Avidian Defines Resource Expansion Potential at the Golden Zone Project, Alaska
TORONTO, November 13, 2019 - Avidian Gold Corp. ("Avidian" or the "Company") (TSX-V: AVG) wishes to report additional project developments from its 2019 summer program on its readily accessible Golden Zone property. The property is located 320 km north of Anchorage, Alaska, and approximately 16 km west of the main transportation route between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Following up on the successful 2018 results, Avidian completed a summer field program comprised primarily of selective core relogging and soil sampling with the objective to:
i. outline a 2020 drilling program to expand and refine the existing Breccia Pipe Deposit gold resource; and
ii. define new potential gold resource targets in the vicinity of the Breccia Pipe Deposit through the delineation of drill targets adjacent to the Breccia Pipe deposit, specifically at the Mayflower Extension Zone and BLT shear zone.
Highlights of the field program are as follows.
- The Breccia Pipe deposit has had limited drill testing below 200 m from surface resulting in incomplete testing of the margins of the pipe, as well as the enclosing mineralized monzodiorite host rock, particularly in the southwest portion of the breccia body.
- Adjacent to the Breccia Pipe deposit is the Mayflower Extension Zone, which is predominantly skarn/replacement type mineralization within a conglomeratic unit, occurring over a strike length of 350 m. The most apparent extension of this zone is to the NE where it projects into a gold-in-soil anomaly.
- the BLT shear zone mineralization that trends through the Breccia Pipe deposit and currently forms a small part of the present resource can be traced for over 1.5 km. Limited drilling has been completed on the BLT shear zone over this strike length. It remains open to the NE where it strikes into a gold-in-soil anomaly.
Dave Anderson, Chairman and CEO of Avidian states "The results of the 2019 program continue to support our belief that there is excellent potential to increase the known resource in the immediate area of the Breccia Pipe Deposit. The delineation of skarn mineralization in conglomerate units that can be traced for some distance in the both the MEZ and Copper King areas suggest this style of mineralization may play a key role in contributing to increased gold resources at the Golden Zone Property. The BLT shear zone also remains of interest. The presence of gold over the strike length tested by widely spaced drill holes (800 m) raises the question of whether there may be a second source independent of the BPD feeding the BLT?"
Avidian, with the assistance of consultant Cyrill Orssich, considered an expert in breccia pipe deposits and the Tintina Belt style of mineralization, re-examined various surface exposures on the property and selected drill core from the Breccia Pipe deposit ("BPD"), the Mayflower Extension Zone ("MEZ") (Figure 1) and the BLT Zone, as well as the resource model at the BPD.
On the basis of the review it is apparent from a comparison of the high density of drilling at the BPD with the computer model which defines the resource, that the vast majority of the historical drilling converges at a depth of approximately 200 m from surface. At this depth the drill holes are almost entirely within the breccia pipe, leaving the margins of the pipe poorly defined and the enclosing mineralized monzodiorite untested, particularly in the southwest portion of the breccia body. A total of 1,560 m of drilling is proposed to test the margins of the breccia pipe and the mineralized monzodiorite on either side of the BPD.
A re-examination of selected core in the MEZ and BLT areas (see Figure 2) was completed to further refine the interpreted mineralization and define drill targets that could add additional gold ounces in the vicinity of the BPD. A soil/biogeochemical survey (Figure 3) was completed during the 2019 work program to the northeast of these zones to establish continuity of the MEZ and BLT along strike in areas of no outcrop.
The MEZ is located approximately 300 m northeast of the BPD (see Figure 2). The discovery hole, GZ17-10, returned 21.6 m grading 1.46 g/t Au in a conglomeratic unit. GZ18-02, drilled 50 m southwest of hole GZ17-10, intersected 17.7 m grading 2.12 g/t Au in similar mineralization. Core from seven holes drilled between 2005 and 2018 was re-examined and it was determined that mineralized intersections all have the same skarn/replacement style features. This type of mineralization occurs over a strike length of at least 350 m, and to a vertical depth of at least 150 m (Figure 4). Drilling has only partially tested this zone. It remains open to the northeast where gold-in-soil anomalies occur along the projected strike extension (Figure 3). Avidian is finalizing collar locations for additional drilling in the MEZ to both infill the known area of mineralization as well as to test the extension of this zone to the northeast.
