White Gold Corp. (TSX.V: WGO, OTC – Nasdaq Intl: WHGOF, FRA: 29W)
(the "Company") is pleased to announce an update to its Mineral
Resource Estimate on the White Gold property located in Yukon,
Canada. The update was performed based on the results of the
Company’s 2018 exploration program exploration plan backed by our
partners Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSX: AEM, NYSE: AEM) and
Kinross Gold Corp (TSX: K, NYSE: KGC).
Highlights Include:
- Indicated Mineral Resource of
1,039,600 gold ounces within 14,330,000 tonnes at 2.26 g/t
gold, and Inferred Mineral Resource of 508,700 gold
ounces within 10,696,000 tonnes at 1.48 g/t gold, from the
Golden Saddle (“GS”) and Arc deposits representing a 25% increase
based on 2018 activities.
- 8% increase in Indicated Resources
and 80% in Inferred Resources.
- Increases in the Golden Saddle
driven by the 2018 GS West Zone discovery, expansion of the GS Main
and Footwall Zones and expansion of potential underground
ounces.
- Increases in the Arc driven by 2018
drilling and updated geologic modelling.
- GS & Arc mineralization remains
open along strike and down dip/plunge. Significant ounces added
with only 12,368m of drilling in 2018 on these zones.
- GS Main contains a consistent
high-grade core of 832,000 gold ounces at a grade of 2.96 g/t
gold in the Indicated category and 107,000 gold ounces at
a grade of 3.18 g/t gold Inferred using a >1 g/t cut-off.
Included in this high-grade core is 525,600 gold ounces at a
grade of 4.68 g/t gold in the Indicated category
and 81,900 gold ounces at a grade of 4.74 g/t
gold Inferred using a >3 g/t cut-off.
Detailed images of the resource model and
additional information can be found
at http://whitegoldcorp.ca/investors/exploration-highlights/.
“This expansion of the mineral resource estimate
further demonstrates the continued success of our systematic data
driven exploration methodologies and the value we are generating
across our unique portfolio of assets. We are very pleased with the
significant increase in the Golden Saddle & Arc in 2018 with
the relatively limited amount of drilling performed. The growth in
the Golden Saddle was primarily driven by the 2018 GS West Zone
discovery and continued drilling of the GS Main Zone. The newly
discovered GS West is part of the same mineralized system as the
Golden Saddle, all of which we believe can be expanded with
additional drilling,” stated David D’Onofrio, Chief Executive
Officer. “Continuing to grow the Golden Saddle & Arc resource
will be one element of our fully funded $13 million 2019
exploration program which also includes plans to expand our 230,000
ounce Inferred Resource on the recently acquired VG Zone, diamond
drilling on the high-grade 2018 Vertigo discovery and the
generation of additional grass root discoveries across our 1
million acre land package in Yukon’s prolific White Gold District.
The exploration season is just getting underway and we are
extremely excited for what lies ahead.”
Resource Estimate DetailsThe
resource estimate was conducted by Arseneau Consulting Services
(“ACS”) and is reported within the guidelines of the Canadian
Securities Administration National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). ACS carried out
database verification, grade shell geometry, variography, and
ordinary kriging exercises. A database with a total of 4,386
samples from 188 drill holes was used for the Golden Saddle and Arc
areas. The Indicated and Inferred mineral resources were classified
according to the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and
Petroleum (“CIM”) definition Standards for Mineral Resources and
Mineral Reserves by Dr. Gilles Arseneau, P.Geo., of ACS, a
“qualified person” as defined by NI 43-101. The Company intends to
publish an updated technical report within 45 days of this news
release which will include the updated resource estimate. The
report will be available at that time on the Company's issuer
profile on SEDAR and the Company’s website.
Indicated and Inferred resources were
categorized as potentially open pit or underground minable
utilizing 10m x 10m x 10m blocks at 0.5 g/t Au and 3.0 g/t Au
cut-off grades, respectively, and utilizing a Whittle shell model.
