Libero Options the Esperanza Porphyry Copper-Gold Project - Drilling Includes 232 Metres of 1% Cueq from Surface
Libero Options the Esperanza Porphyry
Copper-Gold Project - Drilling Includes 232
Metres of 1% Cueq from Surface
VANCOUVER, BC
,
Jan. 26, 2021
/CNW/ -
Libero Copper & Gold Corporation (TSXV: LBC)
(OTCQB: LBCMF) (DE: 29H)
is pleased to announce that it has optioned the Esperanza porphyry
copper-gold and epithermal gold project located in the prolific precious and base metal endowed and
mining friendly Huachi Mining district, San Juan Province,
Argentina
. The advanced stage Esperanza
exploration project is road accessible, contains multiple copper-gold drill targets supported by
numerous high-grade surface rock samples across a large alteration footprint and numerous
historical drill intercepts including 387 metres of 0.78% copper equivalent from surface through end
of hole. An initial 5,000 metre drill program is planned for the second quarter.
Highlights
Drill ready porphyry copper-gold advanced exploration project in mining-friendly Huachi
mining district, San Juan Province,
Argentina
.
Drill intercepts include 387 metres of 0.78% Cueq (0.57% Cu and 0.27g/t Au) (including
232 metres of 1% Cueq (0.74% Cu and 0.33 g/t Au)), starting at surface and open at
depth and in all directions (Table 1, Plate 1).
Porphyry copper-gold mineralization exposed on surface with numerous high-grade
surface rock samples (0.10% - 8.29% copper) associated with widespread quartz-
sericite-pyrite, clay, and biotite alteration footprints (2.0 km by 1.2 km) identifying
multiple untested porphyry and epithermal targets (Figures 2 and 3).
Confirmed copper-gold porphyry system juxtaposed with epithermal gold mineralization.
High-grade epithermal gold zones with drill intercepts including 3 metres of 65 g/t Au
and 7 metres of 4.7 g/t Au.
Initial 5,000 metre drill program planned for the second quarter.
"Esperanza adds another advanced stage copper-gold porphyry to the portfolio of Libero, in another
mining-friendly jurisdiction known for major mining projects. We are very excited about this
exceptional drill target as a 2018 drill program intercepted 387 metres of 0.78% copper equivalent
from surface through to the end of hole, which was never followed up on due to market conditions,"
comments
Ian Harris
, Chief Executive Officer. "The project has a year-round drilling season and drill
permitting is already underway. We are planning to be drilling by April, in advance of our summer drill
programs in
Canada
at Big Red and Big Bulk."
Hole ID
From
To
Interval (m)
Cu (%)
Au (g/t)
CuEq (%)
Target
18-ESP-025
0.0
387.0
387.0
0.57
0.27
0.78
Porphyry
Including
0.0
232.0
232.0
0.74
0.33
1.00
06-HU-01
1.0
200.0
199.0
0.25
0.12
0.34
Porphyry
06-HU-02
2.0
355.1
353.1
0.35
0.18
0.49
Porphyry
Including
112.0
200.0
88.0
0.48
0.27
0.69
07-HU-05
6.0
254.5
248.5
0.26
0.17
0.39
Porphyry
Including
192.0
244.0
52.0
0.39
0.32
0.64
11-HU-18
54.0
61.0
7.0
-
4.73
-
Epithermal
11-HU-22*
52.0
55.0
3.0
-
65.07
-
Epithermal
Table 1:
Select historical drill intercepts. Libero has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical
exploration work in order to verify the results. Libero considers these historical drill results relevant as Libero will use this data as a guide to plan future exploration programs.
Libero also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes, however, Libero's future exploration work will include verification of the data through drilling. *20% recovery over
this interval – results may not reflect true width or mineralization grade. CuEq was calculated using US$1,850/oz gold and US$3.50/lb copper and does not consider metal
recoveries.
Figure 1: Cross-section showing the location of drill hole 18-ESP-025 which includes 387 metres of
0.57% Cu and 0.27 g/t Au, starting at surface. Note: the cross-section line A-A(1) is shown on
Figure 2. (CNW Group/Libero Copper & Gold Corporation.)
