Centenario Gold Corp. (TSXV:CTG) has announced the completion of a first-phase exploration program at its Los Reyes copper-gold project near Chihuahua, Mexico, revealing high-grade copper mineralization in underground workings and old mine dumps. The program, which included geological mapping and 58 rock samples collected from surface outcrops, waste dumps, and underground tunnels at the Tuesda and Jibosa mines, has identified copper-rich skarn zones along an 800-meter intrusive-limestone contact. The company expects assay results by mid-June and plans to commence a 1,500-meter drill program in July to test strike and down-dip extensions of the mineralized zones.
The Los Reyes project comprises two mineral claims, El Rey (36 hectares) and El Rey 2 (9.3 hectares), located 225 km south of Chihuahua City near Highway 49. Historical records indicate that approximately 200,000 tons of Cu-Zn-Ag material were mined by ASARCO in the late 1800s to early 1900s. The current exploration focused on the El Rey claim, where old mine workings are concentrated along the granodiorite-limestone contact. Surface alteration zones extend up to 120 meters in width, with skarn zoning transitioning from garnet-pyroxene skarn near the intrusive to marble and hornfels outward. Copper mineralization occurs as chalcopyrite, bornite, malachite, azurite, and chalcocite in irregular semi-tabular lenses up to 60 meters wide and over 125 meters long in historical workings.
Underground sampling at the Tuesda shaft identified mineralized zones up to 20 meters thick, while the Jibosa shaft showed better-defined mineralization up to 15 meters thick. The presence of magnetite and specularite in old dumps suggests potential for Cu-Au skarn mineralization. Samples were collected under the supervision of a senior geologist, with rock chips weighing 1.5-2.0 kg from outcrop cuts 0.3-3.0 meters long. Samples were transported to ALS Chemex in Chihuahua for fire assay gold analysis and acid digestion for 34 other elements.
Derrick Strickland, an independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed the technical disclosure. The company plans to release assay results promptly upon receipt. The upcoming drilling program aims to test targets near the Jibosa and Tuesda shafts, targeting depths greater than 50 meters below surface. Centenario Gold Corp. is a Vancouver-based explorer focused on gold, copper, and silver projects in the Americas. Further information is available at www.centenariogold.com.
