Hercules Silver Reports Broad Intervals of Silver Including 112.2 Meters of 193 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn at the Hercules Adit and Belmont Zones
Hercules Silver Reports Broad Intervals of
Silver Including 112.2 Meters of 193 g/t Ag,
0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn at the Hercules Adit and
Belmont Zones
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 28, 2024) -
Hercules Silver Corp.
(TSXV: BIG) (OTCQB:
BADEF) (FSE: 8Q7)
("
Hercules Silver
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to report strong silver-lead-zinc
results from shallow holes drilled into the Upper Plate above the new Leviathan porphyry copper
discovery at its Hercules Silver Property located in western Idaho (
"Hercules"
or the
"Property"
).
These results showcase the presence of a significant silver system above and potentially related to the
Leviathan porphyry copper discovery. Grade and continuity are seen to increase to the northwest, toward
the Hercules Adit Zone, in a similar pattern to the underlying porphyry copper system.
HER-23-17 extended the high-grade Hercules Adit footwall shoot down plunge, with 11.3
Meters of 1,660 g/t Ag, 0.7% Pb, 1.75% Zn, one of the best silver intercepts on the
Property, within an overall 112.2 Meters of 193 g/t Ag, 0.2% Pb, 0.4% Zn.
HER-23-19 intersected a potentially new mineralized shoot at the hanging wall contact of
the Hercules Adit Zone, returning 15.3 Meters of 359 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, 0.4% Zn.
HER-23-13 intersected 100.1 Meters of 64 g/t Ag, 0.14% Pb, 0.49% Zn including 6.1 Meters
of 413 g/t Ag, 1.1% Pb, 1.7% Zn.
HER-23-09 intersected 32.2 Meters of 167 g/t Ag, 0.17% Zn.
HER-23-22 intersected 58.8 Meters of 140 g/t Ag, 0.43% Pb, 0.69% Zn including 13.7
Meters of 280 g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb, 0.8% Zn.
HER-23-23 intersected 43.9 Meters of 138 g/t Ag, 0.37% Pb, 0.32% Zn including 1.5 Meters
of 1,450 g/t Ag, 1.06% Pb, 0.17% Zn.
The highest silver grades are concentrated at the Hercules Adit Zone, indicating a
strengthening trend to the north, in alignment with the copper mineralization observed in
the underlying porphyry copper system (Refer to the Company's January 22, 2024 News
Release).
The Hercules Adit Zone continues to remain open down plunge, extending towards a
potential porphyry copper target.
Planning for the 2024 drill campaign is underway, with the program scheduled to
commence when weather conditions permit. Additional details regarding the drill plan will
be disclosed as targets are finalized.
In a similar pattern to the increasing copper grades reported in the Lower Plate, the silver grades also
appear to increase in a northerly direction, with the most promising grades found at the Hercules Adit
Zone (Refer to Figures 2 and 3). This correlation suggests a potential relationship between the two
mineralization styles, possibly representing different levels within a porphyry system.
Large porphyry systems are often characterized by successive episodes of mineralization. In the later
stages of certain systems, shallow silver mineralization may migrate up vertical structures above the
porphyry center, and extend laterally across favorable host units, such as the Hercules Rhyolite. It's
possible that the gently dipping silver within the Hercules Rhyolite may originate from a vertical feeder
structure above a porphyry center.
Drilling thus far has indicated increasing silver grades to the northwest, toward the Hercules Adit Zone,
which may continue to increase below the post-mineral Brownlee Formation. The best silver on surface
occurs further north at the largely untested Hercules Ridge and Grade Creek zones, which also carry
significant copper, with some samples even exhibiting rare copper staining in the Hercules Rhyolite
(Photo 1). In addition, the Upper Plate geology at the Belmont Zone also carries anomalously high
copper on surface and as reported by historical mining activity in the early 1900's
1
. These factors, along
with convincing geophysical trends present these zones as compelling targets for the upcoming 2024
drilling campaign, as we look to explore their porphyry copper potential at depth.
Photo 1: Copper stained Hercules Rhyolite at the Hercules Ridge Zone.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/199544_29b9370fd47ae951_123full.jpg
Chris Paul, CEO and Director of the Company, noted: "
We're encouraged to see another line of
evidence for increasing grades to the northwest as we work closely with Barrick Gold Corporation's
senior technical team to plan our 2024 drill campaign. The program will be aimed at systematically
stepping out on the Leviathan porphyry copper discovery as well as testing a multitude of new targets
identified by our team. The objective is to have three diamond core rigs operational on site to
complete a series of systematic step-outs from discovery hole HER-23-05, as well as several larger
scale step-outs, and scout drilling of select reconnaissance targets. We look forward to sharing the
details of the drill plan as we finalize specific targets in advance of the field season.
We'd also like to thank Barrick for the tremendous technical support they've provided us with so far.
I'm proud of our teams combined efforts and cooperation at interpreting the data and generating a
robust 3D model for use towards the drill planning."
