Battery Mineral Resources Announces Intercept of 53 Meters of 2.34% Copper from Dalmacia Target at Its Punitaqui MINE
BATTERY MINERAL RESOURCES ANNOUNCES INTERCEPT OF 53 METERS OF
2.34% COPPER FROM DALMACIA TARGET AT ITS PUNITAQUI MINE
Vancouver, British Columbia – (March 2, 2022) – Battery Mineral Resources Corp.
(TSXV: BMR) (OTCQB: BTRMF) ("Battery" or “BMR” or the "Company") is extremely
pleased to announce encouraging drill core assay results from the recently completed
phase 1 exploration and in-fill drill program at the Dalmacia target of the Punitaqui
mine complex (‘Punitaqui”) in Chile. Drilling continues at the Cinabrio Norte target
where three diamond drills are in operation. The Punitaqui mine is slated for
resumption of copper concentrate production in mid to late-2022.
Dalmacia is located in the southern portion of Punitaqui about 6 kilometers (“km”)
south of the Punitaqui copper processing plant. The Dalmacia target has underground
mining access, partially delineated mineralized zones and is targeted as a potential
new source of ore feed to the Punitaqui plant (see Figure 1).
Highlights
• At Dalmacia, phase 1 drilling has concluded for a total of 9,757 meters in 52
diamond drill holes. New assay results for the following Dalmacia drillholes include
the following (see Table 1):
o DS-21-21: 53 meters (“m”) at 2.34% Copper (“Cu”) including 17m at
3.77% Cu
o DS-21-26: 33m at 1.64% Cu including 21m at 2.05% Cu
o DS-21-18: 68m at 1.14% Cu including 14m at 2.07% Cu
o DS-21-09: 16m at 1.84% Cu including 12m at 2.18% Cu
o DS-21-28: 20m at 1.38% Cu and 3m at 1.13% Cu
o DS-21-20: 14m at 1.30% Cu and 4m at 1.79% Cu
o DS-21-25: 20m at 1.22% Cu including 6m at 2.87% Cu and 6m at
1.46% Cu and 5m at 1.57% Cu
o DS-21-23A: 18m at 1.05% Cu and 19m at 1.36% Cu including 5m at
2.44% Cu
o DS-21-15: 8m at 1.14% Cu including 3m at 1.58% Cu
o DS-21-19: 36m at 0.99% Cu and 6m at 1.30% Cu
o DS-21-24: 21m at 0.64% Cu including 4m at 1.21% Cu
o DS-21-27: 5m at 1.45% Cu
o DS-21-22: 4m at 3.60% Cu and 3m at 1.12% Cu
• Significant copper mineralization was reported in 43 of the 52 holes in the phase
1 Dalmacia program.
• Detailed core logging and assaying is in progress for the remainder of the
completed drillholes.
• Once final assays results are received, the new 3D geological model and assay
database will form the basis of a resource estimate to be completed by JDS Energy
& Mining Inc.
• Planning for both a follow-up infill program at Dalmacia and an exploration and
infill drill test of the remaining 1,000m strike length at Dalmacia is underway.
Battery CEO Martin Kostuik states; “ The conclusion of this phase of drilling at
Dalmacia further confirm the high -grade nature of the copper mineralization at
Dalmacia. Overall, the 2021-2022 Dalmacia North assay results are far better than
expected with significant copper mineralization reported in 43 of the 52 holes of the
program. These results clearly delineate high-grade copper grades over significant
intervals and have greatly enhanced our understanding of the structural controls for
the copper mineralization at Dalmacia. We look forward to future infill and step-out
drilling along the 1,000m of strike length at Dalmacia not tested during the 2021 -
2022 phase 1 program.
Now, with the recently announced completion of the phase 1 drilling at our San
Andres target and this announcement, we are two steps closer to providing the
market with BMR’s maiden resource statement for Punitaqui. Continued results like
these strengthen our resolve for the planned restart of our former producing
Punitaqui copper mine in Chile which gives our investors an opportunity to participate
in a potentially significant re -rating in BMR’s valuation as we transition from
development to operations and positive cash flow. We look forward to providing
further exciting updates for the remaining drill program in the coming weeks.”
