Gatling Exploration Inc (CVE:GTR) (OTCQB:GATGF) (FRA:G28A) told investors that a second rig has been added to the ongoing drill program at its flagship Larder gold project in Ontario ahead of a resource update due out by the end of the third quarter of 2021.
The drill rig will go to the Bear deposit for a 5,000 metres (m) program to explore near surface extensions from the high-grade core, which begins at around 450m below surface - particularly two developed zones up plunge around 90m depth.
READ: Gatling Exploration CEO outlines successful first quarter for company and notes recent M&A in the Abitibi
"With the addition of a second drill rig to site, which arrived at the beginning of the month, Gatling is well-positioned to complete the remainder of our drill program along the Cadillac-Larder break ahead of closing off the drill hole database in early Q3 in advance of our 43-101 resource estimate due out by the end of Q3 2021," said Jason Billan, CEO for Gatling, in a statement.
"In early July, we anticipate commencing Phase II drilling at our exciting Kir Vit discovery, which is located 6km north of the break and on trend with Agnico Eagle's Upper Beaver deposit. As a result, Gatling expects to have a catalyst-rich next several months heading into the back half of 2021."
The 3,370-hectare Larder property sits in the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt and hosts three high-grade gold deposits - Fernland, Cheminis and Bear - which are all connected.
Recent exploration at Fernland has successfully targeted near surface gold mineralization within the upper 250m across three zones and now moved to targeting down plunge extensions of high-grade zones.
Over 60,000m of drilling at the Fernland deposit will be included in a maiden resource estimate.
Meanwhile, metallurgical testing across all three high-grade gold deposits has started and the company has sent samples (one from each deposit) to SGS Canada for preliminary testing.
These metallurgical results will be used in Gatling's upcoming updated mineral resource estimate in the third quarter of 2021.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com