Quinns Project
Quinns is located 55km south of Meekatharra covering an area of ~84km². The area was an early mining centre commencing in the late 1890's with a peak of mining in 1910 principally for gold from a series of quartz reefs, an estimated 20,000oz+ of Au has been recovered from alluvial workings. Silver Swan's principal focus in the area is for volcanogenic massive sulphide (Cu-Zn-Ag-Au) mineralisation.
The company has successfully discovered significant copper-zinc mineralisation at Austin in the southwestern corner of the Quinns area.
;)
;)
Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (Cu-Zn-Ag-Au) Mineralisation
Volcanogenic massive sulphide mineralisation at the Austin prospect is hosted in bimodal felsic and mafic volcanic rocks that have been metamorphosed to amphibolite facies. Alteration is typified by chlorite-talc, disseminated magnetite in rhyolites and finely banded quartz-magnetite units.
At Austin mineralisation occurs beneath only 50m of transported cover; a gossanous cap of about 5m thickness precedes primary massive sulphide. The sulphide assemblage comprises chalcopyrite (Cu) and sphalerite (Zn), with gangue of pyrite, magnetite and pyrrhotite. Gold and silver are coincident with copper mineralisation. Structural and stratigraphic data collected from diamond drillholes indicate mineralisation dips to the north and is associated with Z-shaped fold structures plunging steeply to the NE. Mineralisation remains open at depth and open along mineralised limbs extending south-southeast and northwest.
Silver Swan has defined mineral resources at Measured, Indicated and Inferred Categories in accordance with the JORC code that could fall within an initial open-cut development. The Company is now focusing on extensions to the existing mineralization in order to demonstrate underground potential and substantially enlarge the current JORC resource.
This style of mineralisation usually occurs with multiple deposits within a (mining) camp or area and to that effect, the company is conducting regional work over the larger Quinns area where the company has identified other VMS targets at Quinns.
;)
;)
Chalcopyrite (copper) mineralization in drillcore at Austin
;)
strong yellow = chalcopyrite (Cu), pale brown = pyrrhotite
;)
light grey = sphalerite (Zn), pale yellow = chalcopyrite (Cu), dark grey = magnetite
Photomicrographs of mineralized core at Austin
Near Surface Maiden JORC Resource at Austin
The maiden resource at Measured, Indicated and Inferred categories at the Austin volcanogenic massive sulphide discovery is currently 1.48 million tonnes grading 1.02% copper, 1.39% zinc, 3.51g/t silver and 0.24g/t gold. The resource estimate was prepared in accordance with the JORC (2004) Code.
The resource estimate represents contained metal of 15,141 tonnes of copper, 24,376 tonnes of zinc, 167,518 ounces of silver and 11,545 ounces of gold. The bulk of the resource is in fresh rock with a small oxide component of 18,182t.
Resource estimation was completed by Golder Associates in Perth. The resources reported under the requirements of the JORC Code, are at a very high level of confidence, being primarily in the Measured and Indicated categories with a subordinate Inferred category. Ore estimation has already been calibrated for mining loss and dilution.
| Category | Tonnes | Cu % | Zn% | Au g/t | Ag g/t |
| Measured | 463,428 | 1.22 | 1.41 | 0.30 | 4.38 |
| Indicated | 703,286 | 0.97 | 1.47 | 0.22 | 3.28 |
| Inferred | 317,708 | 0.85 | 1.17 | 0.18 | 2.74 |
| Measured+Indicated | 1,166,714 | 1.07 | 1.45 | 0.25 | 3.72 |
| Total | 1,484,421 | 1.02 | 1.39 | 0.24 | 3.51 |
;)
Above: Austin Wireframe Map showing mineralization at depth (all drill holes projected to surface) (Bronze - oxide, yellow - 0.3% Cu-Zn shell, Pink - Zn 0.5%)
Right: Results of drilling for holes 10ATD001 & 10ATD002
;)
Hole 10ATD001 was designed for downhole electromagnetics to locate conductors indicative of massive sulphide mineralization away from and below the existing area of mineralization. The area in yellow represents new target areas for massive sulphides.