Los Andes Announces Fourth Results of 2017 Drill Program at the Vizcachitas Deposit

Results of Drill Holes V2017-06 and V2017-07 Further Support the Continuity of Higher Grades near Surface in the Central Core

September 21, 2017 7:30 AM EDT | Source: Los Andes Copper Ltd.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 21, 2017) - Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) ("Los Andes", or the "Company") is very pleased to announce the results of drill holes V2017-06 and V2017-07. Following the results already published for the 2017 campaign, these results provide further support to the continuity of higher grade mineralization near surface in the project's central core over an area of 350 metres north-south by 400 metres east-west.

The key results from these holes are:

V2017-06:

  • 440.0 m @ 0.51 % Cu, 164 ppm Mo and 1.1 g/t Ag (0.56 % CuEq) from 64.0 m downhole

    Including:

    56.0 m @ 0.81 % Cu, 72 ppm Mo and 1.6 g/t Ag (0.85 % CuEq) from 76.0 m downhole

    30.0 m @ 0.64 % Cu, 292 ppm Mo and 1.5 g/t Ag (0.73 % CuEq) from 376.0 m downhole

    36.0 m @ 0.62 % Cu, 265 ppm Mo and 1.4 g/t Ag (0.70 % CuEq) from 456.0 m downhole

  • 66.0 m @ 0.53 % Cu, 294 ppm Mo and 1.1 g/t Ag (0.61 % CuEq) from 588.0 m downhole

  • V2017-07:102.0 m @ 0.62 % Cu, 157 ppm Mo and 1.5 g/t Ag (0.66 % CuEq) from 44.0 m downhole

  • 28.0 m @ 0.50 % Cu, 232 ppm Mo and 1.3 g/t Ag (0.57 % CuEq) from 284.0 m downhole

Cautionary Statement: All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.

Background

Historical drilling was carried out on the Vizcachitas project in three exploration campaigns during 1993, 1996/1997 and 2007/2008. However, the higher grade central core had only been drilled in the 1990's campaigns and with generally shallower drill holes, therefore not properly reflecting the potential of this core area.

During 2014, a complete review of the historical information was performed to better understand the project, including re-logging all of the 146 drill holes located within the property. The re-logging was led by Gonzalo Saldias, a Chilean geologist and one of the most recognized experts in Chilean porphyry systems. This detailed review showed that the historical logging and geological model had not properly identified the importance of the higher grade early diorite porphyry and hydrothermal breccias. The re-logging showed that these higher grade geological units extend over a distance of 1,400 metres north-south and 700 metres east-west. The mapping showed that these breccias have grades increasing with depth and demonstrates the potential for higher grades below the historical drilling.

In 2015, Los Andes began a drill program to confirm a new geological model and to demonstrate the extent of the central core mineralisation. A first stage of this exploration campaign was completed in 2015/2016, with eight diamond drill holes totaling 3,661 metres. During 2017, Los Andes has carried out a second stage of this campaign with the purpose of demonstrating the northern and southern extension of the high grade core.

Location of Drill Holes:

HoleEastingNorthingElevation
(metres)
Azimut
(degrees)
Inclination
(degrees)
Final depth
(metres)







V2017-01365,7786,413,5442,003110-60(69.90) Abandoned
V2017-01A365,7866,413,5342,003105-60851.25
V2017-02366,2786,413,2552,090290-651,030.60
V2017-03365,9366,413,8562,049290-80(62.00) Abandoned
V2017-04366.2006,413,0561,978110-70653.00
V2015-08 Ex365.1596,413,5422,154290-751,001.00
V2017-05365,9966,413,8792,080270-80931.90
V2017-06366,0376,413,5382,073110-65857.00
V2017-07366,0996,413,3372,046110-60721.10
V2017-08365,9966,413,8792,08015-70400.25
V2017-09365,7856,413,3771,993120-70(85.50) Abandoned
V2017-09B365,7856,413,3821,993120-75804.20
V2017-10365,6826,413,8782,04065-751,001.00
V2017-11365,7456,413,7452,02485-75735.90

 

All coordinates are in UTM WGS84

A drill hole location plan is available on our website: www.losandescopper.com

Summary of Drill Holes

Drill Hole V2017-06

V2017-06 was drilled in a south east direction underneath the drill holes V2015‑08 which was drilled in a north-easterly direction. The aim of the drill hole was to confirm the good mineralisation identified in this drill hole and then to test the eastward extension of this mineralisation.

