Washington Mine Commences Improvements Progressing Towards Production
BURLINGTON - Silver Bullet Mines Corp. (SBMI) reported that contract mining has commenced at the Idaho Washington Mine. The Washington Mine was historically a high grade gold mine, whose silver zones were blocked out but never mined. Site improvements have commenced and progressing toward production. The zone the company is initially targeting (the "Target Zone") is the historic area last tested in the 1980's. The results from a bulk sample taken by the previous owner and processed by Hecla Mining from the Target Zone ran 44 ounces silver and 0.1 ounces gold per ton. (see news release dated August 26, 2024) Subsequent random sampling completed by SBMI from various locations underground including the Target Zone and confirmed by Montana Technical University ran 58.5 ounces per ton silver. These assays were completed by a third party accredited lab.
The Miner has mobilized its equipment and has commenced activity to access the Target Zone, which management believes to be 80 feet from the portal opening. Drilling of the pilot hole has been completed. The Miner is now preparing the rock face of the portal for timbering and outlining the portal opening. The Miner will then drive a 12 x 12 foot adit into the rock face parallel to the Target Zone and turn into it at contact.
Once the 80 foot adit has been opened and the portal timbered, the Miner should then commence taking a bulk sample for processing, with the goal of that bulk sample being at least 2000 tons. It is unclear when that will commence as it depends upon other matters including the condition of the material underground. It is expected that such bulk sample can be taken within two months from when it begins.
Further bulk sampling would then continue to connect the new workings with the old Washington Gold material. The new workings are also intended to give access to the Lindgren Gold/silver documented mineralized material and the historic Berger Vein crosscut. (see Stoker Report).
The surface road to the parallel structure known as the Berger Vein is now complete which will better enable the Company to develop the underground workings. SBMI site personnel believes it has found where that vein comes to surface.