Centenario Gold Corp. (TSXV: CTG) has completed the first phase exploration program at its Los Reyes Project in Chihuahua, Mexico, encountering high-grade copper mineralization in underground sampling. The program included mapping and sampling of old mine dumps and underground workings along the intrusive-limestone contact zone, where copper-rich skarn zones are located. Many of the tunnels were originally built by ASARCO in the late 1800s to early 1900s, with historical records indicating approximately 200,000 tons of copper-zinc-silver material were mined from Los Reyes during that period.
The Los Reyes Project is situated 225 km south of Chihuahua City, near Highway 49, which connects to Torreon and Monterrey. The property comprises two mineral claims: El Rey (36.0 hectares) and El Rey 2 (9.3 hectares), located about 1.8 km apart. The El Rey claim, where the current exploration is focused, contains the most significant old mine workings in the district. Penoles, a major Mexican mining company, controls the surrounding ground around the granodiorite intrusive.
The first phase exploration involved geological and mineralogical reconnaissance, including alteration mapping, and the collection of 58 rock samples. Of these, 7 were from surface outcrops, 11 from old waste dumps and shallow pits near the Tuesda shaft, 12 from underground at the Tuesda mine, and 28 from underground at the Jibosa mine. The sampling was supervised by a senior professional geologist, with samples weighing between 1.5 kg and 2.0 kg. Samples were transported to ALS Chemex in Chihuahua for analysis, using fire assay for gold and acid digestion for 34 other elements.
Mineralization at El Rey occurs sporadically for over 800 meters along the north-south trending granodiorite-limestone contact. The altered zone on surface ranges up to 120 meters in width, with the contact dipping vertically to 75 degrees east. Alteration shows typical skarn zoning, grading from skarn to marble and recrystallized limestone, with hornfels and thin garnet bands in the overlying unit. Copper mineralization includes chalcopyrite, bornite, malachite, azurite, and chalcocite within irregular, semi-tabular lenses up to 60 meters wide. Some zones previously mined by ASARCO exceeded 125 meters in length. The mineralized zone below the Tuesda shaft showed thicknesses up to 20 meters, while at Jibosa, thickness did not exceed 15 meters. Higher sulfide content is expected north of the Tuesda shaft, with magnetite and specularite fragments in old dumps suggesting copper-gold skarn-type mineralization.
Results from the 58 rock samples are expected by mid-June. The company plans to release assay results promptly. The completion of this phase will lead to a 1,500-meter drill program in July, targeting strike and down-dip extensions greater than 50 meters below surface, particularly near the Jibosa and Tuesda shafts.
Derrick Strickland, an independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure. Centenario Gold Corp. is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company focused on gold, copper, and silver projects in the Americas. Further information is available at www.centenariogold.com.
