Union Star Metals (ASX:USM) has delivered a geological interpretation and exploration strategy for the Cobb Creek Project in Nevada, US, highlighting potential near-surface mineralisation and concealed targets, as well as a framework for future exploration at the project.
Located in the Independence Trend, Cobb Creek is a highly prospective region that runs parallel to the Carlin Trend in Nevada and is known for its large gold systems.
Union Star notes that mineralisation at Cobb Creek is controlled by north-northeast and northwest trending structural corridors, with two main mineralisation styles: epithermal gold-silver and sediment-hosted Carlin-style.
The McCall deposit serves as a “key anchor point” for the Cobb Creek Project, with historical drilling defining near-surface mineralisation.
Key intercepts include 33.5m @ 1.9 grams per tonne gold from 18.3m, including 12.2m @ 4.1g/t gold; 30.5m @ 1.7g/t gold from 6.1m, including 15.2m @ 2.9g/t gold; and 30.4m @ 1.4g/t gold from 16.8m, including 4.6m @ 5.4g/t gold.
This historical work forms the basis of a non-JORC-compliant estimate of 173,000 ounces of gold. The company notes that with this shallow historical drilling, mineralisation remains open along strike and possibly at depth.
Union Star’s current geological interpretation suggests that McCall might be part of a larger hydrothermal system, with geological models indicating the potential for favourable host rocks occurring beneath the known mineralisation. Deeper drilling has yet to test this.
Union Star has also identified other highly prospective targets across the eastern portion of the project, including a Central Concealed target beneath shallow volcanic cover.
The interpretation has also identified key structural corridors, including the Doby George Corridor, a north-northeast trending corridor linking McCall and Doby George. It also identified the Gravel Creek Corridor, a northwest-trending corridor associated with epithermal-style mineralisation that extends toward Gravel Creek.
Exploration: Target generation, geophysics, and drill planning
Union Star has outlined an exploration strategy focused on target generation and prioritisation. The first stage includes data integration and target refinement, followed by geophysical target testing using dipole-dipole induced polarisation, and then drill target selection.
The company will then focus on permitting and program phasing before commencing the initial drilling program, with priority on permitted targets.
The results from this initial program will inform follow-up drilling and broader exploration work.
Union Star’s CEO says that the work done at Cobb Creek is “increasingly pointing toward a project-scale structurally controlled gold system”.
“McCall demonstrates that the system is mineralised. However, historical work has only tested relatively shallow depths and limited portions of the broader structural framework. What is particularly exciting is the emergence of additional concealed and structurally controlled targets across the project area.
“Our immediate focus is on systematically refining and prioritising those targets through integrated geophysics and geological interpretation before progressing to drilling.”
Union Star Metals is a precious metals exploration company focused on gold and silver assets in the US.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: Union Star Metals
