Positive Exploration Results At All Producing Mines With New Zones And Targets Identified At All Operations
TORONTO - Yamana Gold Inc. reported exploration update for the Minera Florida, Cerro Moro, El Penon and Canadian Malartic mines. The exploration program at the Wasamac project has commenced, with plans for 120,000 meters of drilling for 2021 and 2022, including infill drilling of least 68,000 meters to better delineate areas expected to be developed in the first three years of production and 10,000 meters of drilling on the broader Wasamac property, along with drilling on the adjacent Francoeur projects. An update on the generative exploration program that will include initial exploration results at Wasamac will be provided before the end of the month.
The Company’s exploration program continues to generate promising new discoveries, indicating excellent potential to add new mineral reserves and mineral resources, consistent with the corporate strategy of extending mine life through depletion replacement on an annual basis. In addition, the commitment to near-mine exploration has defined significant new mineralized zones not currently in life of mine plans. Furthermore, drilling results to date support continuous production at current or higher production levels for at least the 10-year period outlined in the previously reported outlook with such production not dependent on exploration successes and, in most cases, between existing mineral inventories and exploration results to date, mine lives at all of the operations are supported for well in excess of that 10-year production outlook period.
At Minera Florida rilling in key production sectors of the mine, most notably Don Leopoldo and Fantasma, continues to expand mineralization along strike and down dip. Targets remain open in both directions, underscoring the potential for expansion of the mineral envelope in both sectors. At Don Leopoldo, positive drilling results were obtained in areas that remain open for further growth along strike and down dip. Highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 7.56 grams per tonne (“g/t”) of gold, 22.5 g/t of silver, and 1.24% of zinc over 5.99 meters (ALH3262); 6.82 g/t of gold, 13.4 g/t of silver and 1.29% of zinc over 3.02 meters (ALH3253). At Fantasma, positive drilling results were obtained from the northwestern sector of the vein, defining two parallel horizontal high-grade shoots. Highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 9.33 g/t of gold, 15.3 g/t of silver and 1.20% of zinc over 2.08 meters (ALH3239); 11.16 g/t of gold, 22.9 g/t of silver and 1.32% of zinc over 2.65 meters (ALH 3289).
The exploratory drilling at Minera Florida has generated new discoveries in the core mine area, including VNC and Juan Pablo, providing increased optionality for the mining operation and demonstrating the geological potential in the central Alhue block. Recent discovery of veins such as Cucaracha and Juan Pablo in new areas beyond the eastern and western limits of the central Alhue block, the historic focus of exploration and mining at Minera Florida, underscores the potential for further near-mine discoveries. The robust exploration results at Minera Florida support the plan for production increases at the operation.
Cerro Moro Exploration has expanded the known core mine veins at Cerro Moro with significant drill results, most notably at Zoe and Martina, providing an excellent opportunity for mineral resource growth in the near term, highlighting the continuity and potential of several sectors near current mining operations. At Zoe, positive drilling results show good continuity at depth. High-grade results over the following estimated true widths include: 34.71 g/t of gold and 3,264.5 g/t of silver over 3.47 meters (MD3173); 31.34 g/t of gold and 4,004.4 g/t of silver over 2.94 meters (MD3354). The Martina, drilling has defined the continuity of the main ore shoot generating new areas open to exploration. Highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 76.63 g/t of gold and 247.9 g/t of silver over 2.41 meters (MD3228); 84.80 g/t of gold and 69.2 g/t of silver over 2.31 meters (MD3240). Beyond the core mine, drilling at Naty has defined continuous shallow high-grade mineralization with further growth potential at depth. Highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 30.68 g/t of gold and 3,824.7 g/t of silver over 10.37 meters (MD3255); 56.27 g/t of gold and 109.7 g/t of silver over 4.29 meters (MD3270); and 102.39 g/t of gold and 1,051.0 g/t of silver over 2.89 meters (MD3271), demonstrating potential for further high-grade mineralization outside of the core mine area. District exploration continues to generate important exploration targets, including an emerging district to the south of Cerro Moro. Initial scout drilling at a number of major structures, including Naty NE, Cassius, Domos La Union, La Henriette, and Casper, have generated encouraging results.
