Avrupa Minerals Prepares for Drilling at the Sesmarias Copper-Zinc Massive Sulfide Prospect, Portugal
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June 3, 2024 NR 02 - 2024
Avrupa Minerals Prepares for Drilling at the Sesmarias
Copper-Zinc Massive Sulfide Prospect, Portugal
• Up to nine holes and 5,400 meters planned along 600 -meter strike
length in the Central and Northern Sectors of the S esmarias VMS
prospect;
• Program targets the potentially high-grade hinge zo ne of the Sesmarias
synform-shaped copper-zinc massive sulfide deposit;
• Two rigs contracted with start-up expected by the mid-June.
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (AVU:TSXV) is pleased to announce that planning is nearly
completed for a new phase of drilling at the Sesmar ias copper-zinc volcanogenic
massive sulfide prospect within the Alvalade Joint Venture Project in Portugal. The
Company plans to drill seven 600-meter holes along a strike length of 550-600 meters
in the Central and Northern sectors of the Sesmaria s mineralization (Sections 250S
through 800S), potentially followed by two more 600 -meter holes that will be collared
where necessary, for a possible total of 5,400 mete rs. The new program follows on a
successful 6-hole campaign completed during Q3-Q4 2 023. The drilling program at
Sesmarias is part of a joint venture between Avrupa Minerals and Sandfire Mineira
Portugal, Unipessoal Lda. (“Sandfire Portugal”), a 100%-owned subsidiary of Minas de
Aguas Teñidas, S.A. (“Sandfire MATSA”). Avrupa cont inues to operate the project
through the JV entity PorMining Lda., and Sandfire Portugal continues to fund the
exploration work.
Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, commented, “We are excited
about the detailed targeting possibilities in the u pcoming program. Over the course of
the present JV, we have identified the hinge zone o f the Sesmarias synform as the host
of higher-grade copper-zinc-lead-silver mineralizat ion, particularly along a strike length
of 500 to 600 meters between Sections 250 and 800 S outh, shown on the map below.
The PorMining team has spent the past few months fi ne-tuning the targeting through a
full-scale review of the existing data from the inception of the project. We expect to start
the drilling at Sesmarias with two drill rigs by mi d-June and continue through the
summer.”
Starting from the north and moving south, in physic al location order, we anticipate the
following drill holes:
• Section 250S – one drill hole behind (to the NE) o f SES21-045/046;
• Section 350S – one drill hole behind (steeper) SES 21-043/043A;
• Along strike, in the never-been-tested area and de pth between Sections 350S
and 500S and behind SES015 – two holes at different inclinations;
• Between Sections 500S and 650S – one drill hole be hind (steeper) SES23-051;
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• Section 650S – one drill hole from SES23-047/041 l ocation at an intermediate-
inclination between high grade SES23-047 and SES21-041;
• Section 800S – one hole behind SES23-048 (to the N E);
• Possibly two more holes, collar location to be det ermined on basis of results.
• Exact collar locations will be determined closer t o the time of drilling.
The following map summarizes the work completed and planned at Sesmarias:
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Figure 1. History of drilling at Sesmarias. In the Central Z one, the blue shape
between Sections 650S and 800S represents the surfa ce projection of the
potential high-grade hinge zone, while the blue are a intersected by the
discovery holes, SES002 and SES003, is thought to b e a faulted-off block from
the hinge in that area. In the North Zone, the red area is the projection of the
east limb of the synform, while purple is the west limb. In the South Zone,
green represents the surface projection of the west limb of the synform, while
no drill holes, to date, have targeted the east lim b in the South Zone. There is
a long, completely untested strike length of potent ial mineralization between
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350S and 500S. Drill hole locations in red represe nt drilling from last year’s 6-
hole program, and notations in turquoise highlight the sections where the
upcoming program will test the mineralized massive sulfide body.
The following conceptual cross section summarizes the geology and location of massive
sulfide mineralization hosted in the Sesmarias synformal structure:
Figure 2. Compilation of geological results from drilling in the Northern and Central sectors at
Sesmarias, courtesy of PorMining staff. The field of view is 500 meters left to right, and
approximately 1,400 meters of depth (strike length) SE to NW. The interpretation demonstrates
potential for more massive and stockwork mineraliza tion in both limbs of the synform and in the
hinge area along a significant strike distance. Th e expectation is to find higher grades in and
around the hinge of the synform in the Central Zone , and also to the north into the Northern
Zone. Drilling in the upcoming campaign will targe t the hinge zone and environs of the fold
along a strike length of 500-600 meters NW to SE.
