Ascendant Resources has announced it has intersected copper-rich mineralisation at the Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal.

All drill results from the recently completed exploration program will form the basis for an updated National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate to be reported imminently, followed by a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) by the end of the year.

During this phase of the project, 26 holes totalling 8,164 metres were completed on the North, Central and South Zones. Drill results from the last 3 holes in the Central and South Zones have continued to demonstrate significant sulphide mineralization greatly extending the stockwork mineralisation at depth and along strike.

With only twelve holes drilled into both the Central and South Zones over the course of two drill programs, initial mineralisation intercepted has been copper enriched, similar to what is typically found in the core or feeder zones to a VMS deposit. Drilling has intercepted stringer and small lenses of mineralization which is commonly found in the vicinity of massive sulphides.

Also, in the North Zone there has been a strong correlation between the IP and Gravity surveys and massive sulphide mineralization. The IP footprint is much larger over the Central and South Zones compared to that of the North Zone, so Ascendant is optimistic that with additional drilling in the South and Central Zones it will be successful in discovering more massive sulphide mineralisation.

Source: miningglobal.com