The Grade Tonnage Report using an Ordinary Kriging Estimate is as
follows (1-5):
2019 Golden Saddle and Arc Mineral
Resource Statement
|
2019 Resource |
|
Area |
Type |
Classification |
Cut-off (g/t) |
Tonnes (000's) |
Grade (g/t) |
Contained Gold (oz) |
GS |
Open Pit |
Indicated |
0.5 |
13,681 |
2.30 |
1,009,700 |
Inferred |
5,120 |
1.58 |
259,600 |
Underground |
Indicated |
3.0 |
86 |
4.40 |
12,200 |
Inferred |
3.0 |
390 |
4.36 |
54,700 |
Arc |
Open Pit |
Indicated |
0.5 |
562 |
0.98 |
17,700 |
Inferred |
5,186 |
1.17 |
194,500 |
Comparison of 2018 to 2019 Mineral
Resource Estimates
|
|
|
|
2018 Resource |
2019 Resource |
Area |
Type |
Classification |
Cut-off (g/t) |
Tonnes (000's) |
Grade (g/t) |
Contained Gold (oz) |
Tonnes (000's) |
Grade (g/t) |
Contained Gold (oz) |
GS |
Open Pit |
Indicated |
0.5 |
12,294 |
2.43 |
959,800 |
13,681 |
2.30 |
1,009,700 |
Inferred |
4,041 |
1.67 |
216,400 |
5,120 |
1.58 |
259,600 |
Underground |
Indicated |
3.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
86 |
4.40 |
12,200 |
Inferred |
3.0 |
235 |
3.53 |
26,700 |
390 |
4.36 |
54,700 |
Arc |
Open Pit |
Indicated |
0.5 |
30 |
1.19 |
1,100 |
562 |
0.98 |
17,700 |
Inferred |
881 |
1.39 |
39,400 |
5,186 |
1.17 |
194,500 |
- Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
- The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by
environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political,
marketing, or other relevant issues.
- The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower
level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral
Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is
reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral
Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with
continued exploration.
- The Mineral Resources in this report were estimated using the
CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and
Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve
Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council.
- Indicated and Inferred ounces were determined using the
following assumptions: gold price of US$1,400/oz, average gold
recovery of 94% on the Golden Saddle and 85% on the Arc (based on
preliminary metallurgical test work), pit slope of 50 degrees,
mining cost of CAN$2.50/tonne mined, processing costs of
CAN$15.00/tonne milled, G&A costs of CAN$5.00/tonne milled,
transportation and royalty costs of CAN$46.15/oz, and a US:CAN
exchange rate of 0.77. These assumptions are subject to the
completion of a detailed economic analysis and are not to be
interpreted as such.
Wireframes for the Golden Saddle and Arc were
constructed to enclose mineralized zones with composited assays
greater than 0.3 g/t Au over 1.5m length. The Golden Saddle,
including the GS West, was split into 8 domains (GS Main: 101, 102,
103, 104, & 110, GS Footwall/GS West: 201, 202, 203) with the
110 domain consisting of a “high-grade” core within the 101 domain
that was modelled on 1.5m composites greater than 3 g/t Au. Arc and
Arc Footwall were modelled as distinct domains.
Capping was performed on the assays using the
97th or 98th percentile values based on assays within
each zone. Within the GS Main, domains 101 – 104 were capped at 10
g/t Au and the 110 domain was capped at 18 g/t Au. All domains
within the GS Footwall were capped at 7 g/t Au and the Arc was
capped at 5 g/t Au.
A block model encompassing all zones was
constructed by ordinary kriging using Dassault Systems GEMS
software. The model was estimated using 10m x 10m x 10m blocks and
grades were estimated in three passes. Pass 1 and 2 were based on
variography and had expanding ranges from 50-60m for pass 1 and 110
– 130m for pass 2. Pass 3 estimated blocks that had not been
estimated during pass 1 or 2 but were pierced by drill holes. Any
blocks estimated during pass 1 by at least three drill holes within
a 50m radius were classified as Indicated and all other estimated
blocked were classified as Inferred.
Mineral Resources on both the Golden Saddle and
Arc are potentially amenable to open pit mining methods. Any
mineralized blocks that were not within the pit shells but at a
>3g/t cut-off were considered potentially amenable to
underground mining methods. All tonnage, grade, and contained metal
content estimates have been rounded. Rounding may result in
apparent summation difference between tonnage, grade, and contained
metal content.Mineralization on portions of both the Golden Saddle
and Arc is known to extend beyond the limits of the current
resource estimate, however, the mineralization in these areas does
not currently meet the criteria to be classified as Mineral
Resources. Based on drilling in these areas and current geologic
models this includes an estimated 10 – 12 million tonnes grading
between 1 – 2 g/t Au. The reader should be cautioned that the
potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature; there has
been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it
is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being
delineated as a mineral resource.
Golden Saddle DepositWithin the
Golden Saddle, the resource estimate includes the GS Main, GS
Footwall and GS West zones. All zones trend NE-SW and dip to the NW
at approximately 55 degrees with mineralization occurring along
faults, fractures, and breccia zones in an overall normal to
strike-slip structural regime. Together, the zones define
mineralization over 1,500m strike length and up to 725m down dip.
