Emerging new cluster of copper-gold – Discoveries at cloncurry

Altona Mining Limited (“Altona” or “the Company” – http://www.commodity-tv.net/… ) today announced the results of a 30 hole RC drilling programme undertaken at the Cloncurry Copper Project (“Cloncurry”) in late 2017. The programme was designed to test new copper-gold in soil anomalies at the Companion, Veiled and Quamby prospects. Drill highlights include:

Companion 32 metres at 1.48% copper, 0.98g/t gold
15 metres at 1.44% copper, 0.84g/t gold
35 metres at 1.33% copper, 0.23g/t gold

Veiled 74 metres at 0.53% copper, 0.23g/t gold
24 metres at 0.84% copper, 0.22g/t gold
25 metres at 0.68% copper, 0.10g/t gold

Quamby 13 metres at 0.61% copper, 4.23g/t gold including 2 metres at 23.55g/t gold
60 metres at 0.44% copper, 0.05g/t gold
25 metres at 0.52% copper, 0.07g/t gold

The prospects add to an emerging cluster of copper-gold discoveries south of the proposed Little Eva mine development at Cloncurry. The cluster also includes the Hobby and Reaper prospects (see ASX release dated 29 November 2016).

The drilling is shallow and reconnaissance in nature and intersected both oxide and sulphide mineralisation. Of note were the higher gold grades compared to the deposits included in the mine plan for the Little Eva development. High silver values at Quamby and high cobalt values at Veiled were also recorded. The rocks intersected (Figures 1 to 3) and element association are typical of IOCG (Iron Oxide Copper Gold) deposits.

The tenor of mineralisation is excellent with the highest individual assays at Companion of 11.2%, 9.3% and 8.7% copper equivalent; at Veiled 3.0%, 2.4% and 2.3% copper equivalent; and at Quamby 27.1g/t and 20g/t gold.

At Companion the mineralised system has potential to be large with soil anomalism defined over an area of 0.6 by 3 kilometres, drilling is widely spaced over only 1.2 kilometres of strike.

At the Companion prospect (Figures 4 to 9), the new drill results and drill results from previous operators combine with geology and soil geochemistry to confirm the discovery of a large, structurally controlled copper-gold system.

This drilling programme comprised 9 holes of 48 to 96 metres depth spaced at approximate 300 metre intervals along the northernmost 1.2 kilometres of a larger 3 kilometre long copper-in-soil anomaly. The southern portion of the anomaly is essentially undrilled other than by shallow reconnaissance ‘geochemical’ holes. Soil anomalism occurs in three subparallel zones and mineralisation has been intersected in all three. High tenor copper-gold mineralisation was encountered within broader lower tenor mineralisation. Results were notable for their elevated gold grades and that many intercepts were at very shallow depths.

Better drill intercepts at a 0.3% copper equivalent cut-off grade, include:

32 metres at 1.48% copper, 0.98g/t gold from surface (CPR628)
15 metres at 1.44% copper, 0.84g/t gold from 25 metres (CP629)
35 metres at 1.33% copper, 0.23g/t gold from 4 metres (CPR634)

Mineralisation is developed within subparallel steeply dipping zones. Mineralisation is chalcopyrite and pyrite hosted in strongly silicified quartzite in fresh rock. Mineralisation occurs as malachite and goethite in the weathered zone, commonly to 30 metres depth.

It is likely that high grade mineralisation is developed along the mineralised zones as discrete lodes and shoots. The mineralisation is open along strike and at depth. Figures 8 and 9 provide cross sections at Companion illustrating steeply dipping high grade lodes.

Prior reconnaissance drilling by previous operators at Companion returned:

34 metres at 0.75%, 0.21g/t gold
12 metres at 0.73%, 0.32g/t gold
19 metres at 0.87%, 0.32g/t gold

The location of drill holes is provided in Figures 6 and 7, full results are given in Table 1, drill collar details in Table 2 and JORC Table 1 is provided as Appendix 1.

Veiled Prospect

At the Veiled prospect (Figures 4, 5 and 10), drill results and soil geochemistry suggest the discovery of a significant copper-gold system. There was no prior drilling at Veiled. The prospect is a 130 x 260 metre discrete ‘bullseye’ high tenor copper-in-soil anomaly identified in sampling programs undertaken over the last two years. There are small early 1900’s shallow copper oxide workings within the anomaly located on north striking structures with mineralised brecciated metasedimentary rock and gossan both in outcrop and float.

At the prospect, shallow reconnaissance RC drilling comprised 4 holes of 54 to 90 metres depth on two cross-sections 100 metres apart that targeted the centre and northern extent of the anomaly.

Copper-gold mineralisation was encountered within broader lower tenor mineralisation in three holes. Better drill intercepts at a 0.3% copper equivalent cut-off grade, include:

74 metres at 0.53% copper, 0.23g/t gold from surface (VLR001)
24 metres at 0.84% copper, 0.22g/t gold from surface (VLR002)
25 metres at 0.68% copper, 0.10g/t gold from 10 metres (VLR003)

One hole (VLR002) terminated in mineralisation. The mineralised zone is open at depth, while the limits to the copper-in-soil anomaly remain untested.

Mineralisation is associated with chalcopyrite and pyrite in altered metasediments in fresh rock. There are locally elevated cobalt values (up to 0.2%) with the best intersection being 6 metres at 0.12% cobalt in VLR001 from 10 metres. The mineralisation is also notable for elevated gold grades.