The top of bedrock was intersected at a depth of 15 metres and the drill hole continued through andesite and hydrothermal breccias to a depth of 802 metres when it intersected a tonalitic intrusive. The drill hole was stopped at a depth of 857.0 metres. From a downhole depth of 64 metres, the drill hole intersected 440 metre @ 0.51 % Cu, 164 ppm Mo and 1.1 g/t Ag (0.56 % CuEq) in andesites. This includes from a downhole depth of 76 metres, 56 metres @ 0.81 % Cu, 72 ppm Mo and 1.6 g/t Ag (0.85 % CuEq). This intersection confirms the near surface mineralisation identified within this eastern block. The mineralisation continues until the drill hole intersected the intermineral tonalite intrusive at a depth of 802 metres. Some of the better mineralisation is shown in the table below.

Key intersections from drill hole V2017-06:

Hole NumberDepth From (m)Depth To (m)Length (m)Cu % Mo ppmAg g/tCuEq %
V2017-0664.0504.0440.00.511641.10.56
including76.0132.056.00.81721.60.85
including182.0204.022.00.631291.50.68
including238.0258.020.00.592801.40.68
including376.0406.030.00.642921.50.73
including456.0492.036.00.622651.40.70








V2017-06588.0654.066.00.532941.10.61
including606.0634.028.00.612191.30.68

 

* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (%), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz (same reference prices as in reporting of 2015/2016 results). All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.

Drill Hole V2017-07

V2017-07 was drilled in a south east direction underneath the drill holes V2015‑05 and V2017-02 which were drilled in a north-easterly direction. The aim of the drill hole was to confirm the good mineralisation identified in these drill holes and then to test the eastward extension of this mineralisation.

The top of bedrock was intersected at a depth of 33 metre and the drill hole continued through andesite and hydrothermal breccias to final depth of 721 metres. From a downhole depth of 44 metres, the drill hole intersected 102 metres @ 0.62 % Cu, 157 ppm Mo and 1.5 g/t Ag (0.66 % CuEq) in andesites. This intersection further confirms the horizontal extension of the near surface supergene mineralisation over an area of 350 metres north-south by 400 metres east-west within this block. The mineralisation continues to a downhole depth of 344 metros with an average grade over 300 metres of 0.48 % Cu, 135 ppm Mo and 1.2 g/t Ag (0.53 % CuEq). The mineralisation below this depth decreases as the drill hole intersected andesites and a post mineral dacite dyke.

Key intersections from drill hole V2017-07:

Hole NumberDepth From (m)Depth To (m)Length (m)Cu % Mo ppmAg g/tCuEq %
V2017-0744.0146.0102.00.621571.50.66








V2017-07284.0312.028.00.502321.30.57








V2017-07394.0412.018.00.491051.40.53

 

* Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 2.5 x Mo (%) + 110.55 x Ag (%), using the metal prices: $ 2.2 / lb. Cu, $5.5 / lb. Mo and $15.2 / Oz (same reference prices as in reporting of 2015/2016 results). All thicknesses from intersections from drill holes are down-hole drilled thicknesses. True widths cannot be determined from the information available.

QA/QC

Quality assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of duplicate and standard samples in to the sample stream. Drill core samples were sawn in half, labelled, placed in sealed bags and were shipped directly to the preparatory laboratory of ALS Minerals in Coquimbo, Chile. All geochemical analyses were performed by ALS Minerals in Lima Peru. All samples were assayed using the method ME-MS61, a four-acid digestion with an ICP-MS finish. Copper samples with grades above 0.6 % Cu were reanalysed using ALS method Cu-OG62, a four-acid digestion with an AAS finish.

