INTRODUCTION
Gentor has signed agreements on two copper explorations blocks in Oman -- Blocks 5 & Blocks 6. Both areas lie over the prospective basalt stratigraphy of the Semail Ophiolite. The prime target is copper and gold in "Cyprus" or "Besshi" type volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits.
On the map beneath extrusive volcanics are coloured in dark green and sheeted dyke gabbros and underlying ultramafic rocks in light green. The red stars represent the larger known copper deposits -- north of Block 5 are the Lasail, Badya and Aarja deposits mined by the Oman government between 1983 and 1994, and to the south of Block 5 the Ghazayn deposits discovered by JICA in the 1990s. The yellow star represents the Oman government's smelter/refinery complex and the attached Mawarid Mining concentrator.
(From Kenex Knowledge Systems -- Block 5 Report, 2009)
BLOCK 5 Agreement
Gentor's first agreement was signed with Al Fairuz Mining LLC on the Block 5 project in December 2009. Al Fairuz Mining LLC is owned by the five brothers of the Al Fairuz family. The agreement allows Gentor to earn a 65% interest in Al Fairuz Mining by completing a bankable feasibility study (BFS) in an unspecified time frame. Gentor and Al Fairuz Mining must submit annual programs and budgets to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Oman to keep the tenement in good standing.
Upon completion of the BFS, Gentor may elect to develop any projects found within Block 5 and will provide the capital and expertise to execute this. Based on the standard capital return model, Gentor will recoup all of its exploration, feasibility and development costs preferentially from first cash flow. Subsequent profits for a mining operation will be split along the agreed equity share of 65% Gentor and 35% Al Fairuz brothers.
BLOCK 6 Agreement
The Block 6 agreement was signed with Al Zuhra Mining LLC on March 23, 2010. Al Zuhra Mining LLC is owned by Sheikh Ahmed Farid and his son. The agreement allows Gentor to earn a staged 70% share of Al Zuhra Mining LLC by completing a bankable feasibility study (BFS) in an unspecified time frame. Gentor and Al Zuhra Mining must submit annual programs and budgets to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Oman to keep the tenement in good standing.
Upon completion of the BFS, Gentor may elect to develop any projects found within Block 6 and will provide the capital and expertise to execute this. Based on the standard capital return model, Gentor will recoup all of its exploration, feasibility and development costs preferentially from first cash flow. Subsequent profits for a mining operation will be split along the agreed equity share of 70% Gentor and 30% Sheikh Ahmed Farid.
Work Programme
Gentor's initial work program involved the assimulation of all previous exploration data in the Semail Ophiolite Belt over the Block 5 & 6 project areas. This work was considerably assisted by the Kenex Knowledge Systems GIS compilation and prospect modelling report over Block 5, which was completed in 2009. In addition, Gentor was indebted to the Mining Section of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry which opened the historical archives to enable access in particular to the Prospection Ltd exploration data records.
With considerable geological, geochemical and some geophysical data available over both Blocks 5 & 6, Gentor decided to fly an airborne Electro-magnetic (VTEM) survey over prospective stratigraphy in Block 5 & 6. The airborne VTEM survey was executed by Geotech between February 2 and April 24, 2010.
Following ground checking and the prioritization of the VTEM anomalies, drilling commenced in July 2010.
Technical Report for Omani Properties
Additional information with respect to Gentor's Omani properties is contained in the technical report prepared by Venmyn Rand (Pty) Ltd, dated December 31, 2010 and entitled "National Instrument 43-101 Independent Technical Report on Block 5 and Block 6 Copper Projects, Semail Ophiolite Belt, Sultanate of Oman held by Gentor Resources, Inc." A copy of this report can be obtained from the "Technical Corner" section of this web site.
MAHAB 4 Discovery
The Mahab 4 discovery in Block 5 was made in 2010 following up a high priority positive EM response from the regional (helicopter-borne) VTEM survey flown in April/May 2010. The VTEM survey highlighted a strong three line (+300m) long conductor coincident with a specific horizon within the basalt stratigraphy of the Semail Ophiolite package. The Mahab 4 VTEM anomaly was prioritised for early drilling on the identification of a small surface gossan, exposed malachite and azurite (copper oxides) and the intercalated purple, sea floor sediments (umbers) within the basalt stratigraphy. The anomaly had not been previously drilled or trenched.
