Tribeca Resources Chile SpA (“Tribeca Resources”) has completed a geochemical soil sampling program at its Caballo Blanco copper-gold-iron-cobalt project, located in the prolific Chilean Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) Belt, approximately 40 km north of the city of La Serena in the Coquimbo province of Chile. The sampling was undertaken in November 2017, with all analytical results now received and interpreted. Specific results include:
Additional soil sampling is planned to extend the soil surveys at both Chirsposo and the SE Target to close off open +200ppm copper in soil anomalism at the southwest and western ends of the survey grids, respectively.
The Chirsposo zone comprises a set of northeast-trending historic copper and iron workings in the northern project area. The zone is hosted within interpreted Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous diorites and andesites, which display variably developed sodic-calcic alteration and overprinting magnetite-pyrite-epidote-quartz±chalcopyrite alteration.
The Chirsposo zone was the subject of trenching and drilling by Latin American Copper (LAC) and Peregrine Metals Ltd in 2000 and 2009. The drill programs produced significant intersections of thick low-grade copper mineralisation, with accompanying iron±gold (Table 1). The objective of the geochemical program at the Chirsposo zone was to provide a systematic mapping of the copper anomalism beyond that observed in the trenches and drilling.
Hole ID |
From |
To |
Downhole Interval (m) |
Estimated True Thickness* |
Copper (%) |
Iron (%) |
Gold (g/t)** |
CAB0002 | 0 | 58 | 58 | 50 | 0.33 | 13.5 | N/A |
incl. | 0 | 38 | 38 | 33 | 0.42 | 13.1 | N/A |
CAB0006 | 64 | 146 | 82 | 71 | 0.35 | 19.2 | N/A |
incl. | 64 | 70 | 6 | 5 | 0.85 | 18.4 | N/A |
and | 98 | 120 | 22 | 19 | 0.50 | 22.7 | N/A |
CB-01 | 122 | 176 | 54 | 27 | 0.38 | 14.8 | 0.09 |
incl. | 150 | 160 | 10 | 5 | 0.97 | 24.4 | 0.20 |
The soil program comprised collection of -80# samples on a 100m x 25m grid. The samples were subjected to an aqua regia digest and multi-element analysis by ICP-AES. The copper results are provided in Figure 2, which shows that a zone of +200ppm copper was mapped over approximately 700m x 400m. The results outline the northeast-trending copper anomalous zones, consistent with interpretation from surface mapping. Notably the copper in soil anomalism is increasing to the northeast until it disappears under thin gravel cover of approximately 25m thickness.
The best copper drill intersection from the project to date (82m @ 0.35% Cu, 19.2% Fe from 64m) is from hole CAB0006 through the gravel cover in this northeast location. The improving copper in soil anomalism and the results of drill hole CAB0006 elevate the open northeast extension of the Chirsposo zone to a high priority drill target.
Copper anomalism is weaker on the southwest margin of the survey area, but a narrow zone of 30m width of +200pm copper in soil is open at the edge of the survey. Additional sampling is proposed for mid-year to close off this anomalism.
The copper in soil anomalism is accompanied by anomalous Co, Fe, Mo, Ni, P, and V. No gold analysis was undertaken.
A soil sampling program was undertaken over the SE Target, which represents a zone of strong anomalism in ground magnetic data coincident with well-developed magnetite-albite-amphibole veins, breccias and alteration present in coarse grained diorite at surface. The area hosts locally developed northeast trending multistage quartz veins associated with linear faults evident in the ground magnetic data.
A set of -80# soil samples were collected from an area of 800m x 1000m on a 200m x 100m grid. The copper values were subdued (typically < 100ppm) over the main magnetic anomalies, but two copper anomalous samples (maximum 405ppm Cu) were encountered on the western margin of the survey (Figure 3). Elevated cobalt in soil (maximum 58ppm) is coincident with copper at this location. Follow-up sampling to determine the extent of this anomalism is planned.
Tribeca Resources is a private Chilean exploration and development company. The team behind the company came out of Glencore’s copper business and established Tribeca Resources with the objective of building a portfolio of copper dominant properties in the Chilean Coastal IOCG Belt that can be advanced towards code compliant resources.
The Caballo Blanco project is 100% owned by the private Chilean company Bluerock Resources SpA in which Tribeca Resources holds a 62.5% equity interest. Tribeca Resources is partnering with the current owners who retain a significant minority equity interest and have on-going technical, strategic and administrative involvement.
For further information:
Paul Gow – Executive Director Thomas Schmidt – Executive Director
paul.gow@tribecaresources.com thomas.schmidt@tribecaresources.com
+61 497 572 956 +44 77 7577 1217
The information in this release has been reviewed by Dr. Paul Gow, Executive Director of Tribeca Resources Chile. Dr. Gow is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person under the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.