Ardiden Limited (ASX: ADV) is well advanced in its plans to expand drilling further out to both the South Limband Esker Gold Prospectsat is district-scale Pickle Lake Gold Projectin north-west Ontario next year, in addition to further resource drilling at Kasagiminnisin 2021.
The preparations come at a time when the company has confirmed the completion of its successful Summer drilling campaign at the Kasagiminnis Gold Deposit, one of 22 identified Gold Deposits and Prospects at Pickle Lake.
Ardiden’s campaign at Kasagiminnis was completed without incident with a total of 3,117m completed over 15 holes from five drill pads.
Best results to date from Ardiden’s drilling at its Kasagiminnis Gold Deposit include:
- 6.0m @ 4.23 g/t Au, incl.2m @ 9.53g/t Au
- 6.5m @ 4.28 g/t Au,
- 1m @ 27.6 g/t Au and 4.7m @ 4.1g/t Au
- 21.0m @ 3.97g/t Au, incl. 12.5m @ 5.90 g/t Au and 2.8m @ 9.17g/t Au
- 0.5m @ 21.2 g/t Au incl. 3.4m @5.52 g/t Au
- 15.4m @ 3.21 g/t Au
- 26.2m @ 3.19g/t Au
Over the past twelve months we have built a compelling, fully connected gold landholding at Pickle Lake with 22 identified gold deposits and prospects,” Ardiden MD & CEO, Rob Longleysaid.
“The recent drilling at Kas has been a great start to our increase in exploration and drilling activities at our Pickle Lake Gold Project.
“While we await final results for the last few holes of this programme at Kas, we are already preparing for Winter drilling both at Kasand at the two Brownfields Gold Prospects, South Limband Esker. Both of these Gold Prospects are geological extensions of high-grade underground gold mines, and we are genuinely excited with what lies ahead next year on the exploration front for Ardiden.
“The South Limb Gold Prospect, 17km north-west of Kas, is fully permitted to drill and we will start there in January, and then ‘skid’ the rig back over to Kas along the Winter trail that we are currently building.
“The Mag survey we completed over the Esker and New Patricia Gold Prospectshas some really enticing Tier- 1 scale structural targets which are just screaming out to be drill tested. We have commenced the permitting process to accelerate our ability to work the Western Hub, as well as our Eastern Hub Gold Prospects, in 2021.
“We have successfully completed a 3,117m drill programme at Kas safely, and in harmony with our local stakeholders during the Covid-19 epidemic, which demonstrates our ability to operate professionally and responsibly in the region. This is now paying dividends with application for additional drilling permits and expanding our First Nation relationships.
“Ardiden’s drilling has now confirmed a significant gold mineralised system at Kas. The pending results from the last few holes are anticipated in January, and are located back towards the east, where the upcoming 4000m Winter drilling is also planned, inside what we believe is the most prospective part of the Kas structure.”
With the objective of expanding exploration activities into the Western Hub and commencing drilling at the Esker Gold Prospect during 2021, Ardiden has applied to the Mines Department for a Permit to undertake exploration work at Esker, which has been accepted. First Nation Agreement discussions are now also well underway.
A review of airborne magnetics flown by the company over the entire New Patricia Gold Prospect revealed multiple Tier-1 large-scale structural targets, similar to known gold mine settings in the District, namely Golden Patricia (Barrick) and Musselwhite (Newmont).
Of these targets, the Esker Gold Prospectis the most obvious large-scale structure, that is a Brownfield target, directly along strike of the Golden Patricia Gold Mine. Mined between 1988 and 1997, the underground Golden Patricia Mine produced 619,796oz gold at 15.2 g/t Au* to depths of 750m below surface.