At El Penon the exploration drilling continues to expand mineralization to depths below several producing sectors, most notably Paloma and Pampa Campamento, while a dedicated program targeting continuity of the main production vein systems at depth is advancing and supportive of planned production increases at El Penon. Drilling at Paloma continues to expand the mineral envelope in multiple sectors, which remain open for further growth. Highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 49.50 g/t of gold and 72.5 g/t of silver over 1.70 meters (SIU0028); 20.96 g/t of gold and 72.6 g/t of silver over 1.59 meters (SIU0014). At Pampa Campamento, infill drilling has confirmed the expanding mineral envelope to depth, which remains open for further exploration. Highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 33.54 g/t of gold and 68.7 g/t of silver over 0.69 meters (UIP0046); 9.89 g/t of gold and 752.6 g/t of silver over 1.68 meters (UIP0053). The Company has initiated a deep exploratory drilling program targeting extensions of the major producing vein systems at depth and to the south of the mine. Initial drill results show significant potential for discovery of blind continuations of the main vein systems.
The Canadian Malartic exploration program reports that infill drilling at East Gouldie continues to demonstrate strong intercepts and excellent continuity within the defined mineral envelope. Step out drilling to the east also exhibits good expansion potential, providing additional support for the planned Odyssey Underground Project. Exploration drilling collared on the Rand property has cut the East Gouldie structure at depth up to 1,260 meters east of the year-end 2020 mineral resource envelope with significant results in three drill holes. Drilling has also intercepted a new mineralized structure 400 meters south of East Gouldie. Exploration drilling below the East Amphi deposit has generated significant new intercepts expanding the mineralized envelope with new wide intervals of mineralization. Results to date strongly support the transition at Canadian Malartic to a large scale underground operation.
At Minera Florida, exploration results continue to expand known vein systems, such as at Don Leopoldo and Fantasma, and define new mineralized zones in the core mine, such as VCN and Juan Pablo. Infill drilling in 2021 included conversion of inferred resources as well as delineation drilling of select areas to increase confidence in higher grades areas within the mine plan. The latest drill results have also advanced the understanding and mineral potential of the east block, where the mineralized system is believed to continue at depth within this down-dropped structural block, representing a significant target for new areas close to existing mine infrastructure. Overall, exploration continues to expand the mineralized envelope to the east and west, and supports the plan for further production increases. The mine has an $11 million exploration budget with 52,000 meters of drilling planned for 2021, including 29,000 meters completed to date. The delineation drilling program at Minera Florida has focused on the Fantasma and Don Leopoldo sectors, with results expanding the mineral envelope and demonstrating potential for further growth in several directions.
Infill and delineation drilling at Don Leopoldo continues to generate positive results, confirming the presence of mineralization in the northwestern portion of this system, which indicates that the sector remains open for expansion toward its projected intersection with the Patagua vein. Drilling highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 7.56 g/t of gold, 22.5 g/t of silver and 1.24% of zinc over 5.99 meters (ALH3262); 6.82 g/t of gold, 13.4 g/t of silver and 1.29% of zinc over 3.02 meters (ALH3253). Step out exploratory drilling intersected the southeastern continuity of the Don Leopoldo vein, expanding the current envelope. Drilling highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 9.42 g/t of gold, 9.4 g/t of silver and 0.41% of zinc over 3.94 meters (ALH3114); 13.47 g/t of gold, 15.3 g/t of silver and 0.05% of zinc over 3.70 meters (ALH3124). The sector also remains open in the down plunge direction, where the deepest hole executed (ALH3145) returned the following estimated true width interval: 4.23 g/t of gold, 8.2 g/t of silver and 2.69% zinc over 2.73 meters.
At Fantasma, infill drilling has defined two separate, parallel mineralized zones along the northwestern section of this vein system 100 and 200 meters in length and close to mine infrastructure. Drilling highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 9.33 g/t of gold, 15.3 g/t of silver and 1.20% of zinc over 2.08 meters (ALH3239); 11.16 g/t of gold, 22.9 g/t of silver and 1.32% of zinc over 2.65 meters (ALH 3289). Step out exploratory drilling intersected the continuity of this system along the northwestern strike direction toward the Polvorin structure intersection. Drilling highlights include the following estimated true width intercept: 11.55 g/t of gold, 17.7 g/t of silver and 0.19% of zinc over 1.05 meters (ALH3269).
