Mt Isa Metals commences drilling of copper targets at Leichardt Project

Mt Isa Metals (ASX: MET) has commenced the 2010 exploration drilling campaign within the Leichardt Exploration Project.

The Leichardt Exploration Project comprises multiple tenements / tenement applications located approximately midway between Mt Isa and Cloncurry in north-west Queensland.

The area is noted for a high concentration of historical copper workings and a number of recent major copper-gold discoveries.

A 5,000 metre drilling program has initially been proposed within two tenement areas comprising the Barbara tenement (EPM 16112) and the Blockade tenement (EPM 16197).

Both tenements are held in joint venture between Mt Isa Metals Limited (49%) and Syndicated Metals Limited (51% and manager).

Drilling to date within the Barbara tenement has focussed on delineating the near-surface extent of sulphide copper mineralisation within the Barbara copper deposit.

Positive results from this drilling led to the recent announcement of a JORC compliant resource for the North Lode deposit.

The Barbara North Lode deposit remains open down plunge below 150m depth. The current drill program will include multiple holes to test the deposit below the base of current drilling and within the projected higher grade core of the structure.

Recent exploration activity from elsewhere within the Barbara tenement (including mapping, surface channel sampling and soil sampling) has also identified additional copper targets that show sufficient potential to warrant drill testing within the current drilling program.

These targets include the Green Zone which is a Copper-bearing structure defined over a 400m strike length. Surface channel samples include 10 meters @ 1.0% Cu, and 15 metres @ 0.63% Cu. Individual rock chip samples to 2.9% Cu.

The North Gossan target is mapped at surface. Geochemical results show elevated Cu, Co and As. Located at the possible favourable intersection of the “Barbara” and “Green Zone” structures.

The Blockade tenement is located approximately 20km south of Barbara and was acquired on the basis of the high concentration of historical copper workings identified within the permit area.

The company said no recent drilling has been conducted within the Blockade tenement.

Two historical copper mine sites (Trey Bit and Blue Star) have been selected for drill testing in the current program.

Copper sulphides (including chalcocite and chalcopyrite) have been reported from the sulphide zone at the Trey Bit prospect. Depth to sulphide is reported as approximately 10 metres from surface. The target strike length identified by historical workings is in excess of 250 metres.

Historical mining/drilling encountered multiple (at least four) stacked lodes developed parallel to a lithological (mafic – felsic) contact at the Blue Star prospect.

The company said exploration drilling results for all target areas will be provided as they come to hand.

http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/6000/mt-isa-metals-commences-drilling-of-copper-targets-at-leichardt-project-6000.html