overview | geology

The 100% Almaden owned Cadera project was discovered in 2007 during Almaden`s ongoing regional exploration program in Mexico. In the spring of 2008 Almaden conducted a program of mapping, rock, soil and stream sediment sampling and test IP geophysics on the more than 60,000 hectare property which covers several areas of hydrothermal alteration. Alteration mapping has confirmed the presence of acid-sulphate alteration including zones of massive to vuggy silica, quartz-alunite and kaolinite over an 8 by 2 kilometre area. Stream sediment sampling has returned values from below detection to 90 ppb gold.

Additional staking has been carried out to cover anomalous areas that were not within the original block staked. Rock samples taken to date in areas of acid sulphate alteration have returned values from below detection to 40 ppb gold and 0.6% molybdenum. High values of arsenic and mercury were also returned in this sampling program. Almaden’s management believes that the Caldera project represents a well preserved high sulphidation system and work is planned to advance the project this winter 2008/2009 field season with further sampling and prospecting to define drill targets.

J. D. Poliquin, chairman and CEO of Almaden commented: “It is extremely exciting to see concepts turn into new projects. This new property has the potential to develop into a Caballo Blanco-type gold project. We look forward to assessing its potential and developing it over the coming months.”

 

high-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver system

Hydrothermal alteration typical of high sulphidation epithermal gold-silver environments, including vuggy silica and extensive areas of acid-sulphate alteration, has been identified at the Caldera prospect. This alteration is comparable to that known at Almaden’s Caballo Blanco high-sulphidation gold-silver-copper project in Veracruz State, located less than 150 kilometers away from Caldera.