VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Dec. 21 – Tirex Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:TXX) last week reported initial results from UTEM ground geophysics and geological mapping on the Mirdita copper-zinc-gold project in Albania, which is made to define targets for the upcoming drill program.
Since the ground UTEM geophysical surveying started in late November, 14 line kilometers have been completed to date.
UTEM is a powerful, state-of-the-art geophysical tool developed in Canada that is better at defining massive sulphide conductors than most other commercial electromagnetic systems.
The Tirex survey is the first time this technology has been used in Albania. The initial UTEM lines were run over the known Koshaj deposit to test its response to the system which identified it as a strong anomaly. The Koshaj deposit was discovered, but not mined, by earlier explorers and will be the first drill target to be tested by Tirex.
UTEM lines were then extended to the north, south and east.
A second strong UTEM anomaly was detected 600 meters east of, and parallel to, the Koshaj deposit in an area of no previous drilling. Given its close proximity to the Koshaj deposit and location in a prolific portion of the mineralized belt, this second UTEM anomaly has also been tagged as a priority drill target by Tirex.
UTEM surveying is continuing and field reports indicate additional anomalies are being identified.
Commenting on the project, Bryan Slusarchuk, Tirex CEO, said, “The Koshaj deposit will be the subject of our first phase of drilling and we are excited about this target because it was a zone of mineralization partially defined by previous state-run exploration expeditions but was left un-mined and open for exploration with high reported zinc content. Now, as a result of this UTEM geophysical work, we have not only further defined our target at Koshaj, but we have also identified a second large anomaly close by that has never been drilled. UTEM geophysical work has never been done at Mirdita and by employing these new, state of the art exploration technologies in this potentially world class district for the first time, we are aiming to identify numerous new targets that have never been previously explored. Our field crew is onsite at Mirdita and is continuing the ramp up of field work in anticipation of an upcoming program of intense drilling.”
The Tirex team includes senior Canadian geologists with extensive experience exploring for volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits.
Earlier work by Tirex geologists had identified the mineralization on the Mirdita property as Noranda-type deposits similar in form to deposits that form some of the large mining districts in eastern Canada.
This continuing work by Tirex geologists is focused on mapping the structures and stratigraphy that control the VMS mineralization on the Mirdita property.
Work carried out to date confirms the Noranda-style mineralization on the property and has identified felsic domes and potential feeder zones associated with mineralization in the Koshaj area.
The evolving understanding of the controlling structures and stratigraphy will be used to guide exploration such as UTEM surveying and drilling.
Tirex’s focus is the exploration and development of the large 344 square kilometer Mirdita Property in Albania. The property is readily accessible by paved and gravel roads and is located 70 km north of the capital city of Tirana. The property covers the core of the historically productive Mirdita VMS base metal district. It represents an opportunity to explore copper, zinc, gold and silver zones that had previously been partially mined or evaluated at lower metal prices and provides an opportunity to apply modern exploration techniques toward the discovery of new deposits or extensions of known zones. The Mirdita exploration project is managed by an experienced team of five Canadian geologists and several senior Albanian geologists, geophysicists and surveyors.
