Vancouver — The latest drill results tabled by Miramar Mining (MAE-T) and Hope Bay Gold (HGC-T) continue to show impressive grades at the newly discovered Naartok zone on the Hope Bay property in Nunavut.
“These results indicate the potential of the zone to host significant gold mineralization,” says David Fennell, Hope Bay Gold’s president.
A total of 38 holes have now been completed in the Naartok area.
Assay results have been received from 28 new holes. All intervals are quoted as true width. The following are highlights:
- Hole 114 — 3.1 metres grading 14 grams gold per tonne;
- Hole 117 — 3.3 metres grading 14.1 grams gold;
- Hole 126 — 13.6 metres grading 19.8 grams gold;
- Hole 135 — 19.3 metres grading 9.6 grams gold, including 8.3 metres of 16.8 grams gold;
- Hole 138 — 5 metres grading 11.5 grams gold;
- Hole 139 — 1.9 metres grading 31.1 grams gold;
- Hole 143 — 8.7 metres grading 23.1 grams gold;
- Hole 146 — 10.5 metres grading 10.5 grams gold; and
- Hole 147 — 4.9 metres grading 21 grams gold.
“Once we have the results of the remaining holes, we will be in a better position to evaluate the continuity of this mineralized zone,” says Anthony Walsh, Miramar’s president.
Drilling at Naartok has defined a west-trending, steeply north-dipping zone of disseminated stockwork and breccia-style gold-pyrite mineralization. The mineralization is associated with carbonate-sericite-silica-albite alteration and is hosted in mafic volcanic rocks. It is situated in the hangingwall of the Deformation zone, a west-trending zone of highly sheared rock.
The zone consists of several generations of quartz veinlets, breccia and alteration. The highest gold grades are said to be associated with a younger quartz stockwork and breccia.
Moving 200 metres to the east, a second structural dilation zone (with gold mineralization) has been cut at the intersection of the Perrin and Deformation zones. Hole 134 returned 3.7 metres grading 20 grams gold.
Some 400 metres southeast, along the Deformation zone and under Patch Lake, the recent drilling has confirmed the earlier grades cut by BHP. Hole 106 cut 3.8 metres grading 10.8 grams gold. Hole 107 returned 1.2 metres grading an impressive 124.4 grams gold. Three additional holes have been completed over this area. The assay results are pending.
The current program is part of an initial, $10-million phase of work that includes: 17,000 metres of diamond drilling to extend the known deposits; and 6,300 metres of reverse-circulation drilling to test new targets. Up to seven rigs are being used on the surface. Two are reserved for underground.
The Hope Bay property is located 650 km northeast of Yellowknife, N.W.T.
Be the first to comment on "Partners eye Naartok"