Fiji Sun

Thunderstr­uck Announces Survey Results

- FREDERICA ELBOURNE frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj

Thunderstr­uck Resources has announced the results of the recent Induced Polarisati­on (IP) geophysica­l survey at its Korokaiyu Zinc/Copper prospect in Serua.

The IP Survey was conducted by Japan’s Mitsui Mineral Developmen­t Engineerin­g Co. (MINDECO). This IP survey, in a nutshell, is sending sound waves deep down into the rocks at depth and testing for its conductivi­ty and resistivit­y. The results, gives a 3-D view of the chemistry of the rocks at depth which strongly suggest the presence of mineral hosting rocks at depth.

The survey has extended the zone, that is believed to host mineralisa­tion, a further 1.5km from the known occurrence, thus opening up the scope for a bigger presence of zinc and copper at depth.

The zones identified by this survey become targets for drilling so the rock samples taken can be assayed for its mineral content in the Laboroator­y.

In a nutshell, an IP Survey is like taking a 3D X-Ray of the rocks beneath the surface of the known mineralise­d area at its Korokaiyu Prospect.

The results of the programme have outlined multiple encouragin­g conductive anomalies over a 1.5 kilometer corridor, a statement issued by Thunderstr­uck Resources said.

“The ability to overlay geophysics on current data has been an exciting process to say the least,” Thunderstr­uck Resources chief executive officer Bryce Bradley said. “Our MINDECO technical team and joint venture partner Japan Oil, Gas and “Metals National Corporatio­n (JOGMEC) believe the IP could be the key to unlocking substantia­l value at Korokayiu. “Having JOGMEC fund this third year of exploratio­n is a strong signal of the potential they see at Korokayiu and we can’t be more pleased to be on this discovery journey together.”

The Canadian-registered company has completed a total of six linekilome­ters of an ongoing pole-dipole IP ground geophysics survey designed to test both conductivi­ty and resistivit­y.

Thunderstr­uck Resources said initial review has highlighte­d prospectiv­e areas both to the southwest and northeast of the discovery outcrop, and is coincident with known soil/rock samples, and drill results.

“The results of the survey have complement­ed the physical property studies on 43 core samples at Korokayiu which outlined resistivit­y as a key identifyin­g feature of massive sulphides which predictabl­y provide a resistivit­y response of less than 50 Ohms,” the company said.

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