Silver Equivalent Intercepts Above Porphyry Copper Mineralization In First Holes Of Phase II Drill Program
TORONTO - Hercules Silver Corp. reported on silver-lead-zinc results from the first 5 drill holes of its Phase II drill program, targeting near surface silver mineralization at its Hercules Silver Property located in western Idaho. These results are the first of the Company's ongoing 6,000-meter Phase II infill, expansion, and discovery-focused drill program. The upper part of HER-23-05 intercepted 84.2 meters of 54.1 g/t AgEq, beginning at a shallow depth of 4.5 m, including a higher-grade intercept of 27.3 m grading 113.4 g/t AgEq starting at 36.7 m. HER-23-04 intercepted 28.5 meters of 102.6 g/t AgEq, beginning at 39 m, including a higher-grade intercept of 2.7 m grading 416.2 g/t AgEq. All holes reported are either step-out or infill holes, expanding on historical mineralization. HER-23-05 was continued to depth to test a chargeability anomaly and intercepted blind porphyry copper alteration and mineralization, assays for which remain pending. Four deep holes have now been drilled across 1.2 kilometers of the chargeability anomaly, all of which intersected pyrite-rich phyllic alteration, interpreted to represent the margins of a large porphyry copper system. Deep drilling continues, targeting potentially favourable alteration to the west. A third drill rig has now been added to the Phase II program.
Chris Paul, CEO and Director, said, “Our Phase II infill and expansion drilling has expanded on historical mineralization and demonstrated the presence of broad intervals of silver at the Frogpond Zone. With assays pending for many holes, including several other zones, we're confident in the potential to further validate and expand on the near surface silver across the Property. We're currently drilling hole 21 of the 2023 season and have now added a third drill rig. In addition, our first ever deep drilling has intersected blind porphyry copper alteration across 1.2 kilometers, demonstrating the presence of a major hydrothermal system on the Property."
The near-surface drilling is focused on validating and expanding zones of historical silver mineralization at Hercules. Historical drilling was limited to vertical reverse circulation ("RC") holes which returned minimal geological information. The 2023 program is utilizing angled drill holes with oriented core, providing new information on the controls and style of mineralization, and continuing to aid with the expansion.
HER-23-05 intersected a broad zone of shear-hosted mineralization, with flooding and replacement of pervasive dark grey sulfide mineralization (a combination of galena, sphalerite and tetrahedrite-tennantite). The broad zone of replacement is bracketed on either side by significant fault/shear zones, which appear to control the flow of hydrothermal fluids. Tracing this and other zones along strike is the main objective for adding to the historical mineralization. Logging of holes now being drilled at other zones, including the nearby Hercules Adit, show similar promise for expansion.