Major Exploration Permit for Brewery Creek
VANCOUVER - Golden Predator Corp. reported that it has obtained final approval and issuance, from the Yukon Government's Energy, Mines & Resources Department, for a Class 4 Mining Land Use permit (Class 4 Permit) on its flagship Brewery Creek Project. The Class 4 Permit provides for expansion of exploration activities across the more than 180 square kilometer Brewery Creek Project. This exploration permit is in addition to the pre-existing Water and Quartz Mining License affecting portions of the Project area.
"This permit will allow Golden Predator to expand our exploration program, drill test a number of untested targets, delineate our new discoveries while at the same time moving forward towards restarting the Brewery Creek mine through the process of amending our existing Quartz Mining License," said William M. Sheriff, Chairman & CEO. "Our ability to access and fully drill test these new discoveries creates the opportunity for Brewery Creek's resources to grow, ultimately supporting a longer term operation."
Authorized Activities under the Class 4 Permit include: the expansion of drilling activities up to and including 8 drill rigs operating simultaneously (1500 reverse circulation holes and 1500 diamond core holes); the construction and use of up to 61 KM of new access roads across the Project; the expansion of the existing 45 person camp facility to a 120 person camp facility; the use and operation of vehicles exceeding 40 tonnes on existing roads; expanded fuel storage capacity; the expansion of mechanized trenching up to 12,000 m3.
Brewery Creek hosts NI 43-101 compliant resources of 581,000 indicated gold ounces in 20.417 million tonnes at 0.89 g/t and 346,000 inferred gold ounces in 12.990 million tonnes at 0.83 g/t (Barr, 2012; GPD NR 12-20 June 18, 2012). The Company anticipates publishing an updated resource estimate incorporating the current year's drilling later in the year.
The Brewery Creek Project is a past producing heap leach gold mining operation with a total of 278,484 oz Au produced from seven near-surface oxide deposits along the property's Reserve Trend from 1996 through 2002, when the mine (operated by Viceroy Resource Corporation) shut down primarily due to low gold prices. The 181 km2 property is located 55 km due east of Dawson City, accessible by paved and gravel roads from the junction of the North Klondike and Dempster Highways.
The Project is in receipt of all necessary permits required to conduct additional exploration. The Brewery Creek Project holds a Type A Water License with an expiry date of December 31, 2021 , subject to the restrictions and conditions contained in the Yukon Water Act and Regulations. The Project also holds a Quartz Mining License (QML) with an expiry date of December 31 , 2021. The Company is working to amend the Water License and the QML to incorporate mine planning and design studies which are currently underway. In addition, a restated and amended Socio-Economic Accord with Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation with respect to the Brewery Creek Project is in place.