Ivanhoe’s Kipushi zinc mine in the DRC officially reopens
The restart marked exactly a century since the mine first went into production.
Toronto-based Noront Resources has updated its phase two summer exploration program at the McFaulds volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit in the Ring of Fire. The project is 85% owned and operated by Noront, and the remaining 15% belongs to KWG Resources.
The best result came from hole MCF-19-103 that returned 10.1 metres grading 3.3% copper, 6.5 g/t silver, 0.2 g/t gold, and no significant zinc values. This hole was drilled 215 metres down dip from last year’s MCF-18-98 that represented the largest step out intersection at the deposit to date.
“We believe we are now into the copper-rich stockwork zone of this VMS deposit based on the banded form and copper-rich nature of this intersection, the intensity and width of hydrothermal alteration, and the marked change in orientation and stratigraphic position of the mineralization in MCF-19-103 compared with holes further up dip,” said Noront VP exploration Ryan Weston.
Noront hopes to establish large enough copper-zinc resources in multiple high grade VMS deposits to support a central milling operation.
(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)
