Moneta Intersects Further Gold Mineralization and Commences Geomechanical Drilling and Hydrogeological Testing at Tower Gold
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 8, 2023) - Moneta Gold Inc. (TSX: ME) (OTCQX: MEAUF) (FSE: MOPA) ("Moneta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a project update and assay results from thirty-two (32) drill holes on the Windjammer and Westaway deposits at the Tower Gold project (the "Project"), located in the Timmins Gold Camp, Ontario. The drilling was conducted as part of a 140,000 metre ("m") drilling program, started in 2022, designed for resource upgrade and infill of the 4.5 million ("M") ounces ("oz") indicated gold ("Au") and 8.3 Moz inferred Au mineral resource estimate (see September 07, 2022 press release).
Project Update:
110,000 m of 140,000 m infill drill program completed
WSP Global is engaged to design and oversee the execution of pre-feasibility study ("PFS") engineering studies and to support Moneta through permitting of the Tower Gold project
Commenced open pit geomechanical drilling and hydrogeological testing in mid-August
Overburden geotechnical drilling underway
Metallurgical drilling and sample collection are underway in anticipation of lab analysis, including variability test work, starting in Q4 2023
Environmental Permitting - Submission of Initial Project Description ("IPD") to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada on track for late Q4 2023, which will initiate the Federal Impact Assessment ("IA") process
Mine Technical Services ("MTS") was appointed to lead resource updates in anticipation of the PFS and to support the design of the remaining metres of the infill drill program
Completion of open pit PFS on track for H2 2024, focusing on the first 11 years of September 2022 preliminary economic assessment ("PEA")
Drilling Highlights:
Windjammer
MGH23-416 intersected 4.25 m @ 31.17 grams per tonne "g/t" Au, including 1.40 m @ 93.00 g/t Au
MGH22-433 intersected 38.10 m @ 1.18 g/t Au, including 16.50 m @ 2.02 g/t Au, including 4.90 m @ 3.75 g/t Au
MGH23-433 intersected 17.47 m @ 1.01 g/t Au
Westaway
MGH23-401 intersected 12.90 m @ 3.90 g/t Au, including 7.10 m @ 6.25 g/t Au
MGH23-427 intersected 8.47 m @ 4.05 g/t Au, including 2.00 m @ 12.85 g/t Au
MGH23-407 intersected 11.80 m @ 2.75 g/t Au, including 7.50 m @ 3.84 g/t Au
Josef Vejvoda, Moneta's Chairman and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "I am very pleased with the dedication and effort of our entire team as they continue to advance Tower Gold towards a pre-feasibility study. Recent milestones include commencing geomechanical drilling and hydrogeological testing, and announcing further assay results from infill and step-out drilling, which continue to confirm the continuity and extensions of gold mineralization at Windjammer and Westaway. Drilling has been focussed on the open pit portions of the mineral resources as defined in the 2022 PEA study during the first 11 years of production."
A total of 6,176 m of drilling was completed in thirty-two (32) drill holes. Drilling is being conducted on 50 m centres as step-outs and infill of previous drill holes. Additional assays from 2023 drilling are pending and will be released upon receipt of results.
Figure 1: Tower Gold Project - General Location Map
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Table 1: Windjammer Drill Intercepts (above 10 g/t x m Au)
Hole | From | To | Length | Au | (gram metres) |
(#) | (m) | (m) | (m) | (g/t) | (g/t x m) |
MGH23-415 | 133.00 | 148.00 | 15.00 | 0.88 | 13.3 |
includes | 134.90 | 140.00 | 5.10 | 1.62 | 8.2 |
MGH23-416 | 95.10 | 99.35 | 4.25 | 31.17 | 132.5 |
includes | 95.10 | 96.50 | 1.40 | 93.00 | 130.2 |
MGH23-418 | 280.00 | 282.00 | 2.00 | 18.05 | 36.1 |
MGH23-421 | 221.50 | 223.00 | 1.50 | 9.73 | 14.6 |
MGH23-421 | 227.30 | 233.57 | 6.27 | 1.69 | 10.6 |
includes | 232.00 | 233.57 | 1.57 | 5.55 | 8.7 |
MGH23-422 | 98.00 | 105.00 | 7.00 | 2.24 | 15.7 |
includes | 98.00 | 102.00 | 4.00 | 2.97 | 11.9 |
MGH23-425 | 46.50 | 82.00 | 35.50 | 0.51 | 18.0 |
includes | 50.50 | 52.22 | 1.72 | 1.49 | 2.6 |
and | 80.00 | 82.00 | 2.00 | 1.13 | 2.3 |
Note: All intercepts are calculated using a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 5m internal dilution and no top cap applied. Drill intercepts are not true widths, are reported as drill widths, and are estimated to be 75% to 95% of true width.
