Wolverine partners expand Lynx lens in Yukon

With three drill rigs turning on the newly discovered Lynx lens at the Wolverine project in southeastern Yukon, operator Westmin Resources (WMI-T) and partner Atna Resources (ATN-T) are encountering some rich massive sulphide intersections.

Westmin holds a 60% interest in the property, with Atna holding the remainder.

A 15.3-metre interval (true thickness) grading 2.15 grams gold and 479 grams silver per tonne, 11.26% zinc, 0.87% copper and 1.63% lead was cut by hole 96-63, about 100 metres updip of previously reported hole 96-61. That hole intersected 8.3 metres (true width) grading 0.98 gram gold, 257 grams silver, 15.53% zinc, 1.35% copper and 1.21% lead.

Hole 96-65 stepped out 100 metres west of hole 63 and hit 3 metres (true width) grading 5.22 grams gold, 657 grams silver, 32.88% zinc, 0.49% copper and 1.69% lead. A 9.1-metre true width interval grading 1.3 grams gold, 370 grams silver, 9.4% zinc, 1.28% copper and 2.15% lead was intersected by hole 96-62, about 50 metres downdip of hole 65.

A further 150 metres downdip of hole 62, a 4.2-metre true thickness of massive sulphides was returned in hole 96-64. Assay results are pending.

Infill drilling along strike, between holes 65 and 63, cut 10.4 metres (true width) of massive sulphides in hole 96-67. Hole 96-66 intersected a 4.8-metre (true width) massive sulphide interval a further 70 metres downdip of hole 67.

Previously reported hole 96-60 pulled 6.5 metres (true thickness) grading 0.46 gram gold, 131 grams silver, 14.38% zinc, 1.28% copper and 0.88% lead about 120 metres downdip of hole 66. Results for holes 66 and 67 are pending.

A further 50 metres east of the 15.3-metre interval cut by hole 63, two massive sulphide intervals, separated by 9.2 metres of barren argillite, were intersected by hole 96-68. The intervals measure a true thickness of 4 and 9.1 metres. Results are pending.

While the size and extent of the Lynx lens have yet to be determined, a 1995 exploratory hole, 95-3, was collared 250 metres west of the most westerly reported holes to date. Although hole 95-3 hit scattered mineralization, no ore-grade numbers were pulled from the hole.

With winter weather fast approaching, drilling is expected to wind down by mid-October. Hole 96-72 is scheduled to be the final hole for the season.

Once all assays are available, Westmin and Atna will revise the reserve estimate. Prior to this year’s program, reseves at the Wolverine deposit were estimated to exceed 3 million tonnes grading 1.87 grams gold and 350.2 grams silver, plus 12.99% zinc, 1.27% copper and 1.43% lead.

Tentative plans are being made to go underground at Wolverine next year with the objective of taking a bulk sample for metallurgical tests.