Gladiator Commences Drilling at the Middle Chief Copper Prospect
Gladiator Commences Drilling at the Middle
Chief Copper Prospect
Highlights
Drilling has commenced at the Middle Chief Prospect targeting prospective unmined zones of
mineralization, along strike of the former "Little Chief" open cut and underground mine at the
Whitehorse Copper Project.
Gladiator plans to complete 10,000 metres of diamond drilling within the area, initially targeting
Middle Chief, where a recent collation of historic data identified prospective unmined zones of
mineralization, including:
LCU-009:
49.83m @ 3.06% Cu from 70.26m
LCU-017:
54.10m @ 2.05% Cu from 77.42m
LCU-023:
33.99m @ 2.10% Cu from 148.89m, Incl. 15.24m @ 3.26%Cu
LCU-503:
32.22m @ 2.11% Cu from 83.91m, Incl. 17.07m @ 3.47% Cu
LCU-543:
13.72m @ 1.28% Cu from 66.14m and 41.15m @ 2.22% Cu from 87.48m
LCU-610:
50.99m @ 1.87% Cu from 18.11m, Incl. 39.84m @ 2.19% Cu from 23.16m
Drilling is planned to test:
High grade copper skarn mineralization at Middle Chief that remains open in all
directions.
Unmined historic resources were established, and drilling completed just prior to
the closure of the Little Chief mine in 1982, due to the prevailing low copper prices at the
time.
Compiled historical drilling data is limited to selective sampling and assaying for copper
only. Gladiator intends to assay all future drilling and sampling for
additional credits
including Molybdenum, Silver and Gold
which were proven contributors to the economics
of historic operations.
Gladiator CEO, Jason Bontempo commented:
"Gladiator has commenced the first diamond drilling campaign at the Middle Chief Prospect since
mine closure in 1982. The planned 10,000m diamond drilling is designed to test areas of high-grade
copper skarn mineralization identified from its data compilation of historic drilling datasets at the
Middle Chief target as well as near mine extensions to the historic Little Chief mine. These targets
represent near surface areas of mineralization open in all directions with limited exploration or
development away from historical underground infrastructure."
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2024) -
Gladiator Metals Corp.
(TSXV:
GLAD) (OTCQB: GDTRF) (FSE: ZX7) ("
Gladiator
" or the "
Company
"), provides an update on drilling
at Whitehorse Copper Project with drilling targeting significant widths of unmined, Copper-Gold skarns
over more than 700m of strike at the historic Little Chief mine trend (refer to Figure 1 below).
Little Chief Mine & Middle Chief Target
The former Little Chief mining trend is the largest historically producing mine in the Whitehorse Copper
Belt with a total mined production of approximately 8.54 million tons grading > l.5% copper and 0.75g/t
gold (Watson, 1984). Production from the Little Chief open cut mine commenced in May 1967, with
mining of the open cut completed in 1969. Underground mining development commenced in 1971 and
ceased operation in 1982 due to the prevailingly low copper price environment. On review, Gladiator has
identified down dip potential for the mineralization to continue, where little or no drilling has been
completed to date and mineralization remains open.
Gladiator recently completed collating historic drilling for the Little Chief historical production area.
Supporting this work, the Company has completed a LIDAR survey and undertaken reconnaissance,
prospecting and sampling of outcropping Cu-Au skarn mineralization proximal to the historic Little Chief
underground and open cut mine. From this, the Company has confirmed the existence of significant
mineralization that was drilled initially from the decline constructed to access the former Little Chief
underground mine, with further drilling being undertaken prior to the mine closure in 1982.
The recently collated historical drilling data has identified a significant, greater than 200m long body of
shallow mineralization (120m below surface), located underneath the decline and to the north of the Little
Chief Open pit and underground mine, named the Middle Chief mineralization. This mineralization
appears to remain intact with drilling completed to date being limited in scope and size and does not
appear to have closed off the unmined high grade copper skarn mineralization at Middle Chief. Further
drilling is also planned to test the extent of remnant mineralization from the Little Chief orebody that
remains open along strike and down dip, (see Figures 2 and 3 below):
Figure 1: Plan map of the Whitehorse Copper Project showing geology and location of the newly
defined Little Chief mineralized trend (please refer to
Company's news releases dated February 13,
2023, April 3, 2023, July 31
st
2023,November 2
nd
2023, November 16
th
and December 11
th
2023
for
details).
