MIDAS GOLD - HIGH GRADE RESULTS FROM 2017 DRILL PROGRAM, STIBNITE GOLD PROJECT, IDAHO
MGI-17-425 intersects 3.2g/t Au, 36.1g/t Ag & 1.2% Sb (6.2g/t AuEq(2)) over 50.3m
MGI-17-426 intersects 3.2g/t Au, 3.9g/t Ag (3.4g/t AuEq(2)) over 33.5m
and 2.2g/t Au, 3.3g/t Ag & 0.14% Sb (2.6g/t AuEq(2)) over 60.1m
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX / MDRPF:OTCQX) today provided additional results from its 2017 drilling program at the Stibnite Gold Project, Idaho. The drilling program was designed to enhance the mineral resources defined in the December 2014 preliminary feasibility study (“PFS”), and to undertake geotechnical testing of pit walls and infrastructure areas. Positive results from the final two holes in the resource optimization program, completed at the Hangar Flats deposit, are reported below.
Recent Assay Results – Hangar Flats Deposit, Stibnite Gold Project
| Hole-ID | Type | Bearing | Inclination | TD (m) | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m)(1) | Au (g/t)(1) | Ag (g/t) | Sb | AuEq (g/t)(2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGI-17-425 | Core | 254 | -45.5 | 222.5 | 35.6 | 46.2 | 10.6 | 1.39 | 0.9 | 0.01 | 1.4 |
| and | 79.8 | 86.0 | 6.1 | 1.71 | 1.2 | 0.00 | 1.7 | ||||
| and | 107.3 | 157.6 | 50.3 | 3.22 | 36.1 | 1.22 | 6.2 | ||||
| including | 143.9 | 157.6 | 13.7 | 4.75 | 100.2 | 3.33 | 12.7 | ||||
| and | 191.1 | 203.3 | 12.2 | 2.05 | 14.9 | 1.37 | 5.0 | ||||
| MGI-17-426 | Core | 258 | -56.0 | 260.6 | 93.6 | 104.2 | 10.7 | 1.74 | 1.0 | 0.00 | 1.8 |
| and | 144.3 | 177.9 | 33.5 | 3.16 | 3.9 | 0.08 | 3.4 | ||||
| and | 183.1 | 243.2 | 60.1 | 2.23 | 3.3 | 0.14 | 2.6 | ||||
| including | 218.3 | 241.4 | 23.1 | 3.68 | 3.4 | 0.23 | 4.2 | ||||
| MGI-17-427 | Core | 355 | -40.0 | 107.0 | No significant intercepts - geotechnical hole | ||||||
| (1) Gold composites are generated using a 0.5 g/t Au cutoff grade. Antimony composites are generated using a 0.1% Sb cutoff grade. Composites may include intervals below cutoff grades. True widths are expected to be approximately 90-100% of the reported intercept. (2) Gold equivalent grades are reported for illustrative purposes only and are calculated using metal prices of $1200/oz Au, $17/oz Ag and $7600/tonne Sb and do not include recovery, transportation, refining or payability. These factors will vary for each metal, ore type and processing method and will affect the economic importance of the various metals. | |||||||||||
These most recent results comprise assays from two HQ diameter oriented core holes totalling 483 meters (1,585 feet) drilled for infill and mineral resource conversion purposes, and a single HQ diameter core hole totaling 107 meters (351 feet) drilled for geotechnical purposes.
“Our drilling program, initiated in September 2016, continues to provide positive results that support Midas Gold’s goal of enhancing mineral resources prior to feasibility level engineering for the Stibnite Gold Project,” said Stephen Quin, President & CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “These latest intercepts from the Hangar Flats deposit further demonstrate the potential to upgrade inferred mineral resources within the PFS pit limits from a cost centre to a source of revenue. Inferred mineral resources were previously treated as development rock in the PFS project economics, as required under NI43-101. The higher-grade nature of these intercepts should provide an attractive margin if these areas are classified as mineral reserves in the feasibility study currently in process.”
Resource Optimization Drilling
The two infill holes targeted inferred mineral resources within the Hangar Flats PFS pit shell situated adjacent to former Meadow Creek Mine underground workings, which produced approximately 51,000 ounces Au at an average grade of 5.8 g/t Au between 1928 and 1938. The gold-antimony mineralization intersected in MGI-17-425 and -426 is representative of the high-grade, disseminated mineralization occurring adjacent to the underground workings that was left behind by historical operators. These two holes confirmed the continuity and structural controls of the high-grade mineralization inferred in this area, as well as the geometry of the underground levels and stopes. Both infill holes contain higher gold grades than predicted (by the PFS block model) but over slightly narrower widths. Geological models are currently being refined in preparation for updated resource estimates and feasibility study mine planning.
Geotechnical Drilling
In addition to the mineral resource enhancement drilling program, three geotechnical drill holes totalling 489 meters have been completed in the Hangar Flats deposit as part of the ongoing 2017 geotechnical drilling program. The goal of the geotechnical drilling program is to collect additional oriented core data for pit slope optimization and to complete subsurface investigations in proposed infrastructure areas. Drilling subsequently shifted from core to auger drilling for geotechnical purposes, with the auger being used to test and sample unconsolidated material in proposed infrastructure areas.
Details of the previous news releases, the Project and the 2014 PFS can be found filed under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or at www.midasgoldcorp.com.
To view a cross section and the locations of drill holes reported in this news release, please see the figures at the end of this release.
Sampling Procedures, Quality Control and Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at the Stibnite Gold Project were carried out under the supervision of Kent Turner, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Consultant for the Stibnite Gold Project. T&J Enterprises, Inc. of Frenchtown MT was contracted for drilling utilizing an AR-65 core drill with HQ3 core with a diameter of 61.1 mm (2-1/2”). All holes were drill oriented using an ACT III core orientation tool from International Directional Services; LLC of Chandler, AZ. Core was photographed in the core barrel split inner tube, marked for orientation and discontinuities measured at the drill site and then recovery and RQD were measured, and logged for rock lithology, alteration, mineralization, and structure. The core was boxed, photographed in the core box, with sample intervals selected on approximately 1.52 meter (5 foot) intervals, which were then marked for cutting and sampled. One half the core was collected for assay and the second half retained in the core box for archival purposes.
All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.005g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t gold are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 0.5g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t silver are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Antimony is analyzed via a 4-Acid digestion with ICP finish with a 5g/t lower reporting limit. Samples reporting values >500g/t antimony are reanalyzed using XRF fusion. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but differences are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS Chemex in their Reno and Elko, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are inserted at appropriate intervals and used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Stibnite Gold Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries are focused on the exploration and, if warranted, site restoration and development of gold-antimony-silver deposits in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine district of central Idaho that are encompassed by its Stibnite Gold Project.
Forward-Looking Information
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action including actions taken with the goal of improving, expanding and de-risking previously defined mineral resources; the timing and availability of future drill results; potential sites for additional drilling that could result in potential improved confidence, enhanced economic returns and/or extending higher grade areas. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “once”, “estimates”, “potential”, “confirm”, “if” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” “be achieved”. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that pending drill results will be available in a timely manner without undue delay; that areas identified as potential sites for additional drilling will yield results consistent with management’s expectations based on the PFS; any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms; the exchange rates for the U.S. and Canadian currencies will be consistent with the Corporation’s expectations; that the current objectives concerning the Stibnite Gold Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned activities on the Stibnite Gold Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the industry-wide risks and project-specific risks identified in the PFS and summarized above; risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration, including drill results; changes in estimated mineral reserves or mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under US federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration and development activities on the Stibnite Gold Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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