The BLT Zone is a variably mineralized shear zone that can be traced over a strike length of approximately 1.5 km and cuts through the southern portion of the BPD (Figure 2). This zone has been very sparsely drill tested and also represents peripheral gold mineralization that could increase the overall gold resource in the vicinity of the BPD. Avidian's hole GZ17-03B returned 64.0 m @ 0.65 g/t Au in the BLT Zone. Core from 23 historical and Avidian drill holes was examined to determine the presence or absence of "BLT style mineralization", which consists of strong stockwork veins of fine-grained silica. This material was traced over 800 m strike length as determined from the core review. Gold anomalies in the recently completed soil survey (Figure 3) suggest that the zone continues to the northeast for at least 200 m, where it is untested by drilling. A total of 1,340 m of drilling in eight short drill holes will be required to confirm the continuity of the mineralization along strike from existing intercepts.
All drill core assays noted above are presented in core length as at this time there is insufficient data with respect to the orientation of the mineralized intersections to calculate true widths.
Figure 1: Golden Zone Property Mineralization
Figure 2: Breccia Pipe Deposit, MEZ and BLT Zones
Figure 3: 2019 Soil Survey
Figure 4: MEZ Longitudinal Section
Background Information on the Golden Zone Property
The property lies within the prolific gold endowed Tintina Gold Belt with mineralization styles on the property directly associated with Reduced Intrusive Gold Related System ("RIGRS") deposits with numerous polymetallic, gold-dominated showings contained within three fault-bounded belts or corridors. All the known mineralization is spatially associated with Cretaceous age intrusive rocks, analogous to what is observed in many of the large gold deposits within the Tintina Gold Belt. The mineralized occurrences on the project extend for well over 15 km of strike length (see Figure 1). There are several regional scale exploration targets in the central and southern portions of the property for gold-copper mineralization.
The property also hosts a NI 43-101 Indicated gold resource of 267,400 ounces (4,187,000 tonnes at 1.99 g/t Au) plus an Inferred gold resource of 35,900 ounces (1,353,000 tonnes at 0.83 g/t Au) within the Breccia Pipe Deposit. This resource is exposed on surface and was pit constrained for an open-pit mining scenario.
The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Dr. Tom Setterfield, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of Avidian, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Avidian Gold Corp.
Avidian brings a disciplined and veteran team of project managers together with a regional scale advanced stage gold-copper exploration portfolio in Alaska. Avidian's Golden Zone project also hosts a NI 43-101 Indicated gold resource of 267,400 ounces (4,187,000 tonnes at 1.99 g/t Au) plus an Inferred gold resource of 35,900 ounces (1,353,000 tonnes at 0.83 g/t Au). Additional projects include the Amanita gold property which is adjacent to Kinross Gold's Fort Knox gold mine in Alaska and the Jungo gold/copper property in Nevada.
Avidian is the majority owner of High Tide Resources, a private company, that owns the base metal Strickland Property, the Black Raven gold property and an option on the Labrador West Iron Ore property, all located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Avidian is focused on and committed to the development of advanced stage mineral projects throughout first world mining friendly jurisdictions using industry best practices combined with a strong social license from local communities. Further details on the Corporation and the individual projects, including the NI 43-101 Technical report on the Golden Zone property, can be found on the Corporation's website at www.avidiangold.com.
For further information, please contact:
Bonnie Hughes, Manger Investor Relations
Mobile: +44 7538 296674
Email: info@avidiangold.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Forward-looking information
This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities law.
SOURCE: Avidian Gold Corp.
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