NQ Exploration (TSX-V: NQE) said Monday it has begun a major 5,000 metre drilling program on the Carheil property in Quebec, located six kilometres southwest of the old Selbaie Mine.
The drilling will be conducted on the Nordest polymetallic showing, which returned a grade of 1.59% zinc and 524g/t silver over a true width of 7.3 metres last winter, in hole CA2009-05.
The new program represents the third by NQ on the Nordest showing of the Carheil property. In early 2009, the company drilled three holes at the showing at a vertical depth of about 200 metres, which showed that the grades and thickness of the mineralized envelope increase with depth, NQ said.
Following the program in early 2009, the company carried out a second round of drilling later that year, which found that all the geological parameters favourable to a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit were present - and improved at depth.
NQ said that the intersections from the first two programs confirm the similarity with the ore at the old Selbaie mine, in terms of both style of the mineralization and grades. The Selbaie mine had a historical production of 53 million tonnes at 1.0% Cu, 1.9% Zn, 41 g/t Ag and 0.6 g/t Au.
The new drilling program at Nordest will continue until March this year, NQ added.
NQ Exploration begins 5,000 metre drilling program at Carheil property in Quebec
Last updated: 22:24 10 Jan 2011 GMT, First published: 23:24 10 Jan 2011 GMT