|
Belmore Resources - Clare Project
|
|
Belmore Resources has an interest in eleven licenses in Co. Clare, Ireland for a total land package are of 393.83 sq km. Six of these licenses are held by Central Mining Finance (CMF) with whom Belmore entered into a 50% joint venture agreement on the 20th of March 2002. From the start of this joint venture agreement, Belmore has and continues to earn a further interest in these properties by financing all exploration expenditure. The remaining five licenses are held directly by Belmore Resources. The tenure is detailed as follows:
| PL |
Holder |
Area |
Belmore's
Interest |
|
PL |
Holder |
Area |
Belmore's
Interest |
| 3508 |
CMF |
33.29 sq km |
>50% |
|
3640 |
Belmore |
9.86 sq km |
100% |
| 3643 |
CMF |
53.65 sq km |
>50% |
|
3641 |
Belmore |
30.22 sq km |
100% |
| 3787 |
CMF |
39.54 sq km |
>50% |
|
3642 |
Belmore |
32.94 sq km |
100% |
| 3788 |
CMF |
52.02 sq km |
>50% |
|
2590 |
Belmore |
32.18 sq km |
100% |
| 3789 |
CMF |
44.29 sq km |
>50% |
|
3679 |
Belmore |
20.88 sq km |
100% |
| 3863 |
CMF |
44.96 sq km |
>50% |
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
|
267.75 sq km |
|
|
Total |
|
126.08 sq km |
|
The location of these of the licenses can be seen from the map or further details of the holdings can be found from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources' Exploration and Mining Division |
|
Following the discovery at Kilbricken, the intended work programme for 2008 consists of:
- Re-interpretation of historical geophysical data in light of the knowledge that there is mineralization at depth.
- Step out drilling on cardinal points (or in directions most prospective based on re-interpreted geophysics).
|
|
The earliest evidence of mining in Ireland is provided by Bronze Age (1,300 BC) copper mines at Mount Gabriel in Co. Cork, southwest Ireland. Some copper, lead and silver was also extracted during an extended period in the 19th century however; Ireland was not renowned for its mining industry. In 1856, the director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Sir Roderick Murchison even declared the country to be devoid of minerals of any worth. However, since the 1950s the country has undergone a mining boom. This was sparked initially by the discovery of the Ballyvergin copper mine which is situated in the on PL 3787 in the North of Belmore's Co. Clare land package. It was given greater impetus by the discovery of the Tynagh and Silvermines zinc, lead and silver deposits in 1961 and 1962 which lie approximately 40km to the North East and 40km to the East of Belmore's licenses respectively.
More recent exploration on the licenses was started in 1994 by Central Mining Finance (CMF) of London and the work was overseen by Dr. John Colthurst. CMF then entered into a joint venture with BHP Billiton in 1999. During this period, regional airborne geophysics was flown and substantial drilling was carried out on prospective targets. In 1995/96 the 400,000t resource (currently non-compliant) grading 12% combined zinc and lead near Milltown was delineated. When BHP Billiton ceased mineral exploration activity in Ireland, the 50% stake in the Clare licenses was ceded to Mr. George Emo who then transferred this 50% stake to Belmore Resources Ltd on the 20th of March 2002. Belmore Resources (Holdings) Ltd. was then incorporated and launched on OFEX on the 30th of March 2005 as a vehicle to finance exploration activities on these licenses and other prospects in Ireland.
|
|
|
 During Q1 of 2008, Belmore Resources drilled a single hole (3679-04) near the old Kilbricken Silver Mine. There had been previous drilling in this area both by Belmore and previous explorers, however none of the holes had tested the base of the reef.
This hole intersected 18m of massive sulphide at the base of the Waulsortian Reef with a 10m intersection from 448.1 to 458.1m assayed 13.84% Zn, 5.52% Pb. This mineralisation is open in all directions with the nearest drillhole tesing the base of the reef being 1.5km to the North East.
The results of the drill hole 3679-04 are summarised below:
| 0 - 2 m |
Overburden |
| 2-34.2m |
Fine grained crinoidal calcarenite |
| 34.2 - 57.2m |
Cavities, massive calcite, minor Pb/Zn, represents old 19C workings |
| 57.2 -85.1m |
Fine grained sparry calcarenites |
| 85.1 - 99.25m |
Cherty fine calcarenites to micrites, unfossiliferous |
| 99.25 - 128.7m |
Black calcareous mudstones with occasional sparry lst beds |
| 128.7 - 233.5m |
Sparry calcarenites and micrites, moderately fossiliferous |
| 233.5 - 260m |
Fine grained pale grey micrites, reef like but no stromatactis |
| 260 - 274.4m |
Nodular bedded cherty limestone |
| 274 - 426m |
Reef Limestone, patchy dolomitisation |
| 426 - 436.6m |
Reef with minor pyrite horizons |
| 436.6 - 443.75m |
Reef with bands of massive pyrite |
| 443.75 - 448.1m |
Massive Pyrite |
| 448.1 - 458.2m |
High grade interval, from 454.8m muddy partings suggest possible replacement of ABL host |
| 458.2 - 459.3m |
Crinoidal ABL |
| 459.3 - 461.5m |
ABL, steep dips |
| 461.5 - 472m |
ABL, gentle dips |
|
|
From 2005 to December 2007, Belmore Resources carried out successive exploration phases on the Co. Clare Licenses. These included:
Geophysics: An Induced Polarisation programme at Clonloum, Spancil Hill and Kilmurry.
