Westhaven Drills 5.66 Metres of 6.83 g/t Gold and 1.90 Metres of 21.15 g/t Gold at the Skoonka Creek Gold Property

 

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westhaven Gold Corp. (TSX-V:WHN) is pleased to announce initial drill results from its recently completed drill campaign at its 100% owned Skoonka Creek gold property. Skoonka Creek is located within the prospective Spences Bridge Gold Belt (SBGB), a four-hour drive from Vancouver, and 12 km northeast of Lytton, BC.

Westhaven is reporting assays for 11 holes from its Fall drill campaign at Skoonka Creek. An additional 5 holes are in the lab pending assay.

Gareth Thomas, President & CEO, comments: “Westhaven’s inaugural drill program at Skoonka Creek has surpassed our expectations, not only where gold was drilled historically, but in areas that had not previously been drill-tested. Both high-grade gold mineralization, and broad, lower-grade gold zones were encountered. This bodes well for future targeting on what is a prospective property within the Spences Bridge Gold Belt and strengthens management’s belief in the district-scale potential of this largely untested gold belt.” Thomas goes on to add, “Westhaven is starting 2023 with a strong treasury and planning has begun for a follow-up exploration program at Skoonka Creek.”

Skoonka Creek Highlights:

• SC22-006: 1.90 metres (m) of 21.15 g/t Au (gold) and 13.65 g/t Ag (silver) was intercepted within 48.05m of 1.28 g/t Au and 1.29 g/t Ag starting near surface.
   
• SC22-005: 5.66m of 6.83 g/t Au and 4.60 g/t Ag, including 2.77m of 12.35 g/t Au and 7.75 g/t Ag was intercepted within 48.00m of 1.07 g/t Au and 1.11 g/t Ag.
   
• Extended the previously known gold-silver mineralization along strike by 900m (Please see plan map below).

Peter Fischl, Exploration Manager, comments: “The 2022 drilling at Skoonka Creek confirmed the bonanza gold grades previously encountered in historic drilling at the JJ target. The higher-grade intercepts are contained in epithermal quartz veins comprising the JJ vein zone. The historic and 2022 drilling targeting the JJ vein zone has also intersected gold mineralization contained in up to four discrete gently south dipping horizons varying from several metres to about 40 metres in thickness proximal to the JJ vein zone (see cross-sections below). This mineralization lies mostly in the vein zone footwall at shallower depths above 1450m elevation, and in the vein zone hanging wall at depths below 1450m elevation. These horizons consist of bleached, clay-carbonate (+/- pyrite, +/-silica) altered and hematized andesite and basalt breccias that tend to be veined and brecciated by calcite (+/- iron carbonate, +/- zeolite).” Fischl goes on to add, “Broad step out holes farther to the west at the JJ-West target encountered similar mineralization in the vein zone footwall, hosted in bleached and clay-carbonate altered andesites and andesite breccias but over greater widths in hole SC22-014B (0.19 g/t Au over 98.64m, 127.95-226.59m). This gold endowment in the system here, 600m southwest of the drilled portion of the JJ vein zone, suggests the potential for continuation of mineralization over this untested strike length. I believe what was intersected in hole SC22-015, located 300m to the southwest of SC22-014B at the JJ-West target, is likely the diffusely veined upper part of the system. Future drilling will target an undercut to see if the vein zone focusses down to a more constricted but stronger zone with better grades as is often typical of high-grade gold epithermal systems.”

New intersections of quartz veining and gold mineralization at JJ West, combined with those at JJ suggest the presence of an epithermal system extending over a strike length of 1.6km. The trend remains open to both the northeast and southwest (see the attached Plan Maps and the Westhaven Press Release of November 21, 2022). Additional mineralized trends on the Skoonka Creek property have been identified from previous surface mapping/trenching and confirmed by a limited amount of historical drilling.

