Connemara completes maiden zinc resource in Ireland

Ireland is one of the largest zinc producers in Europe and its base metal deposits have drawn some of the biggest names in the mining business — from Boliden and Glencore to Teck Resources and Vedanta.

Junior explorer Connemara Mining Company and Group Eleven Resources hope their Stonepark deposit in Limerick will one day join the island’s illustrious list of zinc deposits.

The partners completed a resource estimate this week demonstrating that, while still small, it is high grade, with an inferred resource of 5.3 million tonnes grading 11.5% zinc and lead combined, or 8.55% zinc and 2.60% lead. The resource was based on 88 diamond drill holes totaling 37,270 metres and used a cut-off grade of 4.5% zinc-equivalent.

Stonepark is adjacent to Glencore’s Pallas Green zinc project, one of the largest undeveloped zinc projects in the world.