- Tesoro Resources (TSO) has received positive results from geophysical induced polarisation (IP) surveying at the El Zorro Gold Project in Chile
- The program consisted of Gradient Array IP (GAIP) and Dipole-Dipole IP (DDIP) surveys across the Ternera prospect
- Pleasingly, Tesoro has identified significant gold targets and several untested anomaly trends
- The IP surveys have extended a chargeability anomaly to one kilometre — most of which is yet to be drill tested
- Tesoro will now conduct step-out drilling to test the new IP anomalies
- Company shares are up 8.57 per cent and are trading for 19 cents
Tesoro Resources (TSO) has announced positive results from geophysical induced polarisation (IP) surveying at the El Zorro Gold Project in Chile.
The program consisted of Gradient Array IP (GAIP) and Dipole-Dipole IP (DDIP) surveys. 24 lines of GAIP surveying were completed using 50-metre line spacing and 25-metre station spacing. Additionally, three trial lines of DDIP surveying over Ternera was completed using 100-metre dipoles and 50-metre station spacings.
GAIP results
The preliminary GAIP survey data has been processed to produce maps of chargeability and resistivity over the Ternera and Drone Hill prospects.
Chargeability is a measure of minerals’ ability to store an electrical charge on the boundaries of conductive minerals. It’s closely associated with disseminated sulphide mineralisation.
On the other hand, resistivity is a measure of how rock material can resist the flow of electrons in the rock — the opposite of this is electrical conductivity.
The survey identified several chargeability anomalies with a significant chargeable anomaly trend which directly correlates to high-grade gold at Ternera.
A review of existing holes drilled into this chargeable anomaly trend show that the anomaly is associated with strong sulphide and quartz mineralisation. The chargeability anomaly spans a one-kilometre strike length. Of this strike length, only 250 metres has been drill tested.
“The anomaly we have just delineated adds significant extensional targets to the high-grade Ternera gold zone,” Managing Director Zeff Reeves said.
DDIP results
The preliminary DDIP survey data was aimed at gaining an understanding of the depth extents and 3D geometry of IP anomalies found by the GAIP survey grid.
Preliminary inversion modelling of the DDIP data has identified several chargeability anomalies along each DDIP survey line. DDIP survey Line 1425 was designed to pass directly over the Ternera prospect, crossing several close-spaced zones of high-grade gold mineralisation.
Pleasingly, a well-defined chargeability anomaly was detected on Line 1425, which is associated with high-grade mineralisation defined by Tesoro’s drilling.
Furthermore, Line 1825 shows shallow and deep chargeability anomalies which also occur in an area with no drilling, but mapped alteration zones at surface.
Next steps
Tesoro will now conduct step-out drilling of the new IP anomalies at Ternera. It will also drill test the Drone Hill anomaly.
Additionally, the company is undertaking the processing of final IP data, modelling, interpretation and targeting. The new drilling results will help to improve the outcomes of this study.
“Should those holes be successful, it will add a significant increase to the scale of the gold system, and we would view IP as a valuable exploration tool for defining additional drilling targets at El Zorro,” Zeff stated.
If the drilling results are positive, Tesoro plans to conduct further IP surveying to uncover more gold targets at El Zorro
Company shares are up 8.57 per cent and are trading for 19 cents each at 11:07 am AEST.