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/194701_5ded7626e4b70978_002full.jpg
Figure 2: Plan view of recently collated Little Chief and Middle Chief drillhole data showing historic
open pit as well as areas of historical production and unmined mineralization.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/194701_5ded7626e4b70978_003full.jpg
Figure 3: Isometric long section view (looking west) of recently collated Little Chief and Middle Chief
drillhole data showing historic open pit and underground development as well as areas of historical
production, unmined mineralization and near mine, undrilled exploration potential.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/194701_5ded7626e4b70978_004full.jpg
The recently collated historic drilling (628 underground holes LCU-001-619, BC2490-1-2, BC2500-1-2
and 166 surface holes LC-001-121, MC-001-014, XLC-001-028 & BCF-001-006) & D-001-4 for 68,940
meters) none of which had been previously reported by the Company, highlight significant mineralization
that potentially remains intact, this includes the following drill holes from Middle Chief that have been
collared underground:
LCU-003:
53.56m @ 1.23% Cu from 88.54m
LCU-009:
49.83m @ 3.06% Cu from 70.26m
LCU-013
23.01m @ 2.07% Cu from 87.78m
LCU-017:
54.10m @ 2.05% Cu from 77.42m
LCU-023:
33.99m @ 2.10% Cu from 148.89m,
Incl. 15.24m @ 3.26%Cu from 167.64m
LCU-151:
32.92m @ 2.08% Cu from 86.87m
LCU-371:
9.30m @ 4.73% Cu from 0m
LCU-500:
22.52m @ 2.23% Cu from 79.86m
LCU-503:
32.22m @ 2.11% Cu from 83.91m,
Incl. 17.07m @ 3.47% Cu from 99.06m
LCU-528:
30.85m @ 1.68% Cu from 18.68m,
Incl.22.47m @ 2.06% Cu from 18.68m
LCU-542:
28.04m @ 1.84% Cu from 91.14m,
Incl. 19.81m @ 2.35% Cu 96.32m
LCU-543:
13.72m @ 1.28% Cu from 66.14m and
41.15m @ 2.22% Cu from 87.48m
LCU-550:
37.49m @ 1.90% Cu from 74.68m
LCU-551:
24.9m @ 2.27% Cu from 93.97m
LCU-571:
11.06m @ 3.79% Cu from 89.37m
LCU-578;
30.17m @ 1.97% Cu from 31.09m
LCU-580:
24.14m @ 1.86% Cu from 45.96m,
Incl. 21.10m @ 2.00% Cu from 45.96m
LCU-604:
26.21m @ 1.86% Cu from 16.46m
LCU-610
: 50.99m @ 1.87% Cu from 18.11m,
Incl. 39.84m @ 2.19% Cu from 23.16mm
LCU-614:
38.22m @
1.39% Cu from 10.24m,
Incl. 32.13m @ 1.53% Cu from 14.81m
LCU-616:
37.79m @ 1.55% Cu from 21.34m,
Incl. 28.65m @ 1.9% Cu from 30.48m
The compilation of the available data completed by Gladiator is the first time that the mineralization has
been able to be reviewed and modeled in three dimensions, providing Gladiator with a unique
opportunity to target further mineralization and utilize modern geophysics such as down hole
electromagnetics (DHEM).
Drilling commenced at Middle Chief on the January 9, 2024 and is planned to continue over the next 3
months.
Drilling will be complemented by Down Hole Electromagnetic (DHEM) surveying of the holes to
identify undrilled extensions to the mineralization.
Historical drilling at Little Chief and Middle Chief was selectively sampled for copper only. Gladiator
intends to assay all future drilling and sampling for additional credits including gold, silver and
molybdenum which were proven significant contributors to the economics of historic operations at Little
Chief.
Holes were drilled at various dips on variable, prospect specific, nominal grids. Gladiator obtained the
drill records and logs from the Yukon Geological Survey archives and have captured the data within an
industry standard database.
