TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2017 /CNW/ - Nighthawk Gold Corp.
("Nighthawk" or the "Company") (TSX: NHK; OTCQX:
MIMZF) is pleased to report assay results for nine holes from
its wholly owned Colomac Gold Project located within its Indin Lake
Gold Property, the Northwest Territories,
Canada.
As the 2017 exploration program nears completion, drilling
continues to expand high-grade gold Zone 1.5, and confirms the
presence of strong mineralization within the gap between Zone 1.5
and its neighbouring Zone 2.0 to the south (see Table 1; Figures 1
to 4). Amalgamation of these two zones would outline a domain
of continuous gold mineralization from surface to 600 metres at
depth and upwards of 400 metres in strike and remains open. Latest
drilling to depth has delivered a three-fold expansion of the
mineralized true width of Zone 1.5 over previously reported
shallower intercepts. This magnitude of increase opens vast new
areas of the sill for exploration. Just over 13,000 metres of
the 26,000 metre program have now been reported with all holes
intersecting gold mineralization.
Colomac Drilling Highlights:
Zone 1.5
- Hole C17-15B intersected 77.85 metres of 1.99 gpt Au (44.00
metres true width), including 9.80 metres of 4.19 gpt Au, and 4.95
metres of 7.50 gpt Au. Hole C17-15C intersected 235.05 metres of
0.99 gpt Au (88.00 metres true width), including 29.05 metres of
1.43 gpt Au, and a separate 13.25 metres of 2.06 gpt Au, extending
Zone 1.5 an additional 200 metres to depth beyond previous drill
intercepts;
- Hole C17-15C, the steepest of three holes drilled on this
section, intersected mineralization at depth over a 155 metre true
width, a three-fold increase in true width over previous reported
widths of up to 50 metres in shallower drilling;
- A 40o rake to the higher-grade portion of the zone
was previously modeled (see press release dated August 24, 2017) outlining the orientation of the
high-grade mineralization to depth. C17-15 series holes appear to
have tracked behind the plunge of the high-grade mineralized core,
instead intersecting lower grade material to depth but over greatly
expanded true widths, opening vast new areas of the sill for
exploration;
- Current drilling has expanded Zone 1.5 by an additional 250
metres to a vertical depth of 600 metres, true width up to 155
metres, and tracked continuous mineralization for upwards of 400
metres along strike by linking Zone 1.5 to the northern section of
Zone 2.0. The continued expansion of Zone 1.5 remains a focus.
Zone 2.0
- Hole C17-11B intersected 104.10 metres of 1.58 gpt Au (50.00
metres true width), including 24.60 metres of 3.56 gpt Au and 5.65
metres of 7.46 gpt Au. Hole C17-11 intersected 82.65 metres of 0.93
gpt Au (45.00 metres true width), including 9.60 metres of 2.32 gpt
Au, and a separate 6.30 metres of 3.27 gpt Au. Hole C17-11C
intersected 78.60 metres of 0.89 gpt Au (24.00 metres true width),
including 39.90 metres of 1.13 gpt Au, and 6.60 metres of 2.36 gpt
Au;
- Holes C17-11, C17-11B, and C17-11C intersected broad zones of
continuous gold mineralization to new depths below Zone 2.0 and
have continued infilling the resource gap between Zone 2.0 and Zone
1.5, supporting the unification of the zones into a much larger
mineralized domain over 400 m in strike and open.
Note: All assays are uncut (see Table 1)
Dr. Michael Byron, President and
CEO commented, "Broad intercepts of continuous gold mineralization
continue to be a dominant characteristic of the Colomac deposit.
High-grade zones like Zone 1.5 develop in regions of the sill where
disruption (fracturing) of the host rock is greatest, providing an
optimized depositional environment for gold. Given the
massive mineralized state of the sill, it's not surprising that
sites representing enhanced fluid pathways for mineralization may
host higher-grade domains. The identification and drilling of these
targets remains our focus at Colomac.
"Today's results confirm that Zone 1.5 continues uninterrupted
to depth, as it has been extended another 250 metres to 600 metres
vertical where its true width is over 150 metres. This
represents an astonishing three-fold increase relative to widths at
shallower levels. Recent drilling has also established the linkage
between Zone 1.5 and the northern portion of Zone 2.0, where
continuous mineralization has been traced more than 400 metres in
strike. The continued expansion of this part of the sill
offers exciting new opportunities for discovery of additional
high-grade shoots. Results to date have highlighted the robust and
pervasive nature of Colomac mineralization as well as its capacity
to host distinct higher-grade gold zones.
