Monday 4 February 2013

Southern Hemisphere Mining unlocking resource upside at Llahuin

Southern Hemisphere Mining (ASX: SUH, TSX-V: SH) is continuing its run of positive drilling results from its flagship Llahuin Copper-Gold Project in central Chile which show more broad widths of mineralisation.

An accelerated drilling program is continuing at the Llahuin Project under the new joint venture with Canadian base metals miner Lundin Mining Corporation (TSX: LUN)

Three drill rigs, one reverse circulation and two diamond drill rigs, are currently operating at both the Central Porphyry and the nearby Ferrocarril zone at the Llahuin Project. 

The latest results highlight the significant potential to grow the current Measured and Indicated Resource of 145 million tonnes at 0.4% copper equivalent.

A test hole at the Cerro de Oro Zone returned 88 metres at 0.53% copper equivalent from 40 metres, while drilling at the Central Porphyry Zone returned a highlight of 350 metres at 0.41% copper equivalent from surface, including 44 metres at 0.61% copper equivalent; 20 metres at 0.57% copper equivalent; and 48 metres at 0.52% copper equivalent.

Other notable results from the Central Porphyry Zone included 314 metres at 0.41% copper equivalent from 2 metres, including 28 metres at 0.49% copper equivalent; 26 metres at 0.48% copper equivalent; and 40 metres at 0.5% copper equivalent.

Drilling at the Ferrocarril Zone delivered 22 metres at 0.63% copper equivalent from 182 metres and 16 metres at 0.87% copper equivalent from 100 metres.

Meanwhile, preliminary metallurgical testwork results support Southern Hemisphere’s plans to progress development of the Llahuin Project under its recently established joint venture with Lundin Mining Corporation.

The results from preliminary metallurgical test work indicate that the Llahuin Project mineralisation is highly amenable to a conventional flotation process, with a low unit energy requirement expected for crushing/grinding and copper recoveries of up to 91% achieved.

These characteristics, together with the ability to produce a concentrate grading 28% to 32% copper with low levels of deleterious materials in concentrate, support the commercial development potential of the Llahuin Project.

Trevor Tennant, managing director, commented: “We have started the New Year very strongly with an accelerated drill campaign at the Llahuin Project under the work plan agreed with our joint venture partner, Lundin Mining Corporation. 

“The latest results from drilling are excellent and continue to highlight the significant upside potential within the key zones of mineralisation.

“In addition, the early stage results from metallurgical test work, which will be improved upon with optimisation in the next stage of metallurgical test work, indicate the comparative advantages of low unit energy requirements, high copper recoveries and commercially attractive concentrate grades.

“We are looking forward to what should be a defining year for Southern Hemisphere and the Llahuin Project, which we expect to continue to develop as one of the more significant emerging mid-tier copper-gold opportunities in Chile.”


Next steps


At the Cerro de Oro Zone an additional diamond drill hole is planned to further test the breccia zone.

Results from the induced polarisation and ground magnetic surveys have been received, analysed and a series of drill holes planned to test the anomalous zones. 

Southern Hemisphere is also planning to begin larger scale metallurgical testwork to more accurately study the metallurgical parameters, process conditions and a mineralogical analysis of the concentrates to optimise the key variables. 


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