Recent exploration drilling within the core mine has also generated substantial results. A new discovery, the VCN sector, was defined by excellent results along a continuous 300-meter northwest strike direction. This vein may provide important flexibility to the mine operation. Drilling highlights at VCN include the following estimated true width intercepts: 13.99 g/t of gold, 4.3 g/t of silver and 0.42% of zinc over 3.11 meters (ALH3352); 36.87 g/t of gold, 22.3 g/t of silver and 7.02% of zinc over 3.52 meters (ALH 3330).
Further, structural reinterpretation and recent exploratory drilling at the nearby, previously mined, Juan Pablo sector, located east of Alhue block, has generated the following estimated true width intercepts: 5.81 g/t of gold, 4.9 g/t of silver and 0.26% of zinc over 0.91 meters (ALH3130); and 4.98 g/t of gold, 10.7 g/t of silver and 1.87% of zinc over 0.60 meters (ALH3051), showing continuity of mineralization in both the down dip and up dip directions. Significantly, exploratory drilling at Juan Pablo has revealed geological continuity of mineralized veins across the Alhue–East block structural boundary, where veining is displaced by a series of subparallel faults related to the through-going Maqui fault structure, opening up a large area for near-mine exploration. An exploratory drift is planned in this high potential block, with drilling expected to begin in late 2021 or in the first quarter of 2022.
As part of its efforts to expand beyond the east and west limits of the Alhue block and explore Minera Florida’s large land package, exploratory drilling identified a new vein system, Cucaracha, located 1.5 kilometers from the plant. The Cucaracha system is defined continuously for 300 meters along a northwest-southeast direction and over 100 meters down dip, and it remains open in all directions. Drilling highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 4.48 g/t of gold, 5.5 g/t of silver and 3.19% of zinc over 2.54 meters (ALH3272); 11.01 g/t of gold, 5.6 g/t of silver and 2.27% of zinc over 1.39 meters (ALH3281).
Recent exploration results at Minera Florida continue to demonstrate the significant upside potential of the Minera Florida District. New sectors such as Don Leopoldo and Fantasma highlight the opportunity to expand the mineral resource base and extend life of mine, while new discoveries in the core block such as VNC represent important contributors for new mineral resources close to mine infrastructure, providing flexibility for the mining operation. In addition, advances in understanding of the structural setting at Minera Florida have demonstrated the continuity of the Alhue vein system east of the central Alhue block at Juan Pablo, highlighting a large near-mine area that is being evaluated for its exploration potential. Furthermore, new discoveries in the West block such as Cucaracha continue to demonstrate the exploration upside adjacent to mine infrastructure. These discoveries confirm the presence of a much wider mineralized system around the historic mine area than previously understood and offer excellent potential for future growth and mine life extensions.
At Cerro Moro, the exploration program continues to generate good results in both the infill and exploration programs, with positive intercepts in areas of the core mine and from district exploration. Infill drilling included both conversion of inferred resources and significant delineation drilling in the first two quarters of the year, increasing the drill density in key areas of the mine to improve confidence in mine planning and confirming higher grade sectors. Drilling at producing sectors along the main Escondida trend indicate that the vein systems remain open for expansion. At Naty, this new discovery continues to provide significant drilling intercepts, defining a shallow mineable mineral envelope that remains open down plunge to the northeast. District exploration continues to advance the evaluation of the large Cerro Moro land package, generating new exploration targets at regional-scale structures that bear similarities to structures hosting the core mine deposits, with associated surface geochemical anomalies. The mine has a $18 million exploration budget in 2021 with 55,000 meters of drilling planned for the year and 41,000 meters drilled to date.
In addition, positive column leach tests on near-surface vein material and internal studies suggest the opportunity for a low-cost heap leach operation. Exploration has designed a $1.9 million program to delineate near-surface mineral resource opportunities that is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2021. Mineral resource delineation will proceed in conjunction with further metallurgical testing, engineering, and internal evaluations to advance this opportunity.
