Aur pulls gold at Coleman Canyon

At the Coleman Canyon property, 100 km north of Elko, Nev., Aur Resources (TSE) has discovered epithermal gold mineralization in surface trenches and confirmed mineralization at a depth of 135 metres below the surface showings.

The surface occurrences are distributed over a 2,400-by-800-metre area near the centre of the property. The showings have been trenched by backhoe in two places, one in the northern part of the area and one in the southern.

In the northern group of trenches, chip-channel samples had gold concentrations of 0.75 gram per tonne over 43 metres, 0.99 gram over 21 metres, 0.58 gram over 12 metres and 0.38 gram over 34 metres. Several other trenches in the same area had gold grades ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 gram over widths of 9-30 metres.

Drill holes tested below one trench where surface grades were 0.75 gram over 43 metres. The holes encountered a 117-metre length grading 0.75 gram gold, containing higher-grade intervals, and a separate 6.1-metre length grading 2.4 grams.

In the southern group of trenches, chip-channel samples returned gold assays of 1.13 grams across 27 metres, 0.89 gram across 94 metres and 1.1 grams across 21 metres. Other samples showed gold grades of 0.3 to 0.7 gram across 12-30 metres.

Mineralization is found in a carbonate and siltstone sequence intruded by gabbro and monzonite. All the host rocks are deformed and altered. Silicification appears to be the most prominent type of alteration, with some chloritization accompanying it.

The occurrences were found by following up a geochemical anomaly that had high concentrations of gold, arsenic and antimony in soil. Follow-up work included rock chip sampling that confirmed the results of the soil survey.

Aur’s exploration target is large, low-grade deposits that could be mined by open pit. The company sees potential for epithermal gold deposits similar to Nevada’s Carlin or Battle Mountain mines.

The mineralogy of the gold occurrences is still being studied, but some free gold is present, suggesting that a sufficiently large deposit could be heap-leached. There is also some pyrite in the mineralized rock. It is not yet clear whether some of the gold is bound in sulphide minerals.

Aur plans further trenching, grid drilling and metallurgical testing on the mineralized zones.

Aur controls a land package comprising 24 sq. km in area, most of which is owned outright. Aur has concluded lease agreements on patented claims that make up part of the property, and on a small portion of the holding, Aur is earning a 70% interest under an option agreement.