Established Australian copper-gold producer and explorer,
Aeris' Executive Chairman,
BENTLEY DEPOSIT OVERVIEW
The Jaguar Operation is prospective for polymetallic (Zn, Cu +/- Au, Ag) volcanic hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) deposits. Four significant deposits have been discovered within the Jaguar tenement package to date: Teutonic Bore; Jaguar; Bentley and Triumph
Generally, mineralisation across each of the known deposits at Jaguar are similar, with massive sulphides interpreted to form via sub-seafloor replacement of sedimentary packages at the interface with underlying volcanic sequences. Three different styles of mineralisation are common across the Jaguar tenement package; massive, stringer and disseminated. The Bentley deposit is made up of 35 discrete sulphide lenses traced over a 500m strike corridor and extending 1,300m below surface. Since the discovery of the Bentley deposit in 2008, resource definition drilling has consistently increased the Mineral Resource base over time via the discovery of new sulphide lenses, down plunge and/or along strike from known lenses; the most notable recent discovery being the Turbo deposit1. Underground exploration drilling targeting mineralisation between the dominant
Visually, the massive sulphide intersections awaiting assays are consistent with the five drill holes with returned assay results. References to percentage sulphide estimates are based on visual observations made by geologists inspecting the diamond drill core. Visual observations are estimates only and should not be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses. Assay results from the remaining six drill holes are expected to return over the coming 2 to 3 weeks.
The setting, deposition and mineralisation styles at Bacalar are the same as the overall Bentley deposit (Bentley). Bacalar is a polymetallic (Zn, Cu +/- Au, Ag) subseafloor replacement style VHMS deposit, hosted within an Archean sequence of felsic to mafic lavas and sediments, intruded by multiple stages of mafic intrusion (from Archean to Proterozoic). Most of the primary mineralisation at Bentley is situated at the contact with a rhyolite body, although subsequent deformation and intrusion events have displaced much of the mineralisation, meaning that multiple stratigraphic horizons within the sequence are prospective.
FORWARD LOOKING PLAN
An extensive deep exploration drill program is planned to further test the downplunge continuation of the Bentley system. This will be conducted from a 200m extension to the pre-existing 3445 hangingwall diamond drill drive. In addition to exploration drilling, there are also plans to install a fixed underground electromagnetic (EM) loop to significantly increase the ability to detect conductive sulphide lenses up to several hundreds of metres away from drill holes. Development of both projects are due to start towards the end of the financial year. Upon receipt of the outstanding assay results for Bacalar, a resource estimate will be prepared. Due to the close proximity of Bacalar to already established infrastructure at the
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