Cathedral’s Sterling mine in Nevada pours 100,000th oz.

The Sterling mine produced its 100,000th oz. of gold in March, a day of celebration for Cathedral Gold (TSE) which owns 52% of the heap leach operation near Beatty, Nevada.

The mine has been in production since 1980, and is expected to produce 12,400 oz. gold this year. Current geological reserves of 765,000 tons grading 0.17 oz. gold per ton are the highest in the mine’s history. Cathedral recently completed a surface drilling program focused on areas of possible reserves within the mine. Selected results from this program include 20 ft. grading 0.25 oz. gold (270-290 ft.); 10 ft. of 0.28 oz. gold (490-500 ft.); and 30 ft. grading 0.25 oz. gold (270-300 ft.).

Traditionally, ore has been identified at the contact between an upper siltstone unit and a lower dolomite unit. But recent detailed geological work carried out within the underground mine found that gold mineralization occurs in several geological environments, a development which Cathedral says, “greatly expands the exploration potential of the property.” More drilling is planned aimed at increasing reserves and testing new exploration targets.