Drilling starts on newly discovered copper target Highlights:- • Drilling starts on newly discovered copper target at Jackson Minerals’ Boolaloo Project in WA. • Surface mineralisation identified in intermittent outcrops over a strike of 350 metres, with the main zone between 10 and 22 metres wide. • Rock chip sampling of visible surface mineralisation has returned results varying between 1.48% and 49.7% copper and up to 3.4 oz/t of silver. • An IP geophysical survey has identified a chargeable and conductive zone below the surface mineralisation, supporting the potential for sulphides at depth. Australian-based exploration company Jackson Minerals Limited (“Jackson” or the “Company”) (ASX: JAK) has started RC drilling at its Boolaloo Project in the Pilbara of Western Australia. This drill program is targeting five new prospects in the Minga Bore area, including Copper Strike, Rattler, Eagles Rest, Green Rock and the Lag Anomaly. Exploration work conducted at Copper Strike has already produced results which identify it as the priority target for this drilling program. The Copper Strike Prospect was located by field prospecting and is just off the eastern extremity of a large east-west copper geochemical anomaly called Rattler (see Figure 2). The main zone of this prospect is defined by intermittent east-west to northwestsoutheast trending outcrops over a strike length of approximately 350 metres with widths of between 10 and 22 metres. Multiple parallel zones of mineralisation to the north and south are less well defined, but the extent of identified mineralisation is approximately 160 metres in the north-south direction. Visible copper mineralisation at the prospect is extensive, over widths not previously identified at Boolaloo. Nineteen rock chip samples of the mineralisation have been taken. Malachite rich sandstones and quartz breccias have returned results of between 1.48% and 20.3% copper. Outcrops of massive chalcocite and malachite (for example 0.5 to 1 metre wide zones marginal to quartz veining) have returned between 16.2% and 49.7% copper. The average result for all samples is 12.7% copper. Accessory metals such as silver and lead are also noted. Silver up to 3.41 oz/t, averaging 0.5 oz/t; and lead up to 6.12%, averaging 0.34%. Although extensively oxidised and dominated by copper secondary minerals, primary copper sulphides (chalcopyrite) have been located on the surface. An IP ground geophysical survey is currently in progress at the Copper Strike prospect. Preliminary results suggest there is a chargeable and conductive anomaly below the surface mineralisation. Considering the host rocks have been described as a monotonous pile of sandstones, such anomalism supports the potential for sulphides at depth. The proposed drilling at Boolaloo includes 15 holes for approximately 1,600 metres. Five prospects are being tested including Copper Strike, Rattler, Eagles Rest, Green Rock and the Lag Anomaly. Six holes have been planned for the Copper Strike prospect. The drilling at Boolaloo will be interrupted due to prior commitments for the drilling contractors. However, it is expected all holes will be completed by 20 July 2008. Final assay results are expected by early August, although significant results will be released to the market as they become available throughout the program.
JAK Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held