Maple Gold reports updated Douay mineral resource estimate; indicated resources increase 21% to 511,000 oz au and inferred resources increase 7% to 2,525,000 oz au on limited drilling
Highlights from the 2022 MRE:
- Pit-constrained Indicated Resources increased 21% compared to the RPA 2019 MRE1 to 511,000 ounces ("oz") at an average grade of 1.59 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au") (from 422,000 oz at an average grade of 1.52 g/t Au)
- Pit-constrained Inferred Resources increased slightly compared to the RPA 2019 MRE1 to 2,065,000 oz at an average grade of 0.94 g/t Au (from 2,045,000 oz at an average grade of 0.97 g/t Au)
- Underground Inferred Resources increased 50% compared to the RPA 2019 MRE1 to 460,000 oz at an average grade of 1.68 g/t Au (from 307,000 oz at an average grade of 1.75 g/t Au)
- Initial Indicated Resources in the Nika Zone (30,000 oz at an average grade of 1.13 g/t Au) and the 531 Zone (58,000 oz at an average grade of 2.85 g/t Au), resulting from significant intercepts[2] from the JV’s first drill campaign (see Figure 1 for zone locations)
- Mineralized zones at Douay remain open for expansion and are largely untested below an average vertical drill depth of approximately 350 metres ("m") (see Figure 2)
- Ongoing drilling at Douay is primarily focused on exploration targets in areas with lateral and depth expansion potential that are not part of the 2022 MRE
Discovery Costs
Since the RPA 2019 MRE, the Company and the JV have incurred an aggregate of approximately US$6.1 million in direct exploration expenditures. This equates to a discovery cost of approximately US$23/oz Au for the incremental resources defined in the 2022 MRE.
“We completed two modest drill programs in 2020 amid a global pandemic and followed that up with a roughly 10,000-m maiden JV drill campaign in 2021 that, in line with our expectations, successfully converted Inferred to Indicated ounces and ultimately increased the overall gold endowment at Douay,” commented Matthew Hornor, President and CEO of Maple Gold. “Targeted infill drilling demonstrates the potential for future resource conversion within the currently defined mineralized zones and continues to de-risk the deposit; however, the updated model that underpins the 2022 MRE indicates significant room for growth. Looking ahead, the Company is targeting larger step-out and deeper drilling along the full extent of the Douay resource area.”
The 2022 MRE is based on a total Douay drill database of 674 holes (241,626 m) within the resource area, of which 38 holes (15,647 m) were completed by the Company and the JV between 2019-2021. Approximately 6,200 m of drilling has been completed by the JV since the 2022 MRE and roughly 10,000 m has been approved and permitted for future drilling, with additional step-out and deeper holes planned. For further clarity, Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 drilling results at Douay are not included in the 2022 MRE.
The 2022 MRE was independently prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. ("SLR") and has an effective date of March 17, 2022. A technical report is being prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and will be available on the Company’s website and SEDAR within 45 days of the date of this press release.
Qualified Person
The Mineral Resources disclosed in this press release have been estimated by Ms. Marie-Christine Gosselin, P.Geo., an employee of SLR and independent of Maple Gold Mines. By virtue of her education and relevant experience, Ms. Gosselin is a "Qualified Person" for the purpose of NI 43-101. The Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014). Ms. Gosselin, P.Geo. has read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed Mineral Resource estimates. Further information about key assumptions, parameters, and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resources, as well as legal, political, environmental, or other risks that may affect the Mineral Resource estimate will be included in a NI 43-101 Technical Report to be filed on SEDAR within 45 days following the date of this press release.
The scientific and technical data contained in this press release was reviewed and prepared under the supervision of Mr. Fred Speidel, M. Sc., P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration of Maple Gold. Mr. Speidel is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Speidel has verified the data related to the exploration information disclosed in this press release through his direct participation in the work.
Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC)
The JV implements strict Quality Assurance ("QA") and Quality Control ("QC") protocols at Douay covering the planning and placing of drill holes in the field; drilling and retrieving the NQ-sized drill core; drillhole surveying; core transport to the Douay Camp; core logging by qualified personnel; sampling and bagging of core for analysis; transport of core from site to the Val-d’Or, QC, SGS laboratory; sample preparation for assaying; and analysis, recording and final statistical vetting of results. For a complete description of protocols, please visit the Company’s QA/QC webpage at www.maplegoldmines.com.
About Maple Gold
Maple Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian advanced exploration company in a 50/50 joint venture with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited to jointly advance the district-scale Douay and Joutel gold projects located in Quebec’s prolific Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt. The projects benefit from exceptional infrastructure access and boast ~400 km2 of highly prospective ground including an established gold resource at Douay (SLR 2022) that holds significant expansion potential as well as the past-producing Eagle, Telbel and Eagle West mines at Joutel. In addition, the Company holds an exclusive option to acquire 100% of the Eagle Mine Property.
The district-scale property package also hosts a significant number of regional exploration targets along a 55 km strike length of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone that have yet to be tested through drilling, making the project ripe for new gold and polymetallic discoveries. The Company is well capitalized and is currently focused on carrying out exploration and drill programs to grow resources and make new discoveries to establish an exciting new gold district in the heart of the Abitibi. For more information, please visit www.maplegoldmines.com.
[1] For additional details on the RPA 2019 MRE, please refer to the Company’s press release dated October 24, 2019 which can be found on the Company’s website (www.maplegoldmines.com).
[2] Please refer to the Company’s press releases dated May 26, 2021 and September 9, 2021.
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Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about exploration work and results from current and future work programs. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management’s best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company’s expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.’s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company’s website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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