"Nighthawk remains committed to pursuing these opportunities in
conjunction with our efforts in advancing our many exciting
regional deposits and prospects that showcase the Indin Lake area
as a burgeoning Gold Camp."
Table 1. Colomac Drill Results (uncut)
Zone
|
Hole
ID
|
From
(metres)
|
To
(metres)
|
Core Length
(metres)*
|
Au
(gpt)
|
2.0
|
C17-11
|
189.45
|
272.10
|
82.65
|
0.93
|
|
including
|
197.10
|
238.20
|
41.10
|
1.08
|
|
including
|
197.10
|
205.60
|
8.50
|
1.23
|
|
including
|
197.10
|
199.90
|
2.80
|
1.86
|
|
including
|
228.60
|
238.20
|
9.60
|
2.32
|
|
including
|
253.70
|
266.50
|
12.80
|
1.83
|
|
including
|
255.80
|
262.10
|
6.30
|
3.27
|
|
including
|
258.80
|
262.10
|
3.30
|
4.80
|
2.0
|
C17-11B
|
222.80
|
326.90
|
104.10
|
1.58
|
|
including
|
222.80
|
230.70
|
7.90
|
1.93
|
|
including
|
222.80
|
227.10
|
4.30
|
2.60
|
|
including
|
261.30
|
302.20
|
40.90
|
2.70
|
|
including
|
276.00
|
300.60
|
24.60
|
3.56
|
|
including
|
278.25
|
293.10
|
14.85
|
4.80
|
|
including
|
278.25
|
283.90
|
5.65
|
7.46
|
|
including
|
288.70
|
293.10
|
4.40
|
5.70
|
2.0
|
C17-11C
|
262.80
|
270.70
|
7.90
|
1.33
|
|
including
|
264.10
|
266.55
|
2.45
|
3.15
|
|
|
287.00
|
291.30
|
4.30
|
1.24
|
|
|
320.10
|
331.50
|
11.40
|
1.05
|
|
including
|
328.80
|
331.50
|
2.70
|
2.50
|
|
|
379.00
|
457.60
|
78.60
|
0.89
|
|
including
|
417.70
|
457.60
|
39.90
|
1.13
|
|
including
|
417.70
|
425.10
|
7.40
|
1.88
|
|
including
|
417.70
|
420.50
|
2.80
|
3.62
|
|
including
|
451.00
|
457.60
|
6.60
|
2.36
|
|
including
|
455.40
|
457.60
|
2.20
|
5.60
|
1.5
|
C17-13
|
277.40
|
278.10
|
0.70
|
1.85
|
1.5
|
C17-13B
|
271.00
|
296.10
|
25.10
|
1.05
|
|
including
|
285.70
|
296.10
|
10.40
|
1.65
|
|
including
|
285.70
|
287.70
|
2.00
|
3.62
|
|
including
|
293.00
|
296.10
|
3.10
|
2.11
|
|
|
358.50
|
362.10
|
3.60
|
0.84
|
1.5
|
C17-14
|
191.75
|
208.40
|
16.65
|
1.35
|
|
including
|
191.75
|
200.00
|
8.25
|
1.99
|
|
including
|
191.75
|
197.00
|
5.25
|
2.44
|
|
including
|
206.50
|
208.40
|
1.90
|
2.94
|
|
|
245.75
|
277.00
|
31.25
|
1.21
|
|
including
|
245.75
|
247.00
|
1.25
|
3.78
|
|
including
|
266.50
|
277.00
|
10.50
|
2.62
|
|
including
|
266.50
|
273.20
|
6.70
|
3.63
|
|
including
|
266.50
|
268.75
|
2.25
|
5.51
|
1.5
|
C17-15
|
255.50
|
261.25
|
5.75
|
3.35
|
|
including
|
255.50
|
259.15
|
3.65
|
5.13
|
|
|
265.75
|
272.90
|
7.15
|
1.82
|
|
including
|
271.75
|
272.90
|
1.15
|
9.43
|
|
|
282.90
|
285.90
|
3.00
|
2.90
|
|
|
303.00
|
307.45
|
4.45
|
1.42
|
|
|
314.75
|
327.10
|
12.34
|
0.59
|
1.5
|
C17-15B
|
285.40
|
363.25
|
77.85
|
1.99
|
|
including
|
285.40
|
295.20
|
9.80
|
4.19
|
|
including
|
290.25
|
295.20
|
4.95
|
7.50
|
|
including
|
293.00
|
295.20
|
2.20
|
15.23
|
|
including
|
311.25
|
321.90
|
10.65
|
2.64
|
|
including
|
316.80
|
321.90
|
5.10
|
4.69
|
|
including
|
316.80
|
319.70
|
2.90
|
7.37
|
|
including
|
330.75
|
342.65
|
11.90
|
2.19
|
|
including
|
330.75
|
339.30
|
8.55
|
2.57
|
|
including
|
330.75
|
333.70
|
2.95
|
3.91
|
|
including
|
350.85
|
363.25
|
12.40
|
3.48
|
|
including
|
356.00
|
363.25
|
7.25
|
5.40
|
|
including
|
362.00
|
363.25
|
1.25
|
28.32
|
1.5
|
C17-15C
|
466.40
|
468.40
|
2.00
|
2.74
|
|
|
568.20
|
803.25
|
