ECR Minerals plc announces that the second phase of drilling at the Itogon Gold Project has commenced. ECR is the operator of the project and has the right to earn a 50% interest therein.

ECR’s chief executive officer Stephen Clayson says, “2014 was a full year of exploration by ECR at Itogon and the results have demonstrated that epithermal gold mineralization is widespread within the main prospect area, comprising at least three sub-parallel mineralized structures over a strike length of 400 metres within a zone up to 250 metres wide at surface. 

“Our first phase of drilling, which was completed in April 2014, as well as multiple phases of sampling within artisanal workings, indicates that the mineralization occurs over a vertical extent of 250 metres, and remains open at depth.

“The Itogon project is within an established mining district in the Philippines, which is a country with an important mining industry and, in general, a relatively low cost of operations. Grid power is available close to the project, and the area is easily accessible by sealed and unsealed roads from Baguio City some 15km distant.

“It is intended that the program of diamond drilling now under way will answer key geological questions with regard to the mineralized structures identified to date, and evaluate the continuity of grade in the mineralized zones intercepted by previous drilling.

“These zones include a surficial zone of supergene enrichment, prior intercepts from which include 16 metres @ 17.14 grams/tonne gold from 1 metre and 30 metres @ 1.63 grams/tonne from surface. Also worthy of follow up are deeper intercepts including 33 metres @ 1.13 grams/tonne from 86 metres, 7 metres @ 5.33 grams/tonne from 138 metres and 15 metres @ 3.29 grams/tonne from 82 metres. In addition, there may be scope for the current program to identify new mineralized structures.”