Alicanto Minerals (ASX: AQI) is pleased to report exceptionally high-grade assays from its maiden drill hole at the Sala-Silver-Lead-Zinc project in Sweden.
Three holes have now been completed to date with the remaining two awaiting assays. Renowned internationally for exceptionally high silver grades, Sala produced more than 200Moz of silver at an estimated grade of 1,244 g/t with local grades reported as high as 7,000 g/t. Mining ceased in 1908 and no deep drilling has been completed at the project. Alicanto Managing Director Peter George said: 'We could not have hoped for a better start to our drilling program. 'The grades are exceptional and support our belief that there is a lot more mineralisation to be found at Sala. 'The fact that this hole is 140m down-dip of the previous intersection and that the mineralisation remains open in every direction also supports our view. 'With the second and third holes showing very similar characteristics to this first hole, we are looking forward to more assays over coming weeks'.
Update on Diamond Drilling at the Sala Project
First assay results for maiden diamond drill hole (SAL21-01) have been received. Results have confirmed two significant high-grade zones that represent the down dip continuation of historic intercepts.
The reported drill results represent a step out of 140m down dip on the area known as the Prince Lode which has had a total of 12 diamond holes published previously drilled during the 1980's and 2008. The historical results have never been followed up and Alicanto is targeting the down dip and along strike extensions of this zone. The recent step out has extended known mineralisation to an area of 400m by 500m by 200m which remain completely open.
The two zones reported in SAL21-01 differ in style and sulphide mineralogy, representing a zinc rich lode and a silver-lead rich lode, which has been confirmed in the assays. The first zone from 572.75m-576.55m, characterised by semi-massive sphalerite veining, returned 7.7% Zinc and 9g/t Ag over 3.8m. The lower zone from 589.75 to 596.52m returned 123g/t Ag, 1.4% Zn and 2.3% Pb over 6.8m, is characterised by a silver-lead dominant sulphide mineralisation.
A third drillhole, SAL21-03, targeting the Prince lodes has also been completed intersecting multiple mineralised zones. Locally semi-massive sphalerite-galena mineralization was intersected over 4.85m from 489.58m to 494.43m, followed by another zone of veins and patches of sphalerite-dominant mineralization over 1.95m from 497.2m to 499.15m.
The Historic Bergslagen Mining District - host to a number of world class polymetallic skarns
The distinct differences in sulphide assemblage intersected in SAL21-01, being a Zinc rich and Silver/Lead rich end member is in line with the historically described, types of mineralisation at the adjacent Sala mine. Sala, once Europe's largest silver producer, produced more than 200Moz of silver at an estimated average grade of 1,244 g/t and grades reported as high as 7,000 g/t. Sala also produced over 35,000t of lead at 1 to 2% as well as mined zinc at an average grade of 12%. A small drill program undertaken in 2012 demonstrated that the Sala mineralisation continues to plunge to the north from the historic mine area, with grades as high as 1.65m @ 463 g/t Ag, 0.9% Zn & 8% Pb2 . The historic Sala deposit remains open to the north and down-dip. The Sala system is a polymetallic skarn hosted in dolomitic marble and occurs dominantly as silver-bearing galena and to a lesser extent as complex antimonides, sulphosalts and native silver.
The silver content of the galena was between 0.2% to 1.0%, the latter being one of the highest contents of silver in galena ever reported2. The Sala Project is located 50km from Boliden's operating Garpenberg Mine. Garpenberg has produced over 40Mt of ore and has a current resource of 151.5Mt @ 2.75% Zn, 1.3% Pb and 86.6g/t Ag8. Garpenberg mine which is currently being mined to a depth of 1250m below surface and has been operating continuously for over 64 years. Sala and Garpenberg are both limestone-skarn hosted replacement type deposits with several different style lenses along one major limestone unit. The Sala system is completely untested below 500m and open in all directions. The company believes the polymetallic skarn system at Sala as highlighted by the high grade intercepts directly next to the Sala Mine combined with the lack of previous drilling presents a significant opportunity to target continuations of known mineralisation and to grow the mineralised footprint of a significant historic producing mine.
About Alicanto Minerals
Alicanto Minerals Limited (ASX: AQI) is an emerging mineral exploration company focused on creating shareholder wealth through exploration and discovery in world class mining districts of Scandinavia. The Company has a highly prospective portfolio in Sweden, including the Greater Falun Project containing highgrade Cu-Au-Zn-Pb-Ag in the highly endowed Bergslagen Mining District, Sweden.
Contact:
Paul Armstrong
Tel: +61 8 9388 1474
Competent Persons Statement
The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is based on and fairly represents information compiled by Mr Erik Lundstam, who is a Member of The Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Lundstam is the Chief Geologist for the Company. Mr Lundstam has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Mr Lundstam consents to their inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
Forward Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors constitute, among others, continued funding, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration activities; changes in project parameters as exploration strategies continue to be refined; renewal of mineral concessions; accidents, labour disputes, contract and agreement disputes, and other sovereign risks related to changes in government policy; changes in policy in application of mining code; political instability; as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled 'Risk Factors' in the Company's rights issue prospectus. The Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward looking statements, however there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
ALICANTO MINERALS LIMITED 