Table of Results:

Hole_ID	Zone	From (m)	To (m)	Int (m)	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	High Au (ppb)
SC22-001	JJ	19.43	38.04	18.61	1.18	1.43	13200
including		32.27	34.10	1.83	7.92	7.60	13200
including		32.27	33.00	0.73	13.20	12.20	13200
and		86.30	101.38	15.08	0.29	0.42	392
and		149.42	169.58	20.16	0.39	0.59	1080
SC22-002	JJ	22.24	23.42	1.18	0.83	1.78	825
and		28.91	43.42	14.51	0.50	0.62	3780
including		37.35	38.40	1.05	3.78	2.28	3780
and		70.37	75.00	4.63	0.34	0.45	402
and		81.00	103.36	22.36	0.32	0.52	1400
including		97.44	99.46	2.02	1.40	1.79	1400
and		133.12	141.00	7.88	1.55	1.79	2250
including		135.00	138.00	3.00	2.25	2.04	2250
SC22-003	JJ	36.20	49.68	13.48	2.14	1.63	12900
including		47.67	49.68	2.01	10.36	4.89	12900
and		53.00	54.00	1.00	1.05	0.49	1050
and		73.37	94.41	21.04	0.52	0.85	852
and		138.00	139.00	1.00	0.36	0.68	363
SC22-004	JJ	61.00	81.83	20.83	0.45	0.44	4750
including		79.85	80.61	0.76	4.75	1.88	4750
and		98.93	156.00	57.07	0.74	0.42	7440
including		147.94	150.95	3.01	7.44	2.70	7440
and		172.75	176.78	4.03	0.52	0.08	834
SC22-005	JJ	37.32	47.53	10.21	0.93	2.10	3540
including		37.32	42.38	5.06	1.83	4.11	3540
and		51.00	99.00	48.00	1.07	1.11	28900
including		52.70	58.36	5.66	6.83	4.60	28900
including		55.03	57.80	2.77	12.35	7.75	28900
SC22-006	JJ	8.85	56.90	48.05	1.28	1.29	38400
including		24.66	26.56	1.90	21.15	13.65	38400
SC22-007	JJ	107.00	125.00	18.00	0.62	0.69	4500
including		119.00	120.35	1.35	4.50	3.51	4500
SC22-008	JJ	108.48	120.40	11.92	0.30	0.44	515
and		134.74	136.76	2.02	1.10	1.06	1455
and		177.00	180.00	3.00	0.35	0.25	348
SC22-009	JJ	assays pending
SC22-010	JJ	no significant assay					37
SC22-011	JJ	assays pending
SC22-012	JJ	assays pending
SC22-013	JJ	assays pending
SC22-014	JJ West	assays pending
SC22-014B	JJ West	87.40	92.80	5.40	0.29	0.22	384
and		127.95	129.21	1.26	4.40	5.31	4400
and		142.99	156.00	13.01	0.30	0.21	2430
including		144.62	145.70	1.08	2.43	1.06	2430
and		196.70	199.14	2.44	0.29	0.18	288
and		219.00	226.59	7.59	0.61	0.91	1515
including		223.25	224.93	1.68	1.52	2.10	1515
and		312.88	323.85	10.97	0.29	0.32	2020
including		312.88	313.36	0.48	2.02	1.94	2020
SC22-015	JJ West	184.64	185.89	1.25	0.50	0.73	617

JJ Zone:

The primary target at the JJ Zone is high-grade epithermal, bonanza style, gold mineralization associated with quartz veining and quartz breccias, which were successfully intersected over various widths in all eight holes being reported herein (SC22-01 to SC22-08 - see table). 2022 drilling intersected the JJ vein zone over a strike length of 440m with a series of twelve holes spaced 25 to 185m apart. Combined with historic drilling, the vein zone extends over a strike length of 590m with a down dip extent of up to 240m from surface. Drilling also intersected significant intervals of lower grade gold mineralization, primarily in the footwall below the JJ Zone (for example, SC22-003 with 0.52 g/t Au and 0.85 g/t Ag over 21.04m from 73.37-94.41m). This footwall mineralization is associated with brecciation, alteration and quartz-carbonate veining occurring in various host rocks (predominantly andesites and basalts). Results to date suggest that the relative location of this footwall zone varies slightly with respect to the JJ veining, likely as a result of both structural control and host rock mineralogy/rheology. Pending laboratory analyses for 5 other holes completed during the 2022 drill program are expected to help better define the extent of this footwall mineralization.

