Drilling at Red Lake mine proves continuity of zones

Goldcorp (TSE) has released additional results from its ongoing $10-million exploration and development program at the Red Lake mine in northern Ontario.

In addition to advancing drifts, Goldcorp carried out drilling on the 38th and 34th levels, as well as on two surface targets in the northern portion of the property.

Seven holes were drilled in a fan pattern from an underground drill station on the 38th level. These holes intersected several mineralized zones over a 1,300-ft. strike length, varying in width from 3.3 to 22.5 ft.

The main sulphide zone, known as the East South C-3 (ESC-3), was cut by four holes. Two of the better assays averaged 0.21 oz. gold per ton over 5 ft. and 0.24 oz. over 5.1 ft. These results, combined with earlier drilling, suggest the ESC-3 zone has a vertical continuity of 1,300 ft. between the 30th and 38th levels.

In addition to hitting the ESC-3 zone, drilling of the eastern portion of the fan cut a 25-ft.-wide quartz carbonate breccia zone, with pervasive carbonate veining, that returned values ranging from trace to 0.15 oz. per ton. Goldcorp believes this is the continuation of the previously drilled quartz carbonate zone, encountered between the 30th and 34th levels.

Three more holes will test the eastern and western extremities of the fan, to search for extensions of the ESC-3, ESC-4 and Quartz Breccia zone.

On the 34th level, one of five drill holes intersected the Quartz Carbonate structure 100 ft. below the level, suggesting the zone has downdip continuity. The Quartz Carbonate zone averaged 0.44 oz. over 13.8 ft.

Drilling on the 34th level has extended the strike length of the ESC-3 zone by 300 ft., giving it a total strike length of 1,500 ft. on this level. Some of the zone’s better intersections averaged: 7.32 oz. over 3.1 ft.; 5.24 oz. over 5 ft.; and 0.21 oz. over 8 ft.

Other zones cut by the drilling include the Footwall 2 and Hangingwall zones. Goldcorp plans to complete a fan of seven holes at the southeastern end of the drift to search for extension of the ESC-3, Footwall 2, Hangingwall and Quartz Carbonate zones.

Elsewhere on the property, Goldcorp has completed 80% of a planned 30,000 ft. surface program designed to follow up two previously identified targets and provide additional geological information above the mine workings.

Nine holes were drilled to test the North Shaft target, a structurally complex, strongly silicified, sulphide-bearing vein that dips to the north. The drilling has traced the vein over 125 ft. and several of the holes intersected visible gold. Assays ranged up to 0.76 oz. over widths varying from 3.1 to 45 ft.

Goldcorp has eight drills turning on its Red Lake property. One rig will continue to drill on each of the 18, 22, 24, and 38 levels. Two rigs will complete definition drilling on the 30th level, while another will complete a definition drill program on the 34th level. Surface drilling is expected to resume on the North Shaft and the South Shaft zones in mid-August.

In addition to the drilling, Goldcorp plans to advance drifts on both the 30th and 34th levels to allow for better access to drill the zones.