Imperial Metals (TSX: III) has released new drill results from the newly discovered East Ridge zone of the Red Chris copper-gold mine, 80 km south of Dease Lake in B.C.
The East Ridge discovery is outside current resources.
At East Ridge, the best hole, RC684, returned 170 metres of 1.1 grams gold per tonne and 1.1% copper within a 344-metre section grading 0.70 gram gold per tonne and 0.75% copper from a depth of 776 metres.
In the Main zone, hole RC683 intersected 300 metres grading 0.41 gram gold and 0.5% copper from a depth of 200 metres. Included in this hole as a 114 metre intercept of 0.67 gram gold and 0.9% copper and 22 metres of 1.1 grams gold and 1.4% copper.
Previously reported hole RC684 intersected 252 metres grading 0.46 gram gold and 0.5% copper from 814 metres, including 98 metres at 0.85 gram gold and 0.5% copper and 16 metres of 1.2 grams gold and 1.2% copper.
There are currently eight diamond drill rigs turning at Red Chris.
Imperial holds a 30% interest in the mine and Australia's Newcrest Mining (TSX: NCM; ASX: NCM) purchased the balance in 2019 and became the operator.
The mine produced 88.3 million lb. of copper and 73,787 oz. of gold in 2020.
A prefeasibility study is underway on a potential underground block cave mine and the study is due mid-year.