Japan Gold Intersects High-Grade Silver Mineralization at the Saroma Prospect
Japan Gold Intersects High-Grade Silver
Mineralization at the Saroma Prospect
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 14, 2022) -
Japan Gold Corp. (TSXV: JG)
(OTCQB: JGLDF)
("
Japan Gold
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to announce drilling at the Saroma
prospect has encountered multiple intersections of high-grade silver with gold mineralization along a 1
km length of the Saroma vein. The Saroma vein forms part of a larger, 3.5 km long open-ended district-
scale mineralized structure which hosts the Saroma, Chitose and Taiho historical workings, collectively
called the Saroma prospect. Saroma is one of several prospects the Company is advancing within its
100% owned Ikutahara Project in Hokkaido, Japan.
Highlights
:
High-grade silver with gold mineralized intervals include:
IKDD22-012
1.05 m @ 1.3 g/t Au & 1,449.5 g/t Ag (19.0 AuEq)
from 90.55 m
(incl.
0.4 m @ 3.2 g/t Au & 3,570.0 g/t Ag (46.7 AuEq)
from 90.8 m)
IKDD22-010
3.1m @ 0.4 g/t Au & 475.7 g/t Ag
(6.2 AuEq)
from 104.75 m
(incl.
1.0 m @ 0.6 g/t Au & 1,128.8 g/t Ag (14.3 AuEq)
from 105.5 m)
IKDD22-009
4.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au & 124.8 g/t Ag (2.2 AuEq)
from 55.65 m
(Incl.
0.75m @ 2.7 g/t Au & 425.0 g/t Ag (7.9 AuEq)
from 56.25 m)
(Refer to Table 1 for more detailed assay data).
All six drill holes intersected significant quartz vein zones up to 8 m wide proving continuity of a
robust vein hosting structure along a 1 km section of the Saroma vein.
Vein intervals show a range of textures including colloform-crustiform-ginguro banding with
overprinting vein breccia events indicating a dynamic multi-phase hydrothermal system.
Quartz textures are predominantly chalcedonic with lesser crystalline phases indicating the system
is well preserved and open to depth below the shallowly developed workings.
Detailed mapping has confirmed multiple vein zones with broad silicification envelopes along a 3.5
km long mineralized corridor which hosts the Saroma, Chitose and Taiho historical workings.
The Saroma prospect structure remains open an additional 5 km southwest towards the historical
Jomon mine workings where numerous quartz boulders sampled in a small open pit reported
grades averaging 25 g/t gold and 50 g/t silver.
"
The confirmation of wide coherent chalcedony-rich veins, and high-grade silver with gold
intersections along an open-ended district-scale structure are very encouraging outcomes from the
initial drill program at Saroma. Both gold and silver biased mineralization events are seen in adjacent
prospects including Showa, Ikutahara, and Taihoku, and along the same structure 5 km to the SW at
the under-explored Jomon workings. It is assumed the same gold rich events occur at the Saroma
prospect based on historical production data. Large epithermal vein deposits require large fluid
pathways which is what we are seeing in the cretaceous basement host rocks at Saroma. Typically, not
all the quartz in such extensive vein systems is well mineralized and next year's programs will target
gold-rich shoots via staged soil sampling and geophysics to rapidly commence additional drilling,
"
commented Andrew Rowe, Japan Gold's VP of Exploration.
Drilling Summary & Findings
The 1.2 km long vein at Saroma is located at the northeast end of an open-ended 3.5 km long
mineralized structure which includes the Saroma, Chitose and Taiho mine workings,
Figures 1, 2 & 3
.
Between July and September this year, 6 diamond drillholes were completed along a 1 km long section
of the Saroma vein for a total of 1,309 m,
Table 2
.
Drilling has advanced the understanding of structural controls, alteration zonation and minerology at
Saroma. Saroma comprises multiple veins within a large continuous structure, which were successfully
intercepted in all six drillholes along a 1 km strike length, and to a depth 130m below surface,
Figure 4
& 5
. Importantly, vein widths up to 8 meters (true width) have been intersected with high-grade silver, and
gold mineralization. Quartz veining exhibits impressive chalcedony-rich low-sulphidation epithermal vein
textures, indicating good preservation of the vein system. Wide coherent veins intercepted in the
southwestern holes: IKDD22-009; 010; 012 and 013 show an average true width of 7.0 m. In the two
north-eastern drill holes IKDD22-011 and 014, more dispersed zones of sheeted and stockwork veining
up to 21 m in down hole length were encountered with individual veins up to 2 m in down-hole width. This
splaying of veins in the northeast is potentially indicative of a step-structure where the host structure is
stepping over to coalesce into a more coherent structure further along strike. Silicification at surface to
the north may support this potential extension at depth.
