Projects
Augustus Project, Arizona
The Augustus Project is a high-grade Copper-Gold advanced exploration and development project located in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. The project totals 902 hectares (2,229 acres) and resides in approximately 125 km northwest of Phoenix, AZ.
The project area has undergone several exploration campaigns for copper and gold mineralization. These campaigns focused on different areas within the property area and have utilised various methods such as drilling, geochemical sampling, mapping, and geotechnical studies.
Government agencies and private companies, such as the USGS, USBM, Freeport-McMoRan, NRG Resources, and Cominco Resources, have previously mapped the district extensively.
Copper and gold mineralisation at the
project have been mapped from surface over a large area.
Drilling data from past explorers such as Teck Cominco, Freeport-McMoRan and Asarco observe mineralisation in drill holes at depth. The mapping and drilling data observe that mineralisation starts at surface and continues at depth.
Recent exploration undertaken at Augustus by the company have identified several drill targets with rock chip samples assaying as high as 11% Copper. The exploration work and new interpretation have also identified areas with open cut potential.
Significant Results include:
- Recent Rock Chip Samples: AUG-23-008 – 11.97% Cu, 1.25% Zinc, AUG-23-007 – 4.03% Cu, 21.67 g/t Au, 1.32% Zinc, AUG-23-025 – 2.32% Cu, 8.12 g/t Au, 3.65% Zinc.
- Historical Drilling Results: *30 FT @ 5.8 g/t Au, 25 FT @ 6.1 g/t Au, 5 FT @ 7.8 g/t Au, 3 FT @ 4.3 g/t Au + 8.9% Cu.
*Historical Results are not validated and need to be validated
Geochemical Results for the Augustus Polymetallic Project are incredibly positive for the project's economic potential. Rock and soil samples have been collected over the years by different organizations, with 750 rock samples and 1,958 soil samples collected to date. Sampling has identified several areas with geochemical anomalies at the Augustus project area.
Copper Assay Results
AVM collected 30 select rock samples across the property, prioritizing known copper mineralisation zones from units such as the Bullard Andesite (Tba) and arkosic (sandstone) conglomerate (Tcl). These units have both featured copper mineralisation historically. Select samples featured copper concentrations as high as 11.97% Cu, with numerous samples assaying over 1% Cu.
Select rock samples were collected from locally high-grade copper veins present at the surface. AVM mapped the extent and orientation of these veins across the property. The highest-grade copper samples were collected from several of these veins.
Gold Assay Results
Surface rock samples feature gold concentrations as high as 21.67 g/T Au. Select surface rock samples with high gold concentrations are also more prevalent in the vein system with elevated copper concentrations. Other notable samples feature gold values ranging from 0.66 g/T and 8.12 g/T Au. These locally high-grade samples demonstrate further economic potential for the project. The presence of economically viable gold within surface samples establishes the Augustus Project as a polymetallic deposit.
The Augustus project is a polymetallic copper-gold project in the Bullard-Harris mining area in west-central Arizona. The mining district is located on the southern edge of the Harcuvar metamorphic core complex. The property is divided by the Bullard Detachment Fault (BDF), a large displacement, low-angle normal fault. The property consists of E-W striking, steeply dipping low-relief hills of Cenozoic volcanics and interbedded sediments on the upper plate of the Bullard Detachment Fault.
Mineralization in the Bullard Peak area occurs within Miocene andesites. The Bullard Detachment Fault and Cenozoic dated volcanic rocks indicate that mineralization is approximately 30 Mya in this area. Local rock units have undergone several forms of alteration, including Propylitic (chlorite), Silicic (Quartz), and Potassic (K-Feldspar and Biotite) Alteration.
Historical drill logs suggest that most altered rock units occur within and surrounding mineralized copper-iron-quartz veins and quartz-hematite stockwork. The alteration observed suggests a hydrothermal link to the mineralization found along vein-controlled fault contacts within the property. The continuity of alteration (and mineralization) has been recorded in drill logs as deep as 244 m (800 ft) and likely extends deeper.
The Augustus project area lies on the south flank of the Harcuvar Range, where pediment gravels cover most of the area. Several hills exist as isolated bedrock outcrops within the gravel. Due to the expansive sediment cover of the Basin and Range setting, AVM engaged Manatee Limited to perform a spectral analysis of the Augustus project area using remote satellite spectral data.
