WESTERN EXPLORATION ANNOUNCES OUTSTANDING DRILL RESULTS FROM AURA PROJECT FEATURING ASSAYS OF 26.06 METERS OF 6.93 G/T GOLD Includes 2023 Updates to Goals & Objectives
WESTERN EXPLORATION ANNOUNCES OUTSTANDING DRILL RESULTS FROM
AURA PROJECT FEATURING ASSAYS OF 26.06 METERS OF 6.93 G/T GOLD
Includes 2023 Updates to Goals & Objectives
Vancouver, British Columbia – January 17, 2023 – Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF)
(the "Company" or "Western Exploration") is pleased to provide additional assay results for the final four
holes from the 2022 Phase 1 drill program at Doby George, one of three main mineral deposits located at
the Company's wholly-owned Aura Project, located in Elko County, Nevada.
DRILL HIGHLIGHTS
• Drill hole DGC794 intersected 26.06 meters of 6.93 g/t Au and 12.34 meters of 4.57 g/t Au
• Drill hole DGC795 intersected 30.94 meters of 2.07 g/t AuFA
• Drill hole DGC796 intersected 16.76 meters of 2.12 g/t Au
Western Exploration CEO Darcy Marud said, "We have now received assay results for all nine drill holes
completed at Doby George in 2022. The assay results demonstrate remarkable continuity of high-grade,
near-surface, oxide gold mineralization at Doby Ge orge. Western Exploration has long believed in the
higher-grade potential at Doby George and the Phase 1 drill program completed in 2022 has confirmed
this belief.”
“The results of the Phase 1 drill program will be used to complete further metallurgical test work with the
view of advancing the Doby George deposit to a Pre-Feasibility Study. In addition, we anticipate following
up these high-grade intersections with additional step-out drilling in both oxide and unoxidized areas of
Doby George in 2023,” continued Marud.
The complete results for holes DGC794, DGC795, DG C796 and DGC797 are reported below in Table 1
below, along with the assay results previously reported on October 2, 2022 and December 8, 2022.
2022 DRILL PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Phase 1 drill program was comprised of nine large diameter (PQ) core holes which were completed
between July 26, 2022, and September 12, 2022. The drill ho les were located at eight different drill sites
for a total of 1,138 meters in drilling at the Doby George deposit (see Figure 1 and Table 2 below).
The purpose of the Phase 1 drill program was to evaluate areas within, and adjacent to, the current
resource boundary to:
• Validate and delineate current mineral resources.
• Locally assess for the expansion potential and structural controls on mineralization.
• Provide samples for metallurgical test work to outline leach kinematics, as well as mineralized
material and waste rock characteristics; and expand upon geotechnical studies through additional
test work.
Drill holes DGC794 and DGC795 were drilled in the Twilig ht zone of Doby George, which accounts for
limited overall tonnage, but locally exceptional gold grades. Both holes showed positive AuFA grade
distribution when compared to the resource block model prepared for the Company by Mine
Development Associates (see Figure 1 and Figure 2 below) and contained in the technical report titled
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"2021 Updated Resource Estimates and Technical Report For the Aura Go ld-Silver Project, Elko County,
Nevada" dated October 20, 2021 (with an effective date of October14, 2021) (the "Technical Report").
A copy of the Technical Report is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Western Exploration's issuer
profile.
The Twilight holes show variable AuCN leach recoveri es, but these are typically at, or well above 80% in
the significant intercepts.
Hole DGC796 was drilled in the West Ridge Deposit to test the deepest portion of the deposit in an area
modeled as mixed to unoxidized mineralization (see Figure 1 and Figure 3 below). There is good
correlation with distribution of fire assay gold grades relative to the block model. Distribution of mixed
and unoxidized mineralization also generally conf irms the modeled sulfide boundary in the Technical
Report.
Hole DGC797 was drilled to verify an isolated high-grade intercept located in the NE part of the West Ridge
Deposit (see Figure 1 and Figure 3 below). The hole in tersected only one narrow zone of +1.0 g/t Au
mineralization and is the only hole from the 2022 dril l program that did not confirm block model grades.
This area will be re-evaluated with future drilling, as it lies on a major structural trend.
All sample intervals were assayed by both fire a ssay (AuFA) and cyanide soluble shake tests (AuCN)
followed up by atomic absorption finish. The AuCN results are a measure of the solubility of Au in diluted
CN solutions and the state of oxidation of the samples. An AuCN/AuFA ratio of greater than 80% generally
indicates strong oxidation and good cyanide extraction potential.