The base of weathering is approximately at 30 metres depth and mineralisation occurs as malachite associated with goethite-hematite rich zones. Higher grade zones within the oxide zone may reflect primary mineralisation or supergene enriched zones and further drilling is required.

Figure 11 provides a cross section at Veiled illustrating the apparent steep dipping high grade zones. The location of drill holes is in Figure 10, full results are given in Table 1, drill collar details in Table 2 and JORC Table 1 is provided in Appendix 1.

Quamby Prospect

At the Quamby prospect (Figure 4, 5 and 12) the drilling tested poorly understood gold-only and adjacent copper-gold soil anomalism.

The target comprises elevated gold in soils around the historic Quamby gold mine which is reported to have recovered 75,600 ounces of gold from leaching operations in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The mine has been drill tested but few of the results have been found. Those available include 16 holes (see September 2017 Quarterly Report) that are coincident with the soil anomalies located south of existing workings. To the west of the mine and partly co-incident with Quamby gold anomalism is a large copper and gold-in-soil anomaly.

Shallow reconnaissance RC drilling comprised 17 holes of 60 to 174 metres depth on cross-sections at 80 to 200 metre intervals was targeted to test the copper-gold in soil anomaly. A single hole was drilled beneath the Quamby mine.

All drill holes targeting the copper-in-soil anomaly encountered mineralisation. The drilling indicates broad zones up to 75 metre wide of low grade copper mineralisation with higher grade zones within.

Mineralisation occurs as disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite hosted in strongly altered metasediments in fresh rock. In the weathered zone to approximately 25 metres depth, mineralisation occurs as malachite, native copper and chalcocite. Gold values up to 27.1g/t were intersected.

 
Better drill intercepts, at a 0.3% copper equivalent cut-off grade, include:

13 metres at 0.61% copper, 4.23g/t gold from 29 metres (QMR001)
including 2 metres at 23.6g/t gold and 54g/t silver from 30 metres
60 metres at 0.44% copper, 0.05g/t gold from 10 metres (QMR012)
31 metres at 0.46% copper, 0.01g/t gold from 24 metres (QMR013)
25 metres at 0.52 % copper, 0.07g/t gold from 17 metres (QMR016)

One hole (QMR001) intersected high grade gold and silver over 2 metres (23.55g/t gold and 54g/t silver) within a broader copper-gold mineralised zone and confirms similar drill results obtained by previous operators (Figure 13). The mineralisation has a unique silver rich signature and is poorly understood.

Figure 12 provides a plan of drilling in relation to soil anomalism and illustrates the wide zone of multiple intercepts encountered and relationship to the much larger copper-in-soils anomaly. The location of drill holes is given in Figure 12, full results are given in Table 1, drill collar details in Table 2 and JORC Table 1 is provided in Appendix 1.

Please direct enquiries to:

Alistair Cowden David Ikin Jochen Staiger
Managing Director Professional Public Relations Swiss Resource Capital AG
Altona Mining Limited Perth Tel: +41 71 354 8501
Tel: +61 8 9485 2929 Tel: +61 8 9388 0944 js@resource-capital.ch
altona@altonamining.com David.Ikin@ppr.com.au

About Altona and the Cloncurry Copper Project

Altona Mining Limited (“Altona”) is an ASX listed company focussed on the Cloncurry Copper Project (“Project”) in Queensland, Australia. The Project has Mineral Resources containing some 1.67 million tonnes of copper and 0.43 million ounces of gold. It is envisaged that a 7 million tonnes per annum open pit copper-gold mine and concentrator will be developed at the Project. The development is permitted with proposed annual production(1) of 39,000 tonnes of copper and 17,200 ounces of gold for a minimum of 14 years. The Definitive Feasibility Study was refreshed in July 2017. In November 2017 Altona announced the intention to merge with TSX listed Copper Mountain Mining Corporation, a large Canadian Copper Producer. A shareholder vote on the Scheme of Arrangement is expected in late March 2018.

1Refer to the ASX release ‘Updated DFS Delivers Bigger and Better Cloncurry Copper Gold Project’ dated 2 August 2017 which outlines information in relation to this production target and forecast financial information derived from this production target. The release is available to be viewed at www.altonamining.com or www.asx.com.au. The Company confirms that all the material assumptions underpinning the production target and the forecast financial information derived from the production target referred to in the above-mentioned release continue to apply and have not materially changed.

Competent Persons Statement

The information in this report that relates to Exploration Targets, Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves is based on information compiled by Dr Alistair Cowden, BSc (Hons), PhD, MAusIMM, MAIG, Mr Roland Bartsch, BSc(Hons), MSc, MAusIMM and Mr George Ross, MSc, MAIG. Dr Cowden, Mr Bartsch and Mr Ross are full time employees of the Company and have sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Dr Cowden, Mr Bartsch and Mr Ross consent to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

Copper Equivalence
Copper‐equivalent (“CuEq”) values are calculated using copper price US$2.95/lb and gold price of US$1,250/ounce and grade by the equation: CuEq. = copper % + (gold g/t x 0.62).

Copper‐Equivalent values do not specifically take into account the recoverability of copper or gold, however, for standard copper gold concentrates such as those at Little Eva, the differences in payability and recovery are small whereas the metal prices chosen have a large impact on the copper equivalent values.