Exploration Milestones and New Discoveries at Certes Target
Westhaven Gold Corp. (TSX-V: WHN) has recently announced significant developments from its exploration activities at the Certes target, part of the expansive Shovelnose gold project, which spans over 41,634 hectares. This project is located within the promising Spences Bridge Gold Belt, just south of Merritt, British Columbia. The completion of its 2024 drilling campaign revealed exciting insights into the mineralization potential of this area.
The exploration season has been filled with positive findings, as the company undertook a comprehensive approach that included property-wide prospecting, sampling, and geophysical surveys complemented by rigorous drilling efforts. These methodologies aim to assess the full potential of the Shovelnose corridor, which includes the high-grade South Zone deposit, alongside the recently acknowledged Certes target.
Significant Findings at the Certes Target
As noted by Gareth Thomas, President & CEO of Westhaven Gold, the initial drilling at the Certes target has confirmed the existence of a new epithermal structure that remains open for exploration in all directions. The teams observed promising pathfinder elements indicative of typical epithermal deposits, including the finding of a quartz vein with anomalous gold content during their final drilling effort of 2024. This particular quartz vein was discovered several kilometers southeast of the previously known high-grade gold zones.
Drill hole SN24-425 at the Certes target delivered encouraging results, returning grades of 0.69 g/t of gold and 2.76 g/t of silver at a depth of 286.9 to 288.64 meters. Moreover, the hole exhibited elevated arsenic levels, reflecting a transition from mercury and antimony pathfinders found higher in the drill to deeper levels where gold is typically associated.
Highlights from the Certes Drill Program
- Drill hole SN24-425 showed significant intersection of 0.69 g/t Au and 2.76 g/t Ag over a 1.74-meter interval.
- All six drilled holes encountered anomalous gold pathfinder elements.
- Confirmation of an extensive and potentially preserved epithermal system extending over 2.1 kilometers in strike length.
- Notable carbonate and quartz veining was documented, indicating possible intermediate sulfurization with a distinct epithermal signature.
- New drilling results support the understanding of a long-standing structural system which could host multiple gold-bearing structures, providing further areas for exploration.
Detailed Overview of Certes Drilling Activities
Drilling operations across three designated targets at Certes have culminated in important geological insights. The Certes 1 target involved two drill holes, SN24-420 and SN24-421, which were designed to test significant boulders indicative of mineralization. The findings from these holes suggested the existence of a high-level geothermal system in the northeastern vicinity.
The Certes 2 target saw an additional two drilling attempts, which revealed a broad area of quartz-carbonate veining revealing strong potential for future exploration. The insights gained from hole SN24-422 will direct follow-up work as the team looks to further investigate along strike towards Certes 1.
2024 Exploration Achievements at Shovelnose
Throughout 2024, Westhaven Gold has actively explored numerous areas within Shovelnose, resulting in extensive data gathering. The company has completed a total of 27 drill holes, totaling about 8,347 meters and collecting over 3,423 samples. Many of these holes are positioned on a different trend compared to the main Franz-FMN-South zone structure. Results indicate that mineralization is being confirmed in areas adjacent to this structure, encouraging further investigation.
Additionally, more than 2,200 surface rock samples were gathered, revealing numerous areas with gold and silver values. This ongoing work showcases not only the potential of the Shovelnose project but also emphasizes Westhaven's commitment to understanding and mapping its geological context. Key surface anomalies, particularly those historically identified, were confirmed through follow-up drilling highlighting the productive nature of the area.
Upcoming Initiatives and Future Directions
As the exploration activities move into 2025, the focus will intensify on deeper drilling to evaluate the downdip extent of previously found structures that carry arsenic and gold. The recent completion of ground magnetic and Induced Polarization data collection at Certes will significantly aid in plotting future drilling sites and assessing the mineralization patterns in this dynamic geological setting.
The diverse range of activities at the Certes target, combined with the company's strategic exploration plans, reinforces Westhaven Gold Corp.'s position as a growing entity in the gold exploration sector. Shareholder confidence is likely to strengthen as new findings emerge and exploration continues in this promising gold belt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Certes target in relation to Westhaven Gold Corp.?
The Certes target is a newly identified epithermal site within the Shovelnose gold property, which shows considerable potential for gold mineralization based on recent drilling results.
What are the key findings from the recent drilling at Certes?
Notable findings include an intersection of 0.69 g/t Au and 2.76 g/t Ag, confirming the presence of an extensive and potentially preserved epithermal system.
What are some future plans for Westhaven Gold?
Future plans include deeper follow-up drilling at the Certes target to assess the downdip extents of gold-bearing structures discovered thus far.
How does Westhaven Gold Corp. expose its properties?
Westhaven uses various methods, including drilling, surface sampling, and geophysical surveys to explore its properties effectively.
What is the significance of the Spences Bridge Gold Belt?
The Spences Bridge Gold Belt is recognized as a significant and underexplored gold district in British Columbia that holds potential for further discoveries of high-grade gold deposits.
