Agadir Melloul
The Agadir Melloul Project is a sediment hosted copper deposit in the Western Anti-Atlas of Central Morocco. In line with sedimentary copper deposits of the region, copper and silver mineralisation is found in Adoudounian aged rocks of the Cambrian, laid down in an ancient sea on top of very old Precambrian basement rocks.
The Agadir Melloul Project has these main characteristics:
1. Consistent mineralisation over a large strike distance
2. Mineralisation found at or near unconformable contact with the basement. Mineralisation is shallow (and sometimes near surface), allowing for low cost drilling and mine development
3. Zones of higher grade and lower grade mineralisation, informing our 1.2% copper equivalent target grade (Cu+Ag)
4. Initial Exploration Target of 150kt to 200kt of contained copper; expected to increase as more work is completed
Excellent trenching results
Sampling undertaken at Agadir Melloul by the joint venture partner demonstrates mineralisation over at least a 10km strike, while trenching in the most accessible area delivered excellent copper and silver grades at surface. The plan is to start open pit mining in this area, known as Zone 1 North.
Mine development studies
The joint venture partner has completed a range of development works and studies including metallurgical testwork which showed an 80% copper recovery and 61% silver recovery producing a 26% copper concentrate grade.
Growing strike and footprint
Agadir Melloul’s area is growing steadily. CMR’s board has made a commercial decision, in the best interests of both sets of shareholders, to advance the acquisition strategy before fully disclosing details of the project. The Initial Exploration Target is 150,000 to 200,000 tonnes of contained copper at a copper equivalent (including silver co-product) grade of 1.2% CuEq.
The Adoudounian limestones in the region are non-clastic (chemically formed) and were deposited in a shallow sea approximately 550 million years ago. The limestones are grey coloured with disseminated chalcopyrite, and with a buff-coloured weathered surface. In higher grade parts of the deposit, large green malachite crystals (derived from the oxidation of chalcopyrite crystals) protrude from the limestone surface (see Sample 5 near the bottom of this page).
Sample 1 Adoudounian Limestone
This mineralised limestone sample is the main target and makes up the vast majority of the outcropping mineralisation. It is from the Adoudou Unit (Infracambrian / Cambrian aged) which sits unconformably on top of Proterozoic basement rocks.
Sediment hosted copper-silver deposits
The largest sediment hosted copper deposits are the Kupferschiefer and Central African Copperbelt. Others include (a) the Kalahari Belt (b) Black Butte which has features of both SEDEX and sediment hosted copper deposits (c) Mount Isa (d) Udokan (very large), and (e) Paterson Province
At Agadir Melloul, mineralisation is either in conglomerate, limestone or dolomite, sitting directly on the Precambrian basement (PI, PII and PIII). The Precambrian consists of altered gneissic and schistose granites, which are cut through by diabase dykes, pegmatites, gabbro sills and in places rhyolite domes.
The Precambrian granites, which were deposited when the earth’s crust was more metal rich, are the most likely source of the copper and silver. Interestingly, in places the granite below the limestone is mineralised, suggestive of geological model that includes elements of SEDEX mineralisation, or otherwise due to mineralisation permeating downwards (ingress) from the Cambrian sediments into the basement.
Trenching and mapping thus far demonstrates mineralisation mostly in the Cambrian limestone directly overlying the Precambrian basement.
Microconglomerate Sample
Microconglomerate mineralised with chalcocite and malachite.
Limestone Sample
Disseminated chalcopyrite mineralisation with occasional large crystals.
Chalcocite Sample
Chalcocite mineralisation is common and associated with silver. Chalcocite (Cu2S) is 80% copper and typically floats easily and produces a high grade concentrate.
Malachite Crystal Sample
In some areas large chalcopyrite crystals or clusters have weathered to malachite. In higher grade areas, these malachite crystals can be found on the surface of the mineralised limestone.
In outcrop, microconglomerate is relatively uncommon, however may exist in larger volumes undercover.
Zoomed in conglomerate showing malachite crystal formation.
High grade vein type mineralisation is found in various places across the project area. Vein type mineralisation will contribute good grade material to Agadir Melloul’s resources, albeit in a modest way.
Typical Adoudounian limestone with chalcopyrite mineralisation.
Mineralised rhyolite thought to be caused by copper remobilisation. A potential source of resource tonnage.