Western Exploration Inc. provided additional assay results for three holes from the Phase 1 drill program at Doby George, one of three main mineral deposits located at the Company's wholly-owned Aura project, located in Elko County, Nevada (the "Aura Project"). DRILL HIGHLIGHTS are: DGC791 intersected 74.22 meters of 1.71 g/t Au, including 30.78 meters of 2.48 g/t Au; DGC792 intersected 40.39 meters of 2.18 g/t AuFA; and DGC793 intersected 26.98 meters of 2.12 g/t Au and 19.20 meters of 1.46 g/t Au. DRILL PROGRAM DETAILS are: The Phase 1 drill program was comprised of nine large diameter (PQ) core holes which were completed between July 26, 2022, and September 12, 2022. The drill holes were located at eight different drill sites for a total of 1,138 meters at the Doby George deposit. The purpose of the Phase 1 drill program was to evaluate areas within, and adjacent to, the current resource boundary to: validate and delineate current mineral resources; locally assess for the expansion potential and structural controls on mineralization; provide samples for metallurgical test work to outline leach kinematics, as well as mineralized material and waste rock characteristics; and expand upon geotechnical studies through additional test work.
Hole DGC791 was completed in the West Ridge resource area of Doby George, which accounts for approximately 82% of the current mineral resource estimate at Doby George. Holes DGC792 and DGC793 were drilled in the Daylight deposit area of Doby George.
All three West Ridge holes released YTD, including DGC791 in this release, show robust AuCN/AuFA ratios in excess of 90%. Holes DGC792 and DGC793, drilled in the Daylight deposit, show more variable AuCN/AuFA ratios (in line with legacy metallurgical reports) but still average between 71 and 83% for the three reported intervals. Once assays results have been received for all nine drill holes completed in connection with the Phase 1 drill program, McClelland labs will commence certain heap leach and column leach test work with the previously crushed and assayed samples. The Company expects to receive the results of all metallurgical test work at the start of Second Quarter 2023.