This includes a continuous high-grade core of mineralization >3
g/t Au on the GS Main that is up to 50m true-thickness and
traceable over 500m of strike length and from surface up to 530m
down-dip.
The current expansion of the Golden Saddle
resource was driven by four primary factors:
- Inclusion of the 2018 GS West discovery; located approximately
750m west of the GS Main and accounting for an estimated 62,500 oz
Au (1,339,000 tonnes at 1.45 g/t Au). The GS West is located
approximately 750m west of the GS Main and is interpreted as a
western continuation of the Golden Saddle structural system.
Limited historic drilling has occurred between the GS West and the
GS Main and one of the Company’s key objectives for the 2019 season
will be to expand this zone and explore the potential continuity
between the two zones.
- Infill drilling on the GS Main and GS Footwall; upgrading
estimated blocks in these areas.
- Down dip/plunge drilling on the GS Main; expanding the
footprint of the deposit by up to 325m down dip and increasing
potential underground resources by an estimated 12,200oz Au
Indicated and 39,900oz Au Inferred.
- Increase in GS Footwall mineralization captured in the Whittle
shell model based on updated geologic modelling.
It should also be noted that there was a significant conversion
of Inferred to Indicated resources on the Golden Saddle with an
estimated 6% (62,100 oz Au) increase in Indicated Resources on the
deposit.
Mineralization on the Golden Saddle is open
along strike and down dip/plunge, and the 2019 exploration will
focus on expanding the GW West zone; infill drilling on Golden
Saddle to infill gaps within the current model; and step-out
drilling between the GS Main/GS Footwall and GS West zones to asses
for continuity of mineralization between the areas.
Currently, the GS Main is the most significant
zone in terms of estimated ounces and overall grade; containing
approximately 95% of the Indicated ounces within the overall
resource. Furthermore, the 101-110 domain is specifically important
as it encompasses the core of mineralization within the GS Main;
can be consistently be traced from surface to over 400m depth;
defines an overall northly plunging ore body. This is highlighted
by the grade sensitivity on the GS Main, where over 90% of the
contained Indicated ounces are within a cut-off grade of >1 g/t
and approximately 51% are within a cut-off grade of >3g/t
Au.
|
GS Main - Open Pit – 2019 Mineral Resource Estimate Grade
Sensitivity |
|
Classification |
Cut-off (g/t) |
Tonnes (000's) |
Grade g/t |
Contained Gold (oz) |
Indicated |
>3.0 |
3,405 |
4.69 |
513,600.00 |
>2.0 |
5,799 |
3.77 |
703,000.00 |
>1.5 |
7,731 |
3.26 |
810,600.00 |
>1.0 |
10,076 |
2.79 |
904,000.00 |
>0.9 |
10,537 |
2.71 |
918,100.00 |
>0.8 |
10,917 |
2.65 |
928,500.00 |
>0.7 |
11,341 |
2.57 |
938,700.00 |
>0.6 |
11,704 |
2.51 |
946,300.00 |
>0.5 |
12,163 |
2.44 |
954,400.00 |
>0.4 |
12,574 |
2.38 |
960,300.00 |
>0.3 |
12,954 |
2.32 |
964,700.00 |
Inferred |
>3.0 |
454 |
4.55 |
66,400.00 |
>2.0 |
773 |
3.69 |
91,700.00 |
>1.5 |
984 |
3.27 |
103,600.00 |
>1.0 |
1,351 |
2.71 |
117,800.00 |
>0.9 |
1,452 |
2.59 |
120,900.00 |
>0.8 |
1,587 |
2.44 |
124,600.00 |
>0.7 |
1,698 |
2.33 |
127,200.00 |
>0.6 |
1,812 |
2.22 |
129,600.00 |
>0.5 |
1,919 |
2.13 |
131,500.00 |
>0.4 |
2,004 |
2.06 |
132,700.00 |
>0.3 |
2,094 |
1.99 |
133,700.00 |
Arc DepositThe Arc is located
approximately 400m south of the Golden Saddle and consists of two
zones, the Arc Main and Arc Footwall zones. Both zones trend E-NE
and dip to the north at approximately 50 degrees.
Mineralization at the Arc has been defined over 1,200m in strike
length and up to 450m down dip with mineralization open along
strike and down dip.
