Historic exploration at the Plata Silver Property from 1969 to 2011 identified thirty-two (32) known mineralized zones, extending over a 2.5 kilometre area, hosting narrow high-grade silver, gold, lead and zinc-bearing veins and stockworks. Mineralization at Plata is believed to be associated with hydrothermal fluids related to the Tombstone intrusive suite and bears similarities to the prolific Keno Hill Silver Mining Camp, Canada’s second largest primary producer of silver with production from approximately thirty-five (35) vein deposits between 1913 and 1989.
Importantly, drilling from 2008 to 2011 has demonstrated that the P-3 and P-4 veins are part of a larger, semi-continuous, mineralized system referred to as the Aho Zone, which is developed within the plane of the Plata Thrust Fault and varies from 0.3 to 3.0 metres in width. This zone extends intermittently over a total strike length of 800 metres and to a maximum of 580 metres downdip and remains open to extension along strike and downdip (Figure 1).
Technical information in this news release has been approved by Heather Burrell, P.Geo., a geologist with Archer, Cathro & Associates (1981) Limited and qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.
Silver associated with hydrothermal fluids related
to Mayo Suite intrusions
Proximity to major thrust fault: Robert Service
Thrust at Keno Hill and Plata Thrust Fault at Plata
Complex network of faulting and veining
Sedimentary Host Rocks: Quartz-rich siliciclastic
rocks, Keno Hill Quartzite at Keno and Hyland
Group grits and Earn Group chert at Plata,
provide competent strata where continuous, wide
veins systems can develop
Mineralization: High-grade argentiferous
sulphide-siderite veins, with galena, sphalerite
and tetrahedrite in a gangue of minor quartz-
calcite*
*Although high to medium grade auriferous and argentiferous, sulphide-quartz-
clay veins are also found within the Plata Thrust, such as at the P-3 and P-4 veins