Ardiden Limited’s (ASX: ADV) final series of drill assays have demonstrated high-grade gold mineralisation continues at the Esker and Tonsil Prospects at the its Pickle Lake Gold Project in Ontario, Canada.
The final exploration drilling results from its 2022 drill campaign further illustrate the belt scale potential across the Western Hub of its Pickle Lake Gold Project.
Ardiden’s district-scale 1,088 sq. km gold landholding is the second largest in the well-endowed Uchi Geological sub-province of north-western Ontario.
The final results from our 2022 drilling programme over the Western Hub have quantified the company’s targeting strategy in a region that has historically seen minimal exploration,” Exploration Manager, Haydn Daxter, said.
“The potential for a major deposit being discovered across the Western Hub continues to gain momentum with several structural controls intersected, displaying high grade mineralisation
“The recent drilling programme has highlighted the potential of three separate mineralisation events comprising of narrow width high grade gold intercepts, medium width with moderate grade gold intercepts, and wide lower grade intercepts of up to 38 meters in width.
“We are excited to commence the second drill programme across the Western Hub over the coming months as part of our strategy to define a significant discovery in the Pickle Lake region and will begin the initial planning of our second drill programme shortly, with work expected to commence early in the new year.”
Recent drilling at the Esker and Tonsil Prospects is characteristically similar to the Golden Patricia Mine where 619,796 oz Au @ 15.2 g/t Au1 was extracted between 1988-1997.
Tonsil Prospect
Drilling at the Tonsil Prospect focused on the Golden Patricia style vein structure that is characterised by shallow high-grade mineralisation. Results continued to successfully demonstrate the vein structure’s continuity along strike within the primary structure. Significant intersections include:
- DD22-16: 0.77m @ 25.5 g/t Au from 71.23m
- DD22-16 : 1.85m @ 1.92 g/t Au from 25.15m
- DD22-15: 1.00m @ 1.68 g/t from 92.50m
Drilling at the Tonsil Prospect was performed on conceptual targets generated from historical drilling and Ardiden’s current geological model. A total of 19 holes were completed for 2,680m of diamond drilling, with all drill core being orientated by the geological team to provide further data and continue development of Ardiden’s current geological model.
Esker Prospect
A total of 18 orientated diamond drill holes for 2,206m were drilled at the Esker Prospect to test conceptual targets generated from both historical drilling and Ardiden’s current geological model. The latest results support Golden Patricia style mineralisation with shallow, high-grade intersections as shown below:
- WP22-07 : 0.70m @ 8.46 g/t Au from 142.30m o WP22-12 : 0.59m @ 5.21 g/t Au from 86.55m
- WP22-07 : 0.87m @ 3.54 g/t Au from 47.40m o WP22-08 : 1.0m @ 3.05 g/t Au from 21.00m
- WP22-10A : 1.0m @ 1.59 g/t Au from 27.63m
A series of diamond drill holes were executed to conduct a structural and geological assessment of the dilatation closure region of the primary structure, with WP-22-08/WP-22-11 being drilled along a traverse of ~140m in length. The traverse was a continuation from WP-22-03 and allowed the company to gather data in a broad zone of multiple structures, adding to our understanding the geological setting.
Anomalous gold mineralisation is reported in this announcement for WP-22-08 and WP-22-10A, whilst WP-22- 09 and WP-22-11 fell below the cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au.
Permitting
Permitting has gained momentum, with the awarding of the Kawashe/Kawashe North Prospect and is testament to Ardiden’s enactment of responsible ESG principles and good standing in the region.
A total of nine exploration permits have been granted during 2022. Four additional permits are currently in progress with submission to the Ministry of Mines, Ontario, and when received will see 100% of the Pickle Lake Gold Project permitted for exploration activities.
