Probe Metals drills 10.4 metres of 7.3 g/t gold at Monique within Val d’Or East

Probe Metals (TSXV: PRB; US-OTC: PROBF) has released assay results for 12 holes drilled as part of its 2020 expansion drill program within the Monique property at its Val d’Or East gold project. The results suggest ongoing expansion of the I and M gold zones along strike and at depth, as predicted by the company’s three-dimensional geological model.

The drill highlights included 10 metres of 2.4 grams gold per tonne starting at 40.7 metres and 10.4 metres of 7.3 grams gold per tonne from 23.2 metres, both reported from the I zone. Notable intercepts from the M zone included 5 metres of 2.6 grams gold starting at 87.3 metres and 8 metres of 2.3 grams gold from 251.1 metres.

Eight of the holes tested the I zone between surface and 200 metres of depth, three holes targeted the M zone between surface and 225 metres depth and one hole was completed to test the P zone near surface.

“Monique continues to impress right down to the final drill hole of 2020,” David Palmer, Probe’s president and CEO, stated in a press release. “This year showed the true potential of our Val-d’Or East project with Monique representing an excellent example of how much exploration upside this area contains.” 

Palmer added that the company plans to continue with its exploration efforts focused on resource growth and new discovery, but will also be looking to start moving Val d’Or East towards development.

In 2021, an initial preliminary economic assessment (PEA) is anticipated for Val d’Or East, which would follow a first-quarter resource update.

The news release also noted that Probe will include all of the results from the 66 holes (totalling 18,090 metres) completed in 2020 at Monique in the updated resource estimate. Probe is planning a ‘substantial’ drill program at the Monique, Courvan and Pascalis gold trends this year and is looking to complete geophysical surveys and update its geological models. Four drills are expected to start turning this week at Monique, Courvan and at the Cadillac Break East portion of Val d’Or East.

Additional metallurgical testing, as well as geotechnical and geochemical studies are planned for the site.

The 5.5-sq.-km Monique property includes an inferred resource of 9.1 million tonnes grading 2.25 grams gold per tonne for a total of 661,400 gold ounces. The property is part of the 435-sq.-km Val d’Or East land package. An open pit at Monique generated 580,000 tonnes at 2.53 grams gold between 2013 and 2015.

This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal, part of Glacier Resource Innovation Group.