EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT

Aldebaran increases cut-off to boost Altair resource grade

Separation into supergene and hypogene

Staff reporter
 Aldebaran Resources' Altair project in San Juan, Argentina

Aldebaran Resources' Altair project in San Juan, Argentina

Altar is defined by three distinct deposits: Altar Central, Altar East and QDM Gold.

Altar Central and Altar East are constrained using a single openpit and therefore are reported together. Altar Central and Altar East are separated into supergene copper (secondary sulphide) and hypogene copper-gold (primary sulphide) mineralisation.

Altar Central and Altar East host a measured and indicated resource of 1.2 billion tonnes grading 0.43% copper, 0.09 grams per tonne gold and 1g/t silver, and an inferred resource of 189.2 million tonnes grading 0.42% copper, 0.06g/t gold and 0.80 g/t silver at a 0.30% copper-equivalent cut-off. This resulted in a 41% decrease in tonnage and a 29% increase in copper grade for measured and indicated resources and a 66% decrease in tonnage and a 48% increase in copper grade for inferred resources compared to the 2018 estimate.

The new estimate also reduced the arsenic in measured and indicated resources by 39% and in inferred resources by 67%. The separation of the supergene and hypogene mineralisation showed that a high percentage of arsenic is located within the supergene portion of the deposit, which can potentially be processed using SX/EW technology where arsenic is not recovered.

The QDM gold deposit hosts a measured and indicated resource of 20Mt grading 0.78g/t gold, 3.62g/t silver and 0.06% copper and an inferred resource of 1.2Mt grading 0.58g/t gold, 5.34g/t silver and 0.03% copper. About 90% is sulphide mineralisation and 10% oxide mineralisation.

"By utilising a higher cut-off, we have been able to show the better grade portions of the deposits. The result is a higher-grade, reduced tonnage estimate that we feel is a much more attractive alternative," said Aldebaran Resources CEO John Black.

"With the resource now re-cast, our focus turns to further exploration to test the many targets identified on the project. Our primary goal is to find additional higher-grade mineralisation that could further improve the overall grade profile of the project."

Additional potential exists at three additional porphyry centres: Radio porphyry, QDM porphyry and Altar North, which were not included in this estimate due to insufficient drilling. Current drilling is targeting extensions of known higher-grade mineralisation.

Aldebaran has the right to earn up to an 80% interest in the Altar project.

Share in Aldebaran Resources are trading at C50c, valuing the company at $47 million.

 

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