Coastal Gold Reports Positive Assay Results from Tailings Vibracore Drilling at Hope Brook Gold Project
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired - Nov 27, 2013) - Coastal Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:COD) (OTCQX:COGGF) (FRANKFURT:CY41) (the "Company") reports that it has received assay results from the recently completed tailings vibracore drilling program at its 100% owned Hope Brook Gold Project in southwestern Newfoundland. Both tailings ponds 1 and 2 were tested with complete assay results shown in Table 1 and hole locations with results for gold shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Highlights include:
Tailings Pond 1 (all widths are true thickness)
- 1.73 g Au/t* and 0.12% copper (Cu) over 2.39 metres (m) from Hole P8
- 1.31 g Au/t and 0.18% Cu over 4.20m from Hole P13
- 1.20 g Au/t and 0.15% Cu over 3.55m from Hole P6
- 1.32 g Au/t and 0.13% Cu over 1.17m from Hole P3
- 1.22 g Au/t and 0.08% Cu over 1.21m from Hole P18
- 1.21 g Au/t and 0.06% Cu over 1.41m from Hole P28
- 1.15 g Au/t and 0.13% Cu over 4.38m from Hole P10
- 1.00 g Au/t and 0.18% Cu over 4.83m from Hole P9
Tailings Pond 2
- 1.40 g Au/t and 0.08% Cu over 3.29m from Hole P47
- 1.12 g Au/t and 0.08% Cu over 3.77m from Hole P52
- 1.08 g Au/t and 0.05% Cu over 2.73m from Hole P56
- 0.98 g Au/t and 0.11% Cu over 5.05m from Hole P64
* grams gold per tonne |
Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., President & CEO of Coastal Gold commented: "These results have confirmed the results of the initial piston core sampling program in 2012 (see news releases dated March 29, 2012 and April 24, 2012) and indicate that the tailings contain wide spread gold and copper mineralization significantly above the historic reported tailings grade. We are moving forward with a NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for the tailings based on these new drilling results."
Allan Polk, P.Eng., Project Manager for the Hope Brook Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), said: "For the purposes of the PEA, we are now considering the existing tailings material as potential mill feed to either supplement the run of mine material or to provide stand-alone early feed for the project. Both of these options have the secondary benefit of allowing an optimization of the material storage balance for the project. Some metallurgical testwork has been done to investigate the potential of recovering metals from the tailings and more has been initiated as a result of these positive tailings assay results."
As previously reported (see press release dated October 21, 2013) a total of 73 vibracore drill holes totalling 155 metres were completed on an approximate 100-metre square grid over the two tailings ponds, designed to evaluate the full thickness of the tailings and provide sufficient data to support a NI-43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate. Fifty-one of the 73 drill holes successfully sampled tailings with a thickness ranging from 0.3 to 6.0 metres and an average thickness of 3.0 metres. The remainder of the holes (22) encountered bedrock in areas where the tailings ponds where not filled. The previous shallow piston core sampling program indicated that the tailings contain an average grade of approximately 1.0 g Au/t (see news releases dated March 29, 2012 and April 24, 2012).
Drill holes from Tailings Pond 1 are generally higher grade. This is likely because most of the tailings in Pond 1 are reported to be from the earlier years of production when the historic mill lacked a copper flotation circuit for production of a copper concentrate hence had lower reported overall recovery. Most of the tailings in Pond 2 are reported to have been from the latter years of production when the plant recovery was higher due to the addition of the copper flotation circuit.
Tailings Pond 1
Tailings material with an average thickness of 3.12 metres was recovered from 25 of a total 29 vibracore drill holes at Tailings Pond 1. Assay results from the drill holes range from 0.57 g Au/t and 0.08 % Cu over a true thickness of 3.84 metres (hole P21) up to 1.73 g Au/t and 0.12% Cu over a true thickness of 2.39 metres (hole P8).
Tailings Pond 2
Tailings material with an average thickness of 2.94 metres was recovered from 26 of a total 44 vibracore drill holes at Tailings Pond 2. Assay results from the drill holes range from 0.44 g Au/t and 0.12% Cu over a true thickness of 3.33 metres (hole P73) up to 1.40 g Au/t and 0.08% Cu over a true thickness of 3.29 metres (hole P47). Drilling confirmed that the eastern half of this tailings pond has essentially no tailings.