Dalmacia Drill Program
The Dalmacia target is in the southern portion of the Punitaqui area about 6km south
of the Punitaqui processing plant (see Figure 1). Prior to the 2021 program, 229 drill
holes (98 RC holes and 131 diamond core holes) had been drilled at Dalmacia for a
total of 53,294m. Historic exploration drilling (1994-2020) at Dalmacia outlined a
zone of oxide and sulphide copper mineralized striking northeast – southwest over a
1.6km strike length. The current BMR drilling is focused on the Dalmacia North zone
(600m strike length) situated in the northeast portion of the Dalmacia target.
The geological setting of the Dalmacia target is different from the Cinabrio orebody
which is located 20 kilometers to the north. Dalmacia is situated within a roof-pendant
of volcanic rocks, with minor calcareous intercalations of Middle to Upper Jurassic
age. This volcano-sedimentary complex is intruded by younger aged granites located
in a reverse fault.
Copper-gold mineralization is related to regional structures and deformation zones,
developed in the contacts between granite, sub-volcanic andesitic porphyry intrusives
and volcano-sedimentary rocks. Controls on mineralization include small scale shear
zones, intrusive contacts, vesicular andesites and alteration zones . These controls
have different geometries leading to complex orebody shapes. High grade copper
mineralization occurs in small high -grade pods which locally occur in clusters
enveloped in low grade mineralization.
The upper portion of the Dalmacia target is accessed via a portal and an underground
ramp with limited level development. The current Phase 1 drill program is designed
to infill and confirm the continuity of mineralization between pr evious drilling and
includes a series of step-out holes to test the potential adjacent to the main zone of
copper-gold-silver mineralization as defined by historic drilling.
The recently completed phase 1 drill program consisted of 9,757m in 52 diamond
core holes (see Figure 2 and Figure 3). Complete assay results were recently received
for thirteen holes: DS-21-09, DS-21-15, DS-21-18 to DS-21-22, DS-21-23A and DS-
21-24 to DS-21-28 (see Table 1). A summary of the targeting rationale and results
for these recent drillholes follows below.
DS-21-09 was planned to test the down -dip and northern extent of copper
mineralization intersected in two historic holes; DAL -20 that produced a 27m
intercept of 0.91% Cu and DS-14-17 (27m at 1.84% Cu). The new hole did not
intersect mineralization at the target depth and defined the northern limit of the
mineralization intersected in DAL-20 and DS-14-17. In the upper part of DS-21-09
an intersection of 16m at 1.84% Cu from 98m including 12m at 2.18% Cu from
101m is interpreted to be an extension of the intersection of 32 m at 1.43% Cu, in
DS-21-08. A narrow zone of 2m grading 1.35% Cu was intersected at depth from
234m.
DS-21-15 was designed to test both the down-dip and westward extent of the high-
grade copper intersected in historic hole DAL-18 (21m at 2.56% Cu). The new hole
successfully intercepted a 23m well-mineralized section , between 122m – 145m
downhole, which hosted the same altered and mineralized vesicular ocoite as DAL-
18. Significant intercepts in DS-21-15 are 8m at 1.14% Cu from 128m downhole
including 3m at 1.36% Cu from 133m.
DS-21-18 was designed as an infill hole to test the upper high-grade intercept found
in historic hole SD-04 (38m at 2.35% Cu from 24m). Hole DS-21-18 encouragingly
encountered both oxide and sulphide copper mineralization from surface to 80m. The
hole undercut the modelled plunging high -grade sulphide mineralization and
intersected a broad intercept of oxide and sulfide copper (68m at 1.14% Cu) from
12m downhole (including 14m at 2.07% Cu oxides) and also a deeper sulphide
interval of 8m at 1.50% Cu from 72m.
DS-21-19 was also drilled as an infill hole to follow-up a deeper intercept in historic
hole SD -04 (28m grading 1.38% Cu ). The hole intersected copper oxide
mineralization from 12m – 45m transitioning to copper sulphides between 50m and
80m. Significant mineralized intercepts reported are 36m at 0.99% Cu from 12m
downhole and 6m at 1.30% Cu from 66m.
