Eskay Mining Corp (TSX-V:ESK, OTCQX:ESKYF) has announced the discovery of a new volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) centre at Jeff North as well as recent drill intercepts of polymetallic mineralization in two areas along the TV-Jeff corridor, part of its Eskay project in British Columbia.
Over 13,000 metres (m) of diamond drilling has been undertaken in numerous drill holes along 3.7 kilometres (km) of strike at TV-Jeff, the company said. Diamond drilling also continues at the Scarlet Ridge area.
To date, Eskay Mining has completed approximately 15,600m of diamond core drilling, approximately 52% of the 30,000m planned to be completed in 2022. Drill production remains on target to reach this aggressive goal with four drills fully operational, it said.
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Dr John DeDecker, Eskay Mining's vice-president of exploration said in a statement: “As with the Scarlet Ridge-Tarn Lake VMS corridor, the TV-Jeff VMS corridor is proving itself to be another large VMS complex with sulfide mineralization focused along multiple syn-volcanic fault structures each closely associated with intense hydrothermal alteration of volcanic rocks.”
DeDecker noted the discovery of Jeff North now extends the strike length of the known TV-Jeff VMS corridor to 3.7km. Recent drill holes completed in two areas have yielded intercepts of polymetallic sulfide mineralization with abundant chalcopyrite and sphalerite.
Spot XRF readings taken from the core indicates promising pathfinder element support including silver from this style of mineralization.
Also, anomalous geochemical results recently received from soil samples collected at the very start of the 2022 exploration season indicate mineralization potentially extends another 2km further north from Jeff North, DeDecker noted.
“We are optimistic that multiple other VMS targets we have recently identified along the TV-Jeff trend will prove mineralized, and we continue to grow confident about the potential for the Consolidated Eskay project to host an entire VMS district,” he said.
Drilling at Jeff North targeted a large conductive SkyTEM anomaly coincident with a ridge of silicified peperitic basalt displaying strong silver in-soil anomalies from samples collected during the 2021 program. Some stockwork intervals are distinctly polymetallic displaying abundant sphalerite and chalcopyrite in addition to the ubiquitous pyrite. This mineralogy coupled with the presence of strong pathfinder elements including silver, arsenic, antimony, copper, zinc, and lead as detected by handheld XRF provide encouragement for presence of gold and silver, both of which must be assayed for accurate measurement.
At present, drilling at Jeff North has ceased and the focus has moved onto TV, the area between TV and Jeff, and Scarlet Ridge. Eskay is prepared to follow up with drilling at Jeff North late-season should assays confirm this to be a significant new discovery.
Drilling has commenced at TV, focusing on expanding upon the core body of mineralization identified in 2021 drilling. Planned drill holes will test extensions of TV mineralization further down-dip, along strike to the north and south, and up stratigraphic section.
Eskay Mining is focused on the exploration and development of precious metal volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) targets along the Eskay rift in a prolific region of northwest British Columbia known as the Golden Triangle.
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