Latest Northair drilling at Willa extends zones

Assays from a recent 16,320-ft underground drill program completed at Northair Mines’ (VSE) Willa property in southeastern British Columbia show two extensions to the West zone.

Consistently good results have come from drilling the southern and northern extension of the West zone, President Donald McLeod reports.

Northair, which has a 73.4% interest in the property, with BP-Selco and Rio Algom (TSE) holding the remainder, has started an additional 12,000 ft of drilling to explore and expand the new zones.

The pipe-like southern extension has been traced 230 ft above the south end of the zone. Hole 88-361, drilled through the zone, averaged 0.26 oz gold and 2.06% copper over 39 ft in the vicinity of Hole 87-312 that intersected 91 ft of 0.336 oz gold per ton (N.M., Jan 11/88).

Six holes were drilled in the northern extension. Among the higher grades was Hole 88-404 which gave 19.7 ft of 0.3 oz gold, 0.34 oz silver and 1.12% copper. Hole 88-413 gave 13.1 ft of 0.32 oz gold, 0.89 oz silver and 2.23% copper. Hole 88-412 returned 52.5 ft grading 0.27 oz gold, 0.55 oz silver and 1.36% copper; and 88-403 gave 65.6 ft of 0.19 oz gold, 0.4 oz silver and 1.01% copper.

In total, 14 holes were drilled in the West zone, which has drill- indicated reserves of 606,000 tons grading 0.22 oz gold, 0.27 oz silver and 1.04% copper.

New reserve calculations for the West, Main and East zones are being calculated by Wright Engineers and will be available in the near future, McLeod says.

He adds that the 16 holes drilled on the Main zone “demonstrate the potential for significantly increasing tonnage at Willa.” Best results include Hole 88-387 which gave 78.7 ft of 0.231 oz gold, 0.33 oz silver and 0.71% copper. Hole 88-385 included a 45.9-ft intersection grading 0.177 oz gold, 0.17 oz silver and 0.59% copper, while 88-384 gave 13.1 ft of 0.248 oz gold.

Five holes drilled on the East zone show the zone consists of several separate bands of northerly dipping mineralization. Assays included 26.2 ft of 0.29 oz gold and 13.1 ft of 0.381 oz gold.

Northair’s 300-ton mill from its Squamish area gold mine remains in storage on the Willa property. The company plans to upgrade the mill to 500 tons per day. Stage one permitting application is being submitted to the provincial goverment.