Novo identifies targets for Q2 drilling at Becher
2023-03-06 16:47 ET - News Release
Mr. Michael Spreadborough reports
NEW 'HEMI STYLE' GOLD TARGETS IDENTIFIED FOR IMMEDIATE DRILLING AT BECHER
Novo Resources Corp. has provided a further update on the successful 2022 drilling program at the company's flagship Becher project within the Egina gold camp, located within Novo's 10,500-square-kilometre Pilbara exploration portfolio. Based on recent analysis of 2022 exploration results, the Egina Gold Camp is one of Novo's most exciting exploration areas and includes the highly prospective Becher and Nunyerry North Projects.
Results referred to in this news release, including mineralisation present at De Grey's Mallina Gold Project1, are not necessarily representative of mineralisation throughout the Becher Project or the Egina Gold Camp.
Mike Spreadborough, Novo's Executive Co-Chairman, Acting Chief Executive Officer and a director, said, "These are very promising developments for Becher. We now have a series of high priority targets that will be the focus of an immediate aggressive drilling campaign. The initial similarities between the geochemistry and intrusion type to De Grey's Mallina Gold Project may be extremely promising for our future exploration success in identifying a standalone gold project. Completion of the detailed and systematic AC drilling program and follow-up drilling should put us in the best possible position for a potential discovery."
OVERVIEW OF BECHER AREA
The Becher Project (northern E47/3673, 100%-owned by Novo) is located ~28 km to the west-southwest of De Grey Mining Limited's ("De Grey") Mallina Gold Project along an interpreted gold fertile corridor and contains multiple high-priority, orogenic gold targets under shallow cover.
NEW RESULTS RECENTLY RETURNED FROM 2022 DRILLING PROGRAM
All results from systematic broad-spaced AC drilling completed in 2022 within the Becher Area have now been returned. Additional gold prospectivity has been identified in two AC lines in the southern portion of the project area testing the Bonatti Shear Corridor.
Refer to Table 1 below for a list of assay results2. True widths from AC drilling cannot be estimated at this time.
Best results from Bonatti prospect include:
- 4 m @ 0.99 g/t Au from 17m (F1393)
- 5 m @ 0.49 g/t Au from 8m (F1242)
- 4 m @ 0.10 g/t Au from 4m (F1260)
- 4 m @ 0.10 g/t Au from 4m (F1194)
These intercepts are in addition to previous standout results, including peak AC drilling results of2:
- Irvine prospect:
- 8 m @ 2.15 g/t Au from 8 m (F0632)
- 23 m @ 0.56 g/t Au from 0 m (A0034)
- 2 m @ 0.91 g/t Au from 66 m (A003)
- Whillans prospect:
- 8 m @ 0.20 g/t Au from 16 m (F0519)
- 4 m @ 0.37 g/t Au from 20 m (F1136)
- Heckmair prospect:
- 4 m @ 0.40 g/t Au from 12 m (F0738)
- 3 m @ 0.44 g/t Au from 20 m (F0858)
Peak RC drilling results include2:
- 33 m @ 0.493 g/t Au from 33 m (G0005) including 5 m @ 1.28 g/t Au
- 20 m @ 0.406 g/t Au from 32 m (G0016)
- 24 m @ 0.390 g/t Au from 76 m (G0018)
Multi-element geochemical analyses from the end-of-hole samples taken during the 2022 AC program have identified a number of hornblende diorite intrusions. The chemistry of these rocks indicates that they belong to a magmatic suite known as 'sanukitoids'. Critically, sanukitoid intrusions are commonly associated with gold deposits (e.g. Towerana), a well-known association in the Mallina Basin. As well as containing anomalous gold, they are also associated with anomalous levels of arsenic and tungsten, which are key pathfinder associations for gold deposits in this region. The arsenic and tungsten are not confined to the intrusions, but rather the distribution of these elements also maps potentially mineralized shear zones that wrap around the sanukitoid intrusions (e.g. Withnell).
2023 PROGRAM PLANNING
Results from the recent AC drilling have clearly delineated targets including both structurally controlled orogenic gold and intrusion-hosted gold which appear similar to the Mallina Gold Project. All data generated to date is currently being integrated to best design follow up AC and RC programs for Q2 2023.
ANALYTIC METHODOLOGY
Four-metre composite samples of AC chips were sent to Intertek Genalysis ("Intertek") in Perth, Western Australia with the entire sample smart crushed to -3mm (NVO02 prep code), with a 500 g split sample analysed for gold using PhotonAssay (PHXR/AU01). An additional bottom hole sample from each drill hole (1 to 4 m composite representing rock from the bottom of the drill hole) was assayed using four acid digest and 50 g charge fire assay FA50/OE and for 48 multielement using four acid digest - MS finish (4A/MS). AC drill holes with anomalous gold or base metals have been split through a single tier riffle splitter and are assayed using four acid digest and 50 g charge fire assay FA50/OE and for 48 multielement using four acid digest - MS finish (4A/MS).
QAQC procedures for the latter half of the program include insertion of a certified blank approximately every 25 samples (4 per hundred), a certified standard approximately every 50 samples (2 per 100) and duplicate sampling (split of 4m composite) at the rate of 4 per hundred. Intertek inserts customized Chrysos certified standards at the rate of 2 per hundred.
There were no limitations to the verification process and all relevant data was verified by a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") by reviewing analytical procedures undertaken by Intertek.
QP STATEMENT
Mr. Iain Groves (MAIG), is the qualified person, as defined under NI 43-101, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release other than information concerning De Grey's Mallina Gold Project. Mr. Groves is Novo's Exploration Manger - West Pilbara.
About Novo Resources Corp.
Novo explores and develops its prospective land package covering approximately 10,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including the Beatons Creek gold project, along with two joint ventures in the Bendigo region of Victoria, Australia. In addition to the Company's primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its stakeholders. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com.
1 De Grey has reported that its Mallina Gold Project is comprised of Measured Mineral Resources of 4.7 Mt @ 1.7 g/t Au for 265 koz Au, Indicated Mineral Resources of 153.4 Mt @ 1.3 g/t Au for 6,590 koz Au, and Inferred Mineral Resources of 92.6 Mt @ 1.3 g/t Au for 3,779 koz Au, as those categories are defined in the JORC Code (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Refer to De Grey's public disclosure record for further details. No assurance can be given that a similar or any mineral resource estimate will be determined at Novo's Becher Project or the Egina Gold Camp .