Table 1. January 16, 2023 Doby George Drill Hole Results(1)
Hole Area From
(m)
To
(m)
Drill Width
(m)
Est True
Width (m)
AuFA
(g/t)
AuCN
(g/t)
AuCN/AuFA
Ratio (3)
DGC 789 (2) West
Ridge 63.09 83.97 20.88 19.6 1.41 1.36 96%
and 89.15 112.78 23.63 22.2 3.27 2.94 90%
Including 89.15 96.47 7.32 6.9 5.27 4.67 89%
and 124.05 132.44 8.39 7.9 1.09 1.02 94%
DGC790 (2) West
Ridge 33.83 88.39 54.56 42.0 2.08 1.88 90%
Including 65.08 71.48 6.40 4.9 4.70 4.26 91%
DGC791 (3) West
Ridge 14.78 89.00 74.22 54.0 1.71 1.63 95%
Including 41.15 71.93 30.78 22.0 2.48 2.41 97%
DGC792 (3) Daylight 5.90 46.30 40.40 40.0 2.18 1.82 83%
DGC793 (3) Daylight 24.99 51.97 26.98 25.0 2.12 1.66 78%
and 58.22 77.42 19.20 18.0 1.46 1.04 71%
DGC794 Twilight 31.70 37.19 5.49 3.5 2.10 2.00 95%
and 52.27 78.33 26.06 19.0 6.93 5.56 80%
and 84.28 96.62 12.34 9.0 4.57 3.59 78%
and 101.50 107.90 6.40 5.0 1.66 1.45 83%
and 114.00 116.89 2.90 2.0 1.59 1.00 63%
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Hole Area From
(m)
To
(m)
Drill Width
(m)
Est True
Width (m)
AuFA
(g/t)
AuCN
(g/t)
AuCN/AuFA
Ratio (3)
DGC795 Twilight 18.90 33.38 14.48 12.0 1.30 1.25 96%
and 42.06 73.00 30.94 28.0 2.07 1.97 95%
DGC796
West
Ridge
Deep
197.21 221.44 24.23 23.0 0.87 0.02 2%
and 230.74 247.50 16.76 16.0 2.12 1.07 52%
and 250.55 265.79 15.24 14.0 1.30 0.41 32%
DGC797 West
Ridge NE 85.34 90.83 5.49 5.5 1.24 1.22 98%
Notes:
(1) Reported at a minimum of 3.0 meters @ 0.3 g/t cutoff.
(2) See news release of Western Exploratio n dated October 26, 2022 and entitled "Western Exploration Intersects 23.63 meters of 3.27 g/t Au
and 54.56 metres of 2.08 g/t Au from the Doby George Deposit at the Aura Project (Elko County, NV)".
(3) See news release of Western Exploration dated December 8, 2022 and entitled "Western Exploration Intersects 74.22 metres of 1.71 g/t Au
and 40.40 meters of 2.18 g/t Au from the Doby George Deposit at the Aura Project (Elko County, NV).
(4) DGC794 AuCN/AuFA ratios range from 56-100%, based on 19 samples; with 8 samples below 80%; DGC795 AuCN/AuFA ratios range fro m
89-100%, based on 13 samples; with no samples below 80%; DGC796 AuCN/AuFA ratios range from 2-100%, based on 19 samples; with
15 samples below 80%; DGC797 AuCN/AuFA ratios range from 91-100%, based on 2 samples; with no samples below 80%
Table 2. Doby George 2022 Drill Hole Coordinates
Drill Hole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth (m)
DGC789 577,267 4,612,525 2,093 45 53 167.64
DGC790 577,626 4,612,300 2,055 140 55 104.24
DGC791 577,622 4,612,374 2,058 148 45 109.27
DGC792 578,370 4,612,480 2,027 0 55 82.9
DGC793 578,379 4,612,423 2,023 0 55 82.29
DGC794 578,222 4,612,097 1,966 285 54 118.87
DGC795 578,221 4,612,098 1,966 285 82 88.39
DGC796 577,404 4,612,379 2,103 55 69 283.47
DGC797 577,672 4,612,716 2,039 47 53 100.6
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Figure 1. Location of 2022 PQ Metallurgical test holes and resource zones in the Doby George deposit, with
key assay intervals received YTD.
Figure 2. Positive comparison of fire assay gold valu es in Twilight holes DGC794 and DGC795, relative to
block model grades contained in the Technical Report.
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Figure 3. Positive comparison of fire assay gold values in Deep Westridge hole DGC796, relative to block
model grades contained in the Technical Report. Di stribution of mixed and unoxidized mineralization
generally confirms the modeled sulfide boundary in the Technical Report. Hole DGC797 was drilled to
verify an isolated high grade intercept and results did not confirm expected block model grades.
2023 OUTLOOK
During 2023, the Company plans on completing metallurgical test work at Doby George in the first half of
2023 and then moving towards the commencement of a Pre-Feasibility Study. Additional step-out
diamond drilling is proposed for Q3 and Q4 2023 to follow up on high-grade intersections in both oxidized
and unoxidized portions of Doby George.
During 2022, Western Exploration completed an update d 3D geologic model of Gravel Creek and Wood
Gulch. The Company now believes that both deposi ts formed contemporaneously and are related to a
Miocene felsic eruptive event. The eruptive event is bound by NW trending extensional fault zones that
are fluid conduits for low sulphidation epithermal style mineralization at both Wood Gulch and Gravel
Creek.