DS-21-20 was planned as a 35m up -dip test of the extent of the lower intercept
reported in BMR step-out hole DS-21-06 (95m at 0.78% Cu from 167m including
29m at 1.45% Cu, including a higher-grade interval of 14m at 2.44% Cu) and DS-
21-14 (9m at 1.53% Cu). The new hole was successful as it intersected moderate
to high grade mineralization from 56 m to 90 m and several zones of moderate
chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization from 90m to 135m. Significant assay intervals
include 14m at 1.30% Cu from 56m downhole including 8m at 1.27% Cu from
62m and 4m at 0.72% Cu from 116m and 4m at 1.79% Cu from 140m. The hole
did not intersect significant mineralization at the target depth indicating that the
mineralization intersected in drill holes DS-21-06 and DS-21-14 cuts out to the north.
DS-21-21 was planned to test the south extent of mineralization intersected in DS -
14-13 (7m at 1.62% Cu). This hole successfully extended the mineralization to the
south by intersecting a section of variably mineralized sandstone from 67.6m to 72m
and well mineralized vesicular ocoite and andesite from 72 m to 123m. Significant
assay intervals included 53m at 2.34% Cu from 68m downhole including 45m at
2.57% Cu from 76m and including 17m at 3.77% Cu from 104m.
DS-21-22 was a step-out hole to test the up-dip extent of mineralization in DS-21-
17(assays pending) and explore the area north of the current drilling. The hole cut a
section consisting of moderate to high grade mineralization from 61 m to 69m and
weak to moderate mineralization from 69m to 148m. The lower part of the drill hole,
from 182m to 202m, intersected a massive diorite intrusive with disseminated pyrite.
Assay intercepts reported included 4m at 3.60% Cu from 60m downhole and 3m
grading 1.12% Cu from 93m and a third intercept of 2m at 1.06% Cu from 128m.
DS-21-23A was planned to test north of the DS-21-16 intercepts (8m at 5.29% Cu
and 8m at 3.53% Cu ). The hole intersected several zones of moderate
mineralization between 14m and 94m and a zone of high-grade mineralization from
94 to 102 meters. Zones of moderate to high grade copper deeper in the hole at
102m to 115m. Assay intervals confirmed the mineralization continued to the north
and included 18m at 1.05% Cu from 39m downhole including 4m at 1.92% Cu and
including 2m at 2.05% Cu as well as a second mineralized intercept of 19m at
1.36% Cu from 94m including 5m at 2.44% Cu from 97m and including 3m at
1.96% Cu from 110m.
DS-21-24 was designed as an infill hole to test down-dip and east of the DS -21-21
(53m at 2.34% Cu from 68m downhole including 45m at 2.57% Cu from 76m and
including 17m at 3.77% Cu from 104m). The section drilled consisted of moderately
mineralized sandstone from 77.8 m to 81.2m and well mineralized vesicular ocoite
from 81.2m to 118m.The hole intersected 21m at 0.64% Cu from 75m downhole
including 4m at 1.21% Cu from 92m as well as a second intercept of 2m at 1.02%
Cu from 115m.
DS-21-25 was drilled to test the southward extension of mineralization intersected in
drillhole DS-21-06. The new hole successfully intersected 20m at 1.22% Cu from
52m downhole including 6m at 2.87% Cu from 52m. This mineralization is
interpreted to be an extension of the intersection of 17m at 4.38% Cu, in historic
hole SD-37. Deeper intersections of 6m at 1.46% Cu from 210m and 5m at 1.57%
Cu from 224m are interpreted as southward down dip extensions of the
mineralization intersected in drillhole DS -21-06 from 243 to 262 ( 19m at 1.10%
Cu).
DS-21-26 was designed as an infill hole to test the dip direction of several zones of
mineralization intersected in DS -21-07 (33m at 1.77% Cu, including intervals of
9.0m at 3.44% Cu) and DS-11-13 (22.9m at 1.14% Cu from 27.5m). The hole
intersected moderately to strongly mineralized andesite from 77 m to 104 m that
produced an assay interval of: 33m at 1.64% Cu from 72m downhole including 21m
at 2.05% Cu from 77m. This mineralized interval is interpreted to be a down dip and
southward projection of the mineralized interval in the upper part of DS-11-13.
DS-21-27 is an infill hole to test northern and deeper exten t of mineralization
intersected in DS-21-16 (8m at 5.29% Cu and 8m at 3.53% Cu). The hole cut a
section of variably mineralized sandstone units from 60.4m to 64m and moderately
mineralized vesicular ocoite from 64m to 84m. This intersection yielded a 5m interval
grading 1.45% Cu from 68m downhole.
