Minto Metals Corp (TSX-V:MNTO) has announced updated drill results from its recently-completed 2022 exploration drilling program on Minto North at the Minto Mine in Canada’s Yukon Territory, which included 1.9% copper over 34.6 metres (m) from drill hole 22EXP045.
The junior miner said other results included 4.8% copper over a 10.1m drill width from 194.2m downhole in follow-up, step-out drilling from drill hole 21EXP003 that cut 1.6% copper over 28m.
“This drilling has confirmed the existence of a consistent, robust mineralized system west of the historical Minto North Pit,” Minto Metals vice-president exploration David Benson said in a statement.
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“These results give us full confidence to proceed with further delineation drilling at Minto North and the expectation to increase the company's mineral inventory in 2023,” Benson added.
Minto noted these and other results represent mineralization west of the current NI 43-101 resource at Minto North.
Minto Metals CEO Chris Stewart also commented, stating: “The ultimate goal is to achieve a 12 to 15 year life of mine at Minto.”
“I am looking forward to the planned 84 hole, 30,000 metre drilling program which follows up on 2021-2022 discoveries,” he added.
Minto also stated that it completed 28,438m from 53 drill holes of exploration drilling in 2022, and is awaiting final assay results for portions of 28 additional holes, which are expected and will be reported later in the first quarter of 2023.
The company added that it is planning an aggressive resource growth and discovery drill program for 2023 and will provide guidance following the approval of its Board in the coming weeks.
Minto Metals operates the producing Minto mine located within the traditional territory of the Selkirk First Nation in the Minto Copper Belt of the Yukon. The Minto mine has been in operation since 2007 with underground mining commencing in 2014. Since 2007, about 500 million pounds of copper have been produced from the Minto mine.
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