Four Metals Property
Property Highlights - June 2008
| Commodities: |
Polymetallic Copper, Molybdenum, Gold and Silver |
| Location: |
14 miles east of Nogales, Arizona - Southern Patagonia
Mountains, five miles north of the Mexican border. |
| Size of property: |
42 claims |
| Status: |
Exploration |
| Ownership: |
100% Black Pearl |
Location
The property is located in the Southern Patagonia Mountains, 14 miles east of
Nogales, Arizona and 5 miles north of the Mexican border. The land position
comprises of 42 claims covering the 4M deposit and surrounding area. Other
notable deposits in the area are the Ventura and Three R deposits located 4
miles southeast and significant Cu-Mo mineralization on the adjacent Forsythe-
Minnesota Zone.
• The property hosts a polymetallic deposit with potentially economically
viable metals. Mine Reserves Associates (MRA) an independent
geological engineering firm in Colorado (1996) estimated, on the basis of
extensive drilling and underground development that there are 21.41
million tons grading 0.58% Cu (0.29% Cu cut-off) available in an open pit
configuration at a waste to ore ratio of 0.93. A GEMCON designed open
pit was included and estimate was based on extensive drilling and
underground work. Within this resource there is a supergene enrichment
zone with an estimated 7.84 million tons grading 1.20% copper, 0.066%
molybdenum, 0.009 oz/ton gold and 0.08 oz/ton silver. These are
historical estimates and complies with NI-43-101 policy under the
category "Indicated Mineral Resource". These resources have not
been verified by a qualified person and therefore should not be relied
upon. The Company will undertake a resource calculation compliant with
NI 43-101 upon finalization of the option agreement and completion of
confirmation drilling
• additional high grade intercepts have been recorded from drilling
performed after the MRA resource estimate and the deposit has important
molybdenum and gold and silver credits which were not included in the
overall 1996 resource estimate
• BLK management believes there is a high probability to confirm the
existing resource and increase the potentially economic tonnage at 4M
through drilling on known zones and on nearby exploration targets
• The 4m property is located in south central Arizona near past production
areas and currently operating mining infrastructure
• The 4M acquisition diversifies the Company's property base
geographically, seasonally and by commodity
History
The mineralized system is hosted in the Red Hill breccia pipe which forms a
prominent reddish cone which has attracted the attention of prospectors since
the 1860s. 4500 feet of underground workings with minor production from 3
levels occurred through 1925 including 4 surface drill holes by Anaconda in 1921.
ASARCO (1952) and Duval (1953) did underground sampling and drilling
respectively. Noranda's US subsidiary West Range drilled 43 holes, 40 of which
were drilled from underground stations. (1963-65). Noranda (1970-77) performed
regional geophysical and geochemical surveys, drilled several targets and
optioned the Property to U.V. Industries (1978-81) who deepened several holes.
Metallic Ventures (Cobre Mining Co. 1990-1996) drilled 6 holes.
Geology
The 4M deposit is hosted in Patagonia granodiorite, a Laramide age batholith
which forms the Patagonia Mountains. The intrusive hosting 4M is typically a
grey, medium grained equigranular to locally porphyritic biotite-hornblende
granodiorite. The 4M breccia is considered to be a mineralized tectonic breccia
localized by the intersection of two fault planes which generated the pipe-shaped
structure which plunges northwesterly. The 4M and other pipes in the area are
thought to represent ingress of a high pressure gas-fluid phase along avenues of
least resistance including fault and /or fracture intersections. These pipes are
geologically similar to those hosting the world-class Cananea ore deposits to the
south in Sonora, Mexico.
Mineralization Alteration
Dissemination and veinlets dominate the mode of sulfide mineralization. Several
vein types are apparent; sulfide-rich hairline veins and fracture fillings; sulfide
veins with quartz-sericite selveges; and quartz-sericite-pyrite veins. The main
sulfides are chalcocite, chalcopyrite and molybdenite in a tectonic breccia with
quartz-biotite-K feldspar gangue. High grade mineralization is localized in an
elongate 'footwall zone' within the broader oval shaped breccia system. The
general picture is one of a funnel-shaped elliptical mineralized body (long axis
NE-SW) dipping northwest with a horizontal "capping" classical supergene
enrichment zone, which continues downward along permissive fracture zones.
