VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd.(“West Red Lake Gold” or “WRLG” or the “Company”) (TSXV: WRLG)(OTCQB: WRLGF) is pleased to report drill results from its 100% owned Madsen Mine located in the Red Lake Gold District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada.
The drill results featured in this news release are focused on the high-grade South Austin Zone, which currently contains an Indicated mineral resource of 474,600 ounces (“oz”) grading 8.7 grams per tonne (“g/t”) gold (“Au”), with an additional Inferred resource of 31,800 oz grading 8.7 g/t Au.
These results follow-up on the significant intercepts previously announced on September 24, 2024, where drilling returned 49.39 g/t Au over 4.48 meters (“m”) and 18.46 g/t Au over 11.2m at South Austin.
The purpose of this drilling was definition within priority areas of South Austin to continue building an inventory of high-confidence ounces to support the restart of production at the Madsen mine, which is expected to commence in H2 2025. The Company expects to complete a pre-feasibility study in support of that restart goal in the coming months.
SOUTH AUSTIN ZONE HIGHLIGHTS:
Hole MM24D-08-4447-040 Intersected 3.12m @ 37.09 g/t Au, from 126.88m to 130.00m, Including 0.62m @ 174.28 g/t Au, from 126.88m to 127.50m, Also including 0.5m @ 10.74 g/t Au, from 127.5m to 128.0m.
Hole MM24D-08-4447-042 Intersected 2.76m @ 18.11 g/t Au, from 89.24m to 92.00m, Including 1m @ 42.01 g/t Au, from 91m to 92m.
Hole MM24D-08-4447-039 Intersected 13m @ 3.00 g/t Au, from 94m to 107m.
Hole MM24D-08-4447-053 Intersected 3.8m @ 9.21 g/t Au, from 118.95m to 122.75m, Including 0.55m @ 11.91 g/t Au, from 119.45m to 120.00m, Also including 0.75m @ 22.77 g/t Au, from 122.00m to 122.75m.
Hole MM24D-08-4447-038 Intersected 5m @ 6.69 g/t Au, from 112m to 117m, Including 2m @ 14.67 g/t Au, from 113m to 115m.
Hole MM24D-08-4447-050 Intersected 3m @ 10.35 g/t Au, from 116m to 119m, Including 1m @ 27.43 g/t Au, from 116m to 117m.
A new footwall lens in South Austin was encountered in HolesMM24D-08-4447-036, -037 and -039 through -044 (Figures 3 through 5) running sub-parallel to the South Austin domain. A similar new footwall lens in South Austin was also previously announced on June 11, 2024, further demonstrating the potential for encountering new mineralized zones adjacent to the main Madsen deposit as definition drilling continues.
Shane Williams, President & CEO, stated, “The underground definition drilling program at Madsen has been very successful. The value added from this high confidence, tightly spaced drilling cannot be overstated. Having the opportunity to focus drills on defining an inventory of high confidence ounces well ahead of mine restart provides the team with a huge advantage and allows for incorporating the necessary optionality into the mining schedule ahead of restart, focusing on higher grade and higher tonnage portions of the deposit to help facilitate a smooth, sustainable ramp-up towards full production. It’s also particularly exciting that the team continues to encounter new, previously unrecognized zones of mineralization adjacent to the main deposit in South Austin supporting our belief that Madsen still holds plenty of upside as we continue accessing and drilling off deeper portions of the deposit.”
Plan maps and section for the South Austin drilling outlined in this release are provided in Figures 1 through 7.
TABLE 1. Significant intercepts (>3 g/t Au) from drilling at Austin Zone.
Hole ID
Target
From (m)
To (m)
Length (m)*
Au (g/t)
MM24D-08-4447-036
South Austin
99.50
108.00
8.50
3.23
AND
South Austin
119.00
120.50
1.50
6.50
AND
South Austin
126.00
128.00
2.00
4.88
AND
South Austin
132.00
135.00
3.00
4.23
MM24D-08-4447-037
South Austin
98.00
102.00
4.00
3.50
AND
South Austin
111.00
112.00
1.00
3.39
AND
South Austin
124.00
126.55
2.55
9.38
Incl.