The new geologic model has significantly expanded the footprint of prospective geology and
mineralization to an area of approximately 1 kilometer by 3.5 kilometers, which is more than three-times
the size of the current resource areas. Historical wide-spaced drilling in this newly defined area have
returned numerous above-cutoff (2 g/t Aueq) interc epts of gold and silver. The Company anticipates
completing an additional 5,000 to 10,000 meters of drilling to test these areas which could result in a
significant expansion of the resource areas of Wood Gulch and Gravel Creek.
ABOUT DOBY GEORGE
Doby George is one of the highest-grade, undeveloped open pit heap leach resources in Nevada and one
of three mineral deposits on Western Exploration's 100% owned Aura Project. The Aura Project is located
32 kilometers north of the Jerri tt Canyon mine, which has been in continual operation since 1981. The
deposit is an outcropping, high-grade sediment-hos ted mineral deposit, with multiple zones of
mineralization identified by drilling in a 1.7 x 0.8 km area (see Figure 4 below). The zone of oxidation
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extends 150 to 200 meters below surface, while limited deep drilling has encountered unoxidized gold
mineralization at depths of over 600 meters below surface.
Homestake Mining Company initially discovered the deposit in the mi d-1980s. Since that time, 836 drill
holes have been completed, totaling 116,355 meters of drilling. This includes 83 drill holes totaling 23,760
meters that were drilled by Western Exploration LLC between 1998 and 2022. Metallurgical test work
completed on oxidized material by Homestake Mining Company, Independence Mining Company, and
Atlas Precious Metals Inc., has indicated favorable metallurgy for standard cyanide heap leach processing.
Results from the previous metallurgical testing completed on 52 bottle rolls and 23 column leach samples
indicate that heap leach gold recoveries approaching seventy percent can be expected via a crush of 1 to
1.5 inches.
Figure 4. Doby George deposit with +1.0 g/t Au resource blocks and US$1,800 Au pits.
In addition to an established mineral resource esti mate (as determined in accordance with National
Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101")), the Aura Project has well
established infrastructure including year-round accessibility by highway and county-maintained road and
nearby access to water and electricity (see Figure 5 below). Western Exploration has exploration,
development, and mining rights on 930 hectares of privately owned fee lands through a mineral lease
agreement with a local landowner and may purchase those fee lands at any time for the development
of Doby George.
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Figure 5. Aura Project – Land holdings and Infrastructure.
The 6,000-hectare Aura Project is unique in the junior mining space, as resources have been identified in
three different deposits (Doby George, Gravel Creek and Wood Gulch), as supported by the Technical
Report (see Table 3 below).
Table 3. Updated resource estimates for the Aura Project as contained in the Technical Report
MINERAL RESOURCE(1)
Indicated Inferred
Tonnes
Au
(g/t)
Au
(ozs)
Ag
(g/t)
Ag
(ozs)
AuEq
(g/t)
AuEq
(oz.) Tonnes
Au
(g/t)
Au
(ozs)
Ag
(g/t)
Ag
(ozs)
AuEq
(g/t)
AuEq
(oz.)
Doby
George(2) 12,922,000 0.98 407,000 - - 0.98 407,000 4,999,000 0.73 118,000 - - 0.73 118,000
Wood
Gulch(3) - - - - - - - 4,359,000 0.66 93,000 5.80 808,000 0.74 104,543
Gravel
Creek(4) 1,315,000 4.73 200,000 75.0 3,169,000 5.81 245,271 2,744,000 4.16 367,000 60.20 5,307,000 5.02 442,814
TOTAL 14,237,000 1.33 607,000 75.0 3,169,000 1.43 652,271 12,102,000 1.48 578,000 15.74 6,115,000 1.71 665,357
Notes:
(1) Au equivalent oz assumes US$1,800 per oz Au and 70:1 ratio of Ag:Au.
(2) Pit constrained 0.2 g/t AuEq cutoff for oxide, 0.4 g/t Au cutoff for mixed and 1.4 g/t Au cutoff for unoxidized.
(3) Pit constrained 0.2 g/t AuEq cutoff.
(4) 3.0 g/t Au cutoff.
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About Western Exploration
Born from a 25-year history of advancing exploration projects in Nevada as a private company, today
Western Exploration is composed of an experienced team of precious metals experts that aims to lead
Western Exploration to becoming a premiere gold and silver development company in North America.
The Company's principal asset is the 100% owned Aura gold-silver project, located approximately 120
kilometers/75 miles north of the city of Elko, Nevada, and includes three unique gold and silver deposits:
Doby George, Gravel Creek, and Wood Gulch. Additional information regarding Western Exploration and
the Aura Project can be found on the Company's website and on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the
Company's issuer profile.
For more information please contact:
Darcy Marud
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (775) 329-8119
Email: [email protected]
Nichole Cowles
Investor Relations
Telephone: 775-240-4172
Email: [email protected]
Qualified Person Approval
The scientific and technical content in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mark
Hawksworth, General Manager of Western Exploration's Aura Project, who is a "qualified person" within
the meaning of NI 43-101.
Quality Assurance – Quality Control
