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Key Points:
- A 1,500-metre RC drill program will start next week at the Blackhawk Epithermal Project.
- Previous drilling at the Endowment Mine returned results of up to 1,270 g/t silver and significant lead and zinc.
- A recent LiDAR survey has identified new targets for potential inclusion in an expanded drilling program.
Sierra Nevada Gold (ASX:SNX) is excited to announce that a 1,500-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling program is set to commence next week at its Blackhawk Epithermal Project in Nevada, USA. This program will follow up on previous drilling successes that yielded impressive results, including a remarkable silver grade of 1,270 g/t in drill hole BHD006 at the Endowment Mine.
The company has identified a large and high-grade intermediate sulphidation epithermal silver-gold-lead-zinc (Ag-Au-Pb-Zn) vein system associated with a porphyry system located immediately to the south of the epithermal project. The vein system at the Blackhawk Epithermal Project spans approximately 5 square kilometres and remains open under cover to the north and northeast. So far, a total of 22.5 line kilometres of veins have been recognized, indicating significant potential for further discovery in the area.
As part of its preparatory work, Sierra Nevada Gold recently completed a LiDAR survey of the accessible underground workings within the Endowment Mine. This survey has allowed the company to more accurately locate and correct historical underground maps, positively impacting future exploration drill targeting. It has also improved the understanding of the vein structures and their relationships, which is critical for defining the most promising prospects for drilling.
The upcoming drilling program will target near-surface mine extensions and will follow up on the discovery hole BHD006, which returned notable results of 12 metres at 219 g/t silver and 11.6% lead and zinc from a depth of 250 metres. This includes an exceptional 5-metre intercept at 479 g/t silver and 25.9% lead and zinc. These high-grade silver intercepts are particularly promising, as they are associated with very high concentrations of lead and zinc, demonstrating the potential for extremely valuable polymetallic silver ore.
The drilling is expected to take approximately 14 days to complete, with assay results anticipated in the near term. The outcomes of this program are highly awaited, as they will not only confirm the previous findings but also further delineate the extent of the mineralization within the project.
Furthermore, the recent LiDAR survey has defined additional targets within the Endowment Mine, which could be included in an expanded drilling program, enhancing the project's potential for discovery and development.