124.92
125.42
0.50
32.13
MM24D-08-4447-038
South Austin
112.00
117.00
5.00
6.69
Incl.
113.00
115.00
2.00
14.67
MM24D-08-4447-039
South Austin
94.00
107.00
13.00
3.00
AND
South Austin
123.00
125.79
2.79
7.48
Incl.
124.69
125.25
0.56
32.76
MM24D-08-4447-040
South Austin
106.50
114.00
7.50
4.07
Incl.
106.50
107.20
0.70
20.75
AND
South Austin
126.88
130.00
3.12
37.09
Incl.
126.88
127.50
0.62
174.28
Also Incl.
127.50
128.00
0.50
10.74
MM24D-08-4447-041
South Austin
99.00
100.00
1.00
3.66
AND
South Austin
104.50
106.00
1.50
3.18
AND
South Austin
119.30
122.30
3.00
8.28
Incl.
120.30
122.30
2.00
11.85
MM24D-08-4447-042
South Austin
89.24
92.00
2.76
18.11
Incl.
91.00
92.00
1.00
42.01
MM24D-08-4447-043
South Austin
94.00
96.00
2.00
3.73
AND
South Austin
124.00
127.00
3.00
4.75
MM24D-08-4447-044
South Austin
83.00
84.00
1.00
7.34
AND
South Austin
88.50
90.00
1.50
7.93
AND
South Austin
117.00
122.00
5.00
3.18
MM24D-08-4447-045
South Austin
119.50
120.40
0.90
5.98
MM24D-08-4447-046
South Austin
No Assays > 3 g/t Au
MM24D-08-4447-047
South Austin
No Assays > 3 g/t Au
MM24D-08-4447-048
South Austin
No Assays > 3 g/t Au
MM24D-08-4447-049
South Austin
113.80
115.15
1.35
5.24
MM24D-08-4447-050
South Austin
116.00
119.00
3.00
10.35
Incl.
116.00
117.00
1.00
27.43
MM24D-08-4447-051
South Austin
No Assays > 3 g/t Au
MM24D-08-4447-052
South Austin
125.00
126.40
1.40
5.78
Incl.
125.00
125.75
0.75
10.06
MM24D-08-4447-053
South Austin
118.95
122.75
3.80
9.21
Incl.
119.45
120.00
0.55
11.91
Also Incl.
122.00
122.75
0.75
22.77
*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. Internal dilution for composite intervals does not exceed 1m for samples grading <0.1 g/t Au.
TABLE 2: Drill collar summary for holes reported in this News Release.
Hole ID
Target
Easting
Northing
Elev (m)
Length (m)
Azimuth
Dip
MM24D-08-4447-036
South Austin
435525
5646379
10
171.0
119
-25
MM24D-08-4447-037
South Austin
435525
5646379
10
162.0
120
-23
MM24D-08-4447-038
South Austin
435525
5646378
10
126.7
122
-28
MM24D-08-4447-039
South Austin
435525
5646378
10
165.0
123
-25
MM24D-08-4447-040
South Austin
435525
5646378
10
171.0
125
28
MM24D-08-4447-041
South Austin
435525
5646378
10
165.0
125
-25
MM24D-08-4447-042
South Austin
435525
5646378
10
171.0
128
-28
MM24D-08-4447-043
South Austin
435525
5646378
10
165.0
129
-25
MM24D-08-4447-044
South Austin
435525
5646378
10
162.0
131
-24
MM24D-08-4447-045
South Austin
435525
5646378
10
170.0
132
-28
MM24D-08-4447-046
South Austin
435514
5646364
8
115.5
147
-28
MM24D-08-4447-047
South Austin
435514
5646363
8
117.0
151
-28
MM24D-08-4447-048
South Austin
435513
5646363
8
122.0
155
-30
MM24D-08-4447-049
South Austin
435513
5646363
8
118.0
160
-23
MM24D-08-4447-050
South Austin
435513
5646363
8
120.5
160
-27
MM24D-08-4447-051
South Austin
435513
5646363
8
127.5
160
-31
MM24D-08-4447-052
South Austin
435513
5646363
8
126.4
164
-29
MM24D-08-4447-053
South Austin
435513
5646363
8
150.0
167
-31
DISCUSSION
Accessed through the Madsen Mine West Portal, the South Austin Zone sits south in the hanging wall of the main Austin Zone. Like the other mineralized domains that comprise the Madsen Mine, the South Austin structure is hosted within broad, kilometer-scale planar alteration and deformation corridors that have been repeatedly reactivated during gold mineralization and subsequent deformation and metamorphism.
