HighGold Mining Inc (CVE:HIGH) (OTCQB:HGGOF) revealed it has kicked off the first 'serious' exploration drill program in 25 years at its flagship Johnson Tract gold asset in Alaska.
Last year the firm generated numerous "quality drill targets within an 800 meter (m) radius of the high-grade JT deposit mineral resource, several of which will be drilled for the first time this year", CEO Darwin Green told investors in a statement on Tuesday.
READ: HighGold Mining files maiden resource estimate for flagship Johnson Tract project in Alaska
"Focus is on expanding the mineral resource base and discovering new zones of mineralization, with early emphasis given to the Northeast Offset target where limited drilling by previous operators identified what is believed to be the fault-displaced continuation of the deposit. Crews are on-site, COVID-19 mitigation plans are in place, and drills are in position and ready to commence coring," he said.
The first phase envisages between 7,000 and 10,000 meters of diamond drilling in five targets surrounding the JT deposit, which already hosts a higher confidence indicated resource of 750,000 ounces of gold equivalent (AuEq) at a high grade of 10.93 grams per ton (g/t) gold equivalent.
Depending on the first phase, further drilling will take place second phase during the latter half of this year's field season, noted HighGold.
The five target areas are the Northeast Offset, around 500m to 800m from the JT deposit; the North Trend, which extends 1,000m north from JT, and the Footwall Discovery, which was uncovered during 2019 drilling.
Also drilled will be the Southwest Extension and a target aptly named the JT Deposit Extension, where plans include step-out drilling northeast of one previous hole, which hit 75.1m grading 10 g/t gold, 9.4% zinc, and 0.6% copper.
As well as drilling, HighGold will carry out geological mapping, sampling, and geophysical surveys this year to advance regional prospects to the drill-ready stage at the 8,500 hectare project.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com