Historic Data Oversight at Zlatno Raises Questions on Untapped Gold Potential
Prospech Limited’s recent assays from discarded historic drill core at its Zlatno project in Slovakia reveal gold presence alongside copper, suggesting a large, previously overlooked copper-gold porphyry system.
- Gold detected in historic drill core samples at Zlatno
- Evidence supports a large copper-gold porphyry/skarn mineralised system
- Historic exploration focused on copper, overlooking gold potential
- Multiple intrusions identified as potential feeders to skarn mineralisation
- Further sampling and drilling planned to explore untested zones
Historic Core Revisited
Prospech Limited (ASX – PRS) has breathed new life into the Zlatno copper-gold project in Slovakia by assaying discarded drill core from exploration conducted in the 1970s and 1980s. While the original focus was on copper mineralisation, the recent sampling has uncovered encouraging gold values, suggesting that previous explorers may have overlooked significant gold potential.
A Large Porphyry-Skarn System Emerges
The assays indicate multiple intrusions hosting copper-gold porphyry-style mineralisation. Elevated gold values from four of 26 core samples and a float grab sample support the interpretation of a large intrusive centre that could be the feeder system to the carbonate-hosted skarn mineralisation historically defined over a substantial 1,300 by 900 metre area. This points to a more complex and potentially richer mineral system than previously understood.
Unlocking Untapped Potential
Significantly, much of the porphyry-style core remains unsampled, with Prospech planning further assays to better delineate gold distribution at depth. The project’s location within the Miocene Štiavnica stratovolcano and proximity to the Rozália gold mine; an active underground operation 8 km away; adds geological credibility to the exploration hypothesis. The structural setting, including a major regional fault, may have played a key role in localising mineralisation.
Cautious Optimism Amid Historic Data Limitations
While the results are promising, they come with caveats. The samples were taken from discarded core fragments with inferred depths, and the assays do not meet modern resource estimation standards. No metallurgical or economic assessments have yet been conducted. Nonetheless, the findings have transformed Zlatno into a walk-up drill target, opening the southern Hodruša belt for renewed copper-gold exploration.
Strategic Positioning for Europe’s Energy Transition
Prospech’s broader strategy to develop critical minerals in Europe aligns with rising demand for copper and gold in the energy transition. The Zlatno project, with its newly recognised gold potential, could become a key asset in the company’s portfolio, complementing its rare earth and lithium projects in Finland.
Bottom Line?
Prospech’s rediscovery at Zlatno sets the stage for a new chapter in copper-gold exploration, but systematic drilling will be crucial to confirm the scale and grade of this promising system.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Prospech’s upcoming drilling programs validate the extent of gold mineralisation at Zlatno?
- What metallurgical characteristics will the copper-gold mineralisation exhibit, and how might this impact economic viability?
- Could regional structural features similar to those at Rozália and Čoka Rakita guide further exploration success?
