"The acquisition of Centauro directly ties into our thesis that certain geological terrains of northcentral México are highly prospective to host "Carlin-style" and/or low sulphidation epithermal gold deposits. The many Carlin-style geological features we see at both Centauro and Pedro strongly support this concept," stated
The Centauro property is a near analogue to Southern
- extensive brecciation, silicification and argillization of the Tertiary-age Ahuichila Formation limestone-dominated conglomerate unit over an area of approximately 2.5 by 1.5 km
- a gold ("Au"), arsenic ("As"), antimony ("Sb"), mercury ("Hg"), thallium, silver, barium soil geochemical signature associated with a silicified mesa "cap" covering 2.5 km along the strike of the main zone
- outcrops containing Carlin-style indicator minerals including arsenopyrite, realgar, orpiment and stibnite, in a black, silicified limestone-dominated conglomerate
- low to non-anomalous base metal values throughout the property
Photos 1 & 2: Tertiary-age, silicified limestone conglomerate breccia with arsenopyrite, pyrite, realgar and orpiment mineralization located on the
The highly anomalous Hg, As, Sb values, low base metal values coupled with the anomalous Au and Ag, suggest that the level of more significant precious metals deposition remains at depth below the currently exposed part of the system.
Work Programs Initiated
Accurate alteration mineral maps are an essential guide to successful exploration when working on hydrothermal-associated mineral deposit systems. For Centauro, Southern Empire, contracted
Southern Empire has completed the collection of an initial 396 soil samples at 50-metre ("m") spacings along east-west lines, spaced 100 to 200m apart, that infill and expand upon a 2008 geochemical survey on lines having 400 and 600m spacing that covered a zone of prospective alteration and mineralization over four km strike length. Samples collected will be submitted to
Figures 2 & 3: Oblique view of the Centauro Property from the northwest showing:
- Satellite image (
March 2007 ) of interpreted silica alteration (PhotoSat,December 2022 ) - Induced Polarization (IP) apparent chargeability at true depth 260m, highlighting a potential drill target on the north area (Geofísica
TMC, S.A. de C.V. , 2013)
Exploration History of the Centauro Property
The primary area of exploration interest on the Centauro property is a 2.5 by 1.5 km corridor that was subject to preliminary, low-density investigations completed by previous operators Silver Spruce Resources Inc. (2007 to 2009) and Mundoro Capital Inc. (2012 and 2013). Their past work included:
- Geological mapping and prospecting
- Surface alteration mapping using TerraSpec spectrometer mineral analysis
- Collection of 211 soil samples at 50m centres on six widely-spaced (300m to 700m), 060o azimuth lines with subsequent analysis by multielement Induced Coupled Plasma ("ICP") techniques
- A 73.0 line-km ground magnetic geophysical survey over twenty-four 200m spaced lines
- 8.6 line-kilometres (line-km) of Induced Polarisation/Resistivity ("IP") geophysical surveys over four 500 to 700m spaced lines by Geofísica
TMC, S.A. de C.V. (see Figure 3) - Completion of 27 NQ core drill holes totaling 5,824.5m on 200m to 700m spaced section lines; 100% of this drill core was split, sampled and analyzed for Au and indicator elements by ICP
Although based on a limited, widely spaced line density, the 2013 IP/Res survey work highlights a potential chargeability anomaly on the north end of the grid that occurs below the depth of the historical drilling and remains untested.
The 2008 and 2009 drilling completed by Silver Spruce Resources Inc. was at very wide drill hole spacings (200 to 400 metres) and outlined significant areas of anomalous gold mineralization within extensive zones of silica and argillic alteration, the latter exhibited in multiple drill holes including hole CEN08-10 (NAD27 (13R) 555443 mE / 2945041 mN); see Photo 3.
Photos 3: Core interval from drill hole CEN08-10 with intense argillic alteration (kaolinite) averaging 232 ppb Au, 5.5 ppm Ag, 1,328 ppm As, 102 ppm Hg, 50.8 ppm Sb & 4.4 ppm Mo over 6.7 m starting at 88.4 m (weighted average of samples 7859 through 7862).
TABLE 1 Centauro Property core drilling – 2008/2009 Composite Analyses | |||||||||
Hole | From | To | Length | Au (ppb) | Ag (ppm) | Hg (ppm) | As (ppm) | Sb (ppm) | Mo (ppm) |
CEN-08-07 | 9.0 | 59.0 | 50.0 | 284 | 2.4 | 100 | 565 | 66 | 19 |
incl. | 55.2 | 57.2 | 2.0 | 4340 | 13.4 | 57 | 689 | 16 | 32 |
CEN-08-10 | 3.0 | 91.1 | 88.1 | 237 | 8.4 | 2718 | 1178 | 15 | 239 |
incl. | 3.0 | 10.5 | 7.5 | 1922 | 62.8 | 2554 | 1358 | 1.3 | 486 |
CEN-09-15 | 12.0 | 82.9 | 70.9 | 145 | 6.5 | 21 | 1098 | 202 | 10 |
CEN-09-16A | 36.0 | 148.4 | 112.4 | 125 | 7.5 | 20 | 968 | 124 | 8 |
CEN-09-27 | 9.0 | 43.4 | 34.4 | 232 | 5.7 | 23 | 1127 | 272 | 2 |
Planned Exploration Work
Southern Empire plans to undertake exploration work programs in 2023, including:
- Relogging all drill core, which is now securely stored by the property vendor in Ciudad de Durango
- Re-assaying some key drill core intervals to cross-check the reported results from the 2008/2009 analytical work, which shows no record of a Quality Control program
- Hyperspectral imaging of key drill holes to assist in determining alteration
- Completion of a higher-density IP survey
- A core drilling program to 400 metre depth of penetration
Key Business Terms of the Option Agreement
A comprehensive Option Agreement regarding Southern Empire's acquisition of Centauro property mineral rights has been entered into with the owner, a Mexican geologist, and registered with the
The surface rights covering the
Qualified Person (QP)
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared, reviewed and approved by
About
Southern Empire is focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of metals and minerals deposits in
In northeastern Durango State, México, Southern Empire has an option to acquire a 100-per-cent beneficial interest in the 1,750-hectare
In the Cargo Muchacho mountains of
At Oro Cruz, extensive historical drilling and large-scale open-pit and underground mining of the American Girl, Padre y Madre, Queen, and Cross oxide gold deposits by the American Girl Mining Joint Venture ("AGMJV") occurred between 1987 and 1996. During that time, gold was recovered by either heap leaching of lower-grade, or milling of higher-grade ores until AGMJV operations ceased in late 1996 because of declining gold prices leaving the Oro Cruz Property with many gold exploration targets in addition to a historical inferred resource estimate, reported In 2011 by
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Cautionary Notice on Forward-Looking Information
Information provided in this news release may contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. Such information or statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. Southern Empire cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond its respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Southern Empire's limited operating history, the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations, results of exploration programs on its projects, and those risks and uncertainties identified in its annual and interim financial statements and management discussion and analysis. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions, and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Southern Empire undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.
Cautionary Notice Regarding Historical Resource Estimate
Cautionary Notice Regarding Exploration Work Programs
The timing and the ability to conduct Southern Empire's exploration programs are, among other things, contingent on: governmental regulations allowing for the issuance of permits; affects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the availability of exploration personnel, drill contractors, equipment, lodging, etc. Southern Empire will adhere to COVID-19 directives regarding safe working practices putting worker and community health and safety first and will proceed with exploration and development work programs only if potential COVID-19 risks can be effectively managed.
Neither the
SOURCE
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