Mining News: Auracle sensing Pyramid copper

CopperBank Resources Corp. Nov. 17 said Auracle Geospatial Science Inc. will complete a remote sensing radar and hyperspectral survey for the Pyramid and San Diego Bay copper projects on the Alaskan Peninsula. Auracle has developed a suite of mapping technologies that offers structural analysis and mineral classification to identify and map mineral occurrences and alteration zones associated with metal deposits. CopperBank said the results from the satellite radar survey will provide data relative to the nature of the alteration and its distribution pattern associated with the different types of mineralization present on the properties. Auracle’s technology and mapping suite combines radar and optical satellite data to penetrate vegetation, ground cover, water, ice, rocks and soils. CopperBank hopes this will reveal the main structures controlling the mineralization that are masked at the surface by rubble, gravel and vegetation. “Auracle’s technology works at, near and under the earth’s surface enabling it to see through things that no other technology can claim,” explains Auracle President and CEO David McLelland. “We are excited to apply The Auracle System to model the structure, texture and lithology and to differentiate rock and formation types within this project area. We believe our geological interpretation and upgraded geological maps will help CopperBank’s technical team to understand the host system, even when direct identification isn’t possible in an extremely remote part of the world, to narrow prospective targets.”

Pyramid hosts a large porphyry deposit on the Alaska Peninsula with a 122.5-million-metric-ton historical inferred resource averaging 0.41 percent (1.1 billion pounds) copper, 0.1 grams per metric ton (389,000 ounces) gold and 0.021 percent (56.7 million lbs.) molybdenum. This year, CopperBank drilled 13 holes aimed at upgrading and expanding this resource. San Diego Bay is another porphyry copper prospect about 4.5 miles east of Pyramid. A 15-square-mile red-stained anomaly from the pervasive alteration at San Diego Bay indicates the potential of another large porphyry system near or potentially connecting to Pyramid. Limited exploration completed in the past has turned up some interesting results, including rock samples with grades as high as 16 percent copper and more than 1 g/t gold. A reconnaissance exploration program carried out this year at San Diego Bay investigated the areas of promising copper and gold values with prospecting and soil sampling. CopperBank said the Auracle hyperspectral survey will be completed early in 2018 and the data collected will help it design future exploration programs on both projects.

–SHANE LASLEY