Drill holes with the prefixes "LCU-", "D- "and "BC2" were "Collared" or conducted from underground
mining infrastructure, including drill drives and the main decline used to access the Little Chief Mine and
Mineralization. For this reason, down hole depth of mineralization as reported
do not
give a true sense
of depth below surface for reported intersections.
A complete list of the collated historic drilling noted above, including hole location, azimuth and dip can
be accessed at:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PxqggUeUaR5X0MjNWToGq4S44mVnQ3MjnWPIM4RamlY/edit#gid=1892461326
Cowley Park
Remaining assay results have now been received from Gladiator's recently completed 4,000m diamond
drill program at Cowley Park, Drilling was primarily focused on extensions to known mineralization in
preparation for resource definition drilling. Significant drill intercepts received, include:
CPG-017:
26m @ 1.49% Cu & 368 ppm Mo from 98m including 15m @ 2.36% Cu & 421ppm Mo
from 104m and 4m @ 7.75% Cu & 686 ppm Mo from 110m.
CPG-023:
13m @ 2.06% Cu and 1071 ppm Mo
from 38m and
8m @ 1.05% Cu 513 ppm Mo
from 79 m
CPG-011D1:
58m @ 0.74% Cu & 1,245 ppm Mo from 81m, Including:
8m @ 1.65% Cu, 1,905 ppm Mo
from 87m
12m @ 1.12% Cu & 605ppm Mo
from 105m
CPG-015:
17m @ 0.91% Cu from 42m,
Incl. 3m @ 1.71 % Cu from 42m, 7m @ 1.45% Cu from
52m & 2m @ 3.77% Cu from 55m
31m @ 0.58% Cu, 642ppm Mo
from 80m and
10m @ 1.23% Cu & 319ppm Mo
from 204m
CPG-016:
58m @ 0.62%Cu from 57m, Incl.
7m @ 1.99 % Cu & 867 ppm Mo
from 78m
CPG-019:
20m @ 0.82% Cu from 96m including 4m @ 2.62% Cu from 96m
CPG-020D1:
47.2m @ 0.67% Cu from 132m
CPG-026:
16m @ 1.06% Cu, 0.15ppm Au, 15.6 ppm Ag, and 487 ppm Mo from 106m
Results continue to confirm the continuity of shallow, copper-molybdenum skarn mineralization at Cowley
Park as well as highlighting the potential of the lower grade mineralized envelope to significantly
contribute to future resource potential. Copper and molybdenum mineralization remains open along
strike and down dip in all directions.
Drilling confirmed the width and continuity of high-grade mineralization previously targeted at Cowley
Park with results such as 15m @ 2.36% Cu from 104m (CPG-015) and 13m @ 2.06 from 38m (CPG-
023) comparing favorably to previously announced high-grade historical drill intercepts.
Drilling also identified a new zone of copper skarn mineralization that was discovered in hole CPG-015
with 10m @ 1.23% Cu intersected at 204m . This result lies only 50m to the south of the historical area of
drilling and indicates the upside potential remaining in the Cowley Park area.
Drilling completed was designed to test extensions to high-grade mineralized and aid planning for
resource definition drilling. Drilling targeted identified trends through step out drill holes located primarily
to the south and southeast of identified mineralization, including following up on the most southeasterly
hole to date, 19-CP-08 which intersected 43.28m @ 2.24% Cu from 93.27m.
A complete list of the results of the Company's drill program at Cowley Park, including hole location,
azimuth and dip can be accessed at:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PxqggUeUaR5X0MjNWToGq4S44mVnQ3MjnWPIM4RamlY/edit#gid=1892461326
Aeromagnetic Survey
In addition to drilling at Middle Chief, Gladiator is currently completing a high-resolution drone borne
aeromagnetic survey over the Little Chief area. On completion, Gladiator plans to have the magnetics
processed and a three-dimensional inversion model completed. This is of significant importance given
that mineralization previously exploited along the Little Chief trend is associated with magnetite enriched
skarns and is able to be directly targeted from its magnetic signature.
