Key points
- The assays update results from the 2009 MV Fugro Solstice cruise, which made five high-grade SMS discoveries at Solwara 12, 13, 14, 16 and 18 and extended mineralization at Solwara 11.
- The discoveries were first reported on Jan. 14, 2010 based on hand-held XRF data collected aboard the vessel.
- CEO Stephen Rogers said work is continuing to rank the Bismarck systems ahead of a proposed drilling campaign to increase the resource at Solwara 1 and elsewhere.
- All laboratory analyses were carried out by ALS Laboratory Group in Brisbane and Townsville, Australia.
Nautilus Minerals Inc. has provided laboratory assay results for the previously announced discoveries from the MV Fugro Solstice cruise in the Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea. The assay results confirm high-grade sulphide mineralization at Solwara 14, 16 and 18. With Solwara 12 and 13, a total of five high-grade SMS discoveries were made in 2009 and the mineralization at Solwara 11 was extended. The 2009 work also generated many other targets and anomalies for follow-up in future exploration campaigns.
The discovery results were previously released on Jan. 14, 2010 (reported from results obtained from hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data), collected on board the exploration vessel.
Stephen Rogers, Nautilus’s chief executive officer, commented: “Work is continuing to evaluate and rank the Bismarck systems in preparation for a proposed drilling campaign. The drilling campaign is being designed to increase our resource at Solwara 1 and elsewhere in the Bismarck Sea.”
The tables provide the final assay results for Solwara 11i, 14, 16 and 18 respectively, which update the previously reported XRF results.
SOLWARA 11I FINAL ASSAY RESULTS OF SULPHIDE SAMPLES
Final assay results
Sample Sample Weight Cu Zn Pb Au Ag Easting Northing Depth Lithology
No. type (g) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (2) (2) (2)
22622 Chimney- 2150 0.677 52.0 0.366 2.18 133 520503 9650798 -1457 Massive sulphide
ROV
22623 Chimney- 3160 0.692 25.4 0.453 0.98 90 520476 9650740 -1458 Massive sulphide
ROV
Minimum 0.677 25.4 0.366 0.98 90
Maximum 0.692 52.0 0.453 2.18 133
Average 0.685 38.7 0.410 1.58 112
1. Results received from ALS Laboratory.
2. Co-ordinates projected as UTM zone 55 south using a WGS 1984 datum.
SOLWARA 14 FINAL ASSAY RESULTS OF SULPHIDE SAMPLES
Final assay results
Sample Sample Weight Cu Zn Pb Au Ag Easting Northing Depth Lithology
No. type (g) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (2) (2) (2)
22583 Chimney- 1000 0.462 11.45 0.029 3.19 57 177326 9633105 -2238 Massive sulphide
ROV
22585 Chimney- 2100 0.077 3.22 0.039 2.60 29 177328 9633098 -2237 Massive sulphide
ROV
22586 Chimney- 4620 7.010 8.69 0.015 1.33 64 177072 9633120 -2244 Massive sulphide
ROV
22587 Chimney- 2670 0.543 11.55 0.028 2.35 58 177390 9633178 -2243 Massive sulphide
ROV
22588 Chimney- 3065 0.947 9.26 0.023 2.55 53 177401 9633220 -2243 Massive sulphide
ROV
22590 Chimney- 3245 0.432 11.4 0.024 2.55 52 177359 9633168 -2246 Massive sulphide
ROV
22591 Chimney- 5097 0.714 30.20 0.026 5.67 132 177337 9633144 -2242 Massive sulphide
ROV
22592 Chimney- 3966 0.211 14.90 0.032 3.72 80 177331 9633122 -2238 Massive sulphide
ROV
22594 Chimney- 1102 1.30 31.20 0.021 1.33 96 177057 9633141 -2242 Massive sulphide
ROV
22595 Chimney- 4895 1.590 17.95 0.027 4.40 184 177063 9633142 -2240 Massive sulphide
ROV
22597 Chimney- 6175 4.920 10.30 0.015 1.10 48 177046 9633088 -2244 Massive sulphide
ROV
22598 Chimney- 2870 0.356 27.40 0.107 6.28 165 177015 9633059 -2247 Massive sulphide
ROV
22599 Chimney- 5038 0.226 40.10 0.080 3.77 169 176995 9633034 -2244 Massive sulphide
ROV
22601 Chimney- 5209 0.798 41.10 0.083 5.67 166 177082 9633170 -2248 Massive sulphide
ROV
Minimum 0.077 3.220 0.015 1.10 29
