Proactive Investors - Great Atlantic Resources Corp (TSXV:GR) has wrapped up its 2023 exploration program at its Keymet Precious Metal - Base Metal Property in northeast New Brunswick. The program, encompassing prospecting and rock-soil geochemical sampling, primarily focused on the northwest and west-central regions of the property.
In the west-central region, the company said it focused on a new target area identified during previous exploration. This zone showed promise with anomalous gold values in soil and rock samples from the 2021-2022 programs. The recent 2023 work further delved into this area, collecting 41 soil samples and 12 rock samples to extend the understanding of gold soil anomalies and test for potential gold mineralization. Analyses are pending for 2023 rock and soil samples, the company said.
The history of gold soil anomalies in the west-central region, spanning approximately 200 meters by 200-500 meters, reinforces the potential for significant mineral wealth. Previous samples from this area had shown anomalous gold values ranging between 5-67 parts per billion (ppb) gold. Additionally, rock samples from the same vicinity in 2022 had impressive returns of gold values at 0.63 grams per tonne (g/t), 0.98 g/t gold, and 1.83 g/t gold, strengthening the prospect's allure for potential drilling exploration.
Prospecting and rock geochemical sampling in the northwest region aimed to uncover precious metal and base metal mineralization. Thirteen rock samples were collected in this zone to assess mineral potential, particularly northwest of the historic Keymet Mine. These samples are currently undergoing analysis.
The Keymet Property, covering approximately 3,340 hectares and fully owned by Great Atlantic, boasts exceptional accessibility with paved roads intersecting the area, including a provincial highway. Notably, historical mining activities at the Keymet Mine, halted in the mid-1950s due to a fire, had yielded lead, zinc, copper, and silver. Recent discoveries of gold-bearing bedrock and polymetallic veins in this region further bolster the property's prospects.
While gold deposits are located southwest of the Keymet Property, known as the West Gabbro Zone, South Gold Zone, and Discovery Zone, Great Atlantic noted that it does not hold any interest in these specific deposits. The company cautioned that the presence of mineralization in these zones does not necessarily indicate similar potential on the Keymet Property.