Drilling of the Foot property in the southern Yukon continues to expand the size of the Wolverine polymetallic massive sulphide discovery.
Westmin Resources (TSE), which is earning a 60% interest in the property from Atna Resources (VSE), reports that the fifth drill hole intersected 6.8 metres from 179.4 to 186.2 metres grading 1.45% copper, 1.4% lead and 19.23% zinc, as well as 2.52 grams gold and 435.1 grams silver per tonne.
Drilling to date has tested the Wolverine zone over a dip extent of about 210 metres on one section with three holes.
Westmin is mobilizing a second rig, to drill for tonnage extensions to the discovery. The original drill rig continues to test regional targets on the property.
Bruce McKnight, vice-president of corporate affairs, says drill results, combined with area topography, suggest the Wolverine could be developed as an underground mine. He stressed, however, that this outlook could change as drilling fleshes out the extent and orientation of the zone.
Westmin had initially planned to spend about $700,000 on this year’s program. It now expects to have spent about $1.5 million by the time drilling ceases in October.
The Foot claims are 20 km east of Cominco’s Kudz Ze Kayah deposit, which contains an inferred resource of 13 million tonnes grading 5.5% zinc, 1.3% lead and 1% copper, plus 1.2 grams gold and 125 grams silver.
Cominco, by far the largest land holder in the region, is fast-tracking feasibility work at Kudz Ze Kayah for an open-pit mine (moving to underground in later years).
Other land holders in the region, all Vancouver-listed, include Demand Gold, Pacific Bay Minerals and Expatriate Resources.
Drill results to date from the Wolverine zone are as follows: Hole Interval(m) Width(m) Copper(%) Lead(%) Zinc(%) Gold(g/t) Silver(g/t) WV-95-1* 82.2-86.1 3.9 0.3 0.49 10.2 0.34 59.6 WV-95-4* 152.6-161.0 8.4 0.56 3.45 14.22 7.62 1,348.9 WV-95-5 179.4-186.2 6.8 1.45 1.40 19.23 2.52 435.1 * Previously released
** Assay results from holes 2 and 3, which were drilled on other targets, are pending.
Be the first to comment on "Westmin expands Wolverine"