Audrey’s new sulphide lens, biggest since Quemont find

With four drills on site, Audrey Resources (TSE) is beginning to outline the dimensions of a new massive sulphide lens discovered recently near the company’s 70%- owned Mobrun mine workings at Rouyn-Noranda, Que.

In a joint venture with Minnova Inc. (TSE) (30%), Audrey has discovered four new sulphide lenses at the Mobrun operation where underground production began last September.

But the fourth lens also promises to be the biggest sulphide find in Quebec since Noranda Mines encountered a 14-million-ton monster at the Quemont mine back in 1943.

Since it was discovered in late March, the “1,100 lens” has been intersected by seven drill holes, said President Guy Hebert. Located about 240 m south-east of the Mobrun mine workings, it has a proven length of 190 m and a vertical height of 250 m.

While the average width of the structure is 25 m with a maximum of 55 m, the lens remains open to the east and west and at depth, Hebert told The Northern Miner.

Estimated reserves in the 1,100 lens are 3.3 million tonnes including 395,000 in the proven category averaging 0.72% copper, 5% zinc, 1.25 oz silver per ton and 0.05 oz gold. But with results from three drill holes including one which targeted the new lens at a depth of 1,000 m still pending, Hebert says the structure could contain as much as 10 million tons.

That prediction is based on a 65 m hole (88-47) which intersected 30.1 m of 0.60% copper, 6.21% zinc, 0.85 oz silver and 0.02 oz gold. The same hole also contained a 19 ft section averaging 1.3% copper, 0.19% zinc, 1.39 oz silver and 0.01 oz gold.

Results from an deeper hole (88-50) which intersected 21.6 m in the 1,100 lens of grade 0.41% copper, 6.47% zinc, 1.61 oz silver and 0.06 oz gold are not included in the latest reserve estimates.

According to Hebert the latest results from Mobrun where mineable reserves now stand at 1,550,000 tonnes grading 0.84% copper, 3.17% zinc, 1.03 oz silver and 0.075 oz gold, will expand the life of the mine from four to 10 years.

“Up to now, the economic mineralization shows a zonation in each drill hole which could allow Audrey to selectively mine the 1,100 lens in conjunction with prevailing metal prices, said Hebert, who doesn’t plan to mine the new lens until 1993.

Meanwhile, Audrey is expected to announce this week the terms of a $22-million gold loan designed to finance further development at the Mobrun project. Immediate plans include the construction of a $17 million, 1,000-ton-per-day on-site mill. Starting in September, the company will also deepen the shaft from 850 m to 1,500 m.