Quartz veins at Saroma show a diverse range of low-sulfidation epithermal textures, brecciation and
minerology suggesting a dynamic system with multiple fluid phases amenable to gold deposition,
Figures 6a & b
. High level chalcedony-rich vein textures are observed in the deepest holes IKDD22-10
and IKDD22-13 indicating that the current drill intercepts are within the mineralization window and further
drill testing down dip is warranted. Vein textures and the geometry of higher-grade mineralization
identified along the Saroma vein trend may be indicative of a southwest plunge to mineralization towards
the Chitose and Taiho prospects 500 and 1,500 m to the southwest. Reconnaissance mapping along
the Saroma structure in 2016 by the Company found surface rock samples up to 10.85 g/t gold and 136
g/t silver. Recent detailed mapping has confirmed veining with broad silicification envelopes at Chitose
and Taiho and banded chalcedony veins outcrops up to 5 m wide at the latter.
The historical Jomon workings are located another 5 km southwest of the Taiho workings on what
appears to be the continuation of the Saroma structure,
Figure 3
. Information on mining here is limited
but sampling of numerous quartz boulders in a small open pit report grades averaging 25 g/t gold and 50
g/t silver
1
. In 1933 an underground cross-cut was excavated to locate the source of the boulders but
results are unknown.
Forward Plans
2023 work programs will aim to delineate high-grade gold and silver shoots along the Saroma structure
and towards the Jomon workings. Staged work programs will include detailed mapping with soil
sampling to identify precious and path-finder element anomalies for focussed CSAMT geophysical
surveying. Targets developed by this work will be ranked to guide drilling.
Saroma Prospect
Located approximately 4 km south of the Kitano-o gold mine, the historic Saroma, Taiho and Chitose
gold workings were developed on epithermal veins that step along a northeast trending fault zone which
extends for at least 3.5 km along the Saroma valley,
Figures 1-3
. Operated during the 1930's, records
show the Saroma mine produced 13,189 tons of ore at an average grade of 9.7 g/t gold between 1933
to 1939
2
. There are no production records from the Taiho and Chitose workings, however, exploration
and mining was reported from these latter two areas immediately prior to the 1943 gold mining
moratorium.
Table 1
Significant mineralized intercepts for IKDD22-009 to IKDD22-014 based on down-hole lengths
Drill Hole
Number
From (m)
To (m)
Length
(m)
Au g/t
Ag g/t
Au Eq g/t
Structure
IKDD22-09
31.7
32.05
0.35
0.5
14.6
0.7
Hanging
wall splay
55.65
59.75
4.1
0.7
124.8
2.2
Saroma
Main Vein
Incl.
55.65
57.00
1.35
1.7
302.4
5.4
Saroma
Main Vein
56.25
57.00
0.75
2.7
425
7.9
Saroma
Main Vein
IKDD22-10
41.65
42.0
0.35
0.2
7.37
0.3
Hanging
wall splay
98.75
100.35
1.6
1.2
56.5
1.9
Saroma
Main Vein
Incl.
99.4
100.15
0.75
2.1
88.8
3.2
Saroma
Main Vein
104.75
107.85
3.1
0.4
475.7
6.2
Saroma
Main Vein
Incl.
104.75
106.5
1.75
0.6
833.8
10.7
Saroma
Main Vein
105.5
106.5
1.0
0.6
1,128.8
14.3
Saroma
Main Vein
IKDD22-11
121.55
122.05
0.5
0.2
150.4
2.0
Saroma
Main Vein
Incl.
121.8
122.05
0.25
0.3
234.0
3.1
Saroma
Main Vein
147.6
148.8
1.2
0.5
25.9
0.8
Saroma
footwall
IKDD22-12
88.9
89.3
0.4
2.4
37.9
2.9
Saroma
Main Vein
90.55
91.6
1.05
1.3
1,449.5
19.0
Saroma
Main Vein
Incl.
90.8
91.2
0.4
3.2
3,570.0
46.7
Saroma
Main Vein
IKDD22-13
46.15
46.6
0.45
0.4
1.2
0.4
Hanging
wall splay
120.85
123.4
2.55
0.5
6.0
0.6
Saroma
Main Vein
Incl.
123.1
123.4
0.3
1.0
2.1
1.1
Saroma
Main Vein
IKDD22-14
94.55
94.90
0.35
0.2
1.0
0.2
Saroma
Main Vein
143.85
144.30
0.45
0.2
4.0
0.2
Saroma
footwall
Gold equivalent (AuEq) = (Ag g/t / 82.4) + Au g/t. This calculation was based on an average of gold and
silver prices for the month of November 2022.
Table 2:
Saroma prospect drill hole data
Hole ID
Azimuth
(true north)
Dip
Collar
Easting
Collar
Northing
Elevation
(m)
Length (m)
IKDD22-09
305
-50
709060
4862202
255.0
324.4
IKDD22-10
305
-75
709060
4862202
255.0
158.1
IKDD22-11
285
-50
709594
4862731
225.5
313.0
IKDD22-12
310
-50
709185
4862303
254.0
162.4
IKDD22-13
310
-68
709185
4862303
254.0
150.9
IKDD22-14
285
-45
709682
4862873
219.7
200.0
Total
1,308.8
References:
1
Gold Mines of Japan
, 1989. The Mining & Materials Processing Institute of Japan.
