TORONTO, Feb. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VVC Exploration Corporation (“VVC” or the “Company”) (VVC.V) today announced assay results from diamond drilling on its Samalayuca property in northern Chihuahua state, Mexico.  The results indicate significant copper mineralization in near surface zones in two main areas, the Gloria and Gloria extensions (see Figure 1).  Highlights include:

Gloria – drilling tested the down dip extension of the copper zone exploited in the artisanal Gloria pit with 12 holes, including all 6 from the Phase 1 program.  Results include:

- SC17-009 - 0.46 % Cu / 7 m at 9 m depth, and 0.56 % Cu / 12m at 73.5 m depth
- SC17-018 - 0.67 % Cu / 10 m at 32 m depth
- SC17-020 - 0.95 % Cu / 5 m at 21.5 m depth

Gloria Extension – drilling tested the down dip extension of the copper zone exploited in the artisanal Gloria Extension pit with the 2 final drill holes of the program.  Results include:

- SC17-022 - 0.51 % Cu / 27 m at 14.5 m depth – approx. 27 m true width
- SC17-023 - 0.36 % Cu / 51 m at 10 m depth – approx. 36 m true width

Exploration Summary – Samalayuca - 2017

VVC commenced a diamond drilling program in August 2017.  A total of 2702 meters (Figure 2) were drilled in 23 DDH in 2 phases testing targets that had been discovered / mined by artisanal miners (gambusinos) in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Phase 2 of this drilling program (1224 meters) intersected extensive near surface mineralization in the Gloria and Gloria Extension areas (see inset table in Figure 2 below).  Complete results of the 2-phase program are presented on the Company’s website at: www.vvcexpl.com/mining-data

The drilling program was intended to evaluate the mineralized zones in the previously mined areas, to better define the thickness and grade of the mineralized zones and to further define their structural and lithologic settings using information gained as drilling continued and structural mapping carried out after the Phase 1 program.   All the main areas that had been mined by artisanal miners, except the La Concha zone, in the northern part of the property, were evaluated by the drilling.  The drilling at the Gloria and Gloria extension zones intersected significant mineralized zones with thicknesses up to 36 m and grades in the 0.3 to 0.6 % Cu range.  The drilling shows the potential of the property to host significant stratiform copper deposits, with mineralized zones traced for over 5 km based on the old shallow artisanal mines and VVC’s drilling of the 23 DDH, completed to date.

Jim Culver, CEO of VVC said, "We at VVC are excited by the results of the first 2 phases of this Samalayuca drilling program.  This drilling program has provided us with a wealth of data, most of it very encouraging.  The results are by necessity - technical, detailed and voluminous.  I would encourage readers of this news release, particularly those who have a technical interest, to go to the VVC website where the drilling data and associated information is presented. 

There are three takeaways from the drilling that I would like to highlight:  First there is extensive near surface mineralization.  Secondly there are copper grades in the 0.3% to 0.6% range and thirdly the drilling intersected mineralized zones up to 36 meters in true width.”

VVC’s Chairman, Dr. Terrence Martell said, “We are particularly pleased with another positive step at our Samalayuca Copper Project and look forward to our next phase of work.”

Geology

The Samalayuca property covers copper mineralisation in the Samalayuca Sierra, characterised as Stratiform Copper Deposit type, as recognized by qualified persons, Michel Gauthier and Jocelyn Pelletier (2012), and Jacques Marchand and Michel Boily (2013).  Fine disseminated chalcopyrite-bornite and associated oxide copper minerals, common to these deposits, are noted in a wide chloritized zone along the Sierra,  Mineralized zones are from 3 to 36 m wide, true thickness, as defined in the old surface pits.  The stratigraphy strikes NW and dips gently, approximately 25 degrees, to the NE although it is somewhat variable.  Vertical faults can generate supergene copper enrichment when they cut the mineralised strata.  The old mining works by the artisanal miners (gambusinos) targeted the higher grade, surface, copper zones, exploiting them by shallow (< 20 m deep) open pits and hand cobbing the ore for direct shipping to the smelter.