Mesothermal Au Veins and Breccias Project
The Snow Mine gold project comprises multiple occurrences of vein-hosted mineralization, located within four separate mineral titles. These titles are: Las Nieves, Casa de Barro, Mina Seca and La Nevera. A fifth mineral title, La Palma, is surrounded by the foregoing titles (Figure 1) but is not included in the Braeval portfolio. The entire camp is located within the Serrania de San Lucas physiographic region of north-central Colombia.
Figure 1: The core titles of Braeval’s tenure presently include Las Nieves, Mina Seca (S-0551), Casa de Barro and La Nevera. The general mineralized trends as understood to date are shown in yellow.
Braeval Mining Corp, completed the first round of diamond core drilling on the Snow Mine Property between April and July of 2012. The campaign completed 1,666.8 metres of HQ diamond core drilling in a total of 11 holes. Six holes were drilled on the Las Nieves lode, three holes to the east in the Los Chuchacos sector, and two holes in the central portion of the Casa de Barro lode.
At Las Nieves, highlights among the results include hole LNDDH001 which returned 8.15 m grading 32.25 g Au/t and hole LNDDH004 which returned 5.8 m grading 6.08 g Au/t. The Los Chuchacos sector did not intersect the mineralizing trend. At Casa de Barro, holes CBDDH001 and CBDDH002 were spotted 540 metres apart along the main lode structure at La Poderosa and El Condor, respectively. Both holes intersected between 20 and 25 metres of alteration and multi-phase veining. Hole CBDDH001 intersected 2 mineralized zones: 7.7m with 3.25g Au/t and 4m with 5.77 g Au/t. Hole CBDDH002 intersected 3m with 5.74 g Au/t and 2m with 1.26g Au/t. Both zones of mineralization in each hole line up well with the surface expression of the veins.
The Company also completed the airborne magnetic-radiometric survey over the Snow Mine Property and surrounding area. 1,027 line-km were flown at 200 m line spacing. The Company is still awaiting the processed and interpreted data.
As of early July, the Snow Mine Project exploration drilling has been placed on hold during the preparation of the NI 43-101 qualifying report. The Qualified Person writing the report, geologist Darren Smith of Edmonton-based Dahrouge Geological, completed the required QA-QC sampling and legal due diligence in Colombia during early July, 2012, and the preparation of the NI 43-101 during the third week of August, 2012. The Snow Mine Project will continue with selective mapping and sampling of historic workings.
Exploration Strategy
Braeval has conducted an exploration strategy divided into four phases defined from the very beginning of the exploration process. The first phase (“Phase I”) consists of identifying areas which comprise geological sense and potential. The second phase (“Phase II”) consists of systematic geochemical sampling and geophysics if necessary to define drilling targets. The third phase (“Phase III”) includes the first drilling campaign in order to identify and quantify the extension of the deposit, and finally the fourth phase (“Phase IV”) involves the exploration work in order to obtain an auditable resource, and a scoping study.
Mina Seca
Summary
Field work has confirmed the existence of several abandoned exploitations along an E-W trend in Gallo de Oro Creek which probably represent the continuation of the N80E mineralized system coming from the eastern Las Nieves trend. Mapping indicates that a branch of the Las Nieves structure follows the northward bend marked by the Manoa Creek whilst a second branch maintains a N70-80E trend, crossing the ridge and controlling the upper part of Gallo de Oro Creek. Several outcrops along this creek show sericite alteration, quartz, chalcedony and tourmaline veining and sulphide mineralization. It seems that the connection between this zone and the main Las Nieves corridor is broken by a set of NNE-SSW structures running along the ridge that separates the basins of the Manoa and San Pedro (Gallo de Oro) Creeks. The NE-SW structure along Gallo de Oro Creek is dipping N60-70°. The structure initially follows Gallo de Oro Creek, and then climbs a N80E-trending ridge close to the settlement of San Pedro Medio to the east. Finally, field observations also indicate potential to develop ore shoots at the confluence with additional NE-SW structures merging from the La Esperanza trend to the southwest (Figure 2).
The NE-SW structural trend observed along Gallo de Oro Creek appears to control the emplacement of various magmatic elements including aplite dikes and fine siliceous segregations marking the boundary between the granodioritic composition of the typical Norosi batholith and rocks of more monzonitic composition. Additional porphyritic dikes of dioritic to quartz dioritic composition are also observed. It is important to highlight the fact that there is mineralization in both the monzonite and the diorite, characterized by sulfide disseminations, sheeted veins and stockwork veining. These new styles of mineralization have been observed in different outcrops and although they are apparently localized.
Figure 2: Mina Seca mineralized systems representing probably the continuation of Las Nieves Trend (Zoom Figure 1 in “ Las Nieves Extension” zone).
Las Nieves
Summary
The 36 ha Las Nieves mineral title is completely surrounded by the Mina Seca title (Figures 1, 2 and 3).
