HighGold Mining Inc (TSX-V:HIGH, OTCQX:HGGOF) said it has started its 2023 exploration program at the Johnson Tract (JT) polymetallic Gold Project in Southcentral Alaska, focusing on expanding known zones of mineralization and testing new high-potential target areas.
The company said the program envisages an 8,000-meter, two-rig drill program in addition to engineering, hydrogeology and environmental studies to support permitting an underground exploration ramp as part of a multi-year advanced exploration plan.
Key new drill targets include the Ellis Zone, with follow-up expansion drilling on 50 to 100-meter centers on the high-grade Au-Ag-Zn-Pb (+Cu) structurally controlled vein and breccia zone and the East Difficult Creek where a new interpretation suggests that the mineralized system hosting the Ellis Zone is large and continues north and east under cover, and across syn-mineralization faults.
Other targets are the JT Deposit at which a significant east-west cross-fault has been identified south of the deposit as the result of drilling and interpretative work completed in 2022 and the South Valley Target, a blind target under overburden cover located 1 km (1/2 mile) along strike to the south of the JT Deposit.
"With the spinout of Onyx Gold now complete, we look forward to focusing 100% of HighGold's resources to advance the Johnson Tract Project and realize the full potential of this high-quality asset," Darwin Green, president and CEO, said in a statement.
"The 21,000-acre project hosts the JT Deposit, which has the rare and attractive combination of high-grade (9.4 g/t AuEq) and exceptional width (averaging 40-meters) and has demonstrated the potential to become a multi-deposit district with the recent Ellis Zone discovery located 4 km to the northeast. Results from the Ellis Zone have been very encouraging and we are excited to be back drilling this new discovery that is open to expansion in multiple directions. Our plans include significant exploration drilling to grow the property-wide mineral resource base and to continue testing new targets that are ripe for new discoveries.”
The mineral exploration company added that the 2023 exploration program will include geological mapping, prospecting, and soil & rock sampling programs to follow up and expand on the favorable results generated from the 2022 program and refine new drill targets.
HighGold also said that a multi-year advanced exploration plan has been developed for the Johnson Tract project designed to de-risk the project and support future engineering, environmental and economic studies that evaluate the potential for a small footprint, high-grade underground mine.
In 2023, the company plans to complete road and expanded airstrip permitting. The permitting process for the road and airstrip is anticipated to take eight to 12 months to complete and the objective is to get approvals ahead of the 2024 field season.
It also plans to complete geotechnical drilling for surface infrastructure and geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling for exploration ramp in 2023 along with environmental and cultural surveys, and engineering studies.
Johnson Tract is a polymetallic project located near tidewater, 125 miles southwest of Anchorage in Alaska. The 21,000-acre property includes the high-grade JT Deposit and at least nine other mineral prospects over a 12-kilometer strike length.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com