At the Cerro Moro mine, delineation and exploratory drilling programs expanded several producing vein systems hosted along the Escondida trend, most notably at the Zoe and Martina targets. Step out drilling results indicate the continuity of mineralization at these sectors, opening up significant near mine potential to support mineral resource growth potentially supporting a plant expansion. Internal studies completed in the first half of 2021 indicate that doubling of the plant throughput to 2,200 tonnes per day could be achieved with modest capital investment and would significantly reduce processing costs per tonne. The Company has now commenced a metallurgical test work program and pre-feasibility study in anticipation of ongoing exploration success.
At Zoe, infill, delineation, and exploratory drilling generated strong results, confirming continuity along strike and to depth of high-grade mineralization, extending the mineralized zone by 300 meters laterally and 200 meters down dip adjacent to current mine development. Notable results include the following estimated true width intercepts: 34.71 g/t of gold and 3,264.5 g/t of silver over 3.47 meters (MD3173); 31.34 g/t of gold and 4,004.4 g/t of silver over 2.94 meters (MD3354); and 59.76 g/t of gold and 5,386.0 g/t of silver over 2.72 meters (MD3369).
Step out exploratory drilling down dip extended the mineral envelope for an additional 200 meters where mineralization remains open to depth. Drilling highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 8.04 g/t of gold and 532.5 g/t of silver over 2.61 meters (MD3419); 6.91 g/t of gold and 30.7 g/t of silver over 3.25 meters (MD3318). To the west, exploratory drilling intercepted the continuity of mineralization along strike, suggesting the system also remains open in this direction. Results include the following estimated true width intercept: 8.15 g/t of gold, 161.3 g/t of silver over 1.43 meters (MD3428).
At Martina, infill and delineation drilling continues to define the continuity of the main horizontal ore shoot along a 300 meter east-west corridor, with the following notable estimated true width intercepts: 76.63 g/t of gold and 247.9 g/t of silver over 2.41 meters (MD3228); 27.05 g/t of gold and 238.7 g/t of silver over 2.40 meters (MD3226); and 84.80 g/t of gold with 69.2 g/t of silver over 2.31 meters (MD3240). Additionally, exploratory drilling has extended the mineralization eastward from the main zone and provided new potential areas for a step out drilling program. Recent estimated true width intercepts include: 7.25 g/t of gold and 5.7 g/t of silver over 2.19 meters (MD3373); 4.60 g/t of gold and 59.0 g/t of silver, over 1.24 meters (MD3382).
Naty is a recently discovered vein system located 25 kilometers south of the Cerro Moro mine complex and represented by shallow mineralization associated with black silica hydrothermal alteration, a key marker in high-grade veins at Cerro Moro. Exploratory and infill drilling during the last year has defined a continuous mineralized envelope extending 900 meters along a northeast-southwest direction, gently plunging northeast, where it remains open. Recent drilling results include the following estimated true width intercepts: 30.68 g/t of gold and 3,824.7 g/t of silver over 10.37 meters (MD3255); 25.91 g/t of gold and 36.9 g/t of silver over 2.98 meters (MD3256); 56.97 g/t of gold and 109.70 g/t of silver over 4.29 meters (MD3270); and 102.39 g/t of gold and 1,051.0 g/t of silver over 2.89 meters (MD3271).
Exploratory drilling has defined a second new shallow mineralized vein, possibly a secondary structure, with the following estimated true width intercepts: 5.86 g/t of gold and 43.5 g/t of silver over 3.99 meters (MD2939); 5.37 g/t of gold and 146.1 g/t of silver over 3.98 meters (MD3128).
Systematic exploration of the large Cerro Moro property surrounding the mine area, which exceeds 300,000 hectares, continued with combined soil and rock geochemistry programs, ground geophysics, surface geological and alteration mapping and reconnaissance drilling. Over the last year, this program has advanced several target areas located south of Cerro Moro, where several major structures and associated surface geochemical anomalies were identified, most notably Naty NE, Cassius, Domos La Union, La Henriette, and Casper. Reconnaissance drilling has identified new mineralized zones for further testing and definition drilling in multiple sectors. The most notable of these is Cassius, which is located two kilometers south of Cerro Moro and hosted by a major northwest-striking structure that parallels the productive Escondida trend. Initial drilling at Cassius encountered a zone of black silica mineralization, which returned an estimated true width intercept of 57.67 g/t of gold and 186.5 g/t of silver over 0.79 meters at 444.16 meters hole depth (MD3453). This new discovery is currently being followed up with additional drilling.
