Kirkland Lake Gold (TSX: KL; NYSE: KL) announced results from 25 holes (19,523 metres) and one wedge hole (1,110 metres) of drilling at the Detour Lake property in northern Ontario.
Significant results from the drilling included 4.38 grams gold per tonne over 31.0 metres, including 47.46 grams gold over 2.0 metres and 5.45 grams gold over 3.2 metres, from drillhole DLM-20-028; and 1.50 grams gold over 75 metres, including 3.59 grams gold over 23 metres, 1.33 grams gold over 14.7 metres, 0.87 gram gold over 30.9 metres and 0.78 gram gold over 21 metres from hole DLM-20-035, both at the east portion of Saddle Zone, located between the Main Pit and West Pit locations.
Drilling in the central portion of the Saddle Zone included five holes (4,563.5 metres) and targeted the DMT approximately midway between the current reserve pits for the Main and West pits and between 100 metres and 500 metres below surface.
Highlights from the drilling included 1.10 grams gold over 67 metres, 2.53 grams gold over 18 metres, 0.83 gram gold over 27.7 metres, and 0.94 gram gold over 24 metres, including 15.91 grams gold over 2 metres, from hole DLM-20-022; and 2.65 grams gold over 24 metres, including 9.14 grams gold over 5 metres, 0.80 gram gold over 79 metres, 1.94 grams gold over 13.6 metres, from hole DLM-20-046B
The results "provide further evidence that a much larger and higher-grade deposit exists around the Main Pit and West Pit locations at Detour Lake Mine than is currently included in mineral reserves," Tony Makuch, Kirkland Lake Gold's president and CEO, commented in a press release.
"We continue to intersect broad zones of mineralization in the Saddle Zone between the two pits, which demonstrates the potential for continuous mineralization over a very large area and supports our view that a much larger pit design concept may be warranted leading to substantial Mineral Reserve growth, increased levels of production and improved unit costs."
According to the company, exploration work at Detour Lake is ongoing with eight drills currently working, and on track to complete approximately 70,000 metres by the end of 2020.
The company plans to increase the number of drills to between ten and twelve early in the new year.
This year's revised production guidance for Detour Lake (updated at the end of June) stands at 520,000 oz. to 540,000 oz. at operating cash costs of US$720 to US$740 per oz. sold.
This article first appeared in MINING.com, part of Glacier Resource Innovation Group.