Update
TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2020 /CNW/ - Battle North Gold Corporation (TSX: BNAU) (OTCQX: BNAUF) ("Battle North" or the "Company") has commenced regional exploration work on its Red Lake Properties, with emphasis on the high-priority targets of McCuaig, East Bay, Slate Bay/DMC and Sidace Lake. This multiphase work program will position the Company to commence extensive exploration drilling in early 2021. CEO Comment Battle North President and Chief Executive Officer George Ogilvie, P.Eng., stated, "Our Red Lake Properties contain several high-potential exploration targets that have shown signatures of high-grade mineralization from historical exploration drilling. We believe there is the potential for a major discovery on our Red Lake Properties and the targets we have identified are within trucking-distance of our significant infrastructure at the Bateman Gold Project. The initial review of our Red Lake Properties and the historical exploration work completed, positions us to commence exploration drilling in early 2021. I am very encouraged by the initial thoughts from our consultants on the potential exploration targets, based on their deep knowledge of the Red Lake gold camp. The Company has also initiated a search of candidates to fill a new Regional Exploration leadership role, with the expectation that the incumbent will be in the role before yearend." Red Lake Properties Strategy With the maiden Feasibility Study for the 100% owned, shovel-ready Bateman Gold Project on the verge of completion, the Company will be intensifying exploration efforts on its vast Red Lake Properties. Battle North owns more than 28,000 hectares of prime exploration land in Red Lake (the second largest exploration land ownership in the region) and believes that the thorough exploration of these Red Lake Properties could unlock organic growth opportunities outside of the Bateman Gold Project and the nearby String of Pearls exploration targets (which include the McFinley and Pen Zones). The Red Lake Properties encompass four major gold deformation zones in the region, including the famous Mine Trend and the East Bay Deformation Zone ("EBDZ"). Battle North has already identified high-priority targets within 10 kilometres of the Bateman Gold Project that it intends to drill in early 2021. Some of these exploration targets have historical high-grade drilling information that warrants follow up and/or are adjacent to known areas of gold mineralization. Please see Diagram 1 displaying Battle North's Red Lake Properties and its high-priority exploration targets. Some specifics of the Red Lake Properties strategy are as follows: Hired external consultants with deep Red Lake exploration experience to conduct an initial assessment of the Red Lake Properties and develop exploration work programs, including geophysics, geochemistry, and plans for drilling including this winter season. The Company is currently evaluating candidates for a new Regional Exploration leadership role and anticipates completing the process before year-end. The role will oversee all of the exploration work programs at the Red Lake Properties and the Company's properties in Nevada and Utah. The Company has budgeted C$10 million for exploration work for completion by December 31, 2021. Consultants Battle North has hired the Nordmin Group of Companies Ltd. ("Nordmin") to assist with the review of the exploration work programs for the Red Lake Properties. The key consultants of Nordmin, Messrs. Tim Twomey, P.Geo. and Glen Kuntz, P.Geo., have extensive exploration experience in the prolific Red Lake gold mining camp. Mr. Twomey, a renowned geoscientist, has more than 30 years of exploration, production and management expertise, with a major portion of his career in the Red Lake gold mining camp. Tim played a key role in the discovery, development and production of the High-Grade Zone at the Red Lake Gold Mines, and was also part of the exploration team that discovered the GAZ Zone, at the Red Lake Gold Mines (now owned by Evolution Mining Ltd.). The GAZ Zone is located directly south of Battle North's East Bay exploration target and within the East Bay Deformation Zone, a major gold-bearing geological structure running north east in the Red Lake gold mining camp. In addition, Tim has been involved with the review of many of the Red Lake exploration targets over his career. Mr. Kuntz, a geoscientist veteran, also has exploration, production, and management expertise in the Red Lake gold camp. Glen spent 6 years in the Red Lake camp working as a Senior Resource Geologist and Project Geologist at the Red Lake Gold Mines. He was responsible for key activities, such as grade control, mineral resource and mineral reserve estimation, and provided mine and district-wide 3D geological and structural models for building a production pipeline of the Projects. Mr. Kuntz has over 27 years of experience working in numerous international mining jurisdictions, including Australia, South America, South Africa and the United States.