Mr. Amberg MSc CGeol FGS is the Qualified Person responsible for the preparation of this news release.

Team Credentials

Mr. Amberg MSc CGeol FGS is a geologist who is a graduate of the Royal School of Mines, London, has an MSc. from University College and is also a Chartered Geologist with the Geological Society of London. He has close to 30 years of diverse experience having worked in Asia, Africa and South America for both multinational and junior companies. He began his career in 1986 working with Anglo American in South Africa before moving on to an exploration position with Severin-Southern Sphere. In 1990 Mr. Amberg moved to Chile where he first worked with Bema Gold on the Refugio project before taking up a position with Rio Tinto. At Rio Tinto he was involved in exploration programs in the Atacama and Magallanes Regions and managed the Barreal Seco (now part of Las Cenizas) exploration program. In 1996 he joined Kazakhstan Minerals Corporation in Kazakhstan, setting up and managing offices for the drilling and resource estimation for JORC compliant feasibility studies on three large projects that are now operating mines. He became General Director for two joint ventures in KazMinCo where he managed all technical and local issues. In 2001 he returned to Chile where he started a geological consulting firm specialising in project evaluation and NI 43-101 technical reports. Mr. Amberg's clients included Rio Tinto, Barrick, Codelco, Anglo American, Pan Pacific Copper and various junior mining companies. He joined Los Andes Copper in 2012 as Chief Geologist and is now also the President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Amberg MSc CGeol FGS is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

Gonzalo Saldias is a geologist who is a graduate of Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile. He has over 35 years of experience working within Chile and internationally; mainly on copper porphyry, epithermal gold silver and iron-oxide copper gold systems. For the last seven years, he worked for Antofagasta Minerals evaluating copper porphyry projects within Chile, assessing their geological and economical potential. Prior to that he had worked for ten years with Placer Dome Latin America, generating and evaluating exploration projects within the region. Prior to Placer Dome, he worked for Codelco as head of exploration geology for the El Salvador Division, developing the prospective areas near to the mine. He also worked for Northern Resources, Homestake, Utah, Anaconda and as an independent consultant.

For more information please contact:

Antony J. Amberg, President & CEO
Tel: +56 2 2954-0450

Aurora Davidson, CFO
Tel: 604-697-6207

E-Mail: info@losandescopper.com or visit our website at: www.losandescopper.com

Certain of the information and statements contained herein that are not historical facts, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Securities Act (British Columbia), Securities Act (Ontario) and the Securities Act (Alberta) ("Forward-Looking Information"). Forward-Looking Information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend"; statements that an event or result is "due" on or "may", "will", "should", "could", or might" occur or be achieved; and, other similar expressions. More specifically, Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking Information; including, without limitation, the achievement and maintenance of planned production rates, the evolving legal and political policies of Chile, the volatility in the Chilean economy, military unrest or terrorist actions, metal and energy price fluctuations, favourable governmental relations, the availability of financing for activities when required and on acceptable terms, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, current and future environmental and regulatory requirements, the availability and timely receipt of permits, approvals and licenses, industrial or environmental accidents, equipment breakdowns, availability of and competition for future acquisition opportunities, availability and cost of insurance, labour disputes, land claims, the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Management's Discussion and Analysis in the Company's financial statements. Such Forward-Looking Information is based upon the Company's assumptions regarding global and Chilean economic, political and market conditions and the price of metals and energy, and the Company's production. Among the factors that have a direct bearing on the Company's future results of operations and financial conditions are changes in project parametres as plans continue to be refined, a change in government policies, competition, currency fluctuations and restrictions and technological changes, among other things. Should one or more of any of the aforementioned risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from any conclusions, forecasts or projections described in the Forward-Looking Information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise Forward-Looking Information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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