JJ West:

Three drill holes were collared in 2022 at the previously untested JJ West exploration target (SC22-014, 014B and 015). Hole SC22-014B (see table) was drilled on section 4400E, some 600m southwest of the nearest holes at the JJ Zone. It was drilled at a dip of -55 as an undercut to hole SC22-014 (dip of -45), which was lost in a fault at 98m depth. The JJ vein zone was intersected at 68.5-72.6m. Farther below, in the vein zone footwall, there are thick sections of andesite breccia at 89.63-142.99m and andesite at 142.99-223.25m that are variably bleached, locally very pyritic, and cut by trace to 1% millimetre scale, sometimes banded quartz-pyrite veins. These sections host a number of lower grade intervals. The higher gold and arsenic grades tend to be associated with stronger bleaching and sometimes with stronger quartz-pyrite veining. Farther down hole, in the middle of a thick lapilli tuff horizon at 230.04–450m (EOH), there is an interval of low grade associated with some hydrothermally brecciated tuff at 312.88-313.36m that is healed by 10% pale grey to white chalcedony. The lower grade halo to this alteration zone extends into an underlying basalt dyke at 319.68-323.85m.

Hole SC22-015 was drilled on section 4100E at JJ-West, 300m southwest of SC22-014B and 900m along strike from the JJ Zone. It intersected the JJ vein zone at 152.9-228.4m, consisting of 1% pale grey to white massive to banded chalcedony veins to 4cm in basalt, some with hairline bands of black ginguro with elevated molybdenum and arsenic. The zone is cored by a quartz breccia vein at 185.43-185.89m containing 55 to 65% pale grey to white chalcedony, where 0.50 g/t Au, 0.73 g/t Ag were intercepted over 1.25m (184.64-185.89m). A secondary zone of strongly bleached basalt within the vein zone at 198-211m returned elevated gold values as follows; 0.158 Au, 0.29 Ag over 9.10m (202.23-211.33m).

On behalf of the Board of Directors
WESTHAVEN GOLD CORP.

Gareth Thomas

Gareth Thomas, President, CEO & Director

Qualified Person Statement

Peter Fischl, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 has read and takes responsibility for this release.

QA/QC

Core samples were prepared using the PREP-31 package in ALS’s Kamloops facility. Each core sample is crushed to better than 70 % passing a 2 mm (Tyler 9 mesh, US Std. No.10) screen. A split of 250 g is taken and pulverized to better than 85 % passing a 75-micron (Tyler 200 mesh, US Std. No. 200) screen. 0.75g of this pulverized split is digested by Four Acid and analyzed via ICP-MS (method code ME-MS61m (+Hg)), which reports a 49-element suite of elements. All samples are analyzed by Fire Assay with an AES finish, method code Au-ICP21 (30g sample size). Additional Au screening is performed using ALS’s Au-SCR24 method, select samples are dry screened to 100 microns. A duplicate 50g fire assay is conducted on the undersized fraction as well as an assay on the entire oversize fraction. Total Au content, individual assays and weight fractions are reported. All analytical and assay procedures are conducted in ALS’s North Vancouver facility. A QA/QC program included laboratory and field standards inserted every 25 samples. At least one field blank is inserted in every batch of 25 samples, with additional blanks inserted following samples with visible gold. Westhaven’s ongoing Quality Assurance and Quality Control programs include auditing of all exploration data. Any significant changes will be reported when available.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Westhaven Gold Corp.

Westhaven is a gold-focused exploration company advancing four properties within the prospective Spences Bridge Gold Belt (SBGB), in Southern British Columbia, Canada. The SBGB is situated within a geological setting similar to those which host other significant epithermal gold-silver systems. Westhaven controls 37,000 hectares (370 square kilometres) across this underexplored belt including the Shovelnose, Skoonka Creek, Skoonka North and Prospect Valley gold properties.  All of these properties benefit from proximity to infrastructure which translates into low-cost exploration. Westhaven trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol WHN. For further information, please call 604-681-5558 or visit Westhaven’s website at www.westhavengold.com.

Maps accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e00750fc-86a4-4692-bc1b-62796efab498

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80372b14-103e-4df7-a47e-c276a676d8f6

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/daa18a8b-89fd-45a1-8f58-fda49b506f3e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37320c21-13a8-4808-87a2-a0a49cdda95d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96cd4fd9-e2f2-4f86-bf27-849502519994