Table 1: Summary of Assay Results for Vibracore Drilling Program, Hope Brook | |||||
Drill hole | Easting | Northing | Au g/t | Cu % | Width (m) |
Tailings Pond 1 | |||||
P1 | 418615 | 5286965 | 0.77 | 0.10% | 3.42 |
P2 | 418671 | 5286949 | 0.78 | 0.10% | 4.19 |
P3 | 418815 | 5286739 | 1.32 | 0.13% | 1.17 |
P4 | 418859 | 5286672 | 1.04 | 0.12% | 2.23 |
P5 | 418894 | 5286593 | 0.61 | 0.10% | 3.93 |
P6 | 418602 | 5286872 | 1.20 | 0.15% | 3.55 |
P7 | 418657 | 5286787 | 0.73 | 0.17% | 4.18 |
P8 | 418769 | 5286625 | 1.73 | 0.12% | 2.39 |
P9 | 418541 | 5286786 | 1.00 | 0.18% | 4.83 |
P10 | 418589 | 5286707 | 1.15 | 0.13% | 4.38 |
P11 | 418657 | 5286621 | 0.97 | 0.14% | 3.25 |
P12 | 418711 | 5286534 | 0.75 | 0.08% | 0.66 |
P13 | 418765 | 5286457 | 1.31 | 0.18% | 4.20 |
P14 | 418501 | 5286654 | 0.99 | 0.18% | 3.07 |
P15 | 418559 | 5286574 | 0.71 | 0.08% | 0.92 |
P16 | 418616 | 5286492 | no sample* | ||
P17 | 418676 | 5286414 | 0.93 | 0.09% | 3.76 |
P18 | 418446 | 5286552 | 1.22 | 0.08% | 1.21 |
P19 | 418501 | 5286479 | no sample* | ||
P20 | 418562 | 5286403 | 0.79 | 0.08% | 1.33 |
P21 | 418615 | 5286320 | 0.57 | 0.08% | 3.84 |
P22 | 418391 | 5286465 | 1.28 | 0.07% | 1.81 |
P23 | 418451 | 5286381 | no sample* | ||
P24 | 418505 | 5286304 | 0.81 | 0.06% | 5.14 |
P25 | 418337 | 5286411 | no sample* | ||
P26 | 418431 | 5286302 | 0.85 | 0.07% | 5.97 |
P27 | 418431 | 5286235 | 0.57 | 0.09% | 2.31 |
P28 | 418269 | 5286342 | 1.21 | 0.06% | 1.41 |
P29 | 418331 | 5286287 | 0.65 | 0.08% | 4.87 |
Tailings Pond 2 | |||||
P30 | 419951 | 5285410 | no sample* | ||
P31 | 419778 | 5285520 | no sample* | ||
P32 | 419844 | 5285438 | no sample* | ||
P33 | 419661 | 5285530 | no sample* | ||
P34 | 419710 | 5285449 | no sample* | ||
P35 | 419464 | 5285601 | no sample* | ||
P36 | 419538 | 5285532 | no sample* | ||
P37 | 419585 | 5285457 | no sample* | ||
P38 | 419450 | 5285475 | no sample* | ||
P39 | 419494 | 5285421 | 0.80 | 0.14% | 0.56 |
P40 | 419552 | 5285339 | no sample* | ||
P41 | 419392 | 5285542 | no sample* | ||
P42 | 419248 | 5285541 | 0.97 | 0.07%` | 1.90 |
P43 | 419329 | 5285487 | no sample* | ||
P44 | 419386 | 5285406 | no sample* | ||
P45 | 419443 | 5285320 | no sample* | ||
P46 | 419499 | 5285237 | no sample* | ||
P47 | 419172 | 5285572 | 1.40 | 0.08% | 3.29 |
P48 | 419161 | 5285491 | 0.77 | 0.08% | 4.53 |
P49 | 419252 | 5285419 | 0.76 | 0.09% | 0.62 |
P50 | 419368 | 5285249 | no sample* | ||
P51 | 419424 | 5285173 | no sample* | ||
P52 | 419116 | 5285430 | 1.12 | 0.08% | 3.77 |
P53 | 419190 | 5285333 | 0.63 | 0.09% | 3.40 |
P54 | 419304 | 5285174 | 0.63 | 0.07% | 1.61 |
P55 | 419350 | 5285118 | 0.49 | 0.10% | 3.26 |
P56 | 419067 | 5285347 | 1.08 | 0.05% | 2.73 |
P57 | 419126 | 5285246 | 0.68 | 0.06% | 4.60 |
P58 | 419186 | 5285166 | 0.64 | 0.09% | 1.28 |
P59 | 419245 | 5285081 | 0.62 | 0.07% | 3.81 |
P60 | 419301 | 5285000 | 0.64 | 0.08% | 2.70 |
P61 | 418995 | 5285266 | 0.81 | 0.04% | 3.40 |
P62 | 419049 | 5285182 | 0.92 | 0.06% | 1.09 |
P63 | 419110 | 5285101 | 0.81 | 0.04% | 2.26 |
P64 | 419166 | 5285018 | 0.98 | 0.11% | 5.05 |
P65 | 419226 | 5284940 | no sample* | ||
P66 | 419012 | 5285067 | 0.67 | 0.05% | 3.60 |
P67 | 419072 | 5284984 | 0.61 | 0.04% | 2.87 |
P68 | 419128 | 5284925 | 0.54 | 0.13% | 3.12 |
P69 | 419187 | 5284821 | 0.69 | 0.08% | 3.61 |
P70 | 418958 | 5285001 | 0.61 | 0.05% | 3.34 |
P71 | 419035 | 5284896 | 0.71 | 0.08% | 1.50 |
P72 | 419108 | 5284829 | 0.69 | 0.09% | 5.32 |
P73 | 419168 | 5284732 | 0.44 | 0.12% | 3.33 |
Au = gold; Cu = copper; Width = true thickness; g/t = grams per tonne; %percent |
