Everton Resources Inc., (TSX VENTURE:EVR) (FRANKFURT:ERV) and its partner Brigus Gold Corp. (TSX:BRD) (NYSE Amex:BRD) has announced the start of a deep drilling program at their Ampliacion Pueblo Viejo concession, contiguous to Barrick and Goldcorp's Pueblo Viejo gold deposit, in the central Dominican Republic.
The program is in two parts. The first part has scheduled approximately 10,000 meters in holes ranging from 400 to 600 meters to test geochemical anomalies in rocks and soils for gold and other pathfinder elements associated with favorable geology and hydrothermal alteration.
The second part - the deepest drilling component - will test holes ranging between 800 and 1200 meters deep totaling over 10,000 meters to test the barren lithocap theory.
Sillitoe et al. (2006) have proposed that the lithocap, the result of the advance argillic alteration of volcanics and carbonates, may be concealing epithermal high sulphidation type mineralization similar to Pueblo Viejo.
The lithocap is also associated with a large magnetic high anomaly, which will be the target of the deeper drill holes. It is believed, based on comparisons with other deposits, that the magnetic high could be caused by a shallow level porphyritic intrusion which in turn may have associated copper-gold mineralization.
"Our decision to step up to a more robust drilling schedule was based upon test results that showed us a consistency of rising value in this project," said Andre Audet, President and CEO of Everton Resources. "The purpose of deep drilling is to prove the extent of the Pueblo Viejo geology or, whether our resources are a mirror to that of our Barrick/Goldcorp neighbors."
"This property and its geology confirm and support our decision to concentrate our corporate activities on our Dominican Republic operations," Mr. Audet said.
He said the move to add a fourth drilling unit was a business decision supported by results from Phase 1 drilling.
The shallower drill holes are to be started imminently as soon as the contractor releases the necessary drill pipe from customs. The deeper holes are planned to be started in late April as a brand new drill rig and ancillary equipment is being ordered. The drill contract was awarded to the Dominican drilling company Geocivil. To conduct this project Geocivil will partner with Cubanex which in turn is associated with Heath and Sherwood International Inc., based in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Geocivil is a long established drilling contractor and has extensive experience in mineral exploration drilling in the Dominican Republic.
This press release was reviewed by Robert Wheatley, P. Geo. and VP Exploration of Everton, who acts as Everton's Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
In Other News:
Everton has granted options to purchase up to 1,740,000 common shares of the Company to Directors, Officers, Consultants, and Employees. Each option entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.32 per share for a period of five years ending February 15, 2016.
Source: Everton Resources Inc.