VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scorpio Gold Corporation (“Scorpio Gold” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: SGN) is pleased to announce the approval of the Keystone Jumbo Exploration Project (the “Project”), Plan of Operations. The Company proposes to drill up to 29 exploration holes on public lands administered by the US Forest Service Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Tonopah Ranger District (USFS). The exploration drilling plan was originally submitted to the Forest Service on December 14, 2016 and required several iterations prior to its approval. The Project intends to build on historic drilling and previously reported surface sampling results within the Keystone Jumbo claim block of the Goldwedge Project.
The proposed Project and associated Goldwedge facilities are located in Nevada on the west flank of the Toquima Range, ~55 km north-northeast of the Town of Tonopah, ~4 km south-southeast of the town of Manhattan and ~16 km south of the 15 million ounce Round Mountain Mine. Historic mining in the Manhattan Mining District dates back to the 19 th century, with district-wide gold production from both lode and placer deposits estimated at 566,000 ounces. The largest gold production came from the Manhattan Mine East & West pits located within a kilometer south of the Goldwedge Deposit, where Echo Bay Mines reportedly produced an estimated 236,000 ounces.
Scorpio Gold’s President, Chris Zerga, comments, “Receiving this plan of operations approval is a key step to unlocking the mineral potential in the Keystone Jumbo project area and we look forward to advancing the project’s development with continued exploration drilling. Scorpio Gold has maintained an exceptional working collaboration with the USFS and Nevada regulatory agencies.”
The proposed exploration drilling program is subject to financing and capital allocation as determined by the new board. Upon closing of the company's recently announced private placement Scorpio will have cash on hand of $5.0m cdn which includes current cash of $1.2m cdn. Residual gold recovery from the heaps is expected to continue through the 2 nd quarter of 2019 and the company is re-engaging with lenders to fund the new processing mill at Mineral Ridge.
About Scorpio Gold Corporation Scorpio Gold holds a 70% interest in the producing Mineral Ridge gold mining operation located in Esmeralda County, Nevada with joint venture partner Elevon, LLC (30%). Mineral Ridge is a conventional open pit mining and heap leach operation. Mining at Mineral Ridge was suspended in November 2017; however, the Company continues to generate limited revenues from residual but diminishing recoveries from the leach pads. Scorpio Gold also holds a 100% interest in the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge property in Manhattan, Nevada with a fully permitted underground mine and 400 ton per day mill facility. The Goldwedge mill facility has been placed on a care and maintenance basis and can be restarted immediately when needed.
Scorpio Gold’s Chairman, Peter J. Hawley, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION
Brian Lock, Interim CEO
For further information contact: Chris Zerga, President Tel: (604) 678-9639 Email: czerga@scorpiogold.com
Website: www.scorpiogold.com
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.
The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company’s current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “suggest”, “indicate” and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s plans with respect to the exploration of its Goldwedge project and the ability to obtain sufficient financing to undertake its proposed exploration program. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements, including risks involved in mineral exploration programs and those risk factors outlined in the Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.