Positive exploration results along the Escondida trend, an expanding mineral envelope at Naty, and the discovery of a new structure parallel to Escondida are contributing to the goal of mine life extension, with year-on-year depletion replacement. Exploration is targeting several high priority areas with veins that have the potential to contain greater than one kilometer of strike length, representing opportunities to generate new discoveries that may be important drivers of future growth.
At El Peñón, core mine exploration continues to define mineralization at depth on the Paloma and Pampa Campamento veins, providing excellent potential for mineral resource expansion and supporting the plan for production increases. In addition, a recently initiated exploratory drilling program has confirmed the presence of the favorable rhyolite mineral host lithology preserved at depth along the southern extension of a major mineralized structure, suggesting the continuity of the Penon system south of the core mine area. The mine has an exploration budget of $18 million with 128,000 meters of drilling planned in 2021 and 88,000 meters completed to date.
Infill drilling at Paloma continues to expand the mineral envelope down dip, with significant drilling intercepts. Drilling highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 20.96 g/t of gold and 72.6 g/t of silver over 1.59 meters (SIU0014) 49.50 g/t of gold and 72.5 g/t of silver over 1.70 meters (SIU0028). Exploration drilling continues to extend mineralization to depth, highlighted by the following estimated true width intercept: 25.71 g/t of gold and 97.8 g/t of silver over 1.24 meters (UEU0028).
At Pampa Campamento, infill drilling has confirmed the current mineral resource over 300 meters in the down dip direction in the central part of the sector where mineralization remains open at depth. Drilling highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 33.54 g/t of gold and 68.7 g/t of silver over 0.69 meters (UIP0046); 9.89 g/t of gold and 752.6 g/t of silver over 1.68 meters (UIP0053). In the north sector of this vein, exploratory drilling defined a subvertical mineralized zone 100 meters wide and extending 300 meters down dip. Results include the following estimated true width intercepts: 9.90 g/t of gold and 44.8 g/t of silver over 1.02 meters (SEP0010); 9.98 g/t of gold and 15.2 g/t of silver over 0.72 meters (SEP0006).
The Company recently initiated a brownfield program dedicated to the systematic exploration of large unexplored volumes of the favorable rhyolite host stratigraphy directly along strike of the major producing veins. These areas remain unexplored due to the presence of unmineralized cover rocks that are capable of concealing a large vein system (i.e. greater than two kilometers cumulative extent). As part of this program, the Company recently launched an aggressive exploratory drilling program focusing along the projected strike extension of the major vein systems at Quebrada Orito, Quebrada Colorada, and Bonanza.
At Quebrada Orito, one of the largest veins on the El Penon property, an initial vertical exploratory drill hole, collared one kilometer along the southern projection of the Orito structure, confirmed the presence of the favorable host rhyolite unit at depth, and intersected a zone of strongly hydrothermally altered, mineralized tuff directly overlying the rhyolite hosting quartz veining. The vein interval assayed 1.26 g/t of gold and 48.6 g/t of silver over a core length of 4.00 meters, including a sub-interval which graded 8.10 g/t of gold and 135.2 g/t of silver over a core length of 0.50 meters (SDX-0609). These results confirm the continuation of the favorable rhyolite stratigraphy up to at least one kilometer south along the projection of the Quebrada Orito vein at depth. Furthermore, the presence of mineralization in this section of the property is encouraging and lends support to the underlying exploration premise.
The potential at the El Peñón core mine is further underpinned by the project’s excellent track record of mineral resource discovery, continuous depletion replacement, and 22 years of continuous production. With the existence of excess plant capacity at El Penon coupled with recent exploration results and new targets along trend of this major vein system, the Company expects to utilize that plant capacity and increase production. Furthermore, the Company believes there is excellent potential for long-term growth at El Penon beyond the mine life suggested by the mine’s current mineral reserve inventory.
Exploration at Canadian Malartic continues to focus on definition of the Odyssey Underground Project predominantly through definition drilling of the East Gouldie deposit. Infill, expansion and exploration drilling of the East Gouldie structure have all returned excellent results to date highlighting the exceptional continuity and size of the zone. The district exploration program has discovered a deep eastern extension of the East Gouldie structure as well as a new zone located 400 meters south of East Gouldie and intercepted further promising mineralization below the known East Amphi deposit. These results support the continued growth of Canadian Malartic as it transitions from an open pit mine to a large underground operation with a decades long mine life.
