Buxton Resources Limited has returned rock chip assays up to 6.21% copper and 1,355 g/t silver from reconnaissance sampling at the Arivaca Project in southern Arizona.

The 100%-owned project covers 14.2 square kilometres of newly granted tenure within the Laramide porphyry belt, situated approximately 30 kilometres southwest of Freeport-McMoRan’s Sierrita copper-molybdenum mining complex. Buxton acquired the 8 Mineral Exploration Permits for application and two-year rent fees totalling around US$11,000, with initial expenditure commitments of approximately US$35,000 per annum for years one through three.

Initial reconnaissance rock-chip sampling across the 35 samples collected returned high-grade results from dumps adjacent to historic mine workings within zones of quartz veining and brecciation. Individual assays included 3.55% copper and 1.1% copper, with multiple samples exceeding 400 g/t silver. The best in-situ rock chip returned 0.69% copper and 84.3 g/t silver from the same sample. Wallrock adjacent to the workings exhibits argillic to selective propylitic alteration.

There is no modern drilling or systematic exploration known within the project tenure. The polymetallic veining, pathfinder geochemistry, and alteration patterns are interpreted as consistent with the upper parts of a porphyry system. A prominent airborne magnetic low is semi-coincident with the anomalous geochemistry, potentially indicating a deeper felsic intrusion underlying the mineral system.

“Arivaca is exactly the kind of opportunity Buxton is pursuing in Arizona - 100%-owned, acquired at low cost, with high-grade surface mineralisation in an underexplored setting within the proven Laramide porphyry belt.”

“The geochemistry, veining, alteration and magnetics all point to potential for a porphyry-style mineral system at depth at Arivaca. We're looking forward to commencing detailed mapping and geophysics ahead of our first drill program.”

— Martin Moloney, Chief Executive Officer

The company's existing Arizona asset base includes the Copper Wolf copper-molybdenum project, where IGO Limited holds an interest. To advance Arivaca, Buxton has submitted Geological Field Operations Plans to the Arizona State Lands Department to undertake detailed mapping, surface sampling, detailed airborne magnetics, and drill testing.

Read the full announcement: Arivaca Project Rock Chips to 6.21% Cu, 1,355 g/t Ag