VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 13,
2023 /CNW/ - Vortex Metals Inc. (TSXV: VMS) (FSE:
DM8) (OTC: VMSSF) ("Vortex" or the "Company") is pleased to
announce the successful completion of the Phase 1 geologic field
program for the Environmental Baseline Study (EBS) conducted at its
flagship Zaachila Copper project in
Southern Oaxaca, Mexico (Figure
1). The study was conducted under the guidance of geologists from
Vortex's Mexican subsidiary, Minera Acagold, With the completion of
this work, the proposed drilling program will be finalized prior to
submitting to the Mexican government as part of the EBS.
Following from community agreements in both the Zaachila and
Riqueza Marina concessions, field activities commenced in June at
both project areas. At Zaachila, trenching across portions of the
exhalite/volcanic breccia/trondjemhite horizon has occurred where
historical sampling revealed significant copper values over a
"strike" distance of several kilometers. Owing to the lateritic
profile over the area, the trenches provide excellent exposures
across the metamorphic, intrusive and mineralized units and serve
to anchor the ongoing geologic mapping.
Phase 1 Field Studies at Zaachila
A total of 13 trenches have been excavated (Figure 2) across
exposures of weakly metamorphosed Upper Jurassic sedimentary,
volcanic and intrusive rocks where historical surface sampling
identified copper mineralization. A total of 387 meters of trench
have been cut yielding a total of 271 chip samples (excluding QA/QC
samples). The initial 175 samples have been sent to ALS and results
are expected in late September 2023.
An additional 96 samples are being prepared for shipment and should
be available in late October. The trenches completed to date are
shown in Figure 2.
Mapping of the trenches, along with the limited surface
exposures, has provided Vortex with a more complete view of the
surface geology (Figure 3). Historical samples, in context with the
preliminary geologic model, reveal a roughly east-west trending
belt of greenschist facies sediments, volcanics, volcanic
breccia and exhalite lenses. This belt flanks the southern margin
of a trondhjemite-diorite intrusive complex and dips to the south
and southwest beneath alluvium.
Copper mineralization, dominantly as a copper carbonate, i.e.
malachite and azurite, and more locally chalcopyrite and bornite,
has been observed in several geologic settings exposed in the
trenches including:
- As thin laminae associated with silica-rich exhalite beds. The
laminae are generally less than 1cm thick and consists of
calcite/ankerite, Fe + Cu-oxides and local, minor sulfides;
- As quartz-carbonate veinlets with Cu oxides cutting silicified
and chloritized meta-sediments and volcanics (green schist facies);
and
- As discrete, bedded units in the metasediments.
Owing to near surface oxidation, mineralization is dominated by
iron and manganese oxides (gossan; Figure 4), hosting calcite to
ankerite veinlets or stockwork, quartz veinlets, silicification and
argillization; the latter is likely related to the oxidation of
sulfides. In a few of the less oxidized exposures, sericite was
widely observed.
Previous geophysical studies conducted across the Zaachila
property have revealed a pronounced ENE-trending break in the
magnetic intensity which corresponds with the broad distribution of
copper mineralization. The SE flank of a gravity high also
corresponds with elevated copper values and collectively suggests a
concealed and, possibly, important structure related to VMS
mineralization (see VMS Press Release - June
13, 2023).
Phase 1 results are being incorporated into the EBS as the basis
for a proposed drilling program. The results are also being
considered in the design of a geophysical program across the
property. A more focused electrical method, such as IP/Resistivity,
will provide additional insight into the geometry and/or
distribution of any sub-surface mineralization.
Chief Executive Officer of Vortex Metals Vikas Ranjan emphasized
the significance of Phase 1 completion, stating: "The results of
our finalized geological field program are very promising and mark
a crucial milestone in the company's timeline. Data gathered from
the now-complete Phase 1 will be instrumental in shaping future
drilling initiatives, which we believe could ultimately lead us to
the discovery of substantial VMS structures."
A final design for all proposed activities is pending the
receipt of the analytical results and their interpretation. Phase 2
will consist of the above activities along with ongoing trenching
which has proven to be a cost-effective method to identify and
define copper mineralization, silica and carbonate exhalates and,
in general, the stratigraphy of the prospective package.
Qualified Person / Quality Control and Quality
Assurance
Robert Johansing, M.Sc. Econ.
Geol., P. Geo., is a qualified person ("QP") as defined by NI
43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this
press release.
About Vortex Mines Inc.
Vortex Metals Inc. is the parent company of Mexican subsidiary
Empresa Minera Acagold, S.A. de C.V., which is the owner of a 100%
interest in two drill-ready high-potential copper-gold volcanogenic
massive sulfide (VMS) properties (Riqueza
Marina and Zaachila) in the state of Oaxaca, and a third high-potential gold
property (El Rescate) in the state of Puebla. The Oaxaca projects incorporate the most highly
prospective areas of high-grade copper mineralized surface
exposures ('gossans') and prominent gravity anomalies along an
emerging copper-gold VMS belt that includes Minaurum Gold's
(TSXV:MGG) Santa Marta
project.
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SOURCE Vortex Metals