Atna expands Wolf deposit in Yukon

With drill results pending, Atna Resources (ATN-T) is encouraged by the degree to which it is expanding the Wolf polymetallic property in southeastern Yukon.

Of the 10 holes completed to date, eight have intersected intervals of massive sulphide mineralization ranging from 1.5 to 19.2 metres thick. Last year, nine drill holes intersected variable grades of zinc-lead-silver mineralization over a strike length of 500 metres and a downdip length of 250 metres. The thickness of the zone varied from 2.5 to 25 metres.

The discovery hole, 97-7, intersected 25.2 metres of true width grading 6.9% zinc, 2.8% lead and 138.9 grams silver per tonne.

So far, the 1998 program has expanded the downdip length to about 350 metres, and the deposit remains open downdip and along strike to the north.

Holes 98-24 and 98-25, which intersected a respective 10.5 and 19.2 metres of massive sulphide mineralization, demonstrate a continuation of the discovery hole mineralization for 150 metres in an easterly downdip direction.

The property is situated in the Pelly Mountains, 45 km west of Cominco’s (CLT-T) Kudz Ze Kayah project, and 65 km west of Atna and Boliden’s (BOL-T) Wolverine joint venture.

The Wolf deposit, which is not exposed on surface, is hosted in a felsic package of lapilli and ash tuffs of Mississippian age and sandwiched between Devonian and Mississippian carbonates. The main sulphide minerals are pyrite, sphalerite and galena; unlike the Wolverine deposit, no selenium is present.

Atna can earn a 65% interest in the property from YGC Resources (YGC-V) by spending $1.5 million over five years and paying $320,000 in cash.

As part of a $1-million Yukon work program, Atna has begun geological mapping and geochemical and geophysical testing on the Fox, Fire, Ice, Mamu and Tree properties, all of which are in the same volcanic belt of rocks, northwest of the Wolf property.

Atna has about $17 million in its treasury.