Molybdenum
The molybdenum grade at 4M is under sampled with only about 10 % of the drill
core assayed for both Cu and Mo. Of the 15 drill holes which tested the
supergene zone and were assayed for molybdenum the following intervals were
recorded.
Drill Hole |
From Feet |
To Feet |
Interval Feet |
% CU |
% MO |
| UG-1 |
40 |
170 |
130 |
0.83 |
0.035 |
| UG-2 |
0 |
60 |
60 |
0.93 |
0.048 |
| UG-4 |
0 |
181 |
181 |
1.84 |
0.122 |
| UG-5 |
100 |
170 |
70 |
1.45 |
0.031 |
| UG-6 |
80 |
170 |
90 |
1.54 |
0.027 |
| UG-7 |
20 |
150 |
130 |
1.77 |
0.032 |
| UG-8 |
30 |
110 |
80 |
1.26 |
0.060 |
| UG-9 |
0 |
60 |
60 |
1.04 |
0.036 |
| UG-26 |
20 |
150 |
130 |
0.09 |
0.084 |
| UG-28 |
70 |
150 |
80 |
0.32 |
0.049 |
| UG-34 |
560 |
620 |
60 |
1.32 |
0.186 |
| UG-36 |
270 |
350 |
80 |
0.95 |
0.048 |
| UG-37 |
220 |
240 |
20 |
1.04 |
0.058 |
| 81-01 |
760 |
920 |
160 |
0.51 |
0.035 |
Reported widths approximate true widths |
Gold and Silver
There are only 236 gold assays in the database (compared to over 2400
individual and composite copper assays) and most of the gold assaying relates to
off pipe drilling. There are only 6 gold assays in the underground pipe drilling
(restricted to the high grade areas on the 5260 Level) and these average 0.011
opt. The 236 samples average 0.009 opt gold and the gold does not correlate
with any other metal. A 0.009 opt "overprint" of gold has been assigned to the 4M
deposit.
Silver is present in a weak correlation with copper.
Proposed Drilling
A review of the database indicates that a new NI 43-101 compliant ore reserve
estimate would benefit from a series of holes drilled in a southeasterly direction
through the mineralized zones both above the 5260 level and below the 5090
level. Two drill holes on 5 sections, one at 45 degrees and one at 60 (or steeper)
degrees with combined depths of 2000 feet would more clearly define shape and
grade of the supergene zone and the vertical higher grade "shoots" at depth.
These holes could be drilled from access roads used in the 1995 program
reducing the permitting time frame and costs. Permitting for this work has been
initiated.
Exploration Potential
Almost all of the modern exploration conducted on the 4M property was done by
senior mining companies during the 1970s as part of a larger, regional effort. It
included mapping, IP and magnetic surveys and rock and soil sampling. Both
geochemical and geophysical surveys are available. Drill holes appear to have
been primarily located on the basis of surface expressions of mineralization and
projected structural intersections. Several drill holes appear to have been drilled
as assessment credit work alone, based on their convenience of location.
13 holes drilled were drilled away from the 4M deposit and significant copper
values were returned from:
• 76-01; 0.14% Cu over 721' (2280'-3001')
• 74-01; 0.20% Cu over 350' (1730'-2080')
These two holes were drilled to the west and southwest of the 4M pipe
respectively and both returned deep sub-ore intercepts. Hole 76-01 was drilled to
a depth of 3001 feet to test the intercept of the northwest dipping 4M pipe/
structure with the southeast dipping Forsythe structure. Almost all of the mineral
showings in this district appear to be located along structures.
Obvious surface expressions of copper mineralization (like the 4M pipe) have
been examined in detail so indirect methods of exploration will be required to
locate additional mineralization. The drill coverage is very sparse and sporadic. A
review of the exploration database by Company geologists with experience in
this environment is underway and the company is reviewing other project
opportunities in the area of the 4M property.
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