Western Pacific Resources Corp. ("Western Pacific" or the "Company") announces the commencement of a 5,500 m (18,000 ft) core drilling program at the Company's Deer Trail property, located in Piute County, Utah. The program is designed to confirm the continuity of mineralization, with the goal of recommencing production at Deer Trail.
The Deer Trail Mine project is a polymetallic property with gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper mineralization occurring in oxide and sulphidic material. The mine includes a 250 tonnes per day capacity flotation mill, a large-scale mining permit, and extensive infrastructure.
The underground drill program will follow-up on the results from the 2013 sampling program conducted in the 3400 zone. Results from this sampling program (see news release dated September 3, 2013) included grades ranging from 0.016 g/t to 164.5 g/t Au (0.0 oz/t to 5.3 oz/t Au) and from 0.9 g/t to 8,090 g/t Ag (0.0 oz/t to 260 oz/t Ag). Forty-seven percent of the 72 samples in that program returned grades higher than 311 g/t (10 oz/t) Ag equivalent with the weighted average grade of those samples averaging 1,300.1 g/t (41.8 oz/t) Ag equivalent over an average channel width of 1.17 meters.
The 50 hole drill program will provide extensive data and will pierce the five known stacked mineralized manto layers. The drilling will focus on defining mineralization near to the existing mine workings, as well as targeting prospective areas that have not been previously drilled.
The Deer Trail Mine is located in Piute County, central Utah, approximately 5 miles SSW of Marysvale, or 165 miles SSW from Salt Lake City. The project encompasses 3,275 acres of prospective ground within 5 square miles, and includes workings known as the Upper (Old) Deer Trail Mine and the Lower Deer Trail Mine.
"Western Pacific has completed the rehabilitation of the 3400 area and is excited to see the drilling begin and the program advancing ahead of schedule and on budget," stated Michael Callahan, CEO & President of Western Pacific. "The current drilling will be incorporated into a geologic model to evaluate the continuity of the various mantos in this area of the mine in furtherance of the goal of recommencing mining in this area". The 3400 area of the mine was developed and mined intermittently until the early 1960's and again in 1981. Not all historic data is available, however it is known that data on approximately 50% of the tons mined from this area averaged 1.71 oz/t Au (53.19 g/t Au), 11.61 oz/t Ag (361.11 g/t Ag), 7.45% zinc and 2.96% lead. (Source: Unico, INC. Annual Report February 28, 2010). The Company has not completed the work necessary to have the historical data verified by a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101 and as such these historical estimates should not be relied upon.
To assist in mine development, the Company will also undertake a comprehensive infill rib sampling program to augment historic work and further delineate the numerous mineralized horizons.
Qualified Person
Eric Saderholm, B.Sc, Registered Member (Number 4145463RM), Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, is Western Pacific's Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43 101. Mr. Saderholm has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.
About Western Pacific Resources Corp.
Western Pacific is a publicly traded resource exploration company focused on advancing a strong portfolio of precious metal properties in the Western United States. The Company is currently developing the polymetallic Deer Trail Mine in Piute County, Utah. The Company's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "WRP". Western Pacific's team is led by a slate of technical and financial experts whose aim is to succeed in creating shareholder value through the development of its portfolio of projects as well as by pursuing additional property acquisitions and other strategic opportunities.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Michael Callahan"
Michael Callahan, President & CEO
Source: http://www.westernpacificresources.com/