Eskay Mining Corp (TSX-V:ESK, OTCQX:ESKYF) has announced maiden drilling at Scarlet Valley, a newly identified volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) centre near Scarlet Ridge, part of its 100%-controlled Consolidated Eskay project in British Columbia.
The company said it has completed 22,272 metres of diamond core drilling, approximately 74% of the 30,000 m planned for completion in 2022. Drill production is currently on target to reach this aggressive goal with four drills fully operational.
Currently, two drills are conducting step-out drilling of the Upper Stockwork Zone at TV, and two drills are beginning to define the extent of the intensely mineralized Scarlet Valley target. Preparations are underway to drill the Tarn Lake target immediately following completion of drilling at Scarlet Valley.
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"Our prospecting and mapping team's work is rapidly identifying and characterizing new VMS targets at Scarlet Ridge and Scarlet Valley, key to quickly advancing these from areas of interest into drilled targets that are now delivering significant sulfide-bearing mineralized intercepts," Dr John DeDecker, Eskay Mining's VP of exploration, said in a statement.
DeDecker noted mineralization and hydrothermal alteration are extremely intense and widespread throughout areas drilled to date.
“Much more visible sulfide mineralization awaits us at Scarlet Knob and Tarn Lake. Demonstrating we hold a VMS district by making new discoveries is our goal this season. We are fortunate to have a top-notch team in place to execute a very aggressive, flexible exploration program. So far, we are meeting our objectives set for the 2022 program on schedule," he said.
Maiden drilling at Scarlet Valley is underway with drill hole SV22-1 intercepting 95 m of intense sulfide mineralization and hydrothermal alteration. Recent drilling at Scarlet Ridge has intercepted a zone of intense hydrothermal alteration and replacement-style sulfide mineralization. Drilling at Scarlet Ridge and Scarlet Valley as well as recent field investigations at Scarlet Knob-Tarn Lake confirms the presence of replacement-style and stockwork VMS mineralization at all locations.
Generally, sulfide mineralization is most intense proximal to east-west trending and vertically oriented basalt dikes suggesting that hydrothermal fluids exploited the same syn-volcanic structures as these dikes during their ascent to the seafloor/sub-seafloor environment.
A more detailed BLEG, clay-fraction stream sediment survey using LiDAR topographic data collected in 2020 has been completed over the north-eastern part of the property, including Scarlet Valley, Scarlet Knob-Tarn Lake, Scarlet Ridge, and the northern flanks of the McTagg anticlinorium.
These areas all have very strong BLEG anomalies identified during the 2020 program. This refined BLEG survey will allow further vectoring towards promising targets in this prolifically mineralized area. A similar detailed BLEG survey has also been completed over the six-kilometre trend of very strong BLEG anomalies in the vicinity of C10 and Vermillion to further refine targeting in that area.
To date, 618 m have been drilled at Scarlet Valley. A second drill has recently been brought to Scarlet Valley to help define the extent of this highly prospective area before winter weather forces retreat to lower elevations.
Intercepts from drill hole SV22-1 display intense mineralization and hydrothermal alteration interpreted as stockwork zone as well as sub-seafloor replacement-style mineralization within volcaniclastic debris flow breccia. Sulfide mineralization is intense between downhole depths of one to 80 m, and 100 to 113 m.
Handheld XRF analyses of sulfide minerals in outcrop and drill core show consistently high concentrations of the gold pathfinder elements including silver, arsenic, antimony, mercury, and zinc. Handheld XRF cannot reliably measure gold concentrations.
Prospecting and mapping teams have identified mineralized rock similar to that intercepted in SV22-1, extending at least 300 m eastward from the collar of this hole. Additional drilling will test eastward and uphill continuations of this mineralization.
Geological mapping and drone imagery suggest the presence of laterally extensive horizons of replacement-style mineralization extending along strike from interpreted feeder zones. Preliminary investigations of drill core suggest that coarse-grained debris flows with a sandy matrix serve as preferential hosts for sub-seafloor replacement-style mineralization over debris flows muddy matrix material.
These observations suggest that greater porosity of coarser-grained matrix material enhances permeability of this host rock thus making it more favorably hydrothermally altered and mineralized. Identification and definition of these coarse-matrix horizons is a key component of current mapping efforts at Scarlet Valley.
Hole SV22-1 was drilled to a depth of 618 m, under the valley floor, in order to enable three-dimensional geologic modelling of favourable horizons for replacement-style mineralization along strike. Sporadic mineralized intervals, up to 10% sulfide content, occur throughout SV22-1, suggesting favourable horizons for replacement-style mineralization continue to the vicinity of the valley floor to the west.
Maiden drilling at Scarlet Ridge has been completed consisting of five drill holes targeting a zone of sulfide stockwork mineralization and hydrothermal alteration exposed at the surface.
Drill holes SR22-1, -2, -3, and -4 intercepted a zone of intense hydrothermal alteration and pyrite mineralization hosted by autoclastic andesite breccias displaying perlitic texture. Perlite is a type of volcanic glass that forms by hydration of lava after cooling and is characterized by concentric circular fractures in the rock. These fractures appear to have served as conduits for hydrothermal fluids, producing a distinct style of mineralization and hydrothermal alteration at Scarlet Ridge.
Handheld XRF indicates that sulfide mineralization in drill core is associated with elevated values of the gold pathfinder element arsenic. Handheld XRF cannot reliably measure gold concentrations.
Contact the author at susie@proactiveinvestors.com