Further Drill Results Compiled From Elena Tolosa Area Exploration Program
VANCOUVER - Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. has now compiled further drill results from Phase 2 of its 2021/2022 exploration program. These latest results represent six holes completed below the current Level 17 mining area at the Elena Tolosa (ET) area of the Avino Mine. The goal of this part of the exploration program is to define the continuity of the steeply dipping mineralization and to identify the source of the mineralization’s feeder. These drilling results demonstrate the continuity of our mineralization similar to or higher than the current mining widths and grades at the lowest level of the current Avino Mine production area.
"The ET area drilling builds on our June 2022 results as we as continue to expand the area of mineralization below Level 17”, said David Wolfin, President and CEO. “We are thrilled at the copper grades over significant widths and encouraged to see strong gold and silver grades as well. In the last drill campaign, we drilled to a depth of 290 meters below the lowest mining level. This current drill campaign tested infill sections to a depth of 232 meters to ensure continuity as well as extensions to the east of the known mineralization. Furthermore, we also tested on the eastern edge of our production workings to add to our geological understanding and help identify the main mineralization feeder. With this continued success, our team is extremely excited on ET prospects and have made the decision to mobilize Avino’s 3rd exploration drill rig to these areas. The current intercept widths suggest that this area will be able to utilize Avino’s existing low-cost bulk mining methods.”
Avino is developing a geological model based on a “near porphyry” environment. The persistence of grade continuity from surface down a plunge distance of over 800 meters (600 meters vertical) and base metal zonation supports the likelihood of a deeper mineralized system and could possibly be linked to a porphyry center.
The Property contains numerous low-sulphidation epithermal veins (including the Avino vein), breccias, stockworks, and silicified zones that grade into a “near porphyry” environment within a large caldera setting. The caldera has been uplifted by regional north-trending block faulting (a graben structure), exposing a window of andesitic pyroclastic rocks of the lower volcanic sequence within this caldera. This lower volcanic sequence is overlain by an upper volcanic sequence, consisting of rhyolite to trachyte lava flows and extensive ignimbrites that have been intruded by monzonite bodies. The direction of the copper grade increase plunges towards the east in the Avino vein, suggesting changing pressure and temperature conditions with depth at the time of mineralization and possibly reflecting a transition from epithermal to porphyry-style mineralization.
Six holes totaling 3,269 meters drilled were completed to investigate the continuity of mineralization in the central part of the ET Area. Five of the holes intercepted the mineralization within the vein and stockwork.
Vein-type mineralization and stockwork with mineralization of silver, gold and copper are found along the contacts between intrusive rocks and an andesite. This provides opportunities within the ET Area for the identification and delineation of additional mineral resources that remain open on strike and dip. This recent deeper drilling confirms that the mineralization persists down dip significantly past the lowest developed mining level and may prove to add significant mineral resources subject to the completion of an updated mineral resource estimate currently scheduled for Q1 2023.