235.05
|
0.99
|
|
including
|
568.20
|
628.15
|
59.95
|
1.21
|
|
including
|
599.10
|
628.15
|
29.05
|
1.43
|
|
including
|
599.10
|
612.95
|
13.85
|
1.84
|
|
including
|
607.85
|
612.95
|
5.10
|
3.05
|
|
including
|
619.75
|
628.15
|
8.40
|
1.50
|
|
including
|
644.85
|
692.55
|
47.70
|
1.36
|
|
including
|
644.85
|
657.25
|
12.40
|
1.82
|
|
including
|
652.75
|
658.75
|
6.00
|
2.58
|
|
including
|
655.75
|
658.75
|
3.00
|
4.53
|
|
including
|
670.35
|
696.40
|
26.05
|
1.51
|
|
including
|
679.30
|
692.55
|
13.25
|
2.06
|
|
including
|
679.30
|
682.25
|
2.95
|
4.32
|
|
including
|
687.15
|
689.70
|
2.55
|
3.19
|
|
including
|
751.90
|
762.00
|
10.10
|
1.80
|
|
including
|
751.90
|
756.25
|
4.35
|
2.64
|
|
including
|
780.85
|
785.75
|
4.90
|
3.10
|
|
including
|
821.75
|
825.00
|
3.25
|
2.43
|
|
including
|
843.00
|
859.75
|
16.75
|
1.50
|
|
including
|
852.00
|
859.75
|
7.75
|
2.35
|
|
|
906.65
|
915.25
|
8.60
|
1.26
|
*
Lengths are reported as core lengths. True widths vary depending
on drill hole dip; most holes are laid out to intersect the sill
close to perpendicular therefore true widths are approximately 80%
of core lengths.
|
Colomac Zone 1.5
Holes C17-13 and 13B were laid out to test a disrupted portion
of the sill that marks the southern boundary of the high-grade core
to Zone 1.5 with the northern region of Zone 2.0 (Figure 1). The
lack of mineralized intercepts is believed to be due to the tight
faulting that marks this translational structure. High-grade
zones like Zone 1.5 may lie immediately lateral to these structural
offsets in the sills, thus representing priority drill targets.
Hole C17-14 was collared to address an open area in the sill
below hole C17-07, and between C17-07 and 07B (see press release
dated July 13, 2017). It successfully
infilled the void returning 16.65 metres of 1.35 gpt Au, including
5.25 metres of 2.44 gpt Au, with a lower downhole intercept of
31.25 metres of 1.21 gpt Au, including 6.70 metres of 3.63 gpt
Au. The trajectory of the hole suggests it intersected the
sill just below the northeast plunging higher grade core to the
zone.
Three holes were drilled from a common setup to test the
north-central area of Zone 1.5 to depth (Figure 1). Holes
C17-15, 15B, and 15C all returned sizable intercepts with C17-15C,
the steepest hole, returning a continuous cut of 235.05 metres
grading 0.99 gpt Au, with separate internal intercepts of 13.25
metres of 2.06 gpt Au, and 7.75 metres of 2.35 gpt Au. Figure
3 shows the trace of the hole in extending the zone to new depths;
a massive 250 metre vertical extension to 600 metres (Figure 4), as
well as tripling the zone's true width from 50 metres to 155
metres. Additional work is needed in this area to better
understand the cause of this scaler change in mineralized true
width, but such a dramatic increase could be due to features
disrupting the sill, which is also believed to be the key factor in
high-grade zone development.
Although continuous mineralization was traced to great depth,
higher-grade intercepts typical of the core of Zone 1.5 are
lacking, and can be best explained that the hole traversed the area
west and behind the higher-grade plunging core of the zone.