At the deposit scale the Austin, South Austin, North Austin, and McVeigh Zones are locally folded and structurally dismembered by transposition and rotation into the penetrative S2 Foliation. In addition to this intense deformation overprint, the mineralized veins and alteration have been subjected to the relatively high temperatures of amphibolite facies metamorphism, which led to extensive recrystallization and growth of the skarn-like replacement mineral assemblage of diopside-amphibole-quartz-biotite.
All significant gold mineralization on the mine property is demonstrably early relative to the most significant, penetrative deformation (D2) and metamorphic events. The North Austin Zone displays ‘mine-style’ alteration and mineralization and consists of multiple mineralized domains defined over a strike length of 0.5km. Mineralization remains open at depth and along strike to the northeast.
In drill core, or at underground face exposures, gold-bearing zones at the Madsen Mine are best identified visually by fine (sub-millimetre) grains of free gold within strong alteration and veining. All high-grade intervals generally contain visible gold on drill core exteriors, although numerous examples exist of high-grade assays where visible gold was only identified within the interior (cut surface) of the core samples. Apart from the presence of free gold, pervasive silicification (locally accompanied by discrete quartz veining) and quartz-carbonate or diopside veining are the best indicators that a given interval is within a high-grade zone along/within the mineralized structure.
The current underground drilling program at the Madsen Mine is focused on further definition of near-term mining inventory, as well as growth of the current mineral resource. Drilling has been focused on the more continuous and higher-grade portions of the Austin, South Austin, North Austin and McVeigh Zones. This will continue to be the strategy through 2024.
FIGURE 1. Madsen Mine long section showing location of 08-4447 Drill Bay in the South Austin Zone.[1]
Figure 2-WRLG_SA_Madsen_Plan_2024_09_27
FIGURE 2. South Austin plan view drill section showing assay highlights for Holes MM24D-08-4447-036 through -053.[1]
Figure 3-WRLG_SA_Madsen_Section1
FIGURE 3. South Austin section view showing assay highlights for Holes MM24D-08-4447-036 through -038.[1] Note the mineralization encountered outside existing domain in South Austin footwall lens.
Figure 4-WRLG_SA_Madsen_Section2
FIGURE 4. South Austin section view showing assay highlights for Holes MM24D-08-4447-039 through -041.[1]Note the mineralization encountered outside existing domain in South Austin footwall lens.
Figure 5-WRLG_SA_Madsen_Section3_v3
FIGURE 5. South Austin section view showing assay highlights for Holes MM24D-08-4447-042 through -045.[1]Note the mineralization encountered outside existing domain in South Austin footwall lens.
Figure 6-WRLG_SA_Madsen_Section4_v2
FIGURE 6. South Austin section view showing assay highlights for Holes MM24D-08-4447-046 through -050.[1] Holes -047, -049 and -050 broke into historic stopes.
Figure 7-WRLG_SA_Madsen_Section5
FIGURE 7. South Austin section view showing assay highlights for Holes MM24D-08-4447-051 through -053.[1]Hole -052 broke into a historic stope.
QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL
Drilling completed underground at the Madsen Mine consists of BQ-sized diamond drill core for definition drill programs and oriented NQ-sized diamond drill core for exploration focused drilling. All drill holes are systematically logged, photographed, and sampled by a trained geologist at the Madsen Mine core processing facility. Minimum allowable sample length is 0.5m. Maximum allowable sample length is 1.5m. Control samples (certified standards and uncertified blanks), along duplicates, are inserted at a target 5% insertion rate. Results are assessed for accuracy, precision, and contamination on an ongoing basis. The BQ-sized drill core is whole core sampled. The NQ-sized drill core is then cut lengthwise utilizing a diamond blade core saw along a line pre-selected by the geologist. To reduce sampling bias, the same side of drill core is sampled consistently utilizing the orientation line as reference. For those samples containing visible gold (“VG”), a trained geologist supervises the cutting/bagging of those samples, and ensures the core saw blade is ‘cleaned’ with a dressing stone following the VG sample interval. Bagged samples are then sealed with zip ties and transported by Madsen Mine personnel directly to SGS Natural Resource’s Facility in Red Lake, Ontario for assay.
Samples are then prepped by SGS, which consists of drying at 105°C and crushing to 75% passing 2mm. A riffle splitter is then utilized to produce a 500g course reject for archive. The remainder of the sample is then pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns from which 50g is analyzed by fire assay and an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish (SGS Code GO-FAA50V10). Samples returning gold values > 100 g/t Au are reanalyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish on a 50g sample (SGS Code GO_FAG50V). Samples with visible gold are also analyzed via metallic screen analysis (SGS code: GO_FAS50M). For multi-element analysis, samples are sent to SGS’s facility in Burnaby, British Columbia and analyzed via four-acid digest with an atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish for 33-element analysis on 0.25g sample pulps (SGS code: GE_ICP40Q12). SGS Natural Resources analytical laboratories operates under a Quality Management System that complies with ISO/IEC 17025.
The Madsen Mine deposit presently hosts a National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) Indicated resource of 1.65 million ounces (“Moz”) of gold grading 7.4 g/t Au and an Inferred resource of 0.37 Moz of gold grading 6.3 g/t Au. Mineral resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 3.38 g/t Au and a gold price of US1,800/oz. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Please refer to the technical report entitled “Independent NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the PureGold Mine, Canada”, prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and dated June 16, 2023, and amended April 24, 2024 (the “Madsen Report”). The Madsen Resource Estimate has an effective date of December 31, 2021 and excludes depletion of mining activity during the period from January 1, 2022 to the mine closure on October 24, 2022 as it has been deemed immaterial and not relevant for the purpose of the Madsen Report. A full copy of the Madsen Report is available on the Company’s website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
The technical information presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Will Robinson, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for West Red Lake Gold and the Qualified Person for exploration at the West Red Lake Project, as defined by NI 43-101 “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects”.
ABOUT WEST RED LAKE GOLD MINES
West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that is publicly traded and focused on advancing and developing its flagship Madsen Gold Mine and the associated 47 km2 highly prospective land package in the Red Lake district of Ontario. The highly productive Red Lake Gold District of Northwest Ontario, Canada has yielded over 30 million ounces of gold from high-grade zones and hosts some of the world's richest gold deposits. WRLG also holds the wholly owned Rowan Property in Red Lake, with an expansive property position covering 31 km2 including three past producing gold mines - Rowan, Mount Jamie, and Red Summit.
Rowan & Madsen Projects Location Map
ON BEHALF OF WEST RED LAKE GOLD MINES LTD.
“Shane Williams”
Shane Williams President & Chief Executive Officer
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information generally can be identified by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "planned", and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations of management; however, it is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this news release and include without limitation, statements relating to plans for the potential restart of mining operations at the Madsen Mine, the potential of the Madsen Mine; any untapped growth potential in the Madsen deposit or Rowan deposit; timing of pre-feasibility study and the Company’s future objectives and plans. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market volatility; the state of the financial markets for the Company’s securities; fluctuations in commodity prices; timing and results of the cleanup and recovery at the Madsen Mine; and changes in the Company’s business plans. Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will continue with its stated business objectives and its ability to raise additional capital to proceed. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended November 30, 2023, and the Company’s annual information form for the year ended November 30, 2023, copies of which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.
For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company’s continuous disclosure filings that are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
[1] Mineral resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 3.38 g/t Au and a gold price of US1,800/oz. Please refer to the technical report entitled “Independent NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the PureGold Mine, Canada”, prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and dated June 16, 2023, and amended April 24, 2024. A full copy of the SRK report is available on the Company’s website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
