i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX: IAU) has obtained strong results from the final six holes drilled in the successful 2022 surface drill programme targeting the high-grade South Pacific Zone at the company’s Granite Creek Property located in Humboldt County, Nevada.
The South Pacific Zone (SPZ) was discovered in 2021 and is host to high-grade gold mineralisation located immediately north of the underground mine workings at Granite Creek.
The 2021/2022 drilling campaigns were very successful in delineating and expanding mineralisation in the SPZ with new results continuing to confirm significant upside potential. Hole iGS22-26 is the deepest and most northerly hole drilled to test this horizon, intersecting an impressive 15.7 g/t gold (Au) over 6.6 metres (m), approximately 170 m north of iGS22-05 (16.4 g/t Au over 15.3 m). The SPZ remains wide open for expansion along strike to the north and at depth.
Highlight new results from 2022 drilling in the South Pacific Zone:
- 15.7 g/t Au over 6.6 m (0.46 oz/ton Au over 21.8 feet) in hole iGS22-26
- 13.9 g/t Au over 4.6 m (0.41 oz/ton Au over 15.0 feet) in hole iGS22-27
- 23.2 g/t Au over 5.3 m (0.68 oz/ton Au over 17.5 feet) in hole iGS22-28
- 8.5 g/t Au over 5.6 m (0.25 oz/ton Au over 18.3 feet) including 10.9 g/t Au over 2.3 m (0.32 oz/ton Au over 7.5 feet) in hole iGS22-29
- 9.9 g/t Au over 11.9 m (0.29 oz/ton Au over 39.0 feet) including 18.0 g/t Au over 4.8 m (0.53 oz/ton Au over 15.6 feet) in hole iGS22-30
The SPZ is a priority for development and the company is currently extending the decline to depth in order to provide access to the SPZ on an expedited basis with a target to complete underground drilling and bring the SPZ into the Granite Creek mine plan in 2023.
The company will now complete an updated resource for the underground mineralisation at Granite Creek that will be included in a subsequent economic update that is expected to be released in Q1-2023.
Additional drilling is being planned for 2023 both along strike and at depth to continue resource expansion.
“Drilling in the South Pacific Zone has ended the year on a high note with the final six holes intersecting high-grade gold mineralization over mineable widths and further extending the deposit along strike to the north,” Tyler Hill, Senior Geologist of i-80, said.
“The continuity of high-grade mineralization makes the SPZ a priority for development and we look forward to continued expansion drilling in the new year.”
High-grade mineralisation at Granite Creek occurs in a near-identical geological setting as that at the multi‑million-ounce Turquoise Ridge Mine located immediately to the north, proximal to a major regional fault (the Getchell or Range Front fault) on the eastern edge of the large Osgood Mountains intrusive complex. The Granite Creek deposit remains open at depth and along strike from the existing underground workings.
For further information please visit: https://www.i80gold.com/
