Tesoro Resources channel sampling further expands gold mineralisation at El Zorro

Tesoro Resources (ASX: TSO) reports that the latest channel sampling assays at its El Zorro project in Chile have defined additional broad zones of surface gold mineralisation.

The latest assays from sampling at the Coquetas prospect were 97m at 0.55 grams per tonne, including 2m at 3.60g/t; 45m at 0.69g/t, including 3m at 3.80g/t; and 35m at 0.57g/t, including 4m at 1.97g/t.

The El Zorro project is located 140km by road from the city of Copiapo in northern Chile.

Channel sampling was carried out to give Tesoro a better understanding of the distribution of the gold mineralisation.

Meanwhile, drilling at Coquetas is continuing. The planned 10 holes have been completed and the program was expanded to include an additional hole which is now in progress and testing the southern extension at Coquetas.

Large, widespread gold bearing system confirmed

Tesoro has been focusing on the coastal Cordillerra region in Chile, host to multiple large copper and gold mines.

The company said the latest results indicate a large, widespread gold-bearing system with confirmed surface mineralisation occurring over a total strike length of 785m, and it remains open.

Within that zone continuous gold mineralisation has been defined over 385m of strike, varying between 60m and 80m in width.

Managing director Zeff Reeves said the additional assays tie into the previously announced results.

“We are not only seeing a large system emerging, but results to date indicate that mineralisation is continuous over a large area,” he added.

Extensive outcropping fresh rock

The channel sampling program was undertaken in late 2019 and 1,057 samples were collected from 77 channels.

The Coquetas area is characterised by extensive outcropping of fresh rock.

Topsoil has been removed by the development of access roads and drill pads which has provided “excellent” geological exposure.

Large areas of the Cordillera remain unexplored due to unconsolidated mining concession ownership but Tesoro has been able to acquire two district-scale gold projects.

The second project, Espina, is located south of the Chilean capital of Santiago.