Braeval Mining Corp. initiated diamond core drilling on the Snow Mine Property in April of 2012. The first-round drill campaign terminated in July, 2012, with 1,666.80 meters of HQ diamond core drilling completed in a total of 11 holes (Figure 3). Six holes were drilled on the western portion of the Las Nieves Lode, three holes to the east in the Los Chuchacos sector, and two holes in the central portion of the Casa de Barro lode. Figure 3 depicts the location of all drill holes completed to date by Braeval. Table 1 and 2 contain summarized information with respect to the location, orientation and length of each hole.
Figure 3: Location of diamond drill hole collars from first-round drilling completed by Braeval on the Snow Mine Property (April to July, 2012).
Table 1: Drill Hole Summary, Snow Mine Project
|
Hole ID |
Location |
East |
North |
Elev. |
Azimuth |
Inclination |
Total Depth |
|
LNDDH001 |
Las Nieves West |
584908 |
930365 |
899 |
345 |
50 |
109.50 |
|
LNDDH002 |
Las Nieves West |
585025 |
930389 |
895 |
345 |
60 |
109.00 |
|
LNDDH003 |
Las Nieves West |
585115 |
930411 |
896 |
345 |
60 |
100.20 |
|
LNDDH004 |
Las Nieves West |
584989 |
930375 |
896 |
345 |
60 |
110.50 |
|
LNDDH005 |
Las Nieves West |
584797 |
930344 |
916 |
345 |
60 |
110.00 |
|
LNDDH006 |
Las Nieves East |
585239 |
930517 |
892 |
135 |
60 |
215.30 |
|
LNDDH007 |
Las Nieves East |
585328 |
930596 |
892 |
135 |
50 |
200.00 |
|
LNDDH008 |
Las Nieves West |
584676 |
930354 |
937 |
345 |
60 |
202.50 |
|
LNDDH009 |
Las Nieves East |
585424 |
930423 |
908 |
340 |
60 |
211.70 |
|
CBDDH001 |
Casa de Barro |
584237 |
929535 |
869 |
20 |
60 |
150.00 |
|
CBDDH002 |
Casa de Barro |
584757 |
929428 |
772 |
350 |
60 |
148.10 |
Notes:
(1) UTM coordinates based upon WGS-84 Datum.
Drill holes LNDDH001 through LNDDH005 and hole LNDDH008 all intersected the vein corridor at Las Nieves over a strike length of 500m (Figure 4). The best results were attained in holes LNDDH001 and LNDDH004 as outlined in the table of result below:
Table 2: Significant Drill Results of First-Round Drilling, Snow Mine Project
|
Hole ID |
Location |
From |
To |
Length |
Au |
Au Capped (1) |
Ag |
Cu |
|
LNDDH001 |
Las Nieves (west) |
52.20 |
60.35 |
8.15 |
32.30 |
12.30 |
29.47 |
(2) |
|
LNDDH002 |
Las Nieves (west) |
57.90 |
64.50 |
6.60 |
1.51 |
n/a |
1.91 |
0.105 |
|
LNDDH003 |
Las Nieves (west) |
67.50 |
70.50 |
3.00 |
1.76 |
n/a |
3.47 |
0.091 |
|
LNDDH004 |
Las Nieves (west) |
68.20 |
74.00 |
5.80 |
6.08 |
n/a |
7.68 |
(2) |
|
LNDDH005 |
Las Nieves (west) |
51.50 |
58.80 |
7.30 |
2.12 |
n/a |
4.62 |
0.097 |
|
LNDDH006 |
Los Chuchacos |
140.00 |
144.00 |
4.00 |
0.81 |
n/a |
1.98 |
0.009 |
|
LNDDH007 |
Los Chuchacos |
107.70 |
109.70 |
2.00 |
0.70 |
n/a |
1.85 |
0.008 |
|
LNDDH008 |
Las Nieves (west) |
26.50 |
31.20 |
4.70 |
1.48 |
n/a |
3.76 |
0.035 |
|
LNDDH009 |
Los Chuchacos |
124.90 |
128.50 |
3.60 |
0.81 |
n/a |
2.28 |
0.040 |
|
CBDDH001 |
Casa de Barro |
74.00 |
93.50 |
19.50 |
2.54 |
n/a |
4.54 |
0.081 |
|
CBDDH002 |
Casa de Barro |
25.00 |
46.50 |
21.50 |
1.10 |
n/a |
3.89 |
0.017 |
Notes:
(1) Applies an individual sample Au grade cap of 1 troy ounce per tonne (31.1g). Cap value is arbitrary due to insufficient data to properly calculate.
(2) Unable to properly calculate as one or more samples above detection limit (1%) and not re-analyzed by different method.
Figure 4: Composite E-W longitudinal section along the west-central segment of the Las Nieves lode, between drill holes LNDDH005 and LNDDH003.
Holes LNDDH06 and LNDDH07 were drilled towards the southeast on a 135 degree azimuth. Both holes cut broad zones with localised structures hosting quartz-tourmaline-pyrite within broad zones of fracturing and pyrite-sericite and chlorite alteration. Sporadic low-grade gold values mostly less than 100 ppb Au were recorded, but neither hole produced economically significant results. No clear correlation between the results of either hole with mineralization or individual structures sampled by the Company within the underground workings was observed. In various instances in either hole, minor veinlets and fractures were recorded to dip at low angles and even parallel to the core axis. This observation led site geologists to conclude that the holes were drilling (sub-) parallel to the dip of the structures. Following re-inspection of the drill core and the underground workings, it was concluded that a scissor hole be drilled, on a NW azimuth. Thus, Hole LNDDH009 was located to the south and east, and drilled at 340 degrees.
Hole LNDDH009 was located topographically above the Los Chuchacos workings, on a moderately steep north-facing slope. Thus the upper portion of the hole drilled almost 80 metres of saprolite sub-parallel to the dip slope of the topography prior to cutting into unoxidised rock. Four separate zones of alteration, moderate fracturing and veining, dominated by tourmaline veinlets, quartz-tourmaline with pyite breccias and sericitic-pyrite alteration were intersected within unoxidised granodiorite.
Figure 5 is a west-looking cross section through the Los Chuchacos area revealing the geology and results for diamond core holes LNDDH007 and LNDDH009. Although the structurally-controlled mineralization is clearly documented based upon artisanal mining activities and the Company mapping and sampling within the underground workings at Los Chuchacos, it is difficult to correlate mineralization recorded in the workings with zones of alteration and mineralization observed in drill core.
Delineation of the Los Chuchacos lodes is incomplete, especially with respect to the down dip extensions of the vein system. Regardless, based upon the mapped curvilinear geometry of the surface trace of the structures, within the overall context of the proposed dextral shear stress field throughout the Tiquisio district proposed by the Company’s geologists, the Los Chuchacos structures could represent a series of restraining bends on the eastern end of the main Las Nieves dilational lode. In this context, irregularity with respect to structural continuity, both along strike and down dip within the structures may be anticipated. Such structures are characterized by splay-like geometries which tend to unite down dip into a single high strain detachment surface.
Figure 5: Cross section looking west through the Los Chuchacos sector, showing trace and results of drill holes LNDDH007 and LNDDH009, relative to artisanal workings at Los Chuchacos.
Casa de Barro
Summary
The Casa de Barro mineral title presents the geological possibility to double the resources held by Braeval in the Tiquisio district.
Many of the historic Casa de Barro underground workings are abandoned and collapsed; however, the lode was exploited in various locations in open cut workings. Braeval collected samples from at least ten accessible workings, including adits and cross cuts, exposures in abandoned open cuts, and from float material, along an approximately two kilometre segment of the lode system. Figure 6 and 7 depict the results of all rock sampling collected along the Casa de Barro lode.
Figure 6: Location and Grade of the Braeval Rock Samples in the Casa de Barro and La Nevera Mineral Titles.
In addition, two drill holes were completed approximately 500m apart and were successful in delineating the presence of the vein below surface (Figure 7).
These holes, CBDDH001 and CBDDH002, were completed in the La Poderosa and El Condor sectors of the Casa de Barro lode system, areas in which significant surficial mineralization was recorded and sampled. Based upon previous structural mapping, the Casa de Barro structure strikes WNW, with some local variations, and dips about 70 to 80 degrees to the south.
Drill hole CBDDH001 intersected a 24.1 metre zone of alteration and fracturing containing various mineralized structures extending between 75.6 and 99 metres. Two well mineralized intervals were recorded including 7 metres grading 3.25 g/t Au from 74.8 to 82.5 metres depth, and 4 metres grading 5.77 g/t Au from 89.5 to 93.5 metres depth. The intercept correlates well with the down dip projection of an over 20 metre wide zone of abandoned surface workings at La Poderosa. A seven metre continuous segment of oxidized mineralization from these workings averaged 5.26 g/t Au. In drill core, mineralization is unoxidized and consists of early quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins and breccias with localized, ten to thirty centimetre segments of massive pyrite-chalcopyrite and pyrite-chalcedony crackle breccia, hosted within strongly fractured, sericite-chlorite altered and pyritized granodiorite.
Figure 7: Location and Projection of Braeval Diamond Drill Holes at Casa de Barro, Snow Mine Property, Colombia.
Drill hole CBDDH002 was located at the El Condor workings, 530 metres to the east along strike of La Poderosa. CBDDH002 intersected a 22.6 metre wide zone of alteration and veining extending from 25.7 to 48.3 metres. The zone is mineralogically and paragenetically similar to that observed at La Poderosa. Two mineralized intervals were recorded including 3 metres grading 5.74 g/t Au from 25.5 to 28.5 metres depth, and 3 metres grading 0.97 g/t Au from 31.5 to 34.5 metres depth. The zone correlates well with the down dip projection of a broad series of surface workings observed at El Condor, where previous channel and panel sampling had returned ten metres grading 2.7 g/t Au and 4 metres grading 5.9 g/t Au. Table 1 and 2 contain summarized information with respect to the location, orientation, length and significant drill results of each hole.
La Nevera
Summary
No further work has been realized in this area where previous surface rock sampling identified >6g Au/t in a 1.8m channel sample, and 11g Au/t in a select sample from underground.
