Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1319479
W inte r 2020 17 Base and precious metal projects Exploration this year at Pretium Resources Inc.'s Bowser Regional project was primarily focused on the A6 zone, which is approximately 14 km northeast of the Brucejack mine. The company expected to drill about 10,000 m at A6 to delineate volcanogenic massive sulfide mineralization. The company also plans to complete 3,700 m of drilling at the Koopa, Hanging Glacier and East Snowfield zones to test their mineralized extents. Dolly Varden Silver Corporation planned a 10,000 m drill program at its Dolly Varden project to focus on expanding resources from the NI 43-101 report published in 2019 and on Ag targets outside of the current resources at the past-producing Torbit Mine. In July, Skeena Resources Limited announced its intention to exercise the option to acquire 100 per cent of the Eskay Creek project from Barrick Gold Inc. Barrick is expected to own approximately 12.4 per cent of Skeena's shares outstanding, including shares held, and has agreed to waive its back-in right on the project. Skeena planned 88,000 m of drilling for the Eskay Creek project, 66,000 m for infill and the remainder for exploration. Highlights from initial drilling include 25.03 g/t AuEq across 35.42 m in the 21A zone. Etruscus Resources Corp. sampled, prospected, mapped and flew a VTEM survey at its Rock and Roll property, which contains known resources at the Black Dog deposit. Results were to guide late-season drilling focusing on depth potential and prospective areas close to the Black Dog system. At the end of February, Coeur Mining Inc. announced a temporary suspension of mining and processing at the Silvertip mine. However, the company planned to double its exploration investment this year to potentially further expand the resource and extend the mine life. As of mid-October, more than 38,000 m of diamond drilling was completed, focused primarily on testing further step-out targets. Initial work suggests that manto-style mineralization continues north and south of known resources. Equity Metals Corporation planned a 3,000 m drill program to test the full extent of mineralization in an alteration halo surrounding polymetallic veins on its Silver Queen project. Areas where historic drilling encountered mineralized zones were also to be tested. Ni-Cu-Co-precious metal projects As of mid-October, drilling was underway at the Nickel Mountain project, where Garibaldi Resources Corp. is attempting to expand the known magmatic Ni-Cu massive sulfide system. Drilling is targeting a 2 km-long east-southeast trending corridor of mineralization. Results to date have extended the strike length of the mineralized system eastward for more than 650 m. Coal projects Allegiance Coal Limited continued to forward its Tenas project and receiving an environmental assessment certificate by collecting environmental data and completing the required regulatory processes.