HighGold sweeps through 2023 drilling

HighGold Mining Inc. Aug. 22 provided an update on the 2023 exploration and development program at the company's Johnson Tract property in Southcentral Alaska, showcasing the methodical efficiency with which HighGold aims to push the property to feasibility.

Located on the west side of Cook Inlet, about 125 miles southwest of Anchorage, Johnson Tract is a 20,942-acre property owned by Cook Inlet Regional Inc., an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) regional corporation.

Since optioning Johnson Tract in 2018, HighGold has focused on upgrading and expanding the historical JT Deposit and exploring some of the exciting but earlier-stage prospects across the property.

According to the most recent calculation, JT Deposit hosts 3.49 million metric tons of indicated resource averaging 5.33 grams per metric ton (598,000 ounces) gold, 6 g/t (673,000 oz) silver, 5.21% (400.8 million pounds) zinc, 0.59% (43.1 million lb) copper, and 0.67% (51.5 million lb) lead.

Including the value of all the metals, this comes to 1.05 million oz of gold in the indicated resource category.

Starting in early July, HighGold has been undertaking its first multi-year advanced exploration plan designed to de-risk the project and support future studies to evaluate the potential for a high-grade underground mine.

"We are off to a great start for this year's JT Program," said HighGold President and CEO Darwin Green. "With our geotechnical drilling completed, both drill rigs are focused on our exploration objectives at Ellis, East Difficult Creek and the JT Deposit."

This year's planned 8,000-meter drill program is focused on expanding the known gold mineralization at the Ellis Zone and JT Deposit, testing new high-potential targets, as well as geotechnical drilling to inform permitting of an expanded airstrip, connecting road, and eventual development of an underground exploration ramp at the JT Deposit.

Additionally, the program included an airborne geophysical survey, baseline data collection, and environmental studies to support permitting efforts.

"First core has been prepped and sent to the assay lab with results pending," said Green. "Additionally, work continues on collecting data for permitting efforts as we work to expand the airstrip as well as develop the proposed 2.6 mile connecting road both of which will provide for more efficient logistics and economics as we advance the Project."

So far this year, approximately 2,500 meters of exploration drilling has been completed in 12 holes. Drilling has been focused on Ellis and the nearby East Difficult Creek prospect, where work is currently ongoing with one rig, as well as the JT deposit, where a second rig is located presently.

The company also completed a deep-penetration 600-line-kilometer mobile magnetotellurics airborne geophysical survey over several prospective areas for potential new targets.

To support infrastructure and transportation permitting, a 1,400-meter geotechnical and hydrogeological drill program was completed in six holes, as well as civil engineering field works for surface infrastructure planning and design – this included 42 shallow holes as part of the geotechnical drilling program.

Crossing the T's and dotting the I's, a variety of baseline studies and surveys were also completed. This baseline work includes archaeological studies, surface hydrology, water quality sampling, aquatic surveys, wetland surveys, environmental rock geochemical analyses, and the installation of an onsite weather station.

With more than half of the drill program completed, in both exploration and research drilling, HighGold is well on its way to completing this year before the snow flies.

"HighGold is well financed to fund its initiatives, having entered Q3 with a cash and marketable securities position totaling $16 million," Green added.