TV Tower

Regional geology
The TV Tower property is located in the south-central portion of the Biga Peninsula in Western Turkey, a lithologically and structurally complex region with a long history of industrial mineral (clay, silica, coal, dimension stone), gold and base metal mining. 

The basement rocks of the Biga Peninsula consist of Paleozoic metamorphic rocks and Mesozoic accretionary mélange consisting of eclogitic, clastic and carbonate rocks.  Intrusive rocks ranging from granite to quartz diorite cut these basement rocks, which are in turn overlain by calc-alkaline and alkaline Oligocene-Miocene volcanic and related sedimentary rocks ranging in age from 35-23 Ma.  The Miocene volcanic suite includes andesite, latite, dacite, rhyodacite flow dome facies and volcaniclastic sequences (including ignimbrites), and is the primary host for epithermal gold and silver mineralization within the Biga Peninsula.   This sequence is often intruded by co-magmatic quartz diorite to quartz monzonite bodies, giving rise to associated Cu-Au porphyry and skarn mineralization.

Structural geology
The structural geology of the Biga Peninsula is complex and poorly understood. One of the main difficulties arises from the fact that the region is a transtensional zone subject to active dextral strike-slip faulting and N–S extension. The active faults in the region are oriented NW-SE, NE-SW and E-W.

The most prominent faults are a number of NE–SW-trending dextral strike-slip fault systems that represent branches of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (e.g., Yenice-Gönen and Etili faults). The second group of faults comprise E–W-trending normal faults. They commonly occur along the northern margin of the Gulf of Edremit and along the southern margin of Lake Manyas. NW–SE-trending faults are interpreted as synthetic Riedel shears related to the North Anatolian Fault Zone.

NE–SW-trending faults controlled both sedimentation and volcanic activity during the Oligocene–Early Miocene period when the lower volcanic association and coeval sediments were deposited. Late Miocene Ezine alkaline basalts are common along E–W-trending normal faults, thus suggesting a possible feeder relationship.

All post-basement volcano-sedimentary sequences show a clear tilt to the NW, N or NE by 20 to 35 degrees which is more pronounced in the vicinity of major structures. Tilting of the rocks could be due to movement related to the North Anatolian Fault System.

Local Geology
Lithology:
The geology at TV Tower comprises Cretaceous-aged metamorphic basement rocks on the western and eastern edges of the property and Eocene sedimentary rocks over the rest of the property.   The latter are intruded by Tertiary intrusive rocks in the southern portion of the property, and overlain by dominantly Neogene calc-alkaline volcanic rocks. The volcanic rocks largely comprise ash and lapilli tuff, which are enveloped by feldspar porphyritic flows. All rock types are variably altered, brecciated and mineralized, and display a range of intensities of brittle deformation.

Structure:
The TV Tower area is highly influenced by structures which relate to or which are part of the North Anatolian Fault System. The general architecture of the faults is controlled by major ENE-WSW trans-tensional structures. Local transpression has been interpreted for the TV Tower area, reactivating preexisting extensional structures. Within this regional transtensional regime, local restraining and releasing bends and oblique extensional relay ramps could represent key elements which increase structural permeability and control the emplacement of porphyry and epithermal mineral deposits.

Alteration:
Alteration at TV tower is typical of high sulphidation gold and porphyry copper gold systems.  In the eastern half of the property, ridges and peaks are underlain by massive to vuggy silica “ledges” representing silicification along more permeable volcanilithic strata, alternating with argillic and advanced argillic altered volcanic rocks.  Clay alteration includes kaolinite, dickite, alunite, pyrophyllite, and illite. Disseminated pyrite or related oxides (limonite, goethite, hematite etc.) is found throughout the area.  Alteration in the western portion of the property appears to represent deeper levels of the mineralized system, with fewer silica ledges and areas of sericite alteration possibly transitional into a porphyry environment.

Breccias:
A variety of breccia types are present at TV Tower, including breccias related to volcanic processes as well as breccias related to hydrothermal activity. 

Mineralization
To date, eight targets have been defined by a combination of geophysical, geochemical and geological methods. Six targets are epithermal (Kücükdag, Kayali, Sarp, Nacak, Kestancilik and Tesbihcukuru) and two are porphyry-related (Gemusluk and Kiraz).

Kücükdag target is located in the northern part of TV Tower property. The area is underlain by a sequence of gently north-dipping agglomerate to fine-grained volcaniclastic rocks that are overlain by intensely silicified felsic ash tuff and ash-lapilli tuff, with welded tuff at higher elevations and feldspar porphyry flows at lower elevations.  Of particular significance are rare laminated tuffaceous rocks (lake bed sediments?) that are intercalated with other lithologic types; these are the primary host for mineralization.

A broad 750 m x 100 m zone of strong silcification and weak brecciation is present at the Kücükdag target, hosted primarily within the laminated tuff unit.  Surface rock sampling in this area returned a high of ~50 g/t Au and up to 100 ppm Ag. Pathfinder elements including Ba, Sb, As, Te and Ga are also elevated.

Initial drilling at Kücükdag returned some of the best gold intercepts reported to date in the district, including 57.8 metres of 9.51 g/t gold within a broader interval of 136.2 metres of 4.28 g/t gold in drill hole KCD-02.  The high-grade gold intercepts were returned from a hydrothermal breccia zone located within the laminated tuff unit.  Wall rocks and clasts are strongly silicified and pyritized.  Breccia cement includes silica, pyrite, enargite barite and dickite, representing numerous pulses of hydrothermal fluids.  Gold is most closely related to pyrite and enargite.  The dimensions of the breccia zone have not yet been determined.

A few kilometres to the south of Kucukdag, the Sarp target occupies a prominent ridge.  This target is characterized by extensive massive to vuggy silica ledges underlain by argillic to advanced argillic-altered and pyritized rocks.  Drill testing in this area is in progress.

Kayali/Nacak target is situated in the southern portion of the TV Tower property. Two different sequences of lapilli and ash tuff are present, separated by feldspar porphyry flows.

The Kayali target includes a number of stacked vuggy silica and massive silica ledges and strong advanced argillic to argillic alteration over a 2 km x 1.5 km area.  Silica ledges appear to have been developed in lapilli and ash tuff layers. Gold mineralization is hosted mainly within an E-W trending zone with silica and pyrite-cemented crackle breccias.  Rock channel samples returned values in the range of 1 to ~10 g/t Au. Drilling to date has returned up to 114.5 metres averaging 0.87 g/t gold.

Targets on the west side of the TV Tower property include the Gemusluk and Kiraz targets.  These targets are largely defined by anomalous copper and gold samples from widely-spaced soil lines.  Clay alteration and strongly disseminated pyrite are present throughout this western area, developed both in basement rocks and overlying volcanic rocks.  Local areas of phyllic alteration are also present.