Understanding Mabel's exploration potential
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.pacificcomox.com/pdf/0301...rm43-101F1.pdfI have worn out a few print outs of this 43-101 in the last couple of months. I want to share some of my findings now. And point out the reasons for my excitement about the potential for the Mabel property.
Page 1
Quote:
The property, 424 hectares in size, is located in the southern Arizona Mesozoic volcanic and
plutonic province. Altered granodiorite underlies most of the property, which are cut by
numerous auriferous southeast and south trending, low to moderate west dipping quartz veins.
Previous sampling on the property by other workers returned an average of 1.8 g/t gold and 58
g/t Ag from 109 surface 3-meter chip samples. Samples taken by the author support these
values. These veins appear ‘stacked’ on one another and are at times separated by only a few
meters, forming an ideal setting for open pit mining. Several major mining companies (Teck,
Hecla and Newmont) have worked in this district over the past ten years and have conducted
sampling programs that substantiate the existence of low to moderate gold and silver values.
So we know that there are a lot of gold and silver bearing veins all over the property, stacked on top of each other. We will see later in the report that, at some places the veins are only 0.5 meters apart.
These veins run horizontally with the ground and right at surface. The reason this report says "numerous" instead of "over 1.5 x 1.5 km's" is simply because it is old and was compiled before much of the recent drilling, which is proving that the vein's are auriferous (gold and silver bearing).
Ok, so no big deal...we know that we have an economical open pit situation here. Mineralization starts right at surface, so it is obvious. When I first looked at this property, about a year ago, I was content with this and did not give it too much more thought. So why now all the raging bullishness? Let me explain.
Quote:
Three potential target zones exist on the Property. The primary and current target of interest is
the low angle stacked veins. A secondary target occurs where two vein sets intersect. The third
target is a yet-to-be tested detachment at depth, where flat and listric faults could have provided
conduits for fluids that may have collected along brecciated zones.
So, three potential zones of interest.
Page 18
Target 1
Quote:
Target area 1 encompasses much of the Mabel claim area. The frequency of the low angle quartz
veins is very strong and their relationship to auriferous-rich samples is quite strong. These goldbearing
quartz zones need to be explored as they present a sizeable volumetric target due to their
thickness, their close proximity to each other and the low dip angle of the system. The primary
target would consist of the precious metals potential in the quartz veins with lesser emphasis in
the adjacent wall rock. Target depths are considered to range from the surface to under two
hundred meters.
We have 73 drill results on the first one, however so far PCM has only drilled very shallow and confined to small areas.
The second one...well we don't really know yet.
Quote:
The second target is more limited in areal extent but nonetheless could be a structurally complex
(and therefore more receptive) zone. Little is presently known about the relationship between
these two vein Sets and the junction zone. This area needs to be explored in detail. The target
type is considered to be a potential disruptive zone that may be associated with a listric fault that
could act as a favorable conduit for fluid migration. Depths for this target range from near
surface to several hundred meters.
The third one as my antennae up and zeroed in, big time!
Quote:
The third target type consists of the hypothesized master detachment and attendant listric faults
along with the potential breccia zones that could accompany this structural setting. Fluids would
be directed within and along this setting and, as such, present an appealing target for exploration.
The depths for this potential target is unknown at present but attention should be given to this
possibility as it may represent a sizeable target of significant grade.
Let's first get a good handle on what a "Listric fault" is.
http://www.geosci.usyd.edu.au/users/...ic_Faults.htmlNow go to Page 15 of the 43-101
http://www.pacificcomox.com/pdf/0301...rm43-101F1.pdfHere you will see a theoretical cross section of the Mabel claim. Scroll down to Page 16 to see the "Quartz Vein Model"
After seeing this, you now get a clear picture as to why the drill results have until recently, come back averaging 5 meters @ 1.7 g/t AU and 61g/t AG
PCM has been only drilling the veins at surface. The average hole length until the last drill program, is about 16 meters.
http://www.pacificcomox.com/news/070919.pdfDuring this last program they drilled their first "Deep hole" (RC-201) which wasn't very deep (60 meters) and reported 19 meters of 10.25 g/t AU and 339 g/t, within 37 meters of 5.70 g/t AU and193 g/t over 37 meters. This intercept started @ 10 meters below surface.