The two other C17-15 series holes were drilled at shallower dips
and appear to have clipped areas closer to, yet behind, the zone's
plunging higher grade central corridor, as seen by hole C17-15B
intercepts of 77.85 metres of 1.99 gpt Au, including 9.80 metres of
4.19 gpt Au, and including 4.95 metres of 7.50 gpt Au, with a
deeper cut of 7.25 metres of 5.40 gpt Au.
Over the course of the 2017 program, drilling has delivered a
100% success rate in intersecting gold mineralization at Colomac,
and accordingly in expanding mineralization along strike, over new
widths, and to new depths. There can be little doubt in the
vitality of the gold system in place, and accordingly, in the
discoveries that await as the Company continues to advance its
aggressive exploration strategies for Colomac and its many regional
assets.
Colomac Zone 2.0
Holes C17-11, 11B, and 11C were drilled 50 metres south of
C17-10 and 10B (Figure 1, see press release dated August 24, 2017), to continue exploring the
possible merger of Zone 1.5 with the northern portion of Zone 2.0
into a much larger mineralized domain, and to search for additional
high-grade shoots. All three C17-11 series holes intersected broad
zones of gold mineralization (Figure 2), including new regions
below the Zone 2.0 open pit to a vertical depth of 475 metres;
confirming that mineralization continues uninterrupted to depth and
that continuity between Zone 2.0 and Zone 1.5 exists for more than
400 metres in strike and open (Figure 4). The middle hole,
C17-11B, returned the best intercept of 104.10 metres of 1.58 gpt
Au, including 24.60 metres of 3.56 gpt Au, 14.85 metres of 4.80 gpt
Au.
Drilling within the gap continues to support the presence of
broad and laterally continuous regions of gold mineralization
across the boundary between Zone 1.5 and Zone 2.0, linking them
into a much larger domain hosting internal high-grade shoots.
This area remains a priority target given its dimensions and
localized high-grade intercepts.
Technical Information
Nighthawk has implemented a quality-control program to comply
with best practices in the sampling and analysis of drill
core. Drill core samples were transported in security-sealed
bags for analyses at ALS Chemex Assay Laboratory in Vancouver, BC ("ALS Chemex"). ALS Chemex
is an ISO 9001:2000 certified laboratory. Pulp and metallics
assaying for gold was conducted on the entire pulverized
sample.
As part of its QA/QC program, Nighthawk inserts external gold
standards (low to high grade) and blanks every 20 samples in
addition to the standards, blanks, and pulp duplicates inserted by
ALS Chemex.
About Nighthawk
Nighthawk is a Canadian-based gold exploration company with 100%
ownership of a district scale land position within the Indin Lake
Greenstone Belt, located approximately 200 kilometres north of
Yellowknife, Northwest
Territories, Canada. Nighthawk is focused on advancing the
Colomac Gold Project with a current inferred resource of 2.1
million ounces of gold (39.8 million tonnes at an average grade of
1.64 grams per tonne), as well as advancing its other regional gold
deposits and showings within this Archean gold camp.
The Company has an experienced and dedicated team and is well
funded to complete its goals and objectives over the next 18-24
months.
Qualified Person
Dr. Michael J. Byron, Ph.D.,
P.Geo., President & Chief Executive Officer of Nighthawk, who
is the "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101 for this project,
has reviewed and approved of the technical disclosure contained in
this news release. Please refer to NI 43-101 technical report
"Technical Report and mineral resource estimate update on the
Colomac Property of the Indin Lake Project", dated June 17, 2013, as filed under the company's
profile on www.sedar.com.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange has neither reviewed nor
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news
release.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within
the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to,
information with respect to the Company's drilling program,
exploration plans, and the timing and results thereof. Generally,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", or "does
not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or
"believes" or variations of such words and phrases or state that
certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would",
"might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved".
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and
estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is
based on a number of assumptions and is subject to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of
Nighthawk to be materially different from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking information, including risks
associated with the exploration, development and mining such as
economic factors as they effect exploration, future commodity
prices, changes in foreign exchange and interest rates, actual
results of current exploration activities, government regulation,
political or economic developments, environmental risks, permitting
timelines, capital expenditures, operating or technical
difficulties in connection with development activities, employee
relations, the speculative nature of gold exploration and
development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of
grades of reserves, contests over title to properties, and changes
in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as
those risk factors discussed in Nighthawk's annual information form
for the year ended December 31, 2016,
available on www.sedar.com. Although Nighthawk has attempted
to identify important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in forward-looking
information, there may be other factors that cause results not to
be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. Nighthawk does not
undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in
accordance with applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Nighthawk Gold Corp.