Exploration drilling exceeds expectations
Program significantly increases Prairie Creek's resource tonnage
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Monday, October 5, 2015
NAHANNI BUTTE
Prairie Creek Mine is reporting a 32-per-cent increase in measured and indicated resource tonnage, now that its exploration drilling program has wrapped up.
The drilling program tested for new areas of mineralization toward the north end of the advanced-staged zinc-lead-silver property. In August, mining company Canadian Zinc reported the program had yielded "encouraging results."
At the time, more specific details beyond the discovery of a new quartz vein system were unavailable.
On Sept. 17, the company released the results of its drill program report, which show an increase in resources from 6.6 million tonnes to 8.7 million tonnes.
That includes a 48-per-cent increase in the project's main quartz vein and a 40 per cent increase in stockwork indicated mineral resource.
"The 2015 exploration drilling program has surpassed the objectives of upgrading the resource classifications and expanding the measured and indicated mineral resources," stated Alan Taylor, chief operating officer for Canadian Zinc, in a news release.
That means an increase in the higher-grade tonnages from the main quartz vein, he added.
Taylor was not available for an interview by press time, but previously told News/North the drilling program's discovery of a second quartz vein would add life to the mine.
Prairie Creek Mine separates its mineralization into three groups: the main quartz vein, the strata-bound massive sulphide and the stockwork zone, which is a series of narrow high-grade base metal veins occurring at an oblique angle to the main quartz vein.
In March, Canadian Zinc had measured no resource tonnage in the stockwork zone. Now, they have measured 169,000 tonnes, with 5.3 per cent lead, 12.6 per cent zinc and 116 grams per tonne of silver.
Indicated resource tonnage in the stockwork zone has climbed from 1.4 million tonnes to almost two million tonnes, while inferred resource tonnage increased from 156,000 tonnes to 170,000 tonnes.
As for the main quartz vein, indicated tonnages in March were estimated at just under 2.9 million tonnes, a number which has since skyrocketed to more than 4.2 million tonnes.
Over all three mineralization groups, measured tonnage increased by 203,000 tonnes, while indicated tonnage increased nearly two million tonnes. Inferred resource tonnage decreased by 29,000 tonnes.
According to the report, follow-up drilling will be required.
Canadian Zinc will be using the report to develop an optimized mine plan and a new mineral reserve calculation.
