Resource boost expected at Kutcho Creek

With final drill results in hand from this year’s work program, Western Keltic Mines (WKM-V, WLKTF-O) sees potential for a higher-grade starter pit at the Kutcho deposit, the most advanced deposit defined to date at the Kutcho Creek copper-zinc project near Dease Lake, in northwestern B.C.

A total of 7,372 metres were drilled this year, roughly the same as last year’s program. Results will be incorporated into updated resource estimates for the Kutcho, Sumac West and Esso West deposits, which collectively comprise the wholly owned Kutcho Creek project.

Based on a previous estimate, Kutcho hosts measured and indicated resources of 11.6 million tonnes grading 2.1% copper, 2.8% zinc, 36.2 grams silver and 0.44 gram gold per tonne, at a 1% copper cutoff grade. Most of the tonnage is amenable to open-pit mining.

The smaller Esso West deposit hosts 2.1 million tonnes of 3.26% copper, 5.86% zinc, 75.7 grams silver and 0.71 gram gold, at a cutoff grade of 1.5% copper.

The goals of this year’s program were to test for deposit extensions, outline the limits of a higher-grade core zone at Sumac West, test new targets, and drill the upper edge of the Kutcho deposit to provide information for pit design and engineering.

Twelve holes were drilled along the upper edge of the Kutcho deposit, with many of these successful in extending mineralization closer to surface. Eight of the holes returned near-surface intersections that are expected to boost resources and lower the overall strip ratio. Highlights include: 3.4 metres grading 1.08% copper, 4.42% zinc, 13.3 grams silver and 0.32 gram gold per tonne; 9.4 metres of 2.62% copper, 2.98% zinc, 52.7 grams silver and 0.37 gram gold; and 4.7 metres of 2.31% copper, 6.29% zinc, 91.2 grams silver and 0.64 gram gold.

The company says that results from this year’s program, combined with previous drilling, revealed potential for higher-grade starter pits at the eastern and western ends of the deposit.

At Sumac West, drilling defined a higher-grade core zone measuring 400 metres long by 200 metres wide, with an average thickness of 25 metres. The best results were 23.4 metres of 1.37% copper, 1.9% zinc, 26.2 grams silver and 0.23 gram gold, and 26.1 metres of 1.45% copper, 2.56% zinc, 23.7 grams silver and 0.23 gram gold.

The company notes that Sumac West is lower grade than the other deposits, but is located along a potential access corridor to the Esso West deposit, and “could provide mill feed as allowed by metal prices.”

The company has advanced Kutcho Creek to the province’s environmental assessment process in order to obtain permits for a mining operation. As part of the process, community consultations are under way, along with the necessary environmental studies.