Sierra Nevada Gold hits exceptional silver-gold-copper grades at new US prospects
Sierra Nevada Gold (ASX: SNX) has returned bonanza silver-gold-copper grades from exploration at the newly-staked Crystal Peak and G Mine prospects near its Blackhawk project in the US.
Initial mapping and sampling returned 1,880 grams per tonne silver from an outcropping densely quartz-veined stockwork zone at Crystal Peak and 31.2g/t gold from G Mine, associated with copper grading up to 4.94%.
Fourteen rock chip samples returned high-grade silver results of as high as 752g/t within an area 60 metres by 30m, with all showing elevated copper and antimony associations.
Prominent ridge line
The outcropping zone at Crystal Peak is located along a prominent ridge line where the perimeter of the quartz veining is obscured by a thin veil of active colluvium and scree slopes.
Sierra Nevada has traced the underlying quartz mineralisation through the presence of weakly-defined areas of quartz float at the surface.
Given the nature of the observed covering deposits, the company said it is highly likely that more detailed mapping will delineate further areas of interest.
G Mine sampling
Initial reconnaissance sampling of the G Mine prospect showed the mineralisation is predominantly developed at contacts between diorite and quartz-monzonite.
Sheared and quartz sulphide-veined contacts have gold-silver-copper enrichment and the area has scattered historical pits with some more established historic excavations showing obvious mineralisation.
A peak rock chip sample from the area returned 31.2g/t gold, 171g/t silver and 4.94% copper from a historic mine dump and the first-pass results have provided Sierra Nevada with enough confidence to conduct follow-up exploration.
Modern techniques
Executive chair Peter Moore said the Crystal Peak and G Mine had shown positive early signs.
“These new prospects have returned exciting high-grade results from initial mapping and sampling work and the results demonstrate potential for high-grade silver-gold-copper-antimony mineralisation,” he said.
“We are excited to be the first explorer to implement modern exploration techniques across this ground and we are planning additional exploration to follow up these initial results.”
Mr Moore said the company was also preparing for a reverse circulation campaign to commence next month at the high-grade Endowment silver mine, located 10 km east of Crystal Peak.