Atacama says gold and base metal potential at Tannahill Gold Property near KL
Atacama Resources International Inc. has announced the results of its 2024 exploration program at the Tannahill Gold Property, located in northeastern Ontario’s Kirkland Lake gold camp. The program, which included geophysical surveys and a 17-hole drill campaign, confirmed significant gold mineralization while revealing strong potential for base metal discoveries.
“The 2024 exploration program has successfully confirmed the gold potential of the Tannahill Property and identified exciting new opportunities for base metal discoveries,” said J.C. Grant, CET, FGAC, lead geophysicist and author of the exploration report.
Key Results
Gold Mineralization
Six of the 17 drill holes intersected gold values ranging from 0.59 g/t to 5.31 g/t over widths of 6.5 feet to 20 feet, with one notable intersection averaging 0.71 g/t over 60 feet. These findings expand upon the results of historical drilling conducted between 1996 and 1997, which identified gold grades of up to 7.02 g/t Au over 3.70 meters.
Base Metal Discovery Potential
Four drill holes targeted strong conductive zones identified by the 2024 induced polarization (IP) survey. These zones, labeled IP Zones A and B, extend over 500 meters and 900 meters, respectively. Drill intersections revealed massive sulphides, which will undergo assaying for base metals such as copper and zinc. The zones remain open to the northeast, presenting substantial potential for further discoveries.
Extension of Historical Gold Zones
The 2024 drilling program confirmed the continuity of the Upper and Lower Gold Zones, which are near-surface and remain open at depth. The Lower Zone, interpreted as the richer of the two, will be a focal point for future exploration. Historical results in these zones returned values ranging from 0.34 g/t to 7.02 g/t Au across varying widths.
Geophysical Survey Highlights
Detailed magnetic, VLF-EM, and IP surveys outlined several promising conductive and magnetic anomalies associated with the historical gold mineralization. These anomalies suggest the potential extension of known gold horizons and highlight new targets for future exploration.
• IP Zone A: 500 meters in strike length, open to the northeast.
• IP Zone B: 900 meters in strike length, also open to the northeast.
Next Steps
Atacama plans to advance exploration at Tannahill through the following initiatives:
1. In-Fill Drilling: Targeting the Upper and Lower Zones to better define the gold resource and explore their depth extent.
2. Base Metal Assays: Prioritizing the assaying of massive sulphide intersections from the 2024 drill program.
3. Grid Expansion: Extending the survey grid to the northeast for further geophysical investigation of conductive zones.
4. Surface Exploration: Conducting trenching and stripping programs to define the surface extent of gold mineralization and identify additional targets.
Strategic Importance of the Tannahill Property
The Tannahill Gold Property comprises 29 contiguous mining claims spanning 625.5 hectares in Tannahill and Elliott Townships. Located approximately 35 kilometers northeast of Kirkland Lake, the property lies within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the world’s richest gold-producing regions.
Management Perspective
“The strong conductive zones outlined by the IP survey, combined with the historical gold mineralization, make this property a high-priority target for Atacama,” added Grant. “We are excited to advance the Tannahill Property with additional drilling and geophysical surveys, as it offers significant potential for both gold and base metal discoveries.”
Atacama’s commitment to systematic exploration of this underexplored property reinforces its position in the prolific Kirkland Lake gold camp, with an eye on delivering value through resource expansion and discovery.
By Kevin Vincent, Senior Contributing Editor to Mining Life Online and Mining Life & Exploration News
Tags: Northern Ontario / Exploration / Gold / All Articles