Black Hawk hits high grade at El Limon

Infill drilling at the El Limon gold project in northwestern Nicaragua has confirmed the continuity of high-grade mineralization in the Talavera Sur vein between sections 1150E and 11250E.

Owner Black Hawk Mining (BHK-T) completed an additional 13 core holes, bringing to 29 the number drilled since the vein was discovered last May. All were drilled from active mine workings situated 100 metres to the north.

The latest results varied from 1.72 and 7.25 metres in true width, averaging between 4.22 and 38.55 grams gold per tonne, plus nil to 22.33 grams silver.

Combining these with previous results gives the vein a continuous average true width of 4 metres and grade of 17.78 grams gold, extending from 135 to 280 metres below surface. Intercepts from two older holes suggest that the vein continues 200 metres along strike to the northeast, to join with the developed Talavera Este vein.

One hole confirmed a second zone in the immediate hangingwall. Hole 2401 intersected 2.23 metres (true width) of hydrothermal quartz breccia that averaged 28.2 grams gold. The breccia was encountered in previous holes but failed to return results of any significance.

Black Hawk is extending the underground workings to gain access to Talavera Sur at the 190- and 218-metre levels. As well, underground drilling on section 11300E is testing the northeastern extension below the 135-metre level.

Preliminary bottle-roll tests on three composite samples liberated more than 90% of the gold after 32 hours. A resource estimate for the confirmed portion of the vein will be reported in the company’s year-end reserve and resource statement.

Meanwhile, drilling continues at the Veta Nueva vein system, situated between 400 and 1,000 metres east of Talavera Sur.