The project area was analyzed for exposed surface outcrops, cross-referencing 16 spectral endmember bands with local geochemical samples from the national USGS geochemical database. The data was filtered for vegetation and surface cover gravels. Penetration of sand cover was achieved by mapping gasses released from buried sulphides and weathering ultramafic rocks. 2 spectral endmembers of interest included endmember 14, interpreted as the Pb sulphide galena, and endmember 5, hypersthene, likely the volcanic host.
The project area has undergone numerous exploration campaigns for copper and gold mineralization. These campaigns have utilized various methods such as geochemical sampling, mapping, drilling, and geotechnical studies. Exploration has been ongoing since 1933, with over 7,000 meters of drilling and 64 drill holes completed by various mining companies such as ASARCO, Freeport-McMoRan, and Teck.
Rock and soil samples have also been collected, with 720 rock samples and 1,958 soil samples collected to date. Cominco Resources also conducted an Induced Polarity (IP) and CS-AMT Survey around the Augustus Mine and North Hill area.
Government agencies and private companies, such as AZGS, USGS, Freeport-McMoRan, NRG Resources, and Cominco Resources, have mapped the district. The CS-AMT survey covered 7,914 m (3000 ft) lines with a station spacing of 76 m (250 ft).
The Augustus project is centrally located within Arizona and can be reached from Phoenix, AZ, by car within 2 hours. Road access to the site combines paved and unpaved ranch roads north of Aguila, AZ, the nearest town.
The unpaved road sections are well-maintained due to their access to several local ranches. Phone and cellular communications are unrestricted, thanks to several radio towers atop a nearby mountain range.
The closest access to a railroad is located 11 km (7 mi) south of Augustus in Aguila, AZ. The city ties into the Arizona and California Railroad sub-network line to Parker, Arizona, and Wickenburg, AZ.
Electrical infrastructure is available in close proximity to the project. Several irrigation wells are present on farmland north of Aguila, AZ. Additional wells may be permitted as needed.
Garnet Skarn Project, Idaho
The Garnet Skarn Project is located in Adams County, Idaho (ID), USA. The project comprises 2527 acres of unpatented mining claims. The Project sits approximately 68 kilometres (42 miles) northwest of the town of Council, accessible by highways and roads.
Garnet Skarn sits within the copper-rich Seven Devils Mining District and has a JORC Compliant Exploration Target of 20Mt – 30Mt @ 0.7% Copper.
Significant Results include:
Recent Rock Chip Samples: GC-22-007 – 21.24% Cu, 8.4 g/t Au, 345g/t Ag, GC-22-023 – 12.98% Cu, 1.6% Mo, 127g/t Ag, GC-22-012 – 3.61% Cu, .767% Mo Historical Drilling Results: *36.5ft @ 5.35% Copper (Adjacent Property), 84ft @ 7.52% Copper (Adjacent Property)
*Historical Results are not validated and need to be validated
Recent exploration in the area included mapping, Geochemical Rock Chip and Soil sampling as well as Geophysical surveys. The assays from the Rock Chip sampling in the area assayed up to 21.24% Cu, 345 g/t Ag, 398 ppm W, and 10.7% Mo with elevated Au in samples.
Exploration efforts also exposed a 1.0km x 1.0km wide copper-in-soil anomaly at the Tussel Ridge site. Additionally, soil geochemical factor analyses and magnetic and radiometric geophysics all implicate north-northeast trends of mineralisation that connect individual sites of historically exploited mineralisation extending across the Garnet Skarn Project.
The sampling, mineralisation, and new exploration insights support the potential for the district to host additional targets of high-grade mineralisation underlying the surface at Garnet Creek.
The project adjoins historic operating mines that produced high copper grades of up to 5%. Aeromagnetic survey results indicate that these grades continue into the Garnet Creek Project area.
The Garnet Skarn Project has several new exploration and drill targets defined across the property. A 20Mt-30Mt @ 0.7% Copper Target has been defined at Garnet Skarn Deposit. The new Mineralisation Trend Covers 26% of the entire project and shows potential for increased mineralisation.
The Garnet Skarn Project has several new exploration and drill targets defined across the property. A 20Mt-30Mt @ 0.7% Copper Target has been defined at Garnet Skarn Deposit. The new Mineralisation Trend Covers 26% of the entire project and shows potential for increased mineralisation.