The stratigraphic position of the Mahab 4 discovery is the most commonly known mineralised horizon in the Semail Ophiolite of Oman -- and has been named the "Hatta Position". Along strike to the north, this stratigraphic horizon is believed to host the Hatta deposits being mined by Mawarid Mining LLC, as well as the Lasail, Bayda and Aadja pits mined out by the government parastatal company OMCO in the 1980s and 1990s. Within Block 5, small VMS deposits have been identified on the same horizon at Harah Kilab and Mahab 3 to the north.
The Mahab 4 discovery lies literally at the end of a bitumen road connecting the prospect to the deep sea port of Sohar, approximately half an hour's drive to the north-east. The Omani capital Muscat, lies two hours drive to the south east. There is a power line within one kilometre of the deposit and full mobile phone coverage.
The Mahab Block lies on the eastern edge of the foothills of the Hajar Mountains, adjacent to the Oman coastal desert and wadi plain. The Mahab 4 prospect itself lies within a sharp north-east - south-west trending ridge at the contact between two basalt rock units (Figure 2).
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| FIGURES 3 & 4 - Photographs of the VMS discovery hole GRB5D0020 on Mahab 4 Ridge - looking south-west and with an adjacent close-up of the drill rig |
A local drilling company was contracted and diamond drilling at Mahab 4 commenced in July 2010. Drill hole GRB5D005 intersected 67m of chalcopyrite-bearing stockwork mineralisation from ~110m below the surface gossan. Follow-up drill holes GRB5D0011 and GRB5D0020 highlighted the presence of high-grade massive sulphides at much shallower depths - with GRB5D0020 intersecting 15.40m @ 7.4% Cu, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.91% Zn and 7.85 g/t Ag from approximately 30m below surface.
Evaluation drilling to determine the size and continuity of VMS mineralisation at Mahab 4 began in February 2011, and has continued uninterrupted in to November 2011 with two track-mounted diamond drill rigs. By the end of October 2011, Gentor had completed 43 diamond holes for a total of 5,075.4 metres on an approximate 50m x 20m drill pattern across the Mahab 4 Ridge.
Where applicable, infill drilling on a roughly 25m x 20m pattern has been undertaken to assist in fully defining the shape of the Mahab 4 VMS discovery.
| Mahab 4 Drill Results Summary (to November 2011) |
| Hole No. |
From |
To |
Mineralisation |
Intercept |
Copper |
Gold |
Zinc |
Silver |
| Mahab 4 |
m |
m |
|
m |
% |
g\t |
% |
g/t |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D020 |
40.15 |
55.55 |
MS |
15.40 |
7.40 |
0.17 |
0.91 |
7.9 |
| Incl: |
43.15 |
51.95 |
MS |
8.80 |
9.17 |
0.19 |
0.62 |
8.2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D030 |
32.05 |
63.00 |
MS + SMS + QVS |
30.95 |
3.16 |
0.28 |
1.29 |
17.4 |
| incl: |
48.00 |
53.00 |
MS |
5.00 |
7.18 |
0.48 |
2.52 |
37.2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D032 |
67.15 |
87.45 |
Jasper + MS |
20.30 |
5.79 |
0.37 |
2.42 |
22.0 |
| incl: |
72.81 |
86.00 |
MS |
13.19 |
6.48 |
0.43 |
3.46 |
27.1 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D035 |
44.42 |
98.61 |
MS + SMS + QVS |
54.19 |
4.97 |
0.19 |
0.85 |
9.6 |
| Incl: |
49.42 |
76.23 |
MS |
26.81 |
7.03 |
0.29 |
1.38 |
14.4 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D042 |
108.20 |
111.00 |
MS |
2.80 |
5.03 |
0.17 |
1.29 |
17.7 |
| and |
119.70 |
129.90 |
MS |
10.20 |
5.25 |
0.30 |
1.02 |
13.8 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D047 |
96.60 |
121.00 |
MS/SMS |
24.40 |
4.68 |
0.21 |
1.68 |
13.8 |
| incl: |
98.75 |
116.39 |
MS/SMS |
17.64 |
6.14 |
0.26 |
2.24 |
18.6 |
| incl: |
103.00 |
112.00 |
MS/SMS |
9.00 |
7.22 |
0.25 |
1.93 |
15.8 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B5MB4D059 |
33.50 |
43.69 |
MS |
10.19 |
6.69 |
0.48 |
3.20 |
20.0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B5MB4D064 |
13.50 |
53.00 |
GOS/MS/SMS |
39.50 |
4.81 |
0.25 |
0.38 |
16.7 |
| incl: |
20.15 |
37.00 |
MS |
16.85 |
8.40 |
0.25 |