Table 2: Westaway Drill Intercepts (above 10 g/t x m Au)
Hole | From | To | Length | Au | (gram metres) |
(#) | (m) | (m) | (m) | (g/t) | (g/t x m) |
MGH23-401 | 150.00 | 162.90 | 12.90 | 3.90 | 50.3 |
includes | 150.90 | 158.00 | 7.10 | 6.25 | 44.4 |
MGH23-404 | 87.00 | 95.00 | 8.00 | 1.47 | 11.8 |
MGH23-407 | 200.20 | 212.00 | 11.80 | 2.75 | 32.4 |
includes | 203.05 | 210.55 | 7.50 | 3.84 | 28.8 |
MGH23-408 | 124.00 | 139.00 | 15.00 | 1.15 | 17.3 |
includes | 129.30 | 137.00 | 7.70 | 1.83 | 14.1 |
includes | 134.00 | 137.00 | 3.00 | 3.03 | 9.1 |
MGH23-419 | 123.00 | 137.25 | 14.25 | 1.03 | 14.7 |
includes | 124.00 | 127.00 | 3.00 | 2.84 | 8.5 |
and | 135.00 | 136.00 | 1.00 | 2.42 | 2.4 |
MGH23-427 | 127.75 | 132.15 | 4.40 | 2.36 | 10.4 |
includes | 130.95 | 132.15 | 1.20 | 4.00 | 4.8 |
MGH23-427 | 263.53 | 272.00 | 8.47 | 4.05 | 34.3 |
includes | 267.15 | 269.15 | 2.00 | 12.85 | 25.7 |
MGH23-431 | 97.00 | 106.00 | 9.00 | 1.47 | 13.2 |
includes | 100.00 | 106.00 | 6.00 | 2.06 | 12.3 |
Note: All intercepts are calculated using a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 5m internal dilution and no top cap applied. Drill intercepts are not true widths, are reported as drill widths, and are estimated to be 75% to 95% of true width.
Discussion of Drill Results
The Windjammer South and Central deposits currently host a combined open pit indicated resource of 70.55 million tonnes ("Mt") @ 0.72 g/t Au containing 1.64 Moz gold and an inferred resource of 112.30 Mt @ 0.74 g/t Au containing 2.67 Moz gold (see September 07, 2022 press release). The Westaway deposit currently hosts an open pit indicated resource of 0.75 million tonnes ("Mt") @ 2.20 g/t Au containing 53,000 oz gold and an inferred resource of 22.11 Mt @ 1.95 g/t Au containing 1,383,000 oz gold. The drill holes in this release focused on infill and extensions of the mineral resource within the current open pit PEA mine shells from surface to vertical depths of up to 325 m below surface. Mineralization at Windjammer and Westaway is associated with extensional and stockwork-type quartz veining within Timiskaming age meta-sediments, located between 2 major splays of the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone ("DPFZ") in the Golden Highway area of the Project.
Windjammer
The drill results in section A-B targeted the continuity and extensions of mineralization within the banded iron formations separating Windjammer Central and Windjammer South. Drillholes MGH23-405, MGH23-413, and MGH23-415 confirmed continuity in the central area of the deposit, whereas mineralization extensions were constrained to the east as seen in drillholes MGH23-406, MGH23-409, and MGH23-411. South of the banded iron formation, in the Windjammer South region, MGH23-425 confirmed mineralization within the PEA pits.
The drill results in the southern region of Windjammer South (section C-D) confirmed continuity in the central area as seen in drill hole MGH23-433. While drill holes targeting extensions in the southern region of the deposit constrained mineralization, as seen in drill holes MGH23-420, MGH23-424, and MGH23-426.
Thirteen (13) of twenty (20) drill holes did not intersect mineralization above 10 "g/t Au x m", however, gold mineralization was intersected above a 0.3 g/t Au economic cut-off in all of the holes.
Figure 2: Windjammer - Tower Gold: Infill Drill Location Map
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Figure 3: Windjammer - Tower Gold: Infill Drilling Cross Section "A-B"
Note: Intercepts are shown and calculated using a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 5m internal dilution and no top cap applied.