Figure 2: Rock samples (copper) and exploration targets (circled) at Esperanza. (CNW
Group/Libero Copper & Gold Corporation.)
Figure 3: Rock samples (gold) and exploration targets (circled) at Esperanza. (CNW Group/Libero
Copper & Gold Corporation.)
Plate 1: Core photographs from drill hole 18-ESP-025, which intersected 387 metres grading 0.57%
Cu and 0.27 g/t Au.
Mineralization was intersected at surface and is open at depth. Photographs
show intense potassic alteration; quartz-chalcopyrite vein stockwork, K-feldspar and secondary
biotite. (CNW Group/Libero Copper & Gold Corporation.)
The Esperanza project lies within the pre-cordillera tectonostratigraphic belt of northern
Argentina
, in
a region dominated by Paleozoic to Lower Mesozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks. At Esperanza,
these rocks are cut by the Cretaceous or Tertiary sub-volcanic stocks and dykes known as the
Huachi Intrusions. Mineralization at Esperanza is centered on a large and intense porphyry-style
alteration footprint exposed over a 2 km by 1.2 km area where copper and gold mineralization is
associated with hypabyssal feldspar porphyry intrusions, an early phase of the Huachi Intrusions
(Figures 2 and 3). At Esperanza epithermal gold mineralization and porphyry copper-gold
mineralization occur together, which suggests overprinting of the two styles, and thus increases the
potential for high-grades. Porphyry-style copper mineralization consists of dissemination and fracture
fill chalcopyrite with subordinate magnetite and pyrite within a broad potassic alteration envelope.
Historical exploration includes diamond drilling, rock and silt sampling, IP, and magnetic geophysics.
Rock sampling at surface has defined copper and gold mineralization over much of the project.
Drill hole
18-ESP
-025, completed by Latin Metals in 2018, returned the best results to date with 387
metres grading 0.57% copper and 0.27 g/t gold from surface through end of hole (Table 1, Plate 1).
This hole was not followed up on due to market conditions. Mineralization is open at depth and
laterally, with priority targets located west and south. There are multiple drill-ready, untested
targets. A 5,000 metre drill program is planned for the second quarter. Esperanza is road accessible
and located at an elevation of only 3,200 metres in mining-friendly San Juan Province, Argentina.
Libero has entered into an option agreement with Latin Metals Inc. to earn-in to 70% of the
Esperanza project by assuming the underlying option payments to the original project vendors and
incurring
$2 million
in exploration expenditures by
December 15, 2022
. Upon the exercise of the
option, Libero and Latin Metals will form a 70/30 joint venture for the continued exploration and
development of the project.
Date
Cash Payments
(USD)
Exploration Expenditures
(USD)
June 15, 2021
$300,000
December 15, 2021
$750,000
$1,000,000
December 15, 2022
$1,353,000
$1,000,000
About
Libero Copper
& Gold
Libero is unlocking the value of a collection of porphyry copper deposits throughout the Americas in
prolific and stable jurisdictions. The portfolio includes Big Red (a new grassroots discovery) and Big
Bulk in the Golden Triangle,
Canada
, Esperanza in San Juan,
Argentina
, and the Mocoa deposit in
Colombia
. These assets are being advanced by a highly disciplined and seasoned professional team
with successful track records of discovery, resource development, and permitting in the Americas.
The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr.
Thomas Mumford P.Geo
, President of Serac Exploration, who is a Qualified Person as defined
under NI 43-101.
Neither the 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. This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered
forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-
looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of
future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-
looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes,
continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business
conditions and regulatory and administrative approvals, processes and filing requirements. There
can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised
to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update
any forward-looking statements.
SOURCE
Libero Copper
& Gold Corporation.
View original content to download multimedia:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2021/26/c0177.html
%SEDAR: 00027216E
For further information:
Ian Harris, Chief Executive Officer, +1 604 294 9039,
[email protected]; Tetiana Konstantynivska, Investor Relations, +1 778 372 0179,
CO: Libero Copper & Gold Corporation.
CNW 09:01e 26-JAN-21