Las Horquetas Prospect                                                                                        (Click on Map for larger view)

Project Summary

In 1994 Minera Urumalqui (SIMSA) conducted exploration on the concession consisting of sampling, trenching and geological mapping.  Nine drill holes were then completed to test the mineralization for a porphyry Cu-Au deposit in the granodioritic intrusive of the Los Lomas Plutonic Complex, which included the Pene Blanca monzonite acid rock. 

The concession was then explored by Compania Minera Buenaventura who conducted a drill program in the Lancones Basin northwest of the mouth of the river.  Buenaventura also conducted geochemical and petrochemical surveys and mapping for the purpose of finding a Kukoro type volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits (VMS).  

In 2001, Buenaventura entered into a joint venture with BHP Billiton which conducted a aerogravimetric survey using BHP’s proprietary Falcon technology acquired from N.A.S.A .  The survey covered a large portion of the Lancones Basin.

An anomaly found within the Elmer XXII concession measured an area of 1.5 km x 0.47 km and believed to contain Cu-Au mineralization.  The survey was followed up with trenching and sampling of the various targets.

Las Horquetas is located in Northern Peru in the region of Piura, 1108 km from Lima.  The average elevation varies from 184m to 250 m above sea level.  From Lima a short flight to Piura followed by a two-hour drive via paved and gravel road brings you to the property consisting of 900 hectares. 

Infrastructure in the area includes, water, power, labor and supplies from the local communities.

LOCAL GEOLOGY

Las Lomas Granodiorite (KT-gdl)
Is one of the largest alterations located in the central part of the Las Lomas plutonic complex. Las Lomas has been intruded diametrically by the Peña Blanca monzogranite. This is a whitish-grey coarse-grained rock with interwoven whitish plagioclase phenocrysts and tabular hornblendes in aggregates interwoven in reticular shapes, some biotite crystals can be seen and the hornblende is chloritized.

The tonalitic composition of the alteration varies towards the centre becoming clearer. The alteration has a hipidiomorphic granular texture with a coarser grain with zoned plagioclases and a greater quantity of quartz.  It also contains biotite altered to chlorite, epidote and sericite and chloritized hornblende (Alberto Ríos, C. 2004).

White Tonalite (KT-gdl)
This is a grey-whitish medium grain tonalite consisting of plagioclase phenocrysts (andesine) euhedral and interstitial quartz. Tabular porphyritic hornblende crystals appear subordinately with inclusions of opaque minerals, the latter in dendritic association with sphene. The secondary ores are: sericite, clays, actinolite, chlorites, epidote, limonite and chalcite.

Peña Blanca Monzogranite (KT-mgpb)
Located in the central part of the Las Lomas Plutonic Complex, where the gabbros, marginal diorite, Las Lomas and Purgatorio granodiorites intrude. The rock is partially xenolithic and has a hipidiomorphic granular texture consisting of plagioclase, quartz and potassium feldspar; the latter gives the rock a pinkish tint. Biotite, amphiboles and opaques can be observed in minor quantities.

In the thin section, the plagioclase are twinned and zoned, weakly argillitized and sericitized; in addition to small quantities of potassium feldspar textured with the quartz and sometimes pertitic. The quartz particles are found in elongated form and some include apatite spots. Biotite is interstitial and associated to opaques, while the amphiboles are sub to euhedral, twinned and altered to chlorites (Alberto Ríos C. 2004).

Geochemichal results taken from 62 samples sent to Servicios Mineros L.B. Laboratories included results as high as 5.39 grams/t Au and 5.71% Cu.

Maps

      Map 1
 Map 2
 Map 3
 Map 4
 Map 5

Conclusion

• Further Exploration is required which will include, geo-chem sampling, geo-physics, Trenching and drilling.

• Las Horquestas area presents all the geological conditions necessary to contain a porphyry Cu – Au deposit.

Photos

Overview of the anomaly of the Horquetas Prospect, most of it is covered by vegetation.

Porphyritic monzonite structures cutting across the granodiorite sequences of the Las Lomas Batholith.

Strong presence of veins.

Canal type sample taken at Las Horquetas, showing a structure formed by porphyritic monzonite, with sericitic alteration and iron oxides.

Sample taken from the ditch that cuts across the iron oxide veins of the granodiorites of the Coastal Batholith.

Test pits carried out by MRC1 (0-17) for the purpose of cutting across the structures in depth.