Table 1: Significant Intercepts* at the Hercules Adit Zone
Hole ID
From (m)
To (m)
Interval (m)
Ag (g/t)
Pb (%)
Zn (%)
Mn (%)
HER-23-13
40.23
140.36
100.1
64
0.14
0.49
1.0
including
44.81
50.90
6.1
413
1.10
1.70
3.7
including
97.29
99.49
2.2
560
0.17
0.19
2.0
including
130.06
131.58
1.5
723
-
0.19
1.2
HER-23-17
39.47
151.70
112.2
193
0.18
0.43
1.4
including
39.47
54.25
14.8
118
0.16
0.31
2.1
including
136.64
147.89
11.3
1,660
0.70
1.75
2.4
HER-23-19
34.75
50.08
15.3
359
0.40
0.40
2.0
AND
82.24
85.80
3.6
142
0.56
0.74
1.2
HER-23-22
0.00
58.83
58.8
140
0.43
0.69
2.0
including
45.11
58.83
13.7
280
0.30
0.80
3.7
HER-23-23
0.00
38.10
43.9
138
0.37
0.32
2.6
including
25.91
38.10
12.2
398
0.40
0.46
4.9
including
25.91
27.43
1.5
1,450
1.06
0.17
3.9
HER-23-24
19.81
29.11
9.3
61
0.75
0.15
1.1
Table 2: Significant Intercepts* at the Belmont Zone
Hole ID
From (m)
To (m)
Interval (m)
Ag (g/t)
Pb (%)
Zn (%)
Mn (%)
HER-23-09
0.00
32.19
32.2
167
-
0.17
1.7
HER-23-10
0.00
12.19
12.2
58
-
0.14
1.0
HER-23-12
0.00
21.18
21.2
137
-
0.18
1.0
including
18.47
19.66
1.2
1813
-
0.16
1.2
Table 3: Significant Intercepts* at the Frogpond Zone
Hole ID
From (m)
To (m)
Interval (m)
Ag (g/t)
Pb (%)
Zn (%)
Mn (%)
HER-23-15
LOST. REDRILLED AS HER-23-16
HER-23-16
115.06
130.76
15.7
163
0.27
0.17
3.9
*The intervals reported represent drill intercepts and insufficient data are available
at this time to state the true thickness of the mineralized intervals.
Figure 1: Plan view highlighting 2023 Upper Plate silver intercepts above the Leviathan
porphyry copper discovery.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/199544_29b9370fd47ae951_004full.jpg
Figure 2: Plan view showing Upper Plate silver grades in the Hercules Adit/Frogpond zones.
Note silver grades increase to the northwest, towards the Hercules Adit Zone. The downdip
extension of the Hercules Rhyolite remains untested to the north and west under Brownlee
Formation post-mineral cover.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/199544_29b9370fd47ae951_005full.jpg
Figure 3: Plan view showing Lower Plate copper-in-soil anomaly dipping northwest
underneath the Upper Plate silver-in-soil anomaly, which in turn dips northwest underneath
the post-mineral Brownlee Formation. Both the Lower Plate copper and the Upper Plate silver
grades are seen to increase to the northwest in 2023 drilling. Drilling has not yet tested the
system below the Brownlee Formation cover.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/199544_29b9370fd47ae951_006full.jpg
Figure 4: Long-section of the Hercules Adit Zone, facing east. Holes presented above were
drilled into the section at varying dips. Drill holes HER-23-13, -17 and -19 intersected a new
mineralized shoot at the hanging wall contact of the Hercules Rhyolite, with HER-23-19
returning 359 g/t Ag over 15.3m.
HER-23-17 extended the footwall shoot down plunge, with
1,660 g/t Ag over 11.3 meters, one of the best intercepts to date. The high-grade shoots remain
open down plunge to the north-northeast toward a potential porphyry copper feeder source.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/199544_29b9370fd47ae951_007full.jpg
Figure 5: Plan View showing drill holes HER-23-09, -10 and -12 at the Belmont Zone.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/199544_29b9370fd47ae951_008full.jpg
Table 4: Upper Plate Silver Intercepts* in Deep Porphyry Drill Holes
Hole ID
From (m)
To (m)
Interval (m)
Ag (g/t)
Pb (%)
Zn (%)
Mn (%)
Notes
HER-23-08
0.00
104.00
104.0
10
-
0.19
1.4
HER-23-11
12.98
44.96
32.0
14
-
0.13
0.8
AND
71.93
81.93
10.0
17
0.19
1.30
2.4
HER-23-20
19.29
45.87
26.6
103
0.24
1.1
HER-23-20 designed to target
porphyry but was lost immediately
before intersecting lower plate
AND
199.80
223.72
23.9
46
1.0
including
199.80
204.22
4.4
70
0.14
0.17
1.3
including
222.50
223.72
1.2
564
-
0.11
0.6
Hole lost after this sample
HER-23-21
0.00
25.91
25.9
32
0.10
1.5
including
0.00
13.72
13.7
52
1.2
*The intervals reported represent drill intercepts and insufficient data are available at this time to state the true thickness of the mineralized intervals.
Table 5: Reported Drill Hole Locations
Hole ID
Easting
Northing
Elevation
Depth (m)
Azimuth
Dip