SIERRA METALS CONFIRMS PORPHYRY MINERALIZATION AT ITS YAURICOCHA MINE IN PERU
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Drill hole highlights include: drilled from 720 level Klepetko tunnel to 1394.60m in depth

 

Toronto, ON – October 1, 2018 – Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX: SMT) (BVL: SMT) (NYSE AMERICAN: SMTS) (“Sierra Metals” or “the Company”) today confirms the discovery of a new style of mineralization (copper – molybdenum porphyry). Today’s results are from testing of the geophysical anomalies, in the quartz monzonite intrusive, in the eastern part of the mineralized area. This area is known as the Central Mine which is located between the Cuye and Esperanza zones. The discovery comes as part of an ongoing drilling program to test priority geophysical anomalies at the Yauricocha Mine, located 150 kilometers east-southeast of Lima in the Yauricocha Mining District (Cordillera Occidental), Peru.
Prior evidence of copper-molybdenum porphyry mineralization had been observed on surface within the monzonite intrusive and had previously been sampled by Rio Tinto Zinc. Subsequently, drill core was sampled at 10-meter intervals over the entire hole length and the Company obtained 122 samples. The hole was drilled from the Klepetko Tunnel located on the 720 level to a depth of 1,394.6 meters. The samples indicated an average of >0.1% Copper.
A recently completed TITAN 24 Geophysical Study identified more than 100 anomalies at Yauricocha and a program to test this first geophysical anomaly was designed. Hole (E-PORF 10-18-01) was drilled from the Klepetko Tunnel to test the priority anomaly located in the monzonite intrusive as this zone had high conductivity within the Intrusive. A copper-molybdenum mineralized porphyry was discovered.
Results to date show mineralized sectors with notable grades of copper and molybdenum (see table 1) and this discovery confirms the existence of a new style of mineralization at Yauricocha. The Company will continue with a drilling program which will allow for a better understanding of the distribution of mineralization.
Alonso Lujan, Vice President of Exploration stated: “We are excited as these drilling results demonstrate the possibility to define a copper – molybdenum porphyry deposit with significant dimensions. The TITAN 24 anomaly areas have shown an excellent relationship between conductivity, chargeability and the orebodies. We have several higher-grade intercepts between 798 and 980 meters and now the objective of our follow-up drilling programs is to define the geometry of the higher-grade core of the porphyry.”
He added, “the discovery and location of the porphyry serves as an important milestone at Yauricocha as it helps us to better understand the magnitude of the district’s mineralization. It also helps us to better relate the recent discoveries of the skarn and breccia orebodies to the location of the porphyry. Breccias and skarn related to porphyry orebodies represent important exploration targets for the Company.”
Igor Gonzales, President and CEO of Sierra Metals commented: “Brownfield exploration continues to be a key part of Sierra Metals’ growth plan. Today’s announcement of a porphyry discovery at Yauricocha supports further growth and development at the Yauricocha Mine and subsequently supports the Company’s overall growth plans in Peru.”