Key points
- Hand-held XRF analysis of grab samples from Solwara 9a and 9b returned grades of up to 21.4 per cent copper and 29.9 per cent zinc.
- Solwara 9 lies within exploration licence EL1196, wholly owned by Nautilus, in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea.
- The systems were mapped using a T 200 remotely operated vehicle during the Nor Sky 08 campaign, with eight grab samples recovered from Solwara 9a and nine from Solwara 9b.
- Solwara 9a and 9b measure approximately 220 metres and 180 metres long respectively, sitting about 1,680 metres below sea level on the southwest flank of the North Su knoll.
Nautilus Minerals Inc. has discovered two new, high-grade, Seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) systems, Solwara 9a and Solwara 9b, within 1.5 kilometres of Solwara 1, indicated by hand-held X-ray florescence (XRF) results.
Stephen Rogers, chief executive officer of Nautilus Minerals, commented: “The discovery of Solwara 9 is strategically important and builds our project portfolio. In the Nautilus model our mining vessel moves from one deposit to the next without the need for additional development capital. The proximity of Solwara 9 to Solwara 1 is further evidence these SMS systems occur in clusters just as volcanic massive sulphide (VMS) systems do on land. Our recent discoveries show we have developed the process and technology to find and delineate SMS clusters.”
SOLWARA 9A XRF* ANALYSIS RESULTS
Sample No. Eastings(2) Northings(2) XRF* (average %(1))
Cu Zn Pb
20043 399491.87 9579221.34 0.5 29.9 2.3
20044 399492.42 9579205.8 13.1 1.1 0.2
20045 399487.58 9579170.31 10.2 2.9 0.1
20046 399486.63 9579164.61 7.6 4.7 0.3
20047 399497.07 9579093.08 0.4 12.5 0.6
20048 399501.29 9579091.54 1.8 14.8 0.7
20049 399538.09 9579048.8 0.6 15.6 1.5
20050 399462.41 9579152.96 3.4 11.3 0.6
Min 0.4 1.1 0.1
Max 13.1 29.9 2.3
Average 4.7 11.6 0.8
(1) Average of 10 analyses per subsample using hand-held
XRF*.
(2) Co-ordinates projected as UTM zone 56 south using a WGS
1984 datum.
SOLWARA 9B XRF* ANALYSIS RESULTS
Sample No. Eastings(2) Northings(2) XRF* (average %(1))
Cu Zn Pb
20030 399175.97 9579917.33 9.1 4.1 0.5
20031 399179.04 9579919.54 10.6 5.4 0.9
20032 399154.5 9579910.16 7.6 5.2 1.1
20033 399168.83 9579931.81 21.4 0.5 0.2
20034 399152.55 9579968.71 2.5 4.4 0.5
20035 399168.31 9579957.77 0.4 22.3 1.3
20036 399164.24 9580003.72 0.6 29.9 2.2
20037 399137.63 9579993.39 19.7 0.7 0.3
20042 399151.81 9580033.82 0.8 10.4 1.3
Min 0.4 0.5 0.2
Max 21.4 29.9 2.2
Average 8.1 9.2 0.9
(1) Average of 10 analyses per subsample using hand-held
XRF*.
(2) Co-ordinates projected as UTM zone 56 south using a WGS
1984 datum.
Solwara 9 is located in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea (PNG) within exploration licence (EL) 1196, which is wholly owned by Nautilus. EL1196 contains other known SMS occurrences at Solwara 5, South and North Su along with the Solwara 1 deposit, the SMS system Nautilus plans to be the world’s first SMS resource project. Solwara 9 lies within one to two kilometres of Solwara 1.
Positive indications of mineralization at Solwara 9 were observed during the subsea geophysical program, conducted during the early part of the Nor Sky 08 exploration campaign. Mapping and sampling using a T 200 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) identified two exposed SMS systems. Initial results obtained from Solwara 9 samples using a hand-held XRF instrument indicate grades of up to 21.4 per cent copper and 29.9 per cent zinc. Processing of the geophysical data is continuing and is expected to highlight additional targets within the EL area.
Sulphide mineralization at Solwara 9a and 9b was mapped visually and confirmed by grab sampling. The SMS systems outlined are approximately 220 metres and 180 m long respectively, by an across-strike width averaging 40 m. The systems lie on the sea floor approximately 1,680 m below sea level, on the southwest flank the North Su knoll. The SMS outcrop is surrounded by unconsolidated sediment and volcanic outcrops.
Using the ROV’s five-function arm, eight grab samples were recovered from the Solwara 9a SMS system and nine grab samples were recovered from the Solwara 9b SMS systems. Individual samples weighed from six to approximately 300 kilograms. These samples were divided using a small pneumatic jackhammer and subsampled to provide assay material of six to 10 kg per sample. An initial analysis of the subsamples was carried out using a Niton XLT592 hand-held XRF instrument* that averaged 10 point-readings from an unprepared, internal surface. Samples were allowed to partially dry before taking readings although some surfaces remained damp. All subsamples are currently in transit to ALS laboratories in Brisbane for formal base and precious metal analysis. Nautilus carries out an internal QA/QC program that inserts certified reference material, secondary reference material, field duplicates and blanks into each dispatch of samples.
*Note on results of indicative analyses from hand-held XRF, Niton XLT 592 instrument
A hand-held XRF instrument (Niton XLT 592) was used to obtain indications of the grade of materials recovered from the sea floor. It does not provide the accuracy required to report assays. The instrument is not calibrated using certified standards and the samples have not been crushed and prepared to minimize matrix effects which may affect the accuracy of the analysis. However, previous comparison of results to date with assay data for surface samples indicates the XRF tool is a reliable method for providing indicative results of the tenor of mineralization and providing data for real-time decisions in the field.
Measurements by hand-held XRF are not assay results and do not measure gold or silver. Samples will be formally assayed by the ALS Group in Brisbane.
Qualified person
The exploration results reported in this announcement have been compiled under the supervision of Anthony O’Sullivan, chief operating officer of Nautilus. Mr. O’Sullivan is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has 20 years experience in mining and exploration geology, and is a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He consents to his name being used in this release.
