Malachite Property, New Brunswick

The Malachite Property consists of two contiguous mining claim blocks consisting of 53 mineral claims with a surface area of approx. 938 hectares. The property is located approximately 60 kilometres west of Bathurst, New Brunswick along Highway 180 in Restigouche county. Access is gained via logging roads off of Highway 180.

Download "Exploring New Brunswick" - CIM Bulletin - 38th Edition

After the discovery in 1989 of chalcopyrite bearing altered "rhyolite" boulders on an old logging road north of Highway 180 near Ramsay Brook, Lone Pine Exploration Ltd. staked 9 claims to cover the showing. Over the next 4-5 years Lone Pine Exploration Ltd., intermittently worked the property completing prospecting and numerous small geophysical surveys (including magnetic and VLF, MaxMin, IP and gravity). These surveys, although limited in extent, delineated geophysical anomalous zones spatially associated with known mineralization. Trenching was performed over these areas to expose possible bedrock sources. Sampling returned copper values locally up to 8,560 ppm from strongly altered gabbro and "rhyolite". Mineralization appears closely related to gabbro intrusive that cut the surrounding sedimentary rocks and manifests itself as weakly to strongly disseminated and veined sulphide including pyrite and chalcopyrite.

In 1997 Log House Construction Ltd. staked 25 claims in the same area. The property was optioned to Black Bull Resources (BC) Ltd. with work performed by Northeast Exploration Ltd. of Bathurst. Prospecting and trenching exposed elevated values in excess of 3% Cu and 2,620 ppb Au. One sample collected from a strongly mineralized veinlet assayed at 29% Cu. Geological mapping of the trenches exposed mineralized zones at the contact between gabbro dykes and the host sedimentary rocks.

During subsequent visits to the open trenches, a pinkish cobalt bloom was recognized in rocks at the bottom of Trench #3. Historically, no mention had been made of the presence of cobalt minerals on the property nor were any of previous samples assayed for cobalt. Results from samples collected during the summer of 2001 by Hudson Bay Exploration & Development returned values from 233 ppm Co, and as high as 2,496 ppm Co.

The 2002 exploration programme was conducted by Montoro Resources Inc. on the behalf of Log House Construction Ltd. and included the establishment of a 15 kilometre grid, soil sampling, Magnetic-VLF surveys, geological mapping at 1:2,500 scale, trenching and sampling.

A picket line grid was established over the central portion of the claim groups designed to cover two known mineral showings occurring on the property. Soil samples were collected ever 25 metres along this grid were possible. A total of 421 soil samples where collected and sent for assay. Results of the soil sampling defined two areas of anomalous copper and cobalt. The first area of anomalous Co and Cu was located at L 5+00 N, 0+50 W. Assays were 883 ppm As, 453 ppm Co, 1,170 ppm Cu, 107 ppm Pb & 74 ppm Zn. The second area was located on L 400 N, between 1+25 E & 1+75 E. This multi-site anomaly returned assays with values as high as 2,680 ppm As, 63 ppm Co, 1,030 ppm Cu, 293 ppm Pb & 124 ppm Zn.

Geophysical surveys, VLF & Magnetics, were completed on all grid lines. The magnetic survey defined two separate magnetic domains. The southeast corner of the grid shows a strong magnetic signature associated with a gabbro unit outcropping along Highway 180. The remainder of the grid area is relatively magnetically low with only weak linear multi-line anomalies interpreted to represent the magnetic signature of thin gabbro dykes.

The VLF-EM survey defined numerous multi-line anomalies trending grid north-south. These anomalies are interpreted to represent compositional variations within the sedimentary units of the Greys Gulch Formation sediments. Of particular interest is a strong linear anomaly that crosses the entire grid from north to south trending approximately 040° (Anomaly A). Anomaly A is spatially associated with a 25-30 metre wide copper-cobalt mineralized zone (Main Zone) within a rhyolite unit.

The grid area was geologically mapped at 1:2,500 scale. For the most part all the located outcrops were found along logging roads and Highway 180. This relative absence of outcrop hindered the initial geological interpretation.

As a follow-up to the geophysics, geological mapping and soil sampling, 4 days of trenching were completed. Two trenches were excavated along line L 4+00N and L 5+00N totaling 550 metres. The trenching uncovered a previous unknown felsic volcanic formation within (or stratigraphically above) the Greys Gulch Formation sediments. The rhyolite unit shows evidence of pervasive hydrothermal alteration and local strong copper - cobalt mineralization. A 30 metre wide mineralized zone (Main Zone) in the rhyolite near 0+50 W shows areas of brecciation with chalcopyrite stringers (3-5%) and abundant malachite and some bluish Co-oxide along fracture. Best assays from grab samples within this zone are 0.1% Co & 2.06% Cu.

2004 Explorations

The property contains at least two know mineralized zones (URN 1339 - Malachite and URN 1139 - Ramsay-Pitre).

February 11/04 – Montoro Resources Inc. has completed 4 shallow diamond drill holes totalling 446.5 metres. Two holes (M04-01 and M04-03) were drilled in the Main Zone which contained previous assays of up to 0.1% cobalt and 2.06% copper; another hole (M04-02) was drilled 100 metres grid north of the Main Zone and the last hole (M04-04) was drilled 530 metres grid north of the Main Zone along a property scale VLF conductor coincident with the Main Zone.

March 5, 2004 - A summary of the significant intersections defined in its recently completed four hole drilling program is as follows:click to enlarg location map

Significant Drill Intersections

Drill Holes

M04-03

This hole was drilling behind M04-01 and most probable stopped before intersecting Main Zone.

Further information of assay results are detailed in the news release and can be reviewed through SEDAR.

May 14, 2004 - The grid and subsequent Magnetic & VLF survey were extended northeast along strike of the expanded 16 claims. A further 5 hole drill program has been completed totalling approx. 675 metres to follow-up the down dip and strike potential of the Main Zone, the Smith Zone and to test a newly delineated VLF anomaly from the recent survey.

June 22, 2004 - A summary of the significant intersections are as follows: