West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV:WRLG) (OTCQB:WRLGF) reported additional drill results from its Phase 1 exploration program on its 100% owned Rowan Property located in the prolific Red Lake Gold District of Northwestern, Ontario, Canada. Results from Hole RLG-23-149B, most notably 50.52 grams per tonne (“g/t”) gold (“Au”) over 4.0 metres (“m”), was one of the best intercepts ever drilled on the Rowan Property. Based on the success of the current exploration campaign, the 2023 drill program has been expanded from 17,000m to 25,000m.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Hole RLG-23-149B Intersected 4.0m @ 50.52 g/t Au, from 299m to 303m, Including 0.5m @ 371.08 g/t Au, from 302m to 302.5m.
- Hole RLG-23-150 Intersected 4.2m @ 15.40 g/t Au, from 384m to 388.2m, Including 1.0m @ 63.76 g/t Au, from 386.1m to 387.1m.
- Hole RLG-23-152 Intersected 4.2m @ 10.41 g/t Au, from 344.95m to 349.15m, Including 0.5m @ 78.97 g/t Au, from 348.15m to 348.65m.
- Drilling at the Rowan Mine target continues to deliver intercepts with exceptional gold grades over significant widths that demonstrate the potential for being amenable to traditional underground mining methods.
- Baseline environmental and archaeological studies initiated to begin progressing Rowan Mine Target to Advanced Exploration Permit status.
Based on the positive results we have seen so far in 2023, we have decided to expand the drilling program from 17,000m to 25,000m – further demonstrating our commitment to exploration and an aggressive growth strategy in the Red Lake Mining District which includes not only Madsen, but all of our high-priority regional targets. This strategy will allow us to maximize value across our portfolio of Red Lake Assets and take full advantage of the future optionality that could be provided by a hub-and-spoke mining operation.Shane Williams, President & CEO
The high-grade mineralized vein zones encountered at the Rowan Mine target area (the “Rowan Mine Target”) continue to exceed expectations, confirm the geologic model, and further improve the existing high-grade (9.2 g/t Au) 827,462 ounce Inferred Mineral Resource at the Rowan Mine. Sections for the Rowan Mine drilling outlined in this release are provided in Figures 1 through 6. High resolution versions of all the figures contained in this press release can be found at the following web address: https://westredlakegold.com/august-1st-news-release-maps/
A total of 34 diamond drill holes for 9,183m have been completed so far in 2023 at the Rowan Mine target area. Fire and metallic screen assays have been returned for 21 out of 31 holes completed, with 3 holes having partial assay results and 8 holes pending assays and QAQC.
TABLE 1. Significant intercepts (>4 g/t Au) from drilling at Rowan Mine Target.
| Hole ID | Target | Zone | From (m) | To (m) | Thick (m)* | Au (g/t) |
| RLG-23-148 | Rowan Mine | V102 | 209.00 | 211.90 | 2.90 | 4.06 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V102 | 211.40 | 211.90 | 0.50 | 12.64 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V102 | 222.00 | 222.50 | 0.50 | 5.04 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V102 | 245.00 | 246.50 | 1.50 | 5.09 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V102 | 246.00 | 246.50 | 0.50 | 14.62 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V101 (hw)* | 300.65 | 301.15 | 0.50 | 7.40 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V101 | 313.20 | 313.70 | 0.50 | 8.06 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V100 | 368.00 | 369.00 | 1.00 | 7.34 |
| RLG-23-149B | Rowan Mine | V103 | 207.00 | 209.10 | 2.10 | 5.71 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V103 | 208.50 | 209.10 | 0.60 | 11.12 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V102 | 219.00 | 220.00 | 1.00 | 4.84 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V102 | 243.00 | 244.00 | 1.00 | 6.98 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V102 | 243.00 | 243.50 | 0.50 | 13.78 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V102 (fw)* | 284.00 | 285.00 | 1.00 | 5.42 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V101 | 299.00 | 303.00 | 4.00 | 50.52 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V101 | 299.00 | 300.00 | 1.00 | 15.72 |
| Also Incl | Rowan Mine | V101 | 302.00 | 302.50 | 0.50 | 371.08 |
| RLG-23-150 | Rowan Mine | V102 | 245.80 | 247.00 | 1.20 | 4.44 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V102 | 280.00 | 281.00 | 1.00 | 5.94 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V101 | 384.00 | 388.20 | 4.20 | 15.40 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V101 | 386.10 | 387.10 | 1.00 | 63.76 |
| RLG-23-151 | Rowan Mine | V103 | 201.00 | 203.00 | 2.00 | 4.73 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V103 | 201.00 | 202.00 | 1.00 | 9.11 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V102 | 227.00 | 227.50 | 0.50 | 5.55 |
| RLG-23-152 | Rowan Mine | V102 | 261.50 | 262.60 | 1.10 | 5.02 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V102 | 261.50 | 262.00 | 0.50 | 10.54 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V101 (hw)* | 300.00 | 304.00 | 4.00 | 6.84 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V101 (hw)* | 301.00 | 301.50 | 0.50 | 51.40 |
| AND | Rowan Mine | V101 | 344.95 | 349.15 | 4.20 | 10.41 |
| Incl. | Rowan Mine | V101 | 348.15 | 348.65 | 0.50 | 78.97 |
*The “From-To” intervals in Table 1 are denoting overall downhole length of the intercept. True thickness has not been calculated for these intercepts but is expected to be ≥ 70% of downhole thickness based on intercept angles observed in the drill core. Composite intervals do not cross sample boundaries < 0.1 g/t Au. Under ‘Zone’ column, (hw) is indicating ‘hanging wall to’ and (fw) is indicating ‘footwall to’ main vein zones.
A total of 17,000m of infill and expansion drilling was originally proposed for the Rowan Mine target in 2023. Based on the positive results received to date, the program has been expanded to 25,000m and is expected to be completed by year end 2023. The additional drill meters will be used to continue de-risking the Rowan Mine resource, and test the growth potential down-plunge on the highest-grade portions of the resource. Current drilling at Rowan has only tested mineralization down to a depth of approximately 550m. All of the high-grade zones still remain open below this vertical depth. The Red Lake Mining District is known to host orebodies that extend down to +4km depth, which bodes well for the down-plunge growth potential at Rowan.
It is the Company’s belief that potential synergies could exist between high-grade resources at the Rowan Mine target area and Madsen. Early indications suggest that the gold mineralization at Rowan could be amenable to gravity separation. The Company has initiated a metallurgical study at Rowan to begin evaluating this potential opportunity, as well as a geotechnical study to better characterize the rock mass properties within the mineralized vein zones at Rowan.
In conjunction with infill and expansion drilling, the Company is also initiating the necessary baseline environmental and archaeological assessments to begin moving the project towards an Advanced Exploration Permit status. Those studies will include the following:
- Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment;
- Surface Water, Aquatic Ecosystems, Country Foods and Geochemistry Studies;
- Subsurface Water and Hydrologic Studies; and
- Fish Habitat, Terrestrial Vegetation, and Terrestrial Wildlife & Habitat Assessments.
FIGURE 1. Deposit-scale plan map of Rowan Mine Target area showing traces and intercepts for holes highlighted in this News Release.
TABLE 2: Drill collar summary for holes reported in this News Release.
| Hole ID | Target | Easting | Northing | Elev (m) | Length (m) | Azimuth | Dip |
| RLG-23-148 | Rowan Mine | 422051 | 5657752 | 380 | 435 | 0 | -53 |
| RLG-23-149B | Rowan Mine | 422051 | 5657752 | 380 | 390 | 355 | -54 |
| RLG-23-150 | Rowan Mine | 422051 | 5657752 | 380 | 483 | 4 | -58 |
| RLG-23-151 | Rowan Mine | 422171 | 5657799 | 365 | 387 | 355 | -64 |
| RLG-23-152 | Rowan Mine | 422171 | 5657799 | 365 | 384 | 340 | -60 |
Discussion
The Rowan Mine Target consists of more than seven sub-parallel, near-vertical, east-west trending veins that are currently defined over a strike length of approximately 1.1 kilometre (“km”) – mineralization remains open along strike and at depth. The orientation of the veins at the Rowan Mine tend to follow the direction of D2 deformation, which is oriented in an east-west direction over this part of the property. Individual mineralized vein zones usually average 1.0 to 1.5m in thickness, with an overall thickness of the Rowan vein corridor at around 115m. Gold mineralization is typically localized within quartz-carbonate veins hosted within and along the ‘footwall’ margin of a porphyritic felsic intrusive, with increased grades often associated with the presence of visible gold and base metal sulphides (e.g. galena, sphalerite). High-grade dilation zones or ‘ore chutes’ along the Rowan vein trend have been recognized as important controls for localizing thicker and higher-grade zones of gold mineralization. The position and geometry of these dilation zones is well understood at Rowan.
The drilling completed at the Rowan Mine Target in 2023 has been focused on validating historical data across the Inferred Resource, and also infilling apparent gaps in the analytical data set which was a product of very selective sampling techniques implemented during previous drilling campaigns. Assay results received from the 2023 drilling program continue to confirm our thesis that quartz veining and gold mineralization continue at depth and along strike, with grades consistent with, or higher than those outlined in the current Inferred Mineral Resource which remains open in all directions. For example, the 100 Vein Zone – which is the furthest north vein currently modeled within the overall Rowan vein corridor – was previously interpreted to be a lower grade portion of the block model. Recent drilling has confirmed that higher grades are present within the 100 Vein Zone below 150m elevation, suggesting that gold grades are increasing at depth within this zone which is a trend that has been observed elsewhere in the Red Lake district. Drilling at the Rowan Mine Target area will continue with an emphasis on infill and expansion of the existing high-grade mineral resource.
FIGURE 2. Rowan Mine drill section showing assay highlights for Holes RLG-23-148, RLG-23-149B and RLG-23-150[1].
FIGURE 3. Rowan Mine drill section showing assay highlights for Holes RLG-23-151 and RLG-23-152[1].
FIGURE 4. Rowan Mine longitudinal section for Vein 101 showing all intercepts > 3 g/t Au. Assay highlights from current press release shown in red[1].
FIGURE 5. Rowan Mine longitudinal section for Vein 102 showing all intercepts > 3 g/t Au. Assay highlights from current press release shown in red[1].
FIGURE 6. Rowan Mine longitudinal section for Vein 103 showing all intercepts >3 g/t Au. Assay highlights from current press release shown in red[1].
West Red Lake Gold is a market awareness client of Capital 10X. For more information, including potential conflicts of interest please see our Content Disclaimer.
