⚒️ Southern Hemisphere Mining Limited reports encouraging results of recent 3D Geochemical Footprint Modelling and 3D Drone Magnetic inversion modelling at the Company’s Llahuin Copper-Gold Project in Chile.
This work is part of the process to substantially increase the copper and gold endowment of Llahuin from the current Independent Resource Estimate of 680,000t Copper equivalent (measured indicated and inferred categories done in 2013).
Figure 1. 3D view showing geochemical footprint models thematically colour scaled from blue (moderate probability) through to reds and magentas (high probability). Drone magnetic inversion models are in silvery grey.
- 3D geochemical footprint modelling has identified two large drill targets at the Llahuin Copper-Gold porphyry system
- The Curiosity target at Southern Porphyry is located 550m below the Santa Maria gold workings and diameter of over 1km expanding to over 2km diameter at depth
- Deep drill testing of the Curiosity target, funded by expected VAT refunds
- Two shallower targets at Cerro and Ferro are confirmed near surface by drilling, and further data acquisition and modelling is in progress
- No drilling or modern exploration has been completed on the Southern Porphyry Curiosity target before
- 3D drone magnetic inversion completed, further supporting the targets
Figure 2. Location map of SUH projects in South America.
⚒️ Results Discussion
The Company engaged Fathom Geophysics to apply its proprietary 3D porphyry footprint modelling method at Llahuin. This method uses eleven elements (As (arsenic), Bi (bismuth), Cu (copper), Li (lithium), Mo (molybdenum), Sb (antimony), Se (selenium), Sn (tin), Te (tellurium), Tl (thallium), and W (tungsten), to map idealised deposit model zonation and thresholds based on the Halley et al., (2015) geochemical model. Receivables from this work are a set of wireframe shells representing probabilities of the presence of a porphyry system at a given point in 3D space.
Figure 3. Plan view, showing the geochemical footprint models, drone magnetic inversions, and existing deposits and prospects.
Surface soil and surface rock chip samples were used to create two 3D model outcomes over Llahuin. The results are encouraging. The soils-based models are discussed in this announcement, as that dataset has better spatial coverage, and better analytical information than the current rock chip dataset. More data is now being collected to refine the models to the point of being drill ready.
A 3D inversion model on the Drone Magnetic dataset was completed to complement the footprint modelling. The magnetic and geochemistry models complement each other, with highly magnetic bodies located adjacent to and above geochemical footprint models.
This work resulted in two new potential drill targets (footprint targets) and a better understanding of the geometry of the porphyry systems at Llahuin.
⚒️ Southern Porphyry Curiosity Copper-Gold Target
This target top is 550m vertically below the Santa Maria gold system. It has a pipe like geometry with a diameter of approximately 1km.
This extends to approximately 2km depth, where the probability values increase, and the model becomes significantly larger in aerial extent.
The location and geometry are supported by the drone magnetic inversion model, with a strongly magnetic core located above and to the side of the geochemistry model.
Figure 4. Cross section of Southern Porphyry, showing thematically coloured footprint models, drone magnetic inversion models in silvery grey, and existing drilling in grey.
⚒️ Cerro – Ferro Target
This target begins near surface, partially coincident with the resource drill patterns at Ferro and Cerro, extending outside and below the current Mineral Resources to a depth of approximately 500m.
Then, at a significantly larger target develops (Cerro-Ferro Deeps), extending to approximately 1250m depth.
The Cerro-Ferro Deeps footprint target is approximately 2,200m long (north-south), by 900m wide (eastwest), by 650m thick.
This target area and the general validity of the geochemical footprint modelling are supported by existing drilling and the location of the Mineral Resources at Ferro and Cerro.
Further support is provided by the drone magnetic inversion model, with highly magnetic cores located adjacent to the geochemistry models.
Figure 5. Long section of Ferro and Cerro, showing the thematically coloured footprint models, drone magnetic and current Mineral Resources.
⚒️ Ongoing Programs
Surface sampling programs are ongoing, to improve the spatial coverage and analytical information of the datasets.
The aim is to improve the resolution of the rock chip based footprint models to better compare and contrast with the soils based models, close off and better resolve the Southern Porphyry target, and generally tighten the resolution of the models in preparation for drill testing.
Figure 6. 3D view looking northeast from Southern Porphyry (SP) to Central Porphyry, showing the scale of the Llahuin mineralising system.
Deep drill testing of the Southern Porphyry Curiosity target, funded by expected VAT refunds is being evaluated by the Board for the second half of 2024.
Further results on the substantial work in progress for refinement of these two large copper-gold drill targets as well as open pit style expansion of existing resources will be reported in due course.
The Full PDF is available below.
News Release
Date: 29 April 2024 | ASX Code: SUH | Frankfurt Exchange: NK4
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Southern Hemisphere Mining Limited is an experienced minerals explorer in Chile, South America.
Chile is the world’s leading copper producing country and one of the most prospective regions of the world for major new copper discoveries. The Company’s projects include the Llahuin Porphyry Copper-Gold-Moly Project, the Lago Lithium Exploration Project, and the Los Pumas Manganese EV Battery Project, all of which were discovered by the Company.
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