Despite the jockeying in the ivory towers of Bay and Howe streets for control of the rich Eskay Creek polymetallic deposit, the drills continue to churn at the property. Operator and 50% owner Prime Resources (VSE) recently started a second phase of its 1990 exploration program. The company notes that two drills are now operating and an underground exploration decline will commence shortly on the 21B deposit.
The program will include drill testing the northernmost extensions of the 21B deposit in the vicinity of the property boundary. A total of 16,500 ft. of drilling is budgeted for this area with the testing of geophysical targets and mineralized strike extensions known to be present within the northern portion of the TOK claims.
A further 50,000 ft. of drilling is anticipated on previously untested showings and anomalies in the southern two-thirds of the property.
Phase two will also include an underground program of drifting, drilling, and bulk sampling on the 21B deposit itself. About 5,000 ft. of underground exploration work is planned. The main drive is designed to lay in the footwall of the deposit and will allow for the extensive examination of the rhyolite-hosted mineralization known to be present, but not currently included in reserves.
The main ore-bearing unit, overlying this mineralization, will be explored by subdrifting and raising. The company notes that this program will aid in the establishment of mining reserves and allow for the extraction of a bulk sample for metallurgical test work.
A pilot mill is being constructed at Lakefield Research in Ontario to process shipments of ore samples.
Prime estimates the cost of the program at $12.5 million.
A recently completed program, totalling about 261,000 ft. of drilling at a cost of $15 million, was primarily designed to define the continuity and grade of the 21B deposit as well as to substantiate the initial ore reserve estimates prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates. Using a 0.25 oz. gold cutoff, Roscoe earlier this year estimated reserves at 1.55 million tons grading 1.34 oz. gold and 36.21 oz. silver.
Prime noted that although no new reserve figures have been calculated, the drilling confirmed predicted grades and thicknesses within the 21B main reserve block.
In addition to confirming past results, stepout drilling further delineated the limits of the 21B deposit and was successful in discovering the Pumphouse and 21C deposits.
Be the first to comment on "Prime starts phase II"