Probe Metals hits new gold mineralization at Monique property in Quebec

Probe Metals (TSXV: PRB; US-OTC: PROBF) has released additional results from last year’s drill program at the Monique property, part of the company’s district-scale Val d’Or East project in Quebec.

These included 71 holes from the 2021 resource expansion and infill drill program, which revealed new gold mineralization along strike and at depth to the east, southeast and south of the former Monique open-pit mine.

The resource expansion drilling was highlighted by intersections of 6.0 grams gold per tonne over 16 metres, 5.8 grams gold per tonne over 13.2 metres, 5.6 grams gold per tonne over 10.0 metres, 3.7 grams gold per tonne over 18 metres, 1.4 grams gold per tonne over 39.1 metres and 1.1 grams gold per tonne over 48.9 metres, all at shallow depths.

Highlights from the infill drilling near surface included up to 1.0 grams gold per tonne over 100.2 metres, 0.8 gram gold per tonne over 75.6 metres, 1.2 grams gold per tonne over 40.1 metres and 0.9 gram gold over 44.9 metres. 

“The Monique property continues to outperform in its expansion program, particularly with the multiple high-grade intervals being returned from drilling,” David Palmer, the company’s president and CEO, stated in a news release. “In addition to numerous thick, high-grade gold zones, all of the results released today are within 300 metres of the surface and can be accessed in the earlier mining operations.” 

“These results also bode well for deeper exploration of high-grade zones that can support underground operations and extend mine life. Infill programs are also demonstrating significant success and confirming the quality of the current resource while upgrading resource for the pre-feasibility study, which is in progress. Monique is quickly becoming a centre of gravity for the project and we currently have eight drills turning on this property to advance it as rapidly as possible.”

Assays from 40 holes drilled in 2021 and over 80 holes drilled since the beginning of 2022 are still pending. These holes were part of the largest drill program initiated to date at the Val d’Or East project, totaling about 150,000 metres. One of the main goals of the program is to convert inferred resources into the indicated category, forming the basis of a prefeasibility study that is scheduled for 2023.

Monique is one of three past-producing mines at Val d’Or East. It began commercial production in 2013 and ceased production at the end of January 2015. During that time, a total of 580,000 tonnes of mineralized material was extracted at a grade of 2.53 grams gold per tonne, from the surface to 100 metres depth, for a total of 45,694 oz. gold.

The property currently hosts a measured and indicated resource of 13.62 million tonnes grading 1.54 grams gold per tonne for 672,800 oz. of gold and an inferred resource of 11.73 million tonnes grading 1.78 grams gold per tonne for 671,400 ounces.