Athena Gold (CSE:ATHA) reports new gold intercepts have been returned from a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at Lunchbox Ridge on the Buster Trend, located within the Excelsior Springs Project in Nevada, US.
Drilling was conducted on a previously untested parallel structure 700m along strike from the Buster Mine zone.
Hole MEXRC2637 returned 10.67m @ 3.76 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 198.2m. Athena says the hole targeted a geophysical feature along the Buster Trend corridor and expanded known mineralisation along a previously untested parallel structure that remains open along strike and down dip.
RC drilling at the Blue Dick prospect is ongoing, with nine of the 29 holes completed across priority trends spanning more than 6.5km of mapped mineralisation.
Samples have been submitted for analysis, with additional holes remaining in the approximately 5,000m program.
Surface sampling results from the western extents of parallel trends at Blue Dick have also been returned. The results include 1,190g/t silver (Ag), 4.7g/t Au, 4.55% lead (Pb); 891g/t Ag, 10.7g/t Au, 1.7% Pb, 3.7% zinc (Zn); and 708g/t Ag, 9.6g/t Au, 2.1% Pb, and 5.4% Zn.
Athena Gold is exploring Excelsior with Mammoth Minerals (ASX:M79), under an option agreement for Mammoth to earn an 80% interest in the project over five years, with Athena free-carrying to a Definitive Feasibility Study.
Mammoth Minerals Managing Director Glenn Poole says the latest results open up a new target horizon redefining the potential within the Buster Shear corridor, as previously reported.
“Drilling in this area was targeting a deeper geophysical feature that was untested by historical drill holes, with the exceptional result highlighting further growth opportunities along the broader Buster Gold Trend,” Poole says.
The Excelsior Springs Project, covering more than 2,500 hectares, is located 70km southwest of Tonopah, Nevada.
Most exploration work on the project has focused on the Buster mine, which is a historical gold mine that produced up to 19,200 ounces of gold. The rest of the property is largely underexplored despite the presence of widespread alteration and anomalous gold mineralisation in outcrop, as well as sporadic historical artisanal workings scattered throughout.
Athena Gold is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Main Image: Athena Gold