Geochemistry at Clonloum, Spancil Hill, Kilmurray, Pl 3642 and on the Ballyhickey licence. Weak but coherent anomalies at Kilmurray and on Pl 3642 and a number of very strong anomalies at Ballyhickey were identified. Most of licence was covered with soil geochemistry on a 100 x 100m grid and more than 800 samples were taken. These samples were analysed for Cu, Pb, Zn, As, and Mg.
- At Ballyhickey Mine max values of 17,333ppm Zn, 20,135ppm Pb, 1,738ppm Cu and 3,485ppm As were obtained. Some contamination from old mine was evident but the anomaly extends beyond workings.
- At Moyreisk max values of 3,861ppm Zn, 4,734ppm Pb, 101ppm Cu and 360ppm As with no evidence of old workings or contamination.
- At Hazelwood max values of 3,575ppm Zn, 15,402ppm Pb, 827ppm Cu and 1,352 ppm As. The anomalous Hazelwood sites are close to old house but this would not explain high arsenic.
- Other interesting anomalies especially a north-west trending anomaly in the centre of the licence also require further investigation
Drilling at Clonloum, Kilmurray and Ballyhickeywas carried out. Structural complexity was illustrated but no mineralisation was encountered except at Ballyhickey.
 Two holes were drilled in the Ballyhickey mine area. These intersected the Ballyhickey vein but more importantly they also tested the base of Reef on the north-east side of the calcite filled vein/fault. This is the same as the concept which led to the discover of the Milltown Deposit. Minor mineralisation and BMB were found in both holes.
One angle hole was drilled to test the Moyreisk anomaly and this also tested the base of Reef. No mineralisation was found
Drilling at Spancil Hill did not locate sulphides.
Drilling at Milltown located trace sulphides but largely confirmed existing limits to mineralisation. |
|
The following intersects were encounteded at Milltown by CMF when delineating the 400,000t (currently non-compliant) resource during the 1995/96 drilling campaign:
- 3788-6 6.40m @ 2.7% Pb, 8.69% Zn, 86g/t Ag
- 3788-7 6.22m @ 1.62% Pb, 13.73% Zn, 59g/t Ag
- 3788/9 1.10m @ 2.44% Pb, 6.48% Zn, 42.2g/t Ag
- 3788/16 4.20m @ 1.05% Pb, 4.05% Zn, 21.1g/t Ag
- 3788/19 25.9m @ 3.50% Pb, 6.43% Zn, 40.5g/t Ag
- Includes 13.30m @ 5.78% Pb, 10.45% Zn, 65.8g/t Ag
- 3788/23 12.55m @ 2.99% Pb, 6.71% Zn, 58g/t Ag
- 3788/24 24.10m @ 4.24% Pb, 4.01% Zn, 765g/t Ag
- Includes 9.40m @ 8.01% Pb, 6.14% Zn, 131g/t Ag
|
|
|
Most of the commercially exploited and exploitable Irish lead zinc deposits have been discovered in a NE – SW band of Carboniferous stretching across the centre of the country. The deposit types tend to be carbonate hosted such as the Lisheen mine in Co. Tipperary or a combination of Sedimentary Exhalative (SEDEX) and carbonate hosted deposits such as the Navan deposit operated by Tara Mines.
Belmore Resources’ 100% owned Clare block licenses are located in this most prospective carboniferous region and are host to the historical Ballyvergin copper deposit, discovered in 1957. This deposit marked the start of modern mineral exploitation in Ireland. The licenses are also on trend with the Tynagh zinc-lead-silver deposit which was discovered in 1961. It was this discovery of Tynagh that sparked interest for exploration for Lead Zinc deposits in Ireland and in 1962 the Silvermines deposit was discovered which lies just 30km to the east of the Clare Licenses.
|
|
The geology over the co. Clare licenses broadly follows an East – West striking synclinal structure of sedimentary layers. This means that in the North of the block, the layers are shallow dipping to the south. The most prospective geological formation to find mineralization is at the base of the Waulsortian reef. During 1995/1996, in the region of Milltown a [currently non-compliant] resource of 400,000t of ore @ 12% Zn + Pb was delineated at the base of the reef at an average depth of between 38 and 60 m below surface. At this point the Waulsortian reef is exposed on surface.
In April 2008, Belmore Resources Plc. announced the discovery of new mineralization in the region Kilbricken. While previous holes had been drilled in this area, none of them had tested the base of the reef which is found to be at approximately 450m depth, thereby confirming the that the Waulsortian keeps dipping to the South at this point.
Stratigraphy
The stratigraphy on the Clare licences is typical of that found in all Irish carbonate hosted /SEDEX deposits:
 |
Super-Reef of Calcarenite and Cherty Calcarenite
|
 |
Waulsortian Reef which thickens from north to south, 170 metres in north to at least 285 metres in south. Patchy partial dolomitisation. |
|
Argillaceous Bioclastic Limestone, 110 to 120 metres thick above BV shale marker. |
|
Ballyvergin Shale, 5 – 6 metres thick. |
|
Ringmoylan Shale and Mellon House Beds, 37 – 42 metres thick |
|
Old Red Sandstone |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clare