The current expansion of the Arc resource was
driven by 2018 drilling on the deposit and subsequent revision of
the geologic model, which increased total estimated blocks in the
Arc by 10% and, of these, there was a 20% increase in blocks
>0.5 g/t Au. This resulted in significant expansion of the
Whittle shell model on the deposit and increasing the reportable
resource by an estimated 16,600oz Au Indicated and 155,000 oz Au
Inferred.
The 2019 exploration program on the Arc will
consist of step-out drilling along strike of the current resource
area and infill drilling on higher grade (2 g/t Au) portions of the
deposit.
QA/QCThe analytical work for
the 2018 program was performed by Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada
Ltd., an internationally recognized analytical services provider,
at its Vancouver, British Columbia laboratory. Sample
preparation was carried out at its Whitehorse, Yukon facility. All
RC chip and diamond core samples were prepared using procedure
PRP70-250 (crush, split and pulverize 250 g to 200 mesh) and
analyzed by method FA430 (30g fire assay with AAS finish) and AQ200
(0.5g, aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis). Samples
containing >10g/t Au were reanalyzed using method FA530 (30g
Fire Assay with gravimetric finish).
The reported work was completed using industry
standard procedures, including a quality assurance/quality control
(“QA/QC”) program consisting of the insertion of certified
standards and blanks into the sample stream. Additionally, historic
QA/QC data and methodology on the White Gold property were reviewed
and are summarized in the “Independent Mineral Resource Estimate
for the White Gold Project, Dawson Range, Yukon, Canada”, dated
April 15, 2018, filed under the Company’s profile on SEDAR. The
qualified persons detected no significant QA/QC issues during
review of the data.
About White Gold Corp.The
Company owns a portfolio of 22,040 quartz claims across 35
properties covering over 439,000 hectares representing over 40% of
the Yukon’s White Gold District. The Company’s flagship White Gold
property has a mineral resource of 1,039,600 ounces Indicated at
2.26 g/t Au and 508,700 ounces Inferred at 1.48 g/t Au.
Mineralization on the Golden Saddle and Arc is also known to extend
beyond the limits of the current resource estimate. Regional
exploration work has also produced several other prospective
targets on the Company’s claim packages which border sizable gold
discoveries including the Coffee project owned by Goldcorp Inc.
with a M&I gold resource(6) of 3.4M oz and Western Copper and
Gold Corporation’s Casino project which has P&P gold
reserves(6) of 8.9M oz Au and 4.5B lb Cu. For more information
visit www.whitegoldcorp.ca.
6. Noted mineralization is as disclosed by the
owner of each property respectively and is not necessarily
indicative of the mineralization hosted on the Company’s
property.
Qualified PersonJodie Gibson,
P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for the Company is a
“qualified person” as defined under National Instrument 43-101
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and
approved the content of this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward
Looking InformationThis news release contains
"forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements"
(collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of
the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking
statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections
as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves
discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs,
plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or
performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects",
or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not
anticipate", "plans", “proposed”, "budget", "scheduled",
"forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of
such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or
results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to
occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may
be forward-looking statements. In this news release,
forward-looking statements relate, among other things, the
Company’s objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted
and proposed to be conducted at the Company’s properties; future
growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed
exploration programs at any of the Company’s properties will be
successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans and
costs and financing availability.
These forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company
at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may
differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to
materially differ from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Such factors, among other things, include:; expected
benefits to the Company relating to exploration conducted and
proposed to be conducted at the Company’s properties; failure to
identify any additional mineral resources or significant
mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test
results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of
financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration
programs on the Company’s properties; business integration risks;
fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in
securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of
gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities;
fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to
United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local
government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and
political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated
with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining
(including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or
unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability
to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the
presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on
mining and mineral exploration; employee relations; relationships
with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations;
availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and
labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and
development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses,
permits and approvals from government authorities); the
unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately
developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results
of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as
plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being
preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the
likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; and those
factors described in the most recently filed management’s
discussion and analysis of the Company. Although the
forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based
upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the
time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure
shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such
forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that
cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements and information. There can be no
assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors
or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information,
will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to
release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary
forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable
securities law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the
“Exchange”) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is
defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Contact Information:David
D’Onofrio Chief Executive Officer White Gold Corp. (647) 930-1880
ir@whitegoldcorp.ca
Images accompanying this announcement are available
at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ca5bcfa8-b035-4fb8-9103-3b55eb3b944f
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed4279f5-4e72-4f63-9bf7-ebbf9b17f59b
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