Apr 12 2017
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp ("Sabina" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that crews have been mobilized and drilling has commenced at the Goose camp on its 100%-owned Back River gold project ("Back River" or the "Project") in Nunavut, Canada.
Approximately 7,000 metres of drilling has been planned for 2017 in two drill programs, with the first 3,000 metres to be completed this spring, and the balance in a summer drill campaign to commence in August.
Priority drill targets have been selected based on their potential to enhance project economics by adding or demonstrating potential additional mine life in the footprint of the proposed Goose Project. These targets include the high-grade Vault zone at Umwelt underground, significant step out along potential Llama underground, step out drilling at Echo, and follow up drilling of the GNS and Kogoyok targets.
"We have over 50 significant exploration targets identified within our 100% controlled 80km of prospective iron formation stratigraphy," said Bruce McLeod, President and CEO. "We believe that there are new discoveries to be made at Back River and this will be a multi-generational project. At this time however, we are focused on adding near term value by potentially extending life at our proposed Goose Mine. We are also very fortunate to have a veteran crew skilled at operating our programs and drilling at these deposits."
Spring Drilling Program
This first phase of drilling will focus on the Umwelt Vault zone, the Llama Extension and GNS/Convergence Targets as described below.
Vault Zone - Umwelt
Initial drill testing will commence with one hole to target the Vault zone at approximately 650 metres vertical depth where an interpreted high grade zone at the lower limits of the current Umwelt reserves, remains partially unconstrained and merits follow up. This interpreted high grade zone is partly characterized by historic drillhole 12GSE217, which returned 49.24 g/t Au over 17.0 metres, drillhole 11GSE106 which returned 10.91 g/t Au over 29.85 metres and drillhole 11GSE075 which returned 13.43 g/t Au over 24.40 metres. Planned drill testing will target the potential for extension of this zone.
Llama Extension
Two drillholes totaling approximately 1,400 metres have been planned to test the down plunge extension potential of the Llama mineral system to a vertical depth of approximately 600 metres. Llama underground currently has Indicated Resources of 211,000 oz grading 8.72 g/t Au (which are not included in the current mineral reserves). These two holes are planned to test down plunge 300 metres from the current gold resources and 200 metres from drillhole 12GSE239 which intersected 6.90 g/t Au over 8.0 metres. Success from drilling within the area would demonstrate potential significant resource growth beyond the existing Llama reserves and resources.
GNS/Convergence
Two holes are planned at this target which is located approximately 2 kilometres to the west of the Goose deposit. The GNS target has been interpreted as a potential Echo Deposit analogue: moderate size, relatively shallow gold mineralization and favourable mining geometry. Drilling has been planned at the GNS target to assess the extent of the highest-grade portion of the zone, down-plunge from the best 2011 intercepts. Success in this program could allow consideration of resource development at GNS.
Geophysics
During the spring exploration program Sabina will additionally focus on the expansion of ground electromagnetic (EM) surveys at Back River. A total of approximately 250 line-kilometers of snowmobile-towable EM will be conducted on high priority areas of the Goose and Boulder property stratigraphy. Survey results once completed will be evaluated within Sabina's mutli-layered datasets for prioritizing further large-scale near surface targets with an intention for future drilling.
Permitting
As announced on February 16, 2017, the Company has submitted its Final Environmental Impact Statement Addendum to the Nunavut Impact Review Board ("NIRB") as part of the NIRB's reconsideration of the Project. The Project is now in the technical review phase with NIRB recently confirming final public hearings May 31 - June 3, 2017 in Cambridge Bay. NIRB will issue a new recommendation to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada in July, 2017.
Qualified Persons
The Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 as pertains to the Back River Project, is Angus Campbell, P.Geo, Vice-President, Exploration, for the Company.
All drill core samples selected within the exploration program are subject to a company standard of internal quality control and quality assurance programs which include the insertion of certified reference materials, blank materials and duplicates analysis. All samples are sent to SGS Canada Inc. located in Burnaby, British Columbia where they are processed for gold analysis by 50 gram fire assay with finish by a combination of atomic absorption and gravimetric methods. Additionally, analysis by screen metallic processes is performed on select samples. SGS quality systems conform to requirements of ISO/IEC Standard 17025 guidelines and meets assay requirements outlined for NI 43-101.
Source: http://www.sabinagoldsilver.com/