TNM Drill Down: Radisson in Quebec tops gold assays for June-July

The Northern Miner has compiled the top 10 drill assays for the June 17-July 15 period for gold. Drill holes are ranked by grade x width.

Drilling across the Americas – Canada, United States and Ecuador – returned the top gold results for the period. Radisson Mining’s (TSXV: RDS) resource-stage O’Brien project in Quebec had the strongest result. West Point Gold’s (TSXV: WPG) Gold Chain in Arizona ranked second, followed by Auro Metals’ (TSXV: AURO) Santa Barbara project in Ecuador.

 

 

O’Brien

Radisson Mining reported July 7 that hole OB-26-385W4 at its O’Brien project in Quebec cut 5.1 metres grading 316.31 grams gold per tonne from 823 metres downhole for a width x grade value of 1,613. The interval included 1 metre at 1,603.95 grams gold, the highest assay reported from the historic mine.

The result followed a March resource update that increased inferred resources by 82% to about 1.7 million oz. gold in 10.3 million tonnes grading 5.08 grams gold, while indicated resources totalled 630,000 oz. in around 3.5 million tonnes grading 5.59 grams gold. Radisson is carrying out a fully funded 140,000-metre drill program expected to continue into 2027.

A preliminary economic assessment released in 2025 outlined an 11-year underground mine with a $532-million after-tax net present value, a 48% internal rate of return and $175 million in initial capital costs using toll milling.

Gold Chain

West Point reported June 23 that hole GC26-148 at its Gold Chain project in Arizona cut 66.2 metres grading 6.57 grams gold from 219 metres downhole, including 20.7 metres grading 18.25 grams gold, for a width x grade value of 435. The hole extended the Northeast Tyro zone to more than 250 metres below surface.

The intercept was from a completed 21,079-metre drill campaign. At the time of the release, assays from 21 additional holes were still pending and were expected to support the project’s initial resource estimate later this year.

West Point continues to expand the Tyro mineralized system, with additional deep drilling planned as it works toward its first resource.

Santa Barbara

Auro Metals reported June 22 that hole DSB-54 at its Santa Barbara gold-copper project in Ecuador intersected 705.7 metres grading 0.61 gram gold and 0.1% copper from surface, including 235 metres grading 0.97 gram gold and 0.11% copper, for a width x grade value of 430. The hole ended in mineralization, indicating the system remains open at depth.

The result came from the first holes of the company’s stage one 10,000-metre drill program, launched after Tincorp Metals completed its acquisition of Santa Barbara in May and before changing its name to Auro Metals in June. The program is designed to confirm historical drilling, infill the existing resource and collect material for metallurgical testing.

A March resource estimate outlined 697,000 oz. gold and 68.2 million lb. copper in the indicated category, plus 3.42 million oz. gold and 425.9 million lb. copper inferred. Previous operators completed more than 22,000 metres of drilling at Santa Barbara, while preliminary economic assessments were completed in 2015 and 2021 as the project advanced under earlier owners.