The Aibetsu Project area now comprises 22 applications for a total of 7,034.5 hectares
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has accepted thirteen new prospecting rights applications at the Aibetsu Project extending the area further to the north and east. The new applications cover prospective areas of mapped alteration and mineralization centered along northeast trending structures that extend out of the existing applications at Aibetsu.
The Metal Mining Agency of Japan completed regional stream geochemical sampling within the newly extended applications area which shows elevated gold and arsenic values associated with mapped alteration in the same order of magnitude as those occurring within the pre-existing applications around the historically mined mineralization at Aibetsu. The Aibetsu Project area now comprises 22 applications for a total of 7,034.5 hectares.
Within the pre-existing applications, the Company plans to infill and extend southwards, from previous MMAJ mapping and soil geochemical sampling completed over the Tokusei mine area, to define new drill targets. Surveying and clearing of grid-lines to allow access for mapping and soil sampling over an approximate 5 km by 4 km area commenced in mid-May 2017, soil sampling is expected to commence in mid-June 2017. Mapping conducted along some recently cut grid lines has confirmed the presence of silica capping and sinter outcrops on Mt Maruyama above the Tokusei veins, indicating that limited erosion has occurred and that the vein systems are therefore well preserved.
John Proust, Japan Gold Chairman & CEO, commented, "We are pleased to expand our position at Aibetsu. Based on historical information and confirmation from recent mapping, erosion in the area appears to be limited, increasing the chance for discovery of well-preserved epithermal systems throughout the Aibetsu Project."