U.S. Gold Corp. completes Maggie Creek 2021 drilling

The 2021 Maggie Creek drilling programme was focused on a previously untested target concept below post-mineral cover in the southeast section of the project (Section 30).

The company had originally planned two core holes from two different locations. However, based upon very encouraging alteration encountered while drilling the first hole, the company decided to attempt to offset the alteration with an angle hole from the same drill pad. The first hole, MC21-1c, a vertical hole, was terminated at 2937 ft due to poor down hole drilling conditions in a broad fault zone within Roberts Mountains Formation (Lower Laminated). This hole intersected the Tertiary paleosurface at 698 ft and then entered Lower Plate stratigraphy at 1483 ft.

The typical Lower Plate stratigraphy seen elsewhere on the Carlin Belt was intersected, with sometimes intense alteration, brecciation and faulting throughout. The most favourable rock package, the Popovich Formation, was encountered below Rodeo Creek siltstones at 1706 ft and continued to 2767 ft. Three thick intervals of strong alteration and sulfide were encountered within the Popovich at the following depth intervals: 1827 – 1988 ft, 2028 – 2139 ft, and 2646 – 2771 ft. Essentially all the Popovich is dolomitic in MC21-1c, though likely primary, and alteration (decalcification and silicification primarily) is fairly common throughout the Lower Plate stratigraphy. The strongest alteration and sulfide, including sooty pyrite and orpiment in brecciated hydrothermal dolomite, was encountered within the Wispy Member of the Popovich at 2700 ft. This interval was anomalous in gold, arsenic, mercury and thallium, with a high of 165 ppb gold within a brecciated interval containing orpiment. Despite the visually encouraging alteration and mineralisation, no high-grade gold was encountered.

The second hole, MC21-2c, angled to the north from the same pad as MC21-1c, was terminated at 1503 ft within Upper Plate Vinini siltstone and mudstone. The Vinini in this hole shows much more intense clay alteration and sulfidation than in MC21-2c. However, at this time U.S. Gold Corp. has met its work commitment at Maggie Creek and elected to stop the second hole. The hole has been filled with bentonite, casing left in place and capped so it can be re-entered next year. Assay results are pending for MC21-2c.

Ken Coleman, the company's Chief Geologist, stated: “I was pleasantly surprised and rightly excited to see the intensity of alteration within the predicted stratigraphy as drilling progressed in MC21-1c. Post-mineral Carlin Formation and Upper Plate rocks proved to be shallower than predicted, and the structural preparation and alteration encountered in the Lower Plate checked all of the boxes; the right stratigraphy, the right alteration, and characteristic minerals at a reasonable depth. Assays proved disappointing with only anomalous gold associated with the typical pathfinder elements in Carlin-type deposits. While the gold encountered was only anomalous, it is clear there is a strong Carlin-type alteration cell under Section 30 at Maggie Creek.”

“We took a big swing based upon a different look at the local geology and proved there is a system there,” Coleman continued. "Very rarely are discoveries made in the first hole testing a new target. The results to date clearly warrant further exploration. Based upon the more intense alteration in the Upper Plate rocks in MC21-2c and structural interpretations derived from the gravity survey we completed last year, we believe that this first hole, MC21-1c, lies laterally and likely south of what could be the better part of the system. MC21-2c was angled toward what is interpreted to be a major structural intersection zone between a broad northeast striking zone, similar to the Chukar-Alunite faults, and a northwest striking structural corridor. Further interpretation will be completed once all assays have been received.”

George Bee, the company's President and CEO, added: “While we know of the near surface opportunities in the Upper Plate rock package, 2021 drilling was focused on the deep high-grade potential that is the subject of much of the mining activity on the Carlin Trend of late. Drilling these targets is costly and we will continue to approach this exploration in a measured and prudent manner, consistent with our objectives to create value for our shareholders with the development of our CK Gold Project in Wyoming. Having met our exploration commitments at Maggie Creek for 2021, we can now analyse the data and plan out our future program at this exciting target. We found the right rock package with significant alteration and we now need to pursue the gold.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/06072021/us-gold-corp-completes-maggie-creek-2021-drilling/