Background
Rauhala is a small, high-grade massive sulfide deposit located, near the city of Ylivieska in Central Finland. The deposit was discovered in 1985 by the Geological Survey of Finland and subsequently outlined by 61 drillholes. Outokumpu took over in 1987. Following another nine infill holes they reported a non NI 43-101 compliant internal resource estimate in 1988:
Geological Resource (t) | Cu % | Zn % | Pb % | Au g/t | Ag g/t |
880,500 | 1.6 | 6.1 | 1 | 0.5 | 49 |
The following link goes to a copy of the Outokumpu resource report. Note that the estimate is posted only to illustrate the potential for further exploration at Rauhala. https://tupa.gtk.fi/raportti/arkisto/030_2431_10_d_hop_1988.pdf Detailed studies continued for another six years, including 22 drillholes, metallurgical tests and mine design. In 1992 a mining concession was granted to Outokumpu, but no further work was carried out.
Akkerman Finland Oy follow-up
Mineral rights to the Rauhala deposit were acquired in 2023 after a moratorium on the Mining Concession expired. In November last year, the company also purchased an exploration permit from Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy, covering potential mineral extensions around the deposit.
The first follow-up step by Akkerman Finland comprised of retrieval and analysis of all historic data, including 92 drill holes and 2,380 assays on core samples. From these data a new 3D wireframe model was internally developed using Leapfrog software.
Tentative conclusions derived during the modelling process are:
Jan Akkerman, CEO of the company comments: “The new 3D model highlights the significant value of this small, but rich deposit. Our main question now is whether the deposit may extend beyond the area studied to date. Also, whether there could be a mineralized feeder zone below the deposit which so far has not been found. A work plan including further geophysical studies and drilling is being prepared”.
Fig. 1, Location map 92 boreholes and horizontal projections mineral intersections
Fig. 2, Example of boreholes with mineral intersections in cross-section 2538700E.