Royal Road Minerals expands Hanash North mineralized zone with new drill results

Royal Road Minerals Ltd (TSX-V:RYR, OTC:RRDMF, FRA:RLU) has reported new reverse circulation drilling results from the Hanash North prospect at its Jabal Sahabiyah project in Saudi Arabia, with drilling outlining shallow zinc-silver-rich polymetallic mineralization across an interpreted strike length of more than 350 meters.

The mineralization is hosted within a calc-silicate skarn horizon in Asir Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Royal Road wrote that drilling has intersected mineralized widths of up to 20 meters, with the zone remaining open along strike and down plunge.

Results from the latest campaign included 9 meters grading 4.01% zinc, 34.3 grams per tonne silver, 0.4 grams per tonne gold and 0.30% copper from 46 meters in hole HNRC009, equivalent to 8.75% zinc.

Hole HNRC010 returned 12 meters grading 3.13% zinc, 43.4 grams per tonne silver, 0.2 grams per tonne gold and 0.22% copper from 23 meters, equivalent to 7.09% zinc.

Other results included 7 meters grading 2.55% zinc, 29.5 grams per tonne silver, 0.1 grams per tonne gold and 0.23% copper from 24 meters in HNRC012. HNRC013 intersected 18 meters grading 1.06% zinc, 36.0 grams per tonne silver, 0.6 grams per tonne gold and 0.26% copper from 37 meters, equivalent to 6.38% zinc.

HNRC015 returned 9 meters grading 3.92% zinc, 15.6 grams per tonne silver and 0.28% copper from 33 meters, equivalent to 5.93% zinc.

Previous drilling at Hanash North included 12 meters grading 2.84% zinc, 10.0 grams per tonne silver and 0.13% copper from 20 meters in HNRC003. HNRC005 returned 9 meters grading 4.36% zinc, 67.8 grams per tonne silver, 0.6 grams per tonne gold, 0.22% copper and 0.15% lead from 61 meters, equivalent to 11.21% zinc.

The company noted that the reported intersections are not true widths, as there is currently insufficient information to determine the true widths of the drill-hole intersections.

Royal Road uses a recovered gross metal value threshold of US$40 per tonne to define reported drill intercepts. The company emphasized that the metric is an exploration tool and does not represent an estimate of net smelter return or economic value.

Geologically, the mineralized horizon is hosted within calc-silicate rocks characterized by grossular garnet and diopside, with abundant pyrite and minor magnetite. Royal Road wrote that mapping and drilling indicate multiple phases of folding have affected the host sequence and mineralized horizon.

The company believes the structural complexity could provide potential for repetition of the mineralized horizon at depth, although this has not yet been tested by drilling. The causative intrusion for the skarn system has also not been identified.

Royal Road CEO Tim Coughlin highlighted the progress made at Hanash North from an earlier historic drill result, noting that the company has expanded its understanding of the system through successive exploration programs.

“From a single historic drill hole reporting just 0.9 meters at 3.3% zinc, our team has systematically advanced Hanash North into a new, shallow polymetallic skarn discovery,” Coughlin said in a statement.

He added that the mineralization’s width, grade and shallow nature were notable features of the prospect, while further work is planned to assess its extent.

Ground geophysical surveys are underway at Hanash North to help define the extent and geometry of the mineralized system and identify potential extensions and repetitions.

Royal Road plans further RC and diamond drilling to test extensions to the northeast and southeast, potential structural repetitions at depth and the broader geological controls on the mineralization.

The Jabal Sahabiyah project comprises three contiguous exploration licenses covering approximately 284 square kilometers in Asir Province. Royal Road conducts its Saudi Arabian exploration activities through Royal Road Arabia Limited, a 50:50 joint venture with Jeddah-based MIDU Company Limited.