Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: AVU) is pleased to announce the first set of analytical results from the present phase of drilling at the Sesmarias VMS Project in the Alvalade Joint Venture, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal. The drilling program at Sesmarias is part of a joint venture between Avrupa Minerals and Sandfire Mineira Portugal, Unipessoal Lda. (“Sandfire Portugal”), a 100%-owned subsidiary of Minas de Aguas Teñidas, S.A. (“Sandfire MATSA”). Avrupa continues to operate the project through the JV entity PorMining Lda., and Sandfire Portugal continues to fund the exploration work.
Exploration Highlights
The drilling program at Sesmarias is designed to test for further high-grade copper and zinc-lead-silver mineralization along a 600-meter strike length in the Sesmarias Central zone. Avrupa has completed three drill holes in the current Sesmarias Central program, totaling 1,715.4 meters, with a fourth hole in progress. The company has seven holes planned, with the contingency of two additional holes to be drilled as/where needed.
Significant Drill Intercepts
The company has received analytical results from sampling of the first two holes (SES24-53 and SES24-054). Samples from the third hole (SES24-055) are now in the laboratory, and results are pending for these samples.
Hole SES24-054 intercepted 41.2 meters of sulfide mineralization containing 1.59% copper, 1.71% lead, 3.36% zinc, and 54.90 g/t silver. The intercept includes 28.6 meters containing 1.68% copper, 2.42% lead, 4.75% zinc, and 73.90 g/t silver. This intercept is located approximately 150 meters SE of SES23-047, drilled last year, which intersected 26.95 meters of 2.18% Cu, 2.58% Pb, 5.60% Zn, and 88.20 g/t Ag within a wider interval of 43.40 meters of 1.51% Cu, 2.15% Pb, 4.78% Zn, and 64.1 g/t Ag.
Hole SES24-053 intercepted 13.15 meters of sulfide mineralization containing 0.31% copper, 1.57% lead, 3.00% zinc, and 38.40 g/t silver, including 9.15 meters containing 0.40% copper, 2.09% lead, 4.02% zinc, and 50.5 g/t silver. This intercept demonstrates polymetallic potential on the western limb of the Sesmarias synform, but perhaps distal from the hinge zone area. Similar zinc-rich, polymetallic mineralization is present in SES23-052, drilled last year, which cut the western limb some 470 meters SE of SES24-053.
Potential for Metal Zonation
Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, stated: “These are exciting new assay results, as we continue to develop a potential high-grade polymetallic core zone in the SES Central area. The ongoing drilling program is designed to test for further high-grade copper and zinc-lead-silver mineralization along a 600-meter strike length in the Sesmarias Central zone.”
Kuhn further commented: “Following the great copper and polymetallic results in SES24-054, and the strong zinc-lead-silver results in SES24-053, we are beginning to see a metal zonation centered in the SES Central hinge zone with high copper and associated base metals, transitioning outwards/upwards and along the limbs of the Sesmarias synform to more zinc-rich mineralization. Previous results in the SES North area show lower copper and stronger zinc-lead in the eastern limb of the synform, but we have yet to cross the hinge zone in the north, nor much of the western limb. The present drilling program may shed more light on the perceived metal zonation within the body of mineralization, and we look forward to more strong results.”
Next Steps
The company expects a second drill in the near future to speed up the completion of this phase of drilling. The company has designed the present drill program to upgrade the +2% CuEq zone in the SES Central sector and expand the potential +2% CuEq domain into the SES North sector where historic drilling is less concentrated.
Avrupa Minerals and its Business Model
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company directed to discovery of mineral deposits, using a hybrid prospect generator business model. The Company holds one 49%-owned license in Portugal, the Alvalade VMS Project, presently optioned to Sandfire Portugal in an earn-in joint venture agreement. The Company holds one 100%-owned exploration license covering the Slivova Gold Project in Kosovo, optioned to Western Tethyan Resources, and is actively advancing four prospects in central Finland through its partnership with Akkerman Finland Oy. Avrupa focuses its project generation work in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, presently including Portugal, Finland, and Kosovo. The Company continues to seek and develop other opportunities around Europe.
Sandfire MATSA
Sandfire Portugal is a 100%-owned subsidiary of Sandfire MATSA, a modern mining company which owns and operates the MATSA Mining Operations in the Huelva province of Spain. With a processing plant located to the north of the Iberian pyrite belt that sources ore from three underground mines, the Aguas Teñidas and Magdalena Mines in Almonaster la Real and the Sotiel Mine in Calañas, Sandfire MATSA produces copper, zinc and lead mineral concentrates that are sold from the port of Huelva.
Conclusion
The latest drilling results at the Sesmarias VMS Project are highly encouraging for Avrupa Minerals, demonstrating the potential for a significant copper and polymetallic deposit in Portugal. The ongoing exploration program aims to further define the extent and grade of the mineralization, which could potentially lead to the development of a new mining operation in the Iberian Pyrite Belt.
