Sitka Gold (TSXV:SIG) has reported multiple sightings of visible gold in the first two diamond drill holes at the Rhosgobel intrusion, located within its RC Gold Project in Yukon. This marks the first diamond drilling at Rhosgobel, approximately five kilometers south of the company’s Blackjack gold deposit. The ongoing drilling at Rhosgobel reveals gold mineralization extending 250 meters beyond previous depths, suggesting that the mineralized system may be larger and more complex than originally thought. The company awaits assay results from these holes and other ongoing drilling activities at the RC Gold Project.

Cor Coe, CEO and Director of Sitka Gold, commented in a press release: “The visuals of the first two diamond drill holes to ever be completed at the Rhosgobel intrusion-related gold target (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6) have exceeded expectations with several occurrences of visible gold observed in DDRCRG-24-001 and 002. The visual results from our first pass of drilling at Rhosgobel are very encouraging and highlight the significant potential of the many high-priority targets we have yet to drill within the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex (see Figure 5). We eagerly await the assays from these holes which suggest that robust gold mineralization continues from surface to a vertical depth at least 250 metres below the extent of historical drilling and showcase the potential for Rhosgobel to host another significant intrusion-related gold deposit within the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex analogous to our growing Blackjack deposit. Diamond drilling utilising oriented core at Rhosgobel has provided valuable information to Sitka’s technical team confirming the similar structural and geological controls on gold mineralization that occur at the Blackjack and Eiger deposits, located approximately 5 kilometres to the north, and the team is excited to apply the knowledge gained from our geological modelling to further advance this exciting target.”

The Rhosgobel intrusion, part of the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex (CCIC), is the southernmost exposed feature in a series of mineral-rich intrusions occupying an area roughly 8 by 15 kilometers. These intrusions likely originate from a shared magmatic source deep within the earth. They consist of various rock types, including quartz monzonite, granodiorite, and diorite, with associated felsic and lamprophyre dykes. Collectively, these features form a substantial mineralized system with significant gold potential.

The Blackjack gold deposit, which lies five kilometers north of Rhosgobel, shares geological similarities with the latter. Blackjack is situated within a quartz monzonite intrusion that exhibits feldspar megacrystic phases. Rhosgobel, aligned with the northerly Blackjack fault, shows similar geological traits and holds potential for comparable gold mineralization. Prior exploration in 1995 by Kennecott utilized shallow reverse circulation drilling and indicated widespread gold throughout Rhosgobel. The latest diamond drilling appears to validate those earlier findings, with gold observed at much greater depths.

In these new drill holes, Sitka Gold has encountered a complex network of quartz veins and breccias, containing substantial amounts of coarse scheelite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, and occasional arsenopyrite, which are typical indicators of gold-bearing systems. Visible gold was seen within the quartz veins and breccias, often in conjunction with minerals like bismuthinite, scheelite, and occasionally molybdenite. Pervasive alteration of the host rock includes quartz-sericite and sericite-chlorite, with intensified alteration occurring around the quartz veins.

The first of these drill holes, designated DDRCRG-24-001, reached a depth of 303.6 meters. Drilled at a dip of -50 degrees and an azimuth of 10 degrees, it targeted the extension of gold mineralization previously found in historical drill holes CCRC-95-15 and CCRC-95-16. This hole revealed roughly 200 meters of altered and mineralized feldspar megacrystic quartz monzonite, along with 100 meters of weakly altered quartz monzonite. Visible gold was noted at depths of 118.3 and 119.5 meters, confirming the presence of gold at these intervals.

The second drill hole, DDRCRG-24-002, extended deeper, reaching 400.8 meters. It was drilled at a steeper angle with a dip of -75 degrees, also targeting historical intersections and the mineralized zone identified in DDRCRG-24-001. This hole encountered a 50-meter section of oxidized and mineralized feldspar megacrystic quartz monzonite before transitioning into areas with high vein density, characterized by large quartz veins with strong alteration, faulting, and mineralization. Visible gold was found at numerous points within the drill core, specifically at 229.3, 249.6, 249.61, 299.5, 299.53, 299.66, 300.6, 303.11, 303.24, 303.38, and 307.4 meters. These observations align with the mineralized zones seen in DDRCRG-24-001, supporting the notion of a large, contiguous system.