*no sample. Hole for which "no sample" is reported were drill locations where no or very little tailings were present and no sample could be recovered. |
ABOUT COASTAL GOLD
Coastal Gold is a Canadian mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "COD". Coastal Gold's flag ship property is the Hope Brook Gold Project located in southwestern Newfoundland, which has 12.4 million tonnes at 1.48 g Au/t for 590,000 ounces of indicated mineral resources and 8.2 million tonnes at 2.07 g Au/t for 548,000 ounces of inferred mineral resources (see technical report entitled "Updated Mineral Resource Estimate Technical Report, Hope Brook Gold Project, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada", effective October 1, 2012). Coastal Gold is currently completing an updated mineral resource estimate which will form the basis for a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) which is also in progress.
SAMPLING, ASSAYING AND QUALITY CONTROL
The vibracore drilling program is a low impact coring method that allows for recovery of unconsolidated sediments using a four inch diameter aluminum core tube. The tailings core were logged, photographed and then split in half with one-half sent to the laboratory for analysis and the other half retained and stored on site. All core samples were prepared and assayed at ALS Minerals, with sample preparation done in Sudbury and analytical work done in North Vancouver. All locations of ALS Minerals are ISO 9001:2000 certified. The entire sample received was dried, weighed and crushed to = 70% passing 1mm. A sample split of up to 1000g is then pulverized to = 85% passing 75 microns (200 mesh) to produce a homogenized sample. A 50g aliquot is used for fire assaying with an atomic absorption (AA) finish to determine gold concentration. Copper was analyzed using a four acid digestion ICP (inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry) method. Internal quality control includes the use of blanks, duplicates and standards in every batch of samples. The Company also conducts internal check assaying using certified external reference standards and blanks. Regular external check assays are performed at a second certified Canadian commercial laboratory. Coastal Gold also inserts external reference standards as a further external check.
QUALIFIED PERSONS
Dr. John Gale, P.Eng., President of Fracflow Consultants Inc., supervised the vibracore drilling program. Dr. Gale is an independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. David Copeland, P.Geo., Chief Geologist, and Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., President & CEO of Coastal Gold, both qualified persons as defined by NI 43-101, have reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the exploration prospects with respect to the Company's project, the Company's future plans and the estimation of mineral resources. 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 subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; future prices of mineral prices; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and shortages and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company 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 statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
To view Figures 1 and 2, please visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/914086I.pdf
Contact
Coastal Gold Corp.
Rob Hopkins, Manager, Investor Relations
416-861-5899
info@coastalgold.ca
Coastal Gold Corp.
Bill Pearson, President & CEO
416-861-2968
president@coastalgold.ca
www.coastalgold.ca