DS-21-28 was designed as an up-dip test of mineralization encountered in holes DS-
21-06 (29m at 1.45% Cu from 183m and 19m at 1.10% Cu from 243m) and DS-
21-14 ( 15m at 1.16% Cu from 145 and 9m at 1.53% Cu from 186) . The
intersections in DS-21-28 are interpreted to correlate with these intersection s are
20m at 1.38% Cu intercept from 79m downhole and an interval of 3m at 1.13%
Cu from 106m.
Significant BMR assay results received to date for the Dalmacia 2021 drilling include
the following (see Table 2):
• DS-21-01: 23m at 1.16% Cu, including 13m at 1.56% Cu
• DS-21-02: 11m at 1.08% Cu, including 4m at 2.32% Cu
• DS-21-03: 15m at 1.01% Cu, including 4m at 2.47% Cu
• DS-21-04: 13m at 0.64% Cu including 2m at 1.24% Cu
• DS-21-05: 6m at 1.16% Cu
• DS-21-06: 32m grading 0.73% Cu including 16m at 1.15% Cu and
95m at 0.78% Cu including 29m at 1.45% Cu, including a higher-grade
interval of 14m at 2.44% Cu
• DS-21-07: 33m at 1.77% Cu, including intervals of 9.0m at 3.44% Cu,
and 7m at 2.54% Cu, and 10m at 0.84% Cu, and 6m at 2.19% Cu
• DS-21-08: 102m at 1.41% Cu including 78m at 1.67% Cu and 16m at
3.52% Cu
• DS-21-10: 2m at 2.40% Cu
• DS-21-11: 24m at 1.04% Cu including 4m at 1.60% Cu and an interval
of 6m at 1.95% Cu
• DS-21-12: 11m at 0.82% Cu
• DS-21-13: 18m at 1.61% Cu, 12m at 2.13% Cu including 8m at 2.95%
Cu and an interval of 5m at 3.26% Cu as well as an intercept of 7m at
1.87% Cu
• DS-21-14: 9m at 0.74% Cu including 4m at 1.03% Cu, 15m at 1.16%
Cu including 7m at 1.44% Cu and an interval of 9m at 1.53% Cu and
another intercept of 4m at 1.50% Cu
• DS-21-16: 8m at 5.29% Cu and 8m at 3.53% Cu
Table 1: New BMR-Dalmacia Target Significant Assays
Drillhole
Number
From To Sample
Interval
(m)
Copper Silver Gold
(m) (m) Cu
(%)
Ag
(g/t)
Au
(g/t)
DS-21-09 89 91 2 0.88 1.3 -
and 98 114 16 1.84 0.5 -
including 101 113 12 2.18 0.6 -
and 234 236 2 1.35 0.5 -
DS-21-15 128 136 8 1.14 1.2 0.023
including 128 131 3 1.58 1.8 0.032
and 133 136 3 1.36 1.3 0.025
DS-21-18 12 80 68 1.14 0.9 -
including 12 38 26 1.48 0.8 -
including 12 26 14 2.07 1 -
and 46 62 16 1.43 1.4 -
and 72 80 8 1.5 1.1 0.009
DS-21-19 12 48 36 0.99 0.3 -
and 66 72 6 1.3 0.7 -
DS-21-20 56 70 14 1.3 0.7 -
including 62 70 8 1.27 0.9 0.521
and 116 120 4 0.72 0.1 -
and 140 144 4 1.79 0.4 -
DS-21-21 68 121 53 2.34 0.8 -
including 76 121 45 2.57 0.9 0.047
including 104 121 17 3.77 0.8 0.1
DS-21-22 60 64 4 3.6 2.5 -
and 93 96 3 1.12 0.3 0.044
and 128 130 2 1.06 0.1 -
DS-21-23A 39 57 18 1.05 0.3 -
including 40 44 4 1.92 0.9 0.069
including 48 50 2 2.05 0.1 0.178
including 55 57 2 1.54 0.1 0.065
and 94 113 19 1.36 0.8 -
including 97 102 5 2.44 1.1 0.468
and 110 113 3 1.96 1.7 0.112
DS-21-24 75 96 21 0.64 0.8 -