Ceasar Lemas is the geologist in charge of exploration on the Mabel property. Ceasar is also a geologist at Scorpio Mining. Ceasar has been very diligent in first proving that an economical resource exists at Mabel, and that it is ideal for open pit mining.
PCM is now in the very beginning stages of proving out their geological model for the property. This will be done by following the auriferous quartz veins to their source. If my thesis holds up, then we will see deeper drills in the future program, longer intercepts and higher grade results. Clearly hole RC-201 has foretold of the exciting things to come.
Ok, so back to Page 16 of the 43-101
http://www.pacificcomox.com/pdf/0301...rm43-101F1.pdfThis is where things get real interesting.
Looking at the theoretical cross section of the Mabel property on page 15 and analyzing the depth and magnitude of the listric fault, we can presume that the slip vector in the quartz vein model should be fairly accurate.
What is a vector?
http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutor...s/vectors.htmlI haven't been able to find the degree of decline, but it looks to be in the 35-45 range. PCM would probably have a good idea from drill hole RC 200 and 201, as they were drilled at 45 degrees.
Anyway, what is more important than the vector of the auriferous quartz veins, is the source of the silver and gold.
It is very possible that PCM will follow these decending, high grade (20 oz per tonne silver EQ) quartz veins to the source, which in all likelihood are disseminated stockwork breccias. The day they make the discovery, the stock will be sharply revalued to the upside, never to come back down. It will be a PEZ.v moment!
PCM has been very methodical in their drilling and has studied the results extensively in between programs, all for good reason. And here is why.
Page 13
Quote:
Nelson (1996) reports that the large quartz veins frequently show a consistently oriented
slickenside lineation (slickenline) with a general plunge direction to the south or southwest.
Periodically these vein contacts are brecciated. These vein orientations along with the
slickenlines were used by Nelson to determine the orientation of the vein array boundary and the
slip vector in the boundary. He continues by stating “This is important, because the en echelon
vein arrays represent brittle-ductile shear zones and give movement directions related to
formation of the mineralizing system. This is in turn important for building a structural model
for mineralization. The results of this analysis show the vein arrays to form W to SW dipping
left-lateral strike slip faults, with a component of normal motion. However, because of
significant block rotations recognized north of the area, these faults could have formed in
different orientations.”
Nelson also studied nearby low angle gneissic foliation with well-developed shear fabric
suggesting a top-to-the south detachment (or low-angle normal) faulting. Elsewhere, tilting of
the sequences also point to listric normal faulting associated with detachment faulting.
Ceasar Lemas and Donald Empey know they are finally, hot on the trail of these breccias. They may have detached and rotated, but Ceasar is definitely up to the task of finding them. I have no doubt in my mind that, the next batch of drill results from Mabel will absolutely blow the doors off the previous one, which I will happily say, blew the doors off the ones before that!
http://www.pacificcomox.com/news/070919.pdfSo, in conclusion. The most significant points of understanding Mabel's exploration potential are the following:
-PCM has quite literally barely scratched the surface on this project.
-The source of the auriferous quartz veins are likely to be broad, high-grade, disseminated stockwork breccias.
-High-grade veins start at and near surface, allowing for instant pay dirt in the development of a potential decline towards larger mineralized bodies.
-The high-grade veins are plenty wide for zero dillution deployment of LDH equipment (eg. 19-37 meters RC-201
-A favorably shallow slip vector indicates long high-grade veins, reaching up to 200 meters below surface.
__________________
Home 
Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:25 pm
Let's hope this trade wind keeps us blowing towards the New World of Greens-land!