- 01New high-grade tin-Cu-Ag lode at Montezuma.
- 02Moores Lode: 0.5 m at 7.3% Sn, 6.8% Cu, 863 g/t Ag.
- 03Maiden Montezuma: ~8.2 Moz Ag eq; open in all directions.
Lode Resources (ASX: LDR) has identified a new high-grade tin-copper-silver lode at its Montezuma silver & antimony project in western Tasmania, adding a broader commodity dimension to the existing silver-antimony system.
First assays from the newly identified Moores Lode returned 0.5 metres at 7.3% tin, 6.8% copper, 863 grams per tonne silver, 1.8g/t gold, 2.1% antimony, and 4.0% lead.
Drill hole MZS43, the first completed from the hanging-wall side of the Montezuma resource, intersected four separate mineralised lodes comprising Moores Lode, the Montezuma Lode, and two Maestries replacement zones.
Assays are still pending for the other three mineralised zones in MZS43, while follow-up hole MZS44 is already in progress directly below it as Lode targets further resource growth.
Additional holes are planned to investigate the southern continuation of the Montezuma Lode and the Maestries replacement zones as regional exploration continues at the Fahlore, Silver Cliffs, and Persic prospects.
Moores Lode System
The new hanging-wall fissure lode was intersected from 133.5m to 134.5m, with the full 1.0m downhole interval averaging 437g/t silver, 3.7% tin, 3.4% copper, 2.4% lead, 1.2% antimony and 1.2g/t gold.
Located about 60m into the hanging wall of the Montezuma Lode, the discovery contains a sulphide assemblage similar to the main structure and adds a fresh target to a system already characterised by several mineralisation styles.
MZS43 was designed to test the southern extension of the Montezuma Lode and the Maestries replacement mineralisation, with drilling from the eastern side providing improved angles and coverage across both target areas.
Within the Montezuma Lode itself, drilling intersected 1.1m of copper-silver sulphides and a separate 0.8m interval of silver sulphides, with assays from both zones yet to be returned.
Further downhole, two Maestries replacement zones measured 2.2m and 15.4m, with the broader interval including two zones of massive sphalerite-galena mineralisation and assays also outstanding.
Previous Maestries Intercept
The latest work builds on an earlier Maestries replacement-style intercept of 6.40m at 6.2% zinc and 1.5% lead with 43g/t silver, which established a new target about 50m to 80m west of the Montezuma Fault.
Lode is seeking to build on Montezuma’s maiden resource of 8.2 million ounces (Moz) of silver equivalent at 533g/t silver equivalent, with the currently defined mineralisation extending over about 250m of strike and 200m down dip while remaining open in all directions.
“The first assays from this highly mineralised lode have provided us with Montezuma’s highest tin and copper grades to date,” managing director Keith Mayes said.
“Together with extensions to the Montezuma Lode and the two replacement lodes, this drilling further demonstrates the substantial mineral endowment of the Montezuma project.”
“We have now identified multiple new zones of mineralisation since the initial resource estimate, and these have the potential to materially enhance size and overall project economics.”
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