The new interpretation for the target zones utilised all available data, including various geophysical and geochemical techniques, historical data, and a 3D subsurface geology model. Exploration targets are located within a larger zone of mineralisation, 4 kilometres long by 0.5 kilometres wide.
Copper mineralisation within the Project area is found in Quartz veins, dissemination in breccias, and exposed skarn. Skarns are the most extensively mineralised unit on the Property. They have the greatest potential for developing significant new copper resources.
Within the 4 km by 0.5 km target zone, a minimum of four skarn zones have been identified, with more likely to be found pending further exploration (drilling, geophysics). Assuming similar depths (100m) and aerial extent within the target zone, it is not unreasonable to assume an exploration potential of 20 to 30 million tons of copper in the grade range of 0.3 % to 0. 7% range.
Exploration of the Garnet Skarn property has provided several lenses through which to view the project's exploration potential. A 3D model was constructed to view subsurface contacts and relationships of mineralised geological units such as the Martin Bridge Limestone (TRm) by combining data from the Anaconda Mining Company and current data collected by AVM.
Historical information from the Anaconda Mining Company has provided insight into subsurface relationships on privately owned lands within the district. For example, historical drilling information from the adjacent Peacock Mine allowed AVM personnel to train the subsurface model on otherwise inaccessible geological features. The hydrothermal relationship of the Peacock Mine with AVM-identified exploration targets increases the importance of understanding fluid and mineral controls at depth.
In addition to historical drilling records, the model was integrated with AVM-collected rock, soil, and channel samples. This information has helped AVM identify geological contacts and mineralisation zones at depth. The information the Anaconda Mining Company provided has helped the Company assess the correlation between copper-bearing units and the surrounding host rock units at depth. Further analysis of the inferred data may reveal additional mineralisation zones or potential resource targets to guide future exploration of the Garnet Skarn project.
The Garnet Skarn Project exposes accreted island arc geology of the Wallowa terrane and contains a complex series of volcanic, sedimentary, and intrusive stratigraphy. The stratigraphy includes altered andesite, rhyolite, and clastics of the Seven Devils Group; Martin Bridge Formation limestones; younger Jura-Cretaceous quartz diorite of the Deep Creek Pluton; and local and regional metamorphism. Mineralisation at Garnet Creek displays bornite, chalcopyrite, covellite, and chalcocite.
Aeromagnetic and Raiometric Survey Results
Results from airborne surveys over the Project suggest a circular region of moderate magnetic intensity located along the contact of a quartz-diorite intrusion and uranium radiometric highs associated with carbonate rafts and related tactite mineralisation within the quartz-diorite intrusion.
Isolated magnetic anomalies generally sit within the adjacent volcanics, with the highest magnetic signature in the south near the Blue Jacket area. Several moderate anomalies extend within the intrusion, while the carbonate rafts generally coincide with weaker magnetic signatures.
The airborne radiometric survey displays tight zones of elevated uranium consistent with mineralised and metamorphosed limestones located along the contact of the quartz diorite intrusion. These zones also coincide with k/th lows. Generally, overall low uranium and elevated potassium overlay the quartz diorite
Seven Devils Mining District
The Garnet Skarn Project has several old mines on and adjacent to the property. Historical mining activity produced copper during the early 19th century using non-mechanised methods to recover and transport the copper ore.
Evidence of mining activity and old ore stockpiles can be seen at Garnet Skarn. The project has the potential to be a prospective standalone exploration project.
Mining during the period was only to a depth of a few hundred feet due to poor processing technologies. According to the historical reports, between 1883 and 1976, the district produced approximately:
• 33 million pounds of copper
• 57K ounces of gold
• 2M ounces of silver
Garnet Creek sits seven kilometres (4.35 miles) north of Cuprum, alongside Indian Creek. To access Garnet Creek, proceed approximately three kilometres (two miles) northeast of Cuprum on Forest Service Route NF-002 (Council-Cuprum Rd).
At the junction with FS Route NF-106 (Sheep Rock Road), the access turns left onto Sheep Rock Road and continues approximately five miles (8.0 km) to the centre of the Project area.
Dirt roads accessing the Project from Cuprum are maintained by the Adams County Road & Bridge Department and are subject to seasonal snow-related closures.
