i-80 Gold Corp.(TSX: IAU) has intersected multiple zones of high-grade mineralisation at thw 426 Zone, part of the company’s 100%-owned Ruby Hill Property located in Eureka County, Nevada.
Highlight results from initial infill and step-out drilling in the 426 horizon:
iRH22-02 – four intervals:
- 9.6 g/t Au over 15.5 m (0.28 oz/ton – 51.0 ft)
- 7.7 g/t Au over 10.1 m (0.22 oz/ton – 33.0 ft)
- 13.9 g/t Au over 13.4 m (0.40 oz/ton – 44.0 ft)
- 11.6 g/t Au over 7.6 m (0.34 oz/ton – 25.0 ft)
iRH22-05
- 9.9 g/t Au over 9.8 m (0.29 oz/ton – 32.0 ft)
iRH22-07 – four intervals
- 8.2 g/t Au over 2.1 m (0.24 oz/ton – 7.0 ft)
- 9.7 g/t Au over 23.2 m (0.28 oz/ton – 76.0 ft)
- 10.7 g/t Au over 10.1 m (0.31 oz/ton – 33.0 ft)
- 10.4 g/t Au over 15.8 m (0.30 oz/ton – 52.0 ft)
iRH22-08
- 15.6 g/t Au over 12.2 m (0.45 oz/ton – 40.0 ft)
iRH22-09
- 7.7 g/t Au over 9.4 m (0.22 oz/ton – 31.0 ft), incl. 10.6 g/t Au over 5.3 m (0.31 oz/ton – 17.5 ft)
iRH22-10
- 10.4 g/t Au over 13.7 m (0.30 oz/ton – 45.0 ft)
The 426 Zone is the upper portion of the Ruby Deeps deposit, is interpreted to consist of stratigraphic and fault controlled sub-horizontal mineralisation hosted within or proximal to the northeast striking 426 fault structure and is anticipated to be the first zone accessed from underground.
Drilling in the 426 Zone is designed to define mineralisation for initial mine planning, to provide geotechnical work for the design of the underground decline, and to complete additional metallurgical test work.
The 426 Zone remains open along strike to the south and at depth with very little drilling existing along the 426 fault at depth above its intersection with the Ruby Deeps.
Drill holes iRH22-02 and iRH22-07 each intersected four significant intervals within this gap. Several holes intersected multiple structures, suggesting the potential to define resources in multiple horizons and, as in previous drilling in the Ruby Deeps Zone, ground conditions appear to be very favourable and intersection widths and grades have met or exceeded expectations.
Additionally, significant oxide mineralisation has been observed in the upper portions of the deposit.
The company is completing a large-scale surface (+20,000 metre) drill programme at Ruby Hill for both deposit delineation and exploration purposes. Definition and expansion drilling is focused on the initial areas planned to be mined including the 426 Zone and the deeper Ruby Deeps Zone where recent results include 19.8 g/t Au over 33.2 m and 7.1 g/t Au over 78.6 m. Multiple gold and poly-metallic exploration targets are also being drilled.
The ongoing infill and step-out drill programme will aide in the advancement of the company’s plan to develop an underground mine at Ruby Hill, accessed via ramp from the Archimedes open pit. Following the 2022 programme, an updated mineral resource estimate is planned for the completion of an economic study.
The current programme at Ruby Hill is one of several ongoing and anticipated drill programmes on i-80 projects in 2022 that are collectively budgeted to comprise more than 50,000 metres.
It is expected that refractory mineralisation from the planned underground operation at Ruby Hill will be trucked to the company’s Lone Tree facility, once operational, and oxide mineralisation can be processed on-site at the existing heap leach pad, or at the existing CIL plant, once refurbished. i-80’s substantial existing infrastructure at Lone Tree and Ruby Hill is expected to reduce potential exposure to the current inflationary environment.
“The grades of mineralisation at Ruby Hill continue to impress as we define one of the premier Carlin-type, gold deposits in Nevada,” CEO, Ewan Downie, said.
“We have a CIL plant at Ruby Hill that could factor into our future processing plans given that we are intersecting appreciable oxidised mineralisation in the 426 Zone. Additionally, significant alteration and mineralisation has been observed in multiple conceptual exploration targets that have been tested to-date that also include oxidised mineralisation.
For further information please visit: https://www.i80gold.com/