The East Gouldie zone was discovered in late 2018 and the first mineral resource was published in December 2019. Exploration in 2021 at Canadian Malartic has prioritized definition drilling at East Gouldie, reducing drill spacing in the mineral resource area to 75 meter spacing. To date in 2021, 65,967 meters have been completed at East Gouldie, providing 87 new pierce points within the East Gouldie mineral inventory. Results continue to confirm that the grade, width, and overall shape of the orebody are consistent with previously reported intercepts used for mineral resource estimation.
Drilling highlights in the East Gouldie infill area include the following estimated true width intercepts: 6.2 g/t of gold over 61.7 meters including 10.9 g/t gold over 21.0 meters at 1,102 meters depth (MEX19-154WC); 6.8 g/t gold of gold over 41.4 meters at 1,069 meters depth, including 10.4 g/t gold over 20.6 meters (MEX21-208); 7.9 g/t of gold over 25.5 meters at 1,496 meters depth (MEX21-203R). These results continue to define high grade zones within the broader mineralized envelope. Step out drilling beyond the mineral resource envelope reported at year-end 2020 has extended the mineralized envelope to the east with two drill holes cutting significant mineralization. Extension drilling highlights include the following estimated true width intercepts: 11.6 g/t of gold over 4.9 meters at 1,487 meters depth (MEX 20-180W); 2.0 g/t gold over 20.5 meters at 1,588 meters depth (MEX21-202) as the best interval in a wide zone of mineralization with five discrete reported intercepts.
Three drills continued to work on the regional exploration program, with drilling concluded at East Amphi and on the eastern extension of East Gouldie from the Rand property.
East Amphi is located three kilometers northwest of the Canadian Malartic pit. To date, 7,900 meters of drilling have been completed at East Amphi and results indicate the presence of significant mineralization at depth below the historic workings. Two zones are being defined with new intercepts in the Nessie zone of 2.16 g/t of gold over an estimated true width of 17.19 meters in drill hole EA20-4187, and 14.13 g/t of gold over an estimated true width of 1.70 meters in drill hole EA21-4196. Follow up drilling of the adjacent Kraken zone, returned an intercept of 2.01 g/t of gold over an estimated true width of 29.77 meters. This interval is tentatively interpreted to consist of both the Nessie and Kraken zones where they converge along strike.
As previously reported, exploration drilling conducted earlier this year on the Rand property targeting the projected down plunge extension of the East Gouldie zone encountered significant mineralization in drill hole RD21-4680A, with an intercept located 1,150 meters from the eastern limit of the East Gouldie mineral resources reported at year-end 2020. Follow-up drilling in this area has generated two new widely separated intercepts, reported as estimated true widths in the projected plane of East Gouldie: 1.84 g/t of gold over 4.57 meters including 3.78 g/t of gold over an estimated true width of 1.75 meters (RD 20-4674); 6.29 g/t of gold over an estimated true width of 4.81 meters (RD21-4678).
Extending hole RD20-4674 into the footwall of the East Gouldie zone resulted in the discovery of a new sub-parallel zone located 400 meters south of the East Gouldie extension reporting 3.50 g/t of gold over an estimated true width of 9.26 meters, while an extension of previously reported RD20-4680A reported 1.94 g/t of gold over an estimated true width of 5.04 meters, also in the new zone.
These new results extend the East Gouldie zone 1,260 meters beyond the reported East Gouldie mineral resource and onto the Rand Malartic property. Combined with the extension hole MEX 21-202 reported above, there is now a strong target area potential for follow up drilling up dip from the new intercepts. All intervals in the East Gouldie Extension and the new zone consist of sheared metasedimentary rocks of the Pontiac Group, with pyrite mineralization associated with sericite, carbonate, and chlorite alteration.
The 2021 budget for infill and exploration drilling on the Odyssey Underground Project is $11.9 million (50% basis) with the objective of completing 141,400 meters of drilling, largely on the East Gouldie deposit. The district exploration budget was increased from $3.2 million (50% basis) to $4.4 million (50% basis) to drill an additional four pierce points into the newly defined eastern extension of the East Gouldie zone.