Initially mainly characterized by the occurrence of large boulders and some isolated outcrops of volcanic material showing high grades of silver and copper, the mapping of the centrally located Pakieng area has now enabled the Company to define an area of some 10 km², over which consistently high grade copper/silver outcropping material is evident. Additionally, a significant molybdenum occurrence was discovered, associated with silver and gold.

Early drilling results from the Pakieng area have exhibited high grade copper and silver intercepts including 3.1% copper (Cu) and 100 g/t silver (Ag); and 2.9% Cu and 261 g/t Ag. A significant molybdenum (Mo) anomaly has also been identified in the Northwest of the area and an 8- metre long channel sample in outcropping material averaged 0.2% Mo, with a high of 0.8% Mo. Good silver and gold values are also in evidence. A recently-completed 162 metre deep drill hole intersected a mineralised section over the lower 32 metres, with mineralization continuing below the bottom of the hole. The 32 metres intersection averaged 0.10% Mo, with 11 g/t Ag and about 0.25 g/t Au. Within this, a very high-grade section measured 0.3 % Mo, with 31 g/t Ag and 1.0 g/t Au, over 8 metres, including a 4 metre section assaying 0.5% Mo, with 51 g/t Ag and 1.6 g/t Au. Most commercial molybdenum mines have grades of 0.05 to 0.08% Mo.

While much of the exploration work has focussed directly on the Pakieng area, field programmes by the company’s Vietnamese geological contractor (Intergeo) have examined other prospective areas such as the Nam Bo – Chakamping area, which has now been confirmed as the extension of Pakieng to the East, along the main strike-slip Pakieng fault and along the eastern concession boundary. The preliminary Intergeo ‘geological fact map’ shows a multitude of copper mineralized volcanic rocks and quartz veins in outcrop, observed in the streams of the drainage system, suggesting a very large and extensive mineralized area covering, including the Pakieng area, some 60 km². The mapped mineralized outcrops range from a 20-metre wide outcrop in Nam Bo, averaging 0.6% copper and 1 g/t silver, to a 1.5 metre wide quartz vein grading 9.6% Cu and 49 g/t Ag in Chakamping.

Plans are now underway for a resource drilling programme at Pakieng, combined with reconnaissance drilling programmes in the Nam Bo – Chakamping area, as the Company aggressively expands its exploration activities at the project area to delineate commercial mineral resources. For a detailed overview of the Luang Namtha project, please download: LNT.pdf

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