Work completed to date, including the review of the aeromagnetic data received to date, has identified
more than 30, drill ready, high-grade regional targets associated with copper-rich skarns at the contact
between the Cretaceous age Whitehorse Plutonic Suite and the Triassic to Jurassic Lewes River
Group's clastic and carbonate metasediments. Cumulatively, there is more than 35km of underexplored
strike on the contact which is highly prospective for high-grade copper+/-molybdenum+/-silver+/- gold.
QA / QC and Data Verification
The drill results reported in this news release from the Little & Middle Chief Prospects are historical in
nature. Gladiator has not undertaken any independent investigation, nor has it independently analyzed
the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results.
The Company believes that
the historical drill results do not conform to the presently accepted industry standards.
Gladiator considers these historical drill results relevant as the Company will use this data as a guide to
plan future exploration and drilling programs. The Company also considers the data to be reliable for
these purposes, however, the Company's future exploration work will include verification of the data
through drilling.
The Company has provided drill results derived from the compilation of historic data
relating to prospects which were mined or partially mined by prior operators.
The Company is using this
data as it attempts to identify trends within the prospect areas.
The Company expects to use this data as
a guide to plan future exploration and drilling programs.
The historical mineral resources discussed in this press release were calculated using mining industry
standard practices for estimating Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves prior to the implementation of
the current CIM standards for mineral resource estimation (as defined by the CIM Definition Standard on
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves dated May 10, 2014). The reader is cautioned not to treat
them, or any part of them, as current mineral resources or reserves. An independent Qualified Person
('QP'), has not done sufficient work to classify the estimate discussed as current mineral resources or
reserves and therefore the estimate should be treated as historical in nature and not current mineral
resources or mineral reserves. The historical resources have been included simply to demonstrate the
mineral potential of the Whitehorse Copper Project. A thorough review of all historical data performed by
a QP, along with additional exploration work to confirm results, would be required in order to produce a
current mineral resource estimate for each of the key prospects.
For greater certainty, the Company
confirms that it does not have a current mineral resource on any part of its Whitehorse Copper Project.
For information regarding QA/ QC and Data verification for the Cowley Park Reported Intercepts, please
refer to the Company's release dated 11
th
December, 2023 "
Gladiator Discovers New Zone of Copper
Mineralization at Cowley Park".
References:
Watson P.H. (1984) The Whitehorse Copper Belt - A Compilation. Yukon Geological Survey, Open File
1984-1 (
https://data.geology.gov.yk.ca/Reference/42011#InfoTab
)
The Whitehorse Copper Project
The Whitehorse Copper Project is an advanced-stage copper (Cu) ± molybdenum (Mo) ± silver (Ag) ±
gold (Au) skarn exploration project in the Yukon Territory, Canada. The Project comprises 314
contiguous claims covering approximately 5,380 Hectares (13,294 acres) in the Whitehorse Mining
District.
Copper mineralization was first discovered in 1897 on the Whitehorse Copper Belt, as it became to be
known. The Whitehorse Copper Belt comprised over 30 copper-related, primarily skarn occurrences
covering an area of 35 by 5 km in a north westerly trending arc.
Exploration and mining development
have been carried out intermittently since that time with the main production era lasting between 1967
and 1982 where production totaled 267,500,000 pounds copper, 225,000 ounces of gold and 2,838,000
ounces of silver from 11.1 million tons of mineralized material milled (Watson, 1984).
The Project is accessible through with numerous access roads and trails located within 2 km of the
South Klondike Highway and the Alaska Highway.
An extensive network of historical gravel exploration
and haul roads exists throughout the project area, providing excellent access to the majority of the claim
package. Access to existing electric power facilities is available through the main Yukon power grid.
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared or reviewed and
approved by Kell Nielsen, the Company's Vice President Exploration, a "qualified person" as defined by
NI 43-101.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"
Jason Bontempo
"
Jason Bontempo
President and CEO
For further information contact:
Dustin Zinger, Investor Relations
+1-604-653-9464
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the
securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the
United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "
U.S. Securities Act
") or any state securities
laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered
under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such
registration is available.
Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements"
or "forward-looking information". Any statements or information that express or involve discussions
with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future
events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates",
"believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "potential" or
variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or
"will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions)
that are not statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information..