Drilling intersected shear-hosted gold mineralization in 10 of 11 drill holes, cutting multiple near-vertical shears across a 500 m wide corridor, 600 m along strike, and to vertical depths of 225 m, illustrating a sizeable oxide gold footprint at the apex of a prominent orogenic gold system. Mineralized shear structures are highlighted by 10 m (core length) averaging 0.35 g/t Au in hole 23-LD011 and 6 m (core length) averaging 0.29 g/t Au in Hole 23-LD010 including 1 m (core length) of 0.96 g/t Au. Narrow higher-grade shears are highlighted by 0.5 m (core length) of 1.9 g/t Au. and 0.7m (core length) at 1.72 g/t Au.
'We cut gold in almost all of the first holes ever drilled into a 500 m X 1000 m target, demonstrating that Lewiston hosts a large, fertile orogenic gold system that is begging to be drilled deeper. So far, Heavy Hand checks all the early boxes necessary to quickly evolve into a major gold discovery in
Eleven holes were completed, totaling 1,560 m of HQ diamond core drilling at the Heavy Hand target with over 90% (10 of 11) of drill holes intersecting reportable gold mineralization (0.1 g/t Au or greater). Assay Highlights include: The drill holes reported here from the 2023 Heavy Hand exploration program are some of the first efforts to identify district-scale orogenic gold opportunities in the historic Lewiston mining district within the South Pass Gold Fields in
Hole 23-LD011 intersected multiple strongly altered hematite-chlorite-sericite-biotite-sulfide shear zones including 10 m (core length) averaging 0.35 g/t Au from 273-283 m as well as fresh arsenopyrite-pyrite-pyrrhotite mineralization including 2 m core length averaging 0.37 g/t Au from 302 m-304 m. Importantly, this indicates un-altered mineralization continues below the oxidized zone to depths of over 225m beneath the surface. Four other drill holes intersected the same mineralized shear zones along strike to the north, illustrating potential continuity of oxide gold mineralization over 250 m of strike length. The continuity of mineralization is highlighted by three distinct intervals in hole 23-LD010 including 5 m core length averaging 0.16 g/t Au from 18 m-23 m, 6 m core length averaging 0.29 g/t Au from 99 m-105 m, and 10 m core length averaging 0.1 g/t Au from 137 m-147 m respectively. The continuity of these structural corridors provides a 'panel' of favorable conditions to target high-grade ore shoots common in orogenic gold systems.
'As the first-ever drilling program, the widespread gold intercepts intersected within multiple shears at Heavy Hand illustrate a well mineralized, near vertical gold system, just like we see in the Abitibi Gold Belt,' said
The significant corridor of multiple near-vertical mineralized shear zones observed at Heavy Hand is consistent with known fertile orogenic gold systems and provides additional proof of concept that large-scale Abitibi-style mineralization may exist in central
Key Observations from Drill Core
The Company's primary focus for this drilling program was to test mapped surface shear zones to depth along strike, and to begin to define the subsurface geology, architecture, alteration, and pathfinder geochemistry. The following key observations were made.
Geology:
The geology at Heavy Hand is comprised of metagraywacke-slates of the Miners Delight Formation interlaced with brittle-ductile shearing and complex orogenic quartz-carbonate vein arrays.
Mafic greenstone rocks have been observed in core and mapped at surface to the south and indicate a more complex geological framework than ever previously recognized.
Continued detailed logging and geologic modeling will better identify lithological context, contact zones, and relationships to gold mineralization.
Structure: The Heavy Hand stacked shear zone corridor has been mapped on surface as a 500 m wide zone traceable along strike for at least 1 km north-south.
Drilling intersected a total of 9 mineralized shear zones, including 3 blind shear zones and has traced these shear zones from surface to a vertical depth of 225 m.
A >600 m strike length of mineralized shear zones was drilled and intersected within multiple drill holes illustrating continuity both at depth and along strike.
Shear zones consist of an anastomosing, multi-strand array of NE-SW striking, steeply west (70-degree-90-degree) dipping sub-vertical structures that vary in width from 1.0 m to >45 m.
Alteration
Intense oxidized orogenic/Abitibi-style alteration was observed in all 11 drill holes.
Alteration mineralogy includes an assemblage of strongly oxidized and altered rock including hematite, biotite, chlorite, actinolite, sericite, tourmaline and silicification .
Mineralization:
Gold mineralization exists within the oxide zone of intensely altered hematite-chlorite-sericite-biotite shear intervals and contact zones within the Miner's Delight formation host rock.
The last drill hole 23-LD011 intersected fresh arsenopyrite-pyrite-pyrrhotite mineralization at 225 m below the surface and confirmed an oxidation zone boundary at about 175 m-200 m depth below the surface.
Abundant episodic, orogenic quartz vein arrays were cut in every drill hole.
The style of orogenic quartz-sulfide veining is typical of that occurring in a brittle-ductile transition zone including pyrite-arsenopyrite-pyrrhotite assemblages.
The mineralization and geochemistry observed from drilling at Heavy Hand support that it's lying in the apex of a larger mineralized system.
About
Contact:
Tel: 763-760-4886
Email: at investorrelations@relevantgoldcorp.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Historical Information
This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events of
The scientific and technical contents of this release have been approved by Mr.
(C) 2024 Electronic News Publishing, source