The drilling program has been designed to test for continuity and grade of uranium mineralization within a near surface, sub-horizontal, 30 – 80mt thick horizon of rhyolitic pyroclastics hosting fracture-filling and disseminated autunite/torbernite.
The Tantamaco drilling (8,400mt in 46 holes) is part of a larger program of approximately 11,000mt in 71 holes that will also include holes to test the Calvario Real, Isivilla and Tuturumani prospects along the prolific northern rim of the Macusani caldera.
Lithology of drill hole MA-TA-MI-DDH 210-061 is included to illustrate the distribution of uranium within the mineralized horizon in a typical hole through the volcanic package.
The 2008 reconnaissance drill program indicated that the dominant mineralized structures strike approximately north-south and have a steep dip to the west. The Tantamaco drill program consists primarily of a series of holes drilling east at -45 degrees on a regular 100mt grid opening up to 200mt as it progresses south.
A series of five holes are being drilled to the north at -45 degrees on line 8,460,700 N to test the importance of the secondary set of fractures that strike approximately east-west and have a steep dip to the south. Early Indications are that the east oriented holes give the more representative results for the deposit.
Section 8,460,700 N is included to illustrate the geometry of the deposit and the potential for continuing to follow the mineralized horizon down dip to the west.
David Bent, vice president of Vena Resources, said: “The results of the Tantamaco drill program to date are very encouraging. Upon completion of the 2010 drill program it is anticipated that sufficient data will have been generated to initiate the calculation of a preliminary uranium resource for the deposit.”
