Canadian company discovers significant gold and copper deposits near Ouarzazate

Near the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, the Morocco Strategic Minerals Corporation carried out a series of sampling operations last July on the Tifernine property, which covers an area of 16 square kilometers. On Thursday, August 21, the Canadian company unveiled its initial findings, confirming the «presence of high-grade copper mineralization in exposed structures» and «significant copper anomalies», along with an «untapped gold potential».

The samples underwent analysis at the African Laboratory for Mines and Environment (Afrilab) in Marrakech to assess their silver, copper, copper oxide (CuOX), iron, lead, and zinc content. As per a company statement, any samples with a copper content exceeding 5% were «reanalyzed by titration».

Pierre-Olivier Goulet, Vice President of Corporate Development, explained that at Tifernine, «the mineralization is structurally controlled by veins and shear zones, with widths reaching up to 11 meters». He highlighted that «the anomalous gold values underscore the property's untapped gold potential, while the high zinc grades reinforce its polymetallic nature». Moreover, the results emphasize «the scale and growth potential» of the area under study.

In light of these findings, the company is formulating «a follow-up exploration program that will include detailed geological mapping and trenching to assess the continuity of the mineralization and generate additional targets on the Tifernine property».

The samplings reveal significant mineral content

On this property, substantial mineralized structures have been identified in the northeastern section of the permit. These were analyzed through 14 channel samples (76 individual samples, excluding AQ/CQ blanks, standards, and duplicates) along the ST1 structure, along with five spot samples in ST2 and ST3.

Average results obtained from channel samplesAverage results obtained from channel samples

According to the company, the sampling includes «5 channel samples grading more than 1.00% Cu, with a maximum value of 2.30% Cu; 3 channel samples grading more than 1.00% CuOX, with a maximum of 1.72% CuOX; 3 spot samples returning copper grades above 0.50% Cu, including 1.89% Cu (sample Tif-16, ST3)».

Additionally, 42 samples were found to be «above the detection limit for gold (>0.05 g/t Au), with a maximum of 0.30 g/t Au (sample Tif-16)», as well as «13 samples with zinc values above 0.50% Zn, with a maximum of 17.75% Zn (sample Tif-07)».

The Tifernine copper project is situated just 10 km from the BMR property, where Morocco Strategic Minerals also holds an option to acquire 100% of the shares.

Geologically, Tifernine is characterized by an «Ediacaran rhyolitic and andesitic complex intersected by faults», with structures locally containing quartz-carbonate veins. Copper mineralization is present in veins and disseminated throughout the volcanic rocks.