16, 2023) that is now being drill permitted (Figures 1 and 2). Porphyry discoveries quickly followed at Serrano Norte, Serrano and Pucacunga. The focus more recently has been on Previsto. At Previsto and Belen a giant porphyry cluster within an area of 25km by 10km with eight porphyry and/or epithermal targets now identified in more detail with up to 10 earlier stage targets awaiting further work.
The most recent discovery, Previsto East outlined here is the first gold-rich copper porphyry epithermal target. Hannan geologists anticipate that the porphyry footprint will expand during 2024 as surface work moves into adjacent zones, with large outcrops of oxide copper mineralization of a similar style discovered 3.5 km west of the Previsto East target during recent surface prospecting (Figure 10). Assays from this outcrop are pending.
At Previsto East mineralization and alteration mapping of boulders, up to 5m3 in size, across the entire 1,800 m by 400 m target area have been identified. The observed styles of mineralization and alteration in boulders supports previous interpretation of an alkalic gold-rich porphyry epithermal target. Trace element association of gold and copper mineralized boulders are Cu-Au-Te-V-Pb-Mo. Alteration assemblages and mineralization styles from boulders in the 1.8 km long area include: hydrothermal breccias, intense phyllic alteration and relics of potassic alteration, roscoelite veining/dissemination and replacement of feldspars, vuggy silica textures and possible lattice bladed quartz. Observed sulfide minerals includes chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite, molybdenite, pyrite. (Figures 8 and 9). Veining is rare and generally only thin quartz and quartz-pyrite-iron oxide veinlets have been observed in boulders. Trace element associations to copper and gold mineralized boulders shows a Cu-Au-Te-V-Pb-Mo correlation. Phyllic alteration is strong and is characterized by quartz-pyrite-sericite/illite. Roscoelite and locally fuchsite selectively replaces K-felspar phenocrysts. Both minerals have been identified by portable XRF. Roscoelite also occurs in veins, veinlets and disseminations, whereas fuchsite only been observed in one location.
Rock chip sampling at Previsto East as identified an 1,800 m by 400 m porphyry-epithermal target defined by strongly gold anomalous large local copper and gold mineralized boulder fields with up to 1.85 g/t Au in boulders. A total of 84 rock samples from large local boulder fields and boulders in metre deep pits ranged from 1.85 g/t Au to <0.001 g.t Au, and averaged 0.15 g/t Au and 0.73% Cu to 0.01 % Cu and averaged 0.08 % Cu (Figure 2).
Soil results at Previsto East over an area of 1,800 m by 450 m show very strong correlation with mineralized boulders. Soil anomalies show good correlation with pathfinder elements (Figures 3 to 6). A total of 362 soil samples in a 100 m by 100 m grid and ridge-top samples assayed from 0.63 g/t Au to <0.001 and average 0.02 g/t. Of these 29 samples returned extremely high soil values between 0.10 to 0.63 g/t Au in a coherent area coinciding with mineralized boulders (Figures 3 to 6).
About the Valiente project
The 100% owned Valiente project is in central eastern Peru, east of the city of Tingo Maria (Figures 1 and 2). The area is characterized by steep topography on the eastern flank of the Central Cordillera with elevations between 800 m and 2,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.). The project was discovered in 2021 during an extensive greenfields exploration program initiated by Hannan. Hannan holds 1,002 sq km of mineral tenure prospective for back-arc porphyry copper-gold systems at the Valiente Project in central eastern Peru. The company has been actively exploring the project since 2021 and successfully gained social permits all areas of interests in the zone. In January 2024 Hannan submitted it first drilling application (DIA) covering two porphyry targets and one epithermal target at the Belen zone (click here for news release). The company is now expanding the footprint by exploring new areas to build a pipeline of projects that will be permitted, and drill tested over the coming five years.
Technical Background
All samples were collected by Hannan geologists. Samples were transported to ALS in Lima via third party services using trackable parcels and by company staff. At the laboratory, rock samples were prepared and analyzed by standard methods. The sample preparation involved crushing 70% to less than 2 mm, riffle split off 250g, pulverize split to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Samples were analyzed by method ME-MS61, a four-acid digest preformed on 0.25g of the sample to quantitatively dissolve most geological materials. Analysis is via ICP-MS. Channel samples are considered representative of the in-situ mineralization samples and sample widths quoted approximate the true width of mineralization, while grab samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades on the property. Gold was analyzed in rock and soils by ALS in Lima using a standard sample preparation and 30g fire assay sample charge. Soil samples were analyzed by a portable XRF (VANTA-VMR) using an inhouse protocol which includes routing use of CRM and field duplicates as well as 10% check samples analyzed by ALS Lima.
About Hannan Metals Limited (TSXV:HAN)(OTCPK:HANNF)
Hannan Metals Limited is a natural resources and exploration company developing sustainable resources of metal needed to meet the transition to a low carbon economy. Over the last decade, the team behind Hannan has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing, and advancing mineral projects in Europe and Peru. Hannan is a top ten in-country explorer by area in Peru.
Mr. Michael Hudson FAusIMM, Hannan's Chairman and CEO, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.
Forward Looking Statements. Certain disclosure contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. These statements may relate to this news release and other matters identified in the Company's public filings. In making the forward-looking statements the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned work programs; permitting; and community relations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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