Reconnaissance field work at Hillgrove Resources’ Bird’s Head Project in West Papua has confirmed the presence of significant copper and gold mineralization within two prospects in the Delta target area.
The field work has confirmed that the large copper signature from soil sampling is due to porphyry-style mineralization.
It has confirmed the presence of disseminated and vein-hosted copper/gold mineralization within altered intrusive, along with assay values of low to medium grade range, as expected for porphyry-style mineralization. Peak assays include 5.7 grams/tonne gold and 3.7% copper.
It also confirmed the presence of a structural corridor which strikes for at least 4km and hosts medium to high grade gold/copper mineralization. The corridor extends south from the Kali Sute Prospect and peak assays include 33.5 grams/tonne gold and 8.6% copper.
This area corresponds with the best gold results from historical channel sampling.
The main focus for the Bird’s Head Project in coming months will be the start of detailed mapping and channel/trench sampling of the West Delta prospect and a heli-borne radiometrics/magnetics survey over the general Delta area with a view to define targets for early drilling.
Reconnaissance work will also continue to the south of West Delta at the Southern Porphyry prospect, which also has a significant geochemical signature and similar alteration as suggested by the large degree of erosion.
Hillgrove’s managing director David Archer says, “The Papua New Guinea-West Papua fold belts host four of the world’s top 20 largest known gold-rich porphyry deposits.
“Our work at West Delta has highlighted many of the key characteristics one would associate with a porphyry system. Target definition followed by drill testing is now our major priority.”
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