2
Metal Mining Agency of Japan, March 1990, Geological Survey Report for Fiscal Year 1989, Northern
Hokkaido Area B - Metalliferous Deposits Overview. Japan, Resource Geology, 46(3), pp 151-166.
On behalf of the Board of Japan Gold Corp.
"John Proust"
Chairman & CEO
Qualified Person
The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Japan Gold Vice
President of Exploration, Andrew Rowe, BAppSc, FAusIMM, FSEG, who is a Qualified Person as
defined by National Instrument 43-101.
Sampling Techniques and Assaying
The drilling results discussed in this news release are from drill core samples obtained by PQ, HQ
and NQ-size triple-tube diamond core drilling using a PMC700 and PMC-400 man-portable drill rigs
owned and operated by the Company. The drilling program was fully supervised by Company senior
geologists at the drilling site.
Drill core was collected in plastic core-trays at the drill site and transported by road in Company
vehicles to its core shed storage facility in the nearby Ikutahara Village, located centrally within the
project area. The drill core was carefully logged, photographed and sample intervals marked-up along
predicted mineralized and selected unmineralized intervals by Japan Gold KK senior project
geologists.
Sample lengths varied from 0.15 to 1.0 m; depending on the positions of geological contacts and
variations in vein texture and composition. The core was split by diamond rock saw supervised by
project geologists. Half-core sample was collected from the entire length of each designated sample
interval and placed into individual-labelled, self-sealing calico bags for secure packaging and
transport to the laboratory. The half-core samples weighed between 0.25 to 5 kg depending on the
sample length and core size. A Chain-of-Custody was established between the Company and
receiving laboratory to ensure the integrity of the samples during transportation from site to the lab.
The samples were sent in batches to ALS Laboratories in Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation
and assaying.
Samples were crushed, pulverised and assayed for gold 50 g charge Fire Assay / AAS Finish (Au-
AA24; 0.005 ppm lower detection limit) and a 48 multi-element by 4-acid digest with ICP-MS
determination (ME-MS61L; Ag 0.002 ppm lower detection limit). Over-limit Au and Ag samples were
re-assayed by fire-assay and gravimetric finish (GRA-22, LDL of 0.5 and 5 ppm for Au and Ag
respectively).
Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) were inserted by Japan Gold KK at every 20th sample to
assess repeatability and assaying precision of the laboratory. In addition, the laboratory applied its
own internal Quality Control procedure that includes sample duplicates, blanks & geochemical
standards. They report these results with the certified Assay Report. Laboratory procedures and
QAQC protocols adopted are considered appropriate. The CRMs and internal QC-QA results fall
within acceptable levels of accuracy & precision and are considered to lack any bias.
About Japan Gold Corp.
Japan Gold Corp
. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused solely on gold exploration
across the three largest islands of Japan: Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu. The Company has a country-
wide alliance with
Barrick Gold Corporation
to jointly explore, develop and mine certain gold mineral
properties and mining projects. The Company holds a portfolio of 31 gold projects which cover areas
with known gold occurrences, a history of mining and are prospective for high-grade epithermal gold
mineralization. Japan Gold's leadership team represent decades of resource industry and business
experience, and the Company has an operational team of geologists, drillers and technical advisors with
experience exploring and operating in Japan. More information is available at
www.japangold.com
or by
email at
For further information please contact:
John Proust
Chairman & CEO
Phone: 778-725-1491
Email:
Website:
www.japangold.com
Cautionary Note
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in
the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated
future events and anticipated results related to future partnerships and the Company's 2021 and 2022
gold exploration program. These statements are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties that include, but are not limited to, general economic, market and
business conditions; competition for qualified staff; the regulatory process and actions; technical
issues; new legislation; potential delays or changes in plans; working in a new political jurisdiction;
results of exploration; the timing and granting of prospecting rights; the Company's ability to execute
and implement future plans, arrange or conclude a joint-venture or partnership; and the occurrence of
unexpected events. Actual results achieved may differ from the information provided herein and,
consequently, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The
forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this News Release. The
Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information or to
explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by
applicable laws.
Figure 1:
Ikutahara and Kanehana Projects with simplified geology, and historical mines and workings.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5665/147975_c60e5b4614abdae0_001full.jpg
Figure 2:
Saroma prospect showing area of drilling at the Saroma vein and potential extension of the
Saroma structure southwest towards the Jomon workings.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5665/147975_c60e5b4614abdae0_002full.jpg
Figure 3:
Saroma prospect, simplified geology, prospect locations and drill hole locations and
significant intersections.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5665/147975_c60e5b4614abdae0_003full.jpg