Historical exploration
Mineral exploration drilling at Basin Gulch
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More than 320 historical drill holes have tested the Basin Gulch property, according to Lannister Mining.
Mineral exploration drilling is how a company samples rock below the surface to measure where gold and silver occur and at what grade. At Basin Gulch, that work is already extensive, and Lannister Mining plans to use it, together with new programs, toward a maiden mineral resource estimate.
What did historical drilling find at Basin Gulch?
Historical drilling at Basin Gulch returned long, near-surface gold intercepts and some short, very high grade ones. The longest highlight is 0.66 g/t Au over 326 meters from surface; the highest grade is 156 g/t Au over 3 meters. These are historical results, not a current resource estimate.
1.8 g/t Auover 162 m (531.5 ft), from surface
0.66 g/t Auover 326 m (1,069.6 ft), from surface
3.2 g/t Auover 72 m (236.2 ft), from surface
156 g/t Auover 3 m (9.8 ft)
25 g/t Auover 14 m (45.9 ft)
Highlight drill hole intersections
| Gold grade | Length (m) | Length (ft) | Starts at surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 g/t Au | 162 | 531.5 | Yes |
| 0.66 g/t Au | 326 | 1,069.6 | Yes |
| 3.2 g/t Au | 72 | 236.2 | Yes |
| 156 g/t Au | 3 | 9.8 | Not stated |
| 25 g/t Au | 14 | 45.9 | Not stated |
Trench highlights
Trenches expose rock at surface for channel sampling. The company reports these trench highlights, which include silver alongside gold:
| Gold | Silver | Length (m) | Length (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 g/t Au | 32 g/t Ag | 159 | 521.7 |
| 4 g/t Au | 23 g/t Ag | 146 | 479 |
| 5 g/t Au | 54 g/t Ag | 34 | 111.6 |
| 25 g/t Au | 45 g/t Ag | 61 | 200.1 |
How to read a drill intercept
An intercept pairs a grade with a length. In 1.8 g/t Au over 162 meters, the hole passed through 162 meters of rock averaging 1.8 grams of gold per tonne. A long intercept at moderate grade and a short one at very high grade can describe very different kinds of deposit.
Geologists often multiply the two into grade-thickness, in gram-meters, to compare intercepts on one scale. Lengths are drilled lengths; true widths depend on the angle between the hole and the mineralized zone.
Why the drilling record matters
Starting with more than 320 holes means Lannister Mining is not searching blind. Confirmation drilling can test whether historical results reproduce under modern methods, and expansion drilling can step out from known mineralization into the two-thirds of the property still unexplored.
The company says Basin Gulch could host a significant maiden mineral resource estimate after this expansion and confirmation drilling of historical intercepts.
Grade-thickness worksheet
Compare any intercept on the same scale. Enter a grade and a length from the tables above, for example 1.8 and 162, to see its grade-thickness in gram-meters.
Mineral exploration drilling methods
Mineral exploration drilling companies mostly use two methods. Reverse circulation drilling breaks rock into chips that are blown to surface for sampling; it is fast and comparatively low cost. Diamond core drilling cuts a solid cylinder of rock, which preserves structure and geology for detailed logging and assays. Programs often use reverse circulation to cover ground and core to understand it.
Specific methods for future Basin Gulch programs would be described in company announcements. For the bigger picture, see the stages of mineral exploration or return to Lannister Mining among gold exploration companies.
Common questions
- How many holes have been drilled at Basin Gulch?
More than 320 historical drill holes, according to Lannister Mining. That drilling record is central to the company case: it gives geologists existing data on where mineralization occurs and at what grades, which can guide confirmation drilling and help plan expansion drilling into new areas.
See this answer in the full FAQ- What are the best historical drill results at Basin Gulch?
Highlights reported by the company include 1.8 g/t Au over 162 meters from surface, 0.66 g/t Au over 326 meters from surface, 3.2 g/t Au over 72 meters from surface, 156 g/t Au over 3 meters, and 25 g/t Au over 14 meters. These are historical results, not a current mineral resource estimate.
See this answer in the full FAQ- What does g/t Au mean?
It means grams of gold per tonne of rock. A result of 1.8 g/t Au over 162 meters means a drill hole intersected 162 meters of rock averaging 1.8 grams of gold in each tonne. Grade and length together describe an intercept; neither number means much on its own.
See this answer in the full FAQ- What are trench results?
Trench results come from samples cut along trenches dug across the ground surface, rather than from drill holes. They show what is exposed at or near surface. Lannister Mining reports trench highlights at Basin Gulch including 4 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over 146 meters and 25 g/t Au and 45 g/t Ag over 61 meters.
See this answer in the full FAQ- Why does historical drilling matter to investors?
Historical drilling can shorten the path to a resource estimate. Instead of starting from scratch, a company can verify past intercepts with confirmation drilling, then expand from known mineralization. Lannister Mining states that historical drilling and new work programs will be used in a future maiden mineral resource estimate at Basin Gulch.
See this answer in the full FAQ- What is confirmation drilling?
Confirmation drilling re-drills close to historical holes to check that past results can be reproduced with modern methods and quality control. It helps bring older data up to current reporting standards. Lannister Mining says Basin Gulch could host a significant maiden mineral resource estimate after expansion and confirmation drilling of historical intercepts.
See this answer in the full FAQ- What types of drilling do mineral exploration companies use?
The two most common are reverse circulation drilling, which returns rock chips quickly and at lower cost, and diamond core drilling, which recovers solid cylinders of rock for detailed geology and assays. Many programs use both. Methods planned for Basin Gulch would be set out in the company work program announcements and presentation.
See this answer in the full FAQ