0.52 |
15.3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B5MB4D066 |
1.50 |
24.20 |
GOS/MS |
22.70 |
3.76 |
0.54 |
15.4 |
0.09 |
| incl: |
19.30 |
24.20 |
MS |
4.90 |
15.94 |
1.27 |
49.4 |
0.11 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B5MB4D067 |
32.95 |
41.00 |
MS |
8.05 |
3.18 |
0.53 |
24.0 |
0.39 |
| incl: |
33.90 |
38.70 |
MS |
4.80 |
4.59 |
0.81 |
36.3 |
0.31 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B5MB4D074 |
70.35 |
105.44 |
MS |
35.09 |
4.82 |
0.38 |
17.7 |
0.85 |
| incl: |
72.84 |
95.41 |
MS |
22.57 |
6.14 |
0.38 |
20.9 |
1.08 |
| and incl: |
99.25 |
105.44 |
MS |
6.19 |
4.01 |
0.72 |
21.6 |
0.67 |
Codes (Umber = Fe sediment, Jasper, MS = Massive Sulphide, SMS = Semi-massive Sulphide,
QVS = Quartz Vein Stringer, GOS = Gossan)
In summary of the geological aspects of the Mahab 4 deposit:
- The Mahab 4 VMS comprises a northward plunging high grade massive sulphide seafloor mound-like body underlain by semi massive sulphides in altered basalt above a steeply west dipping stockwork 'feeder' zone. The deposit has a strike length of 300m and may remain open at depth north of Section 5.
- Both massive sulphide and stockwork mineralisation are broadly bound on the west by a Main Fault and to the east by steeply dipping faults. Thus most of the immediate dip extensions to the deposit appear to have been removed or were controlled by synvolcanic structures.
- Mineralisation is closed at the southern end of the deposit possibly by a cross fault, but there may remain potential for fault-controlled extensions.
- The deposit comes to surface in the southern half of the prospect where gossanous subcrop is mapped over 150 metres adjacent to the Main Fault. Recent drilling has partially defined the gold bearing gossan zone down to 10-20 metres depth followed by a 5-10m thick supergene copper and gold enriched massive sulphide below this. The transition to primary massive sulphide, dominated by pyrite and chalcopyrite with local sphalerite, is usually located around 25m to 30m below surface.
- Primary massive sulphide at Mahab 4 is copper rich; intersections reported to date typically run 3% to 4% Cu, and often include lengthy zones up to 7% or 8% (e.g., GRB5D035). Gold grade in primary massive sulphide is usually between 0.2 g/t and 0.5 g/t, but smaller zones of 0.5 g/t to 1.0 g/t are present towards the upper and distal margins of the sulphide mound, which is typical for this deposit type.
- Copper grades in quartz vein stockwork mineralisation at Mahab 4 are highly variable and gold grades are low. Intersections reported to date typically contain between 0.3% - 1.0% Cu, but often include 5m -- 10m zones that run 1.0% to 2.0% Cu, but these grade at depth in sub-economic pyrite mineralisation.
- Drilling at Mahab 4 will continue during the final quarter of 2011, and possibly into 2012. The primary focus will be on defining any northward extension to the deposit, while infill drilling will continue to define ore shapes for ore body modelling. With a precision DTM survey with drill hole locations accurate to +/- 10cm we will be able to calculate a maiden resource estimate in early 2012.
- Metallurgical results from six initial selected samples are expected to be available in December, 2011. Further refined flotation test work will then be conducted to better optimise recoveries of copper gold and zinc.
Maqail South Discovery
The Maqail South discovery was made in 2010, again following up a high priority (heli-borne) VTEM target in Block 5. The anomaly consisted of a strong 200m x 100m conductor and associated weaker response, located near the Maqail group of targets previously investigated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the 1990's.
The area is adjacent to a main sealed road and lies approximately half an hour from the deep sea port of Sohar and some two and a half hours drive from Muscat. The terrain in the region can be challenging (see Figure 1) - it includes steep mountainous ridges, rolling hills and wadi gravel flats. The area is sparsely vegetated.