Avrupa President/CEO Paul Kuhn further commented, “ The Company continues to be
excited by the long-term possibilities for the Sesm arias VMS prospect. Recent
interpretative work covering the mineralized zone s hows the potential for a continuous,
significant deposit approaching 1,500 meters in strike length in the Northern and Central
sectors of the prospect. Avrupa discovered the dep osit in 2014 and has guided the
program since that time through self-funded work an d several joint ventures, including
the present intensive program with Sandfire Portuga l. This JV is now entering its fifth
year, and the work at Sesmarias continues to produc e strong results through dedicated
work by the JV team and continued financial support from Sandfire Portugal.”
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Figure 3. Contour map showing inferred massive sulfide minera lization, using
copper equivalents (CuEq) as an exploration targeting tool .
Note: We use CuEq strictly as a proxy for total me tal content, and as such,
simply as an exploration targeting tool. In no way , are we commenting on a
possible resource size or value. When reporting dr ill results, we utilize only
individual metals’ values, as reported by an accredited laboratory.
For exploration purposes, using the results from Se smarias drilling, 2014 to
present, we calculate the total amount of copper, l ead, zinc, silver, and gold,
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without respect or indication of any/all further do wnstream activities, followed
by calculating the value of said total metal conten t (in this case, as of April 3,
2024, using: Cu = US$ 4.11/lb.; Pb = US$ 0.92/lb.; Zn = US$ 1.13/lb.; Ag =
US$ 26.25/oz.; and Au = US$ 2273/oz.). Finally, we calculate the equivalent
content of copper, or CuEq, by dividing the value o f the total contained metals
by the price of copper at that time. The shape and contouring of the inferred
Sesmarias mineralization, using Leapfrog geological modeling software, is
courtesy of the Sandfire Portugal geological team. While metals’ prices have
increased sharply since the original CuEq calculati ons, the shape of the VMS
target area remains much the same.
We have designed the upcoming drill program to upgr ade the +2% CuEq zone
in the SES Central sector and expand the potential +2% CuEq domain into the
SES North sector where historic drilling is less co ncentrated. Yellow and gray
zones generally indicate areas where historic drill ing missed the target and/or
recent, better-targeted drilling is sparse.
AVU will continue to update the market as to progre ss of the drilling program. In
addition to drilling, the JV initiated basic metall urgical testing of massive, semi-massive,
and stockwork polymetallic mineralization. These t ests are expected to continue
throughout the remainder of Q2 and well into Q3 2024.
Sandfire Portugal is a 100%-owned subsidiary of Sandfire MATSA, a modern mining
company which owns and operates the MATSA Mining Op erations in the Huelva
province of Spain. With a processing plant located to the north of the Iberian Pyrite Belt
that sources ore from three underground mines, the Aguas Teñidas and Magdalena
Mines in Almonaster la Real and the Sotiel Mine in Calañas, Sandfire MATSA produces
copper, zinc and lead mineral concentrates that are sold from the port of Huelva.
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and develo pment
company directed to discovery of mineral deposits, using a hybrid prospect generator
business model. The Company holds one 49%-owned li cense in Portugal, the Alvalade
VMS Project, presently optioned to Sandfire Portuga l in an earn-in joint venture
agreement. The Company now holds one 100%-owned ex ploration license covering
the Slivova gold prospect in Kosovo, and is activel y advancing four prospects in central
Finland through its in-process acquisition of Akker man Finland Oy. Avrupa focuses its
project generation work in politically stable and p rospective regions of Europe, presently
including Portugal, Finland, and Kosovo. The Compa ny continues to seek and develop
other opportunities around Europe.
For additional information, contact Avrupa Minerals Ltd. at 1-604-687-3520 or visit our
website at www.avrupaminerals.com .
On behalf of the Board,
“Paul W. Kuhn”
Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director
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This news release was prepared by Company managemen t, who take full responsibility for its content. P aul W.
Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licen sed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the
Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Can adian
Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the tec hnical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the Q P, has not only
reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparati on or approval of the scientific and technical cont ent in the news
release.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.