Maximum 7.010 41.100 0.107 6.28 184
Average 1.399 19.194 0.039 3.32 97
SOLWARA 16 FINAL ASSAY RESULTS OF SULPHIDE SAMPLES
Final assay results
Sample Sample Weight Cu Zn Pb Au Ag Easting Northing Depth Lithology
No. type (g) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (2) (2) (2)
22602 Chimney- 1420 1.20 22.70 0.012 1.13 38 830088 9619519 -2162 Massive sulphide
ROV
22603 Chimney- 894 9.40 5.630 0.019 1.22 73 830099 9619505 -2147 Massive sulphide
ROV
22604 Chimney- 3070 0.151 14.00 0.063 5.12 140 830124 9619542 -2149 Massive sulphide
ROV
22605 Chimney- 2319 0.297 19.050 0.035 4.38 172 830095 9619634 -2159 Massive sulphide
ROV
22607 Chimney- 1276 0.305 32.80 0.043 3.71 138 829893 9619433 -2163 Massive sulphide
ROV
22608 Chimney- 1425 1.50 17.250 0.026 1.37 70 829946 9619369 -2160 Massive sulphide
ROV
Minimum 0.151 5.630 0.012 1.13 38
Maximum 9.400 32.800 0.063 5.12 172
Average 2.142 18.572 0.033 2.82 105
SOLWARA 18 FINAL ASSAY RESULTS OF SULPHIDE SAMPLES
Final assay results
Sample Sample Weight Cu Zn Pb Au Ag Easting Northing Depth Lithology
No. type (g) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (2) (2) (2)
22618 Chimney- 2980 0.108 25.00 1.365 0.19 134 526570 9660001 -1308 Semi-massive sulphide
ROV
22619 Chimney- 2995 0.499 14.10 1.050 0.18 85 526600 9659998 -1308 Semi-massive sulphide
ROV
Minimum 0.108 14.100 1.050 0.18 85
Maximum 0.499 25.000 1.365 0.19 134
Average 0.304 19.550 1.208 0 .19 110
Sampling procedure
Grab samples were collected from the sea floor using a manipulator arm mounted on the remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Chimney samples averaging 37 kilograms (from five kilograms to 70 kilograms) were recovered and processed on board the ship. Subsamples averaging 4.8 kilograms (from 1.6 kilograms to 7.3 kilograms) were taken from each of the sulphide samples using a pneumatic jackhammer, generally taking a cross-section of the sample toward the base of the block. The remaining portions of each sample were retained for reference purposes.
Equipment spread
The mapping work described herein was completed using a Fugro FV3000 series ROV. The ROV is equipped with sensors used to map the sea floor. These include: various video cameras and two magnetometers provided by Ocean Floor Geophysics Inc. In addition, high-resolution mapping sonars housed on the ROV were successfully used for the first time to identify real-time sea floor features ahead and to the sides of the ROV beyond the range of the video camera systems used previously.
For sea floor sampling purposes, the ROV is equipped with two manipulator arms and a custom-built sample tray, or “geobox,” for storing up to 10 hand-sized grab samples or scoop samples. Larger samples are stowed and recovered using a custom built array of salvage bins.
Laboratory assaying
All laboratory analyses were carried out by ALS Laboratory Group in Brisbane and Townsville, Australia. ALS operates quality systems based on international standards.
Sample custodianship
All sampling, sample handling and analysis was completed under the supervision of Nautilus personnel. Sampling was carried out aboard the MV Fugro Solstice while at sea. All subsamples were placed into numbered plastic bags. The bagged samples were then subsequently placed into sealed plastic containers with security tags and transported to ALS laboratories in Townsville, Australia, via courier.
Quality assurance
Low-grade blank material, field duplicates and externally certified geochemical reference materials with known concentrations of gold, copper, zinc, lead and silver were included for analysis with each batch of samples as per a documented quality assurance/quality control procedure. Analysis of these reference materials indicates that the quality of sample preparation and analyses are within acceptable limits for the reporting exploration results.
