Emperor Metals Intercepts 11.7m of 5.63 g/t gold at Duquesne West Gold Project

Emperor Metals Inc. is pleased to announce initial assay results from its summer 2023 drilling campaign at the Duquesne West Gold Project. Drilling continues and, with the recent completion of hole DQ23-06, it has reached 5,500 metres of the planned +8,000 metres.

Highlights

• 11.7 metres (m) of 5.6 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au), including 5.8 m of 8.0 g/t Au in DQ23-01,
• Partial assays for holes DQ23-01 and DQ23-02 have increased confidence to add ounces,
• Potential to grow the Historical Resource of 727,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 5.42 g/t Au.1,2,
• The grade and thickness seen in DQ23-01 exceed the average thickness and grade of the deposit, exhibiting bulk minable widths and grade continuity within the zone and with other intercepts of mineralization, which suggests there may be potential for future mining.

CEO John Florek commented:

"We are situated in a 'Tier 1 District,' with convenient access to multiple mills and infrastructure within a mere half-hour drive. This proximity holds immense promise for the future economics of our deposit. Our strategic location near the Rouyn-Noranda mining district of Quebec also opens up numerous possibilities for further growth and exploration at the edges of the high-grade Duquesne West gold deposit.

"The 2023 drilling program is focused primarily on adding ounces to our model by targeting data gaps along plunge lines internal and external to the deposit. Generally, we are seeing an increase in grades and thickness from what our model was predicting. This confirms that enhancing the model's grade is possible by targeting plunge lines which control mineralization. This is expected to yield a more robust grade and footprint, which could enhance future resource estimation and valuation of the Duquesne West deposit.

"Multiple zones are providing multiple opportunities to delineate ounces. For instance, the grade and thickness seen in DQ23-01 exceeds the average thickness and grade of the deposit. Most importantly it is continuous with other intercepts of mineralization and shows no internal dilution, which could be ideal for developing future mining scenarios.

"The large interval of low-grade, continuous mineralization at hole DQ23-02 is similar to intervals reported at the nearby Goldex mining operation owned by Agnico Eagle (Average Grade of 1.62 g/t gold for contained gold of 3.3 Moz Au; per Agnico Website). With the existing regional infrastructure, there is a unique opportunity to examine underground low-grade bulk tonnage scenarios at Duquesne West. This encourages examination of the near surface open-pit potential above a high-grade gold deposit, which was never properly considered by previous explorers. We intend to examine the potential for defining a bulk tonnage, near surface, open-pittable gold deposit by assaying available historical core that was previously un-assayed. The emergence of various low-cost potential mining scenarios suggests that a path to a multimillion-ounce potential may exist at Duquesne West."

Summary of Initial Drill Results with Core Photos, AI Targeting Model, Cross Section of DQ23-01

Due to multiple zones of mineralization, there are several promising drill targets for the initial program. By utilizing one drill rig, the exploration team has had sufficient time to consider and adapt to new and exciting or unexpected results, like those seen in hole DQ23-02.

DQ23-01 was an infill drillhole designed to intersect a lower grade area within an identified higher grade shoot. It intersected 50% higher grade (11.7 m of 5.6 g/t Au) than predicted by the model, which will help to increase the local grade and add ounces internally to the deposit.

DQ23-02 was a step-out hole at a core depth of 540.25 m on the eastern margin of a mineralized zone, with an intersection (10.65 m of 3.97 g/t Au) that is expected to extend the footprint of mineralization. The grades and thickness intersected were as expected. 

Lab results for other mineralized zones intersected in holes DQ23-01 and DQ23-02 are in progress. Partial assays for initial results at holes DQ23-01 and DQ23-02 have increased confidence to add ounces to the Duquesne West deposit. 

In addition to the exciting grade and robust thickness of hole DQ23-01 (11.7 m of 5.6 including 5.8 m of 8.0 g/t Au), two zones of mineralization were encountered in hole DQ23-02, including an unexpected broad, continuous zone of mineralization at the bottom of DQ23-02 with assays yielding 25.0 m of 1.69 g/t Au. This hole will be recollared to drill it deeper; results are pending. 

DQ23-02 also had an unexpected intersection (25.0 m of 1.69 g/t Au) at a core depth of 814 m that was lateral to an identified quartz-feldspar porphyry dike swarm, with dikes ranging from a few metres to tens of metres. Incomplete historical sampling was performed on nearby drillholes. This hole adds an intriguing new scenario to the potential opportunities for enhancing the resource potential at Duquesne West.

Tags: Quebec / Exploration / Gold / All Articles