including 92 96 4 1.21 2.1 -
and 115 117 2 1.02 0.6 -
DS-21-25 52 72 20 1.22 1.2 -
including 52 58 6 2.87 3.2 0.149
and 210 216 6 1.46 0.3 -
and 224 229 5 1.57 0.1 -
DS-21-26 72 105 33 1.64 4.8 -
including 77 98 21 2.05 6.9 -
DS-21-27 68 73 5 1.45 0.7 -
including 68 72 4 1.64 0.8 0.005
DS-21-28 79 99 20 1.38 0.6 -
and 106 109 3 1.13 0.9 0.079
and 121 123 2 1.15 0.1 0.079
Note: All intervals are downhole core lengths
Table 2: Earlier 2021 BMR - Dalmacia Target Significant Drill Assay Intervals
Drillhole
Number
From To Sample
Interval
(m)
Copper Silver Gold
(m) (m) Cu
(%)
Ag
(g/t)
Au
(g/t)
DS-21-01 79 91 12 1.79 2.5 0.028
including 80 88 8 2.44 3.2 0.035
and 105 128 23 1.16 1.7 0.016
including 115 128 13 1.56 2.1 0.024
including 115 122 7 2.32 3.1 0.036
and 137 139 2 1.06 0.7 0.03
and 180 184 4 0.89 0.4 -
and 220 224.9 4.9 0.72 0.6 -
DS-21-02 22 29 7 1.67 2.6 0.08
and 64 74 10 1.03 2.1 -
including 64 67 3 1.49 2.3 -
and 71 73 2 2.34 5 -
and 99 106 7 2.58 2.7 -
and 177 188 11 1.08 0.9 0.08
including 177 181 4 2.32 1.4 0.17
including 177 180 3 2.9 1.7 0.22
DS-21-03 46 61 15 1.01 1.2 0.017
including 46 50 4 2.47 3.1 0.05
DS-21-04 70 76 6 0.71 0.9 0.012
including 72 76 4 0.87 1 0.01
and 89 102 13 0.64 0.9 -
including 93 95 2 1.24 1.5 -
DS-21-05 52 58 6 1.16 1.7 0.017
and 131 132 1 1.81 0.4 0.695
and 141 143 2 2.98 5 3.835
and 155 156 1 3.22 2 -
DS-21-06 37 69 32 0.73 0.5 -
including 37 53 16 1.15 0.6 0.06
including 37 44 7 1.75 0.8 0.079
and 112 115 3 2.14 0.6 0.03
and 134 139 5 1.58 0.4 0.019
and 167 262 95 0.78 0.5 -
including 167 170 3 1.84 0.8 0.096
and 183 187 4 1.75 0.6 0.071
and 19 262 65 0.93 0.5 -
including 197 211 14 2.44 0.7 0.039
and 243 262 19 1.1 0.6 0.022
including 243 251 8 1.88 0.7 0.029
and 260 262 2 1.79 0.7 0.06
DS-21-07 24 57 33 1.77 1.5 0.052
including 24 33 9 3.44 1.6 0.167
and 39 46 7 2.54 3.5 0.02
and 84 94 10 0.84 1.2 0.032
and 176 182 6 2.19 0.4 -
DS-21-08 48 150 102 1.41 1.2 -
including 48 126 78 1.67 1.4 -
including 48 64 16 3.52 4.5 0.017
DS-21-10 138 140 2 2.4 1 -
DS-21-11 59 61 2 1.14 2 0.043
and 78 102 24 1.04 0.5 -
including 78 88 10 1.06 0.5 -
including 78 82 4 1.6 0.4 -
including 86 88 2 1.78 1 -
and 96 102 6 1.95 0.4 -
DS-21-12 116 121 5 0.62 1 -
and 143 145 2 0.95 1 -
and 161 172 11 0.82 0.5 -
DS-21-13 44 62 18 1.61 0.7 0.01
and 135 147 12 2.13 1.5 -
including 139 147 8 2.95 1.9 -
and 157 162 5 3.26 0.9 -
and 181 188 7 1.87 0.7 -
DS-21-14 73 82 9 0.74 0.7 0.038
including 78 82 4 1.03 0.7 0.05
and 145 160 15 1.16 0.4 -
including 145 152 7 1.44 0.4 -
and 172 174 2 1.11 0.4 -
and 186 195 9 1.53 1.6 0.052
and 205 209 4 1.5 0.4 0.24
DS-21-16 74 82 8 5.29 0.026
and 102 110 8 3.53 0.065
Note: All intervals are downhole core lengths