Benton, Arizona
The Benton project is 37 unpatented mining claims located on US Forest lands in Santa Cruz County, Arizona about 7 miles south of South32’s Taylor Ag-Pb-Zn deposit (101 Mt @ 10.5% ZnEq). At least six breccia pipes in the district host high grade mineralization ranging from 3 Mt of 0.27% Mo and 0.3% Cu to 50 Mt grading 0.5% Cu and 0.025% Mo. At least four of these pipes coallesce in significant porphyry Cu-Mo deposits.
Historic work consists of 24 churn holes for assessment purposes (35 to 200 feet deep) and at least 13 exploration core holes (<500 feet deep). The work was primarily completed in the early 1960’s to mid 1970’s. Several holes reportedly encountered significant mineralization ranging from 39.5 feet grading 0.3% copper to 147.5 feet grading 0.47% copper. Old workings explore copper rich breccia pipes within the claim boundary.
Additionally, 75 surface rock samples and 136 soil samples have been collected along with detailed geologic mapping compiled from several sources. The above work has identified at least 20 breccia pipes and two significant shear zones all mineralized with copper, molybdenum, gold and silver.
1)Two breccia pipes on the Benton East hill have obvious copper and molybdenum mineralization at surface, in drilling and underground.
2)A large breccia to the north of Benton has the thickest drill intercept of mineralization and a dimension of roughly 800 by 1500 feet at surface.
3)Highest rock chip values were 8.2% copper and 0.25% molybdenum from the north part of the property. Gold values to 2.9 g/t were obtained from one of the shear zones.
The property has a well defined footprint of alteration and mineralization at surface and in drilling providing direct drill targets on the property.