In the 14 February announcement we were given the following plan for the Estelle Project.
The First Phase of this summer programs will consist of 50 plus km of Induced Polarization geophysical survey. Observable chargeability anomalies should be seen within the survey data associated with the mapped arsenopyrite domains contained within the alteration envelopes (Figure 1). It is hoped that these chargeability anomalies correspond to higher- grade gold material and would be the focus of the first pass diamond drilling. The first pass will consist of 2500 metres with a second round of 2500 metres if positive results are obtained. The company will also infill with RC drilling where suitable. During a possible Second Phase of exploration later in the summer, focus will be given to mapping and sampling the RPM and Shoeshine occurrences. In addition, the other 15 plus occurrences contained within the claim block will be prospected, sampled, and GPS’d to establish their locations coordinates for future mapping, sampling, and drilling campaigns.
What they get done will all come down to results of individual activities (guiding later activities) and funds available.
Breaking out the detail and adding info from research ...
Oxide North and Oxide South
My thoughts/guesses on timeframes in [brackets]
- Induced Polarization Survey ( up to 50km ). [April to May]
- First Pass Drilling of 2,500m. [June to July]
- Possible second-pass drilling of 2,500m. [August to September]
- May infill with RC Drilling [August to September]
Remember that they need to wait for the spring thaw. They won't be able to do an Induced Polarisation Survey on any snow cover.
Reminder of one of the historic intercepts:
Diagram from: https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20180226/pdf/43rxq7ggfrv51h.pdf
See also: https://www.millrockresources.com/n...related-gold-system-at-estelle-project-alaska
RPM and Shoeshine Prospects
As identified in the announcement a possible second phase of exploration may include follow-up exploration at these prospects, essentially to followup historic exploration results by Millrock Resources.
Both prospects also have strong potential for bulk mineralisation.
Below is the key information I have from research on these prospects. Note that the RPM prospect also has potential for copper but the key thing here is the 102m intercept at 1.04 grams per tonne gold.
Shoeshine is particularly interesting since the following has been identified:
- Sheeted vein swarm ( 1km long x 300m wide, up to 200m deep )
- One vein assayed greater than 200 grams per tonne.
Now the importance of a sheeted-vein swarm is that it has potential for cheap open-pit bulk-mining methods. The gold is dispersed throughout the ore. Essentially it is dug up and dispersed on a heap leach pad, however higher grade portions of the ore can be processed through traditional milling.
RPM
https://mrdata.usgs.gov/ardf/show-ardf.php?ardf_num=TY043
Millrock Resources Inc. conducted a 2012 exploration program consisting of prospecting, soil sampling, rock sampling, and drilling at RPM prospect. RPM is contained in a 3,500 meter long, northwest trending gold anomaly defined by soils assaying greater than 0.010 part per million (ppm) gold including individual samples containing up to 13.25 ppm copper. Copper values are also elevated with the majority of samples returning assays greater than 200 ppm copper. The copper values outline a broader, more dispersed anomaly. In addition to soil sampling, extensive rock chip sampling has been done returning composited sample results up to 90 meters (295 feet) averaging 0.54 gram of gold per tonne (Millrock Resources Inc., 2014).
One drillhole completed in 2012 targeted a mineralized monzonite plug cut by sheeted and stockwork quartz veins. The hole encountered significant gold mineralization returning an intercept of 2.07 grams of gold per tonne over 21.94 meters (72 feet) within a 102.11 meters (335 feet) interval averaging 1.04 grams of gold per tonne with mineralization open in all directions (Millrock Resources Inc., 2012).
Diagram from: https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20180226/pdf/43rxq7ggfrv51h.pdf
See also: https://www.millrockresources.com/news/millrock-discovers-new-gold-zone-at-estelle-project-alaska-2
Shoeshine
https://mrdata.usgs.gov/ardf/show-ardf.php?ardf_num=TY032
In one location, a 300 meter wide sheeted vein swarm has been traced for a strike length of more than 1 kilometer and through a vertical range of up to 200 meters. Individual veins, ranging from several millimeters to 20 centimeters thick, have assayed greater than 200 grams of gold per tonne (Millrock Resources Inc., 2014).
There was considerable work in the area by government and industry as far back as the 1970's that identified mineralization, but the work was more general than prospect specific (see TY019). From 2005 to 2008, several companies (Hidefield Gold Plc. (2008), International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (2007), and Millrock Resources Inc. (2008)) have defined several specific prospects in the area, including the Shoeshine. Millrock explored the deposit as part of its Estelle project, which covers a large block of claims north and south of Mount Estelle. They drilled one hole in 2011; the best intercept was 241.8 meters that averaged 0.24 gram of gold per tonne; this included 8.32 meters that averaged 1.18 grams of gold per tonne and 5.82 meters that average 1.62 grams of gold per tonne (Millrock Resources Inc., 2011).
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