Geological reconnaissance indicated that the Maqail South VTEM anomalies lie immediately down-dip from a series of umbers (metalliferous sea floor sediment horizons) within pillow basalts at the favourable Geotimes (V1-1) -- Lasail (V1-2) seafloor position. Detailed geological prospecting by Gentor staff revealed a geological anomaly with a strike length of some 650m (Figures 2 and 3), along which numerous copper oxide showings were observed. These features were previously recognised by JICA geologists who followed-up with a regional IP (induced polarisation) survey on 200m line spacings. Based on their data, JICA drilled three holes approximately one kilometre north of Maqail South, but failed to intersect massive sulphide mineralisation.
Drilling at Maqail South began in August 2010 using track-mounted rigs belonging to a local Muscat-based drilling contractor. Discovery came following the identification of several key Cyprus-type VMS exploration vectors in GRB5D004 and GRB5D007 - namely a moderately altered/weakly mineralised footwall sequence and seafloor sediments containing sulphide disseminations and weak stringers. Holes GRB5D0023, GRB5D0024 and GRB5D031 intersected 6m to 13m of mound facies massive sulphide associated with the Geotimes -- Lasail seafloor position at depths of between 35m and 70m below the top of the ridge. By the end of October 2011, 13 diamond holes had been drilled at Maqail South for a total of 1,380.1m.
Further drilling is planned at Maqail South to define the limits of the VMS, particularly to the south and northeast where mineralisation remains open. The focus will be vectoring towards the 'feeder' part of the system, where in theory at least, greater thicknesses and elevated metal grades may be expected. In addition to this, a satellite VTEM response, VB5_2, located 300m to the southwest will also be more fully tested.
| Maqail South Drill Results Summary (to October 2011) |
| Hole No. |
From |
To |
Mineralisation |
Intercept |
Copper |
Gold |
Zinc |
Silver |
| Maqail South |
m |
m |
|
m |
% |
g\t |
% |
g/t |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D0023 |
68.02 |
74.27 |
MS |
6.25 |
3.30 |
0.16 |
0.02 |
2.69 |
| incl: |
69.49 |
73.60 |
MS |
4.11 |
4.29 |
0.19 |
0.02 |
3.20 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D0024 |
63.71 |
70.39 |
MS |
6.68 |
7.42 |
0.29 |
0.03 |
4.95 |
| |
70.39 |
117.32 |
QVS |
46.93 |
|
|
|
|
| incl: |
90.44 |
97.74 |
QVS |
7.30 |
0.44 |
0.02 |
0.01 |
1.00 |
| incl: |
114.43 |
117.32 |
QVS |
2.89 |
0.82 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
2.00 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D031 |
43.86 |
57.46 |
MS |
13.60 |
3.22 |
0.08 |
0.02 |
0.76 |
| incl: |
50.00 |
54.54 |
MS |
4.54 |
7.40 |
0.12 |
0.02 |
1.52 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| GRB5D036 |
22.00 |
27.00 |
SMS/QVS |
5.00 |
1.14 |
0.10 |
0.03 |
2.00 |
Codes (MS = Massive Sulphide, SMS = Semi-Massive Sulphide, QVS = Quartz Vein Stringer)
In summary of the geological aspects of the Maqail South deposit:
- The Maqail South VMS comprises a flat to gently eastward dipping massive sulphide sheet underlain by a moderately altered and typically weakly mineralised footwall sequence -- a well developed 'feeder' zone representing the best developed part of the system is yet to be identified.
- Massive sulphide mineralisation is developed on the Geotimes (V1-1) -- Lasail (V1-2) stratigraphic position and covers an area of approximately 70m x 100m in plan. The body appears closed off to the west where the deposit daylights on the side of the steep ridge and also to the east where massive sulphide thins laterally into magnetite-rich umbers. Massive sulphide appears to thicken towards GRB5D031 in the northeast - mineralisation remains open in this direction and also to the south and southeast.
- Primary massive sulphide at Maqail South is copper rich. Intersections reported to date typically run 3.0% to 4.0% copper, although grades of 7.0% are present in GRB5D0024 and the lower part of GRB5D031 (see Table 1). Gold grades throughout are less than 0.3g/t and zinc and silver are also low level.
- Copper grade in the 'sub-seafloor' stockwork portion of the Maqail South VMS is variable and mostly less than 0.5% Cu. This may indicate the intersections to date are in a distal position relative to the main VMS feeder zone.
Gentor Resources' Copper Projects ~ Blocks 5 and 6
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