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Figure 4: Windjammer - Tower Gold: Infill Drilling Cross Section "C-D"
Note: Intercepts are shown and calculated using a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 5m internal dilution and no top cap applied.
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Westaway
The drill results confirmed the continuity of the resource estimate in the central core area of the Westaway deposit, within the PEA open pit, as highlighted in drill holes MGH23-401, MGH23-404, MGH23-407, and MGH23-427. Additionally, significant intercepts at depth, below the bottom of the PEA pit indicate potential expansion opportunities as seen in drill hole MGH23-427. Drill holes MGH23-432 and MGH23-410 constrain the Westaway corridor to the north and south.
Five (5) of twelve (12) drill holes did not intersect mineralization above 10 "g/t Au x m", however, gold mineralization was intersected above a 0.3 g/t Au economic cut-off in four (4) of these holes. One (1) drill hole, MGH23-412, did not intersect mineralization above 0.3 g/t Au cut-off, which constrains mineralization in the north area of the Westaway deposit, along the banded iron formation.
Figure 5: Westaway - Tower Gold: Infill Drill Location Map
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Figure 6: Westaway - Tower Gold: Infill Drilling Cross Section "E-F"
Note: Intercepts are shown and calculated using a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 5m internal dilution and no top cap applied.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
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Table 3: Tower Gold: Resource Infill Drill Hole Details
Target | Hole | Easting | Northing | Elevation | Azimuth | Inclination | Depth |
(Name) | (#) | (mE) | (mN) | (masl) | (°) | (°) | (m) |
Windjammer | MGH23-400 | 572237 | 5370807 | 331 | 75 | -60 | 105.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-401 | 570254 | 5369118 | 322 | 59 | -60 | 210.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-402 | 572207 | 5370777 | 331 | 75 | -61 | 105.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-403 | 572146 | 5370591 | 329 | 80 | -55 | 141.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-404 | 570228 | 5369099 | 322 | 60 | -58 | 150.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-405 | 572189 | 5370586 | 330 | 80 | -55 | 133.8 |
Windjammer | MGH23-406 | 572327 | 5370581 | 334 | 80 | -57 | 225.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-407 | 570206 | 5369121 | 327 | 59 | -62 | 231.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-408 | 570178 | 5369176 | 324 | 60 | -58 | 153.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-409 | 572375 | 5370584 | 337 | 80 | -56 | 153.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-410 | 570165 | 5369196 | 324 | 60 | -59 | 141.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-411 | 572321 | 5370535 | 334 | 80 | -57 | 255.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-412 | 570113 | 5369153 | 323 | 59 | -58 | 201.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-413 | 572246 | 5370528 | 332 | 80 | -57 | 264.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-414 | 572149 | 5370547 | 330 | 80 | -56 | 132.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-415 | 572161 | 5370518 | 331 | 80 | -57 | 210.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-416 | 572087 | 5370071 | 330 | 80 | -56 | 126.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-417 | 570125 | 5369128 | 323 | 59 | -60 | 222.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-418 | 572050 | 5370479 | 329 | 80 | -57 | 327.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-419 | 570089 | 5369085 | 322 | 59 | -60 | 282.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-420 | 572147 | 5370086 | 332 | 80 | -56 | 174.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-421 | 572019 | 5370462 | 329 | 80 | -57 | 333.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-422 | 572185 | 5370105 | 330 | 80 | -56 | 186.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-423 | 570135 | 5369094 | 323 | 59 | -58 | 222.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-424 | 572221 | 5370083 | 330 | 80 | -56 | 129.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-425 | 572065 | 5370353 | 329 | 40 | -56 | 240.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-426 | 572266 | 5370104 | 330 | 80 | -56 | 132.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-427 | 570165 | 5369066 | 325 | 59 | -59 | 291.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-428 | 572223 | 5370117 | 329 | 80 | -56 | 129.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-431 | 570216 | 5369067 | 322 | 60 | -57 | 180.0 |
Westaway | MGH23-432 | 570260 | 5369071 | 321 | 60 | -58 | 204.0 |
Windjammer | MGH23-433 | 572211 | 5370189 | 330 | 80 | -55 | 189.0 |
Quality Control Procedures
NQ drill core is oriented and cut with half sent to ALS Laboratories Inc. (ALS) for drying and crushing to -2 mm, with a 1.00 kg split pulverized to -75 µm (200#). ALS is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. A 50 g charge is Fire Assayed and analyzed using an AAS finish for Gold. Samples above 10.00 g/t Au are analyzed by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish and selected samples with visible gold or high-grade mineralization are assayed by Metallic Screen Fire Assay on a 1.00 kg sample. Moneta inserts independent certified reference material and blanks with the samples and assays routine pulp repeats and coarse reject sample duplicates, as well as completing routine third-party check assays at Bureau Veritas Commodities Ltd.
Qualified Person
Jason Dankowski (APEGM #35155), Vice President Technical Services & Geology for Moneta, who is a QP as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this press release.
About Moneta Gold
Moneta is a Canadian-based gold exploration company whose primary focus is on advancing its 100% wholly owned Tower Gold project, located in the Timmins region of Northeastern Ontario, Canada's most prolific gold producing camp. The September 2022, PEA study outlined a combined open pit and underground mining and a 7.0 million tonne per annum conventional leach operation over a 24-year mine life, with 4.6 Moz of recovered gold, generating an after-tax NPV5% of $1,066M, IRR of 31.7%, and a 2.6-year payback at a gold price US$1,600/oz. Tower Gold hosts an estimated gold mineral resource of 4.5 Moz indicated and 8.3 Moz inferred. Moneta is committed to creating shareholder value through the strategic allocation of capital and a focus on the current resource upgrade drilling program, while conducting all business activities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Ardem Keshishian, VP Corporate Development
416-471-5463
akeshishian@monetagold.com
The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedarplus.com. For further information on the Company, please visit our website at www.monetagold.com or email us at info@monetagold.com.
Certain statements in this press release including certain information about Moneta's business outlook, objectives, strategies, plans, strategic priorities and results of operations, as well as other statements which are not current statements or historical facts, constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (without limitation, statements regarding exploration programs, potential mineralization, future plans and objectives of the Company, updated to the mineral resources, and the timing and results thereof) are forward-looking statements. Sentences and phrases containing words such as "believe", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "will", "intend", "predict", "outlook", "goal", "target", "forecast", "project", "scheduled", "proposed", "expect", "potential", "strategy", and the negative of any of these words, or variations of them, or comparable terminology that does not relate strictly to current or historical facts, are all indicative of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company.
Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from Moneta's expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements and that Moneta's business outlook, objectives, plans and strategic priorities may not be achieved. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events, and Moneta cautions you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are provided in this press release for the purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding Moneta's objectives, strategic priorities and business outlook, and in obtaining a better understanding of Moneta's anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: information with respect to the future performance of the business, its operations and financial performance and condition; statements relating to Moneta's plans for the Project; the Company's drilling program and the timing and results thereof; the timing and scope and focus of the Company's pre-feasibility study ("PFS"); statements regarding the environmental impact assessment and community engagement activities; and the Company's financing initiatives.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Important risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to: uncertainties inherent in the business of mineral exploration and extraction; uncertainty with respect to the Company's liquidity and ability to secure additional financing; uncertainty of mineral resources; security threats to the Company's information technology systems; the current global financial condition; the market price of securities and substantial volatility in the market price of commodities; fluctuations of commodity prices; the Company's history of net losses; possible loss of interests in mineral properties; title risks; uncertainty relating to surface rights; environmental risks; risks associated with joint venture agreements; risks relating to statutory and regulatory requirements; uncertainty relating to the Company's competition with other gold exploration and development companies for materials and supplies; the Company's dependence on key management and employees; uncertainty arising from international conflict and other geopolitical tensions and events, including but to limited to Russia's invasion of Ukraine; uncertainty in respect of COVID-19 and any resurgence of same; uncertainty in respect of procuring licences and permits from various governmental authorities; the term and extension of concession contracts; uninsurable risks; obligations under option and joint venture agreements; uncertainty as to whether mergers and amalgamations will be completed successfully; the Company's relationships with the communities in which it operates; internal conflicts of interest; infrastructure risks; the Company's lack of a dividend policy; and the fact that the outstanding common shares of the Company could be subject to dilution. See also the risks disclosed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's AIF. Readers are cautioned that the risks referred to above are not the only ones that could affect Moneta. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to Moneta or that Moneta currently deems to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on Moneta's financial position, financial performance, cash flows, business or reputation.
Forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on a number of assumptions that Moneta believed were reasonable at the time it made each forward-looking statement. The assumptions, although considered reasonable by Moneta on the day it made the forward-looking statements, may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, our actual results could differ materially from our expectations. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. 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. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, 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 therein.
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