NorthWest Copper Corp (TSX-V:NWST) has told investors it returned one of the longest and highest-grade copper-gold intervals ever completed at its Kwanika deposit in British Columbia.
Announcing additional results from the 2022 drilling program at the deposit, the company said the interval at hole K-22-255 was collared approximately 120 metres (m) from hole K-21-2171 and tested a similar area of the deposit.
“Hole K-22-255 highlights the strength of the mineralizing system at Kwanika Central, with a very long interval averaging 1% copper equivalent and multiple higher-grade copper-gold zones within it,” Northwest Copper president and CEO Peter Bell said in a statement.
“The hole shows a typical Kwanika pattern of copper-dominant material higher in the hole then becoming much richer in gold at depth. Gold represents approximately 35% of annual revenue in the recent PEA at Kwanika-Stardust and K-22-255 demonstrates the strength of the gold system within the strong, continuous copper mineralization," he added.
READ: NorthWest Copper welcomes PEA looking at combining Kwanika and Stardust deposits, which shows robust project with manageable initial costs
NorthWest noted that hole K-21-2171 encountered 235.45m of 2.65% copper equivalent (CuEq). Importantly, it said the latest hole is characterized by a thick interval of strongly enriched gold grades within the copper zone. The bottom of the hole remains in copper and gold mineralization suggesting that the system potentially continues, it added.
Highlights from assays include:
- K-22-255: 399.8m at 1.01% CuEq from 152.2ms:
- Including 23.4m at 2.51% CuEq from 152.6m;
- Including 151m of 1.55 grams per ton (g/t) gold from 363m;
- Also including 64m at 2.12% CuEq from 374.8m; and
- Also including 22.5m at 2.67% CuEq from 416.3m.
NorthWest Copper said these additional results were not included in the recent preliminary economic assessment for its Kwanika and Stardust deposits.
It has now released results from 23 of the 30 drill holes completed at Kwanika in 2022, with one hole remaining from the Kwanika Central Zone and six holes that were drilled at the Kwanika South Zone that are pending assay results.
The 2022 Kwanika program was designed to expand the footprint of mineralization and to search for higher-grade zones within the deposit. K-22-255 delineates multiple high-grade copper and gold zones within a long interval, including some very strong gold assays, it added.
NorthWest Copper is a new copper-gold explorer and developer with an exciting pipeline of projects in British Columbia. With a robust portfolio in a tier one jurisdiction, the company said it is well positioned to participate fully in a strengthening global copper market and is committed to responsible mineral exploration which involves working collaboratively with First Nations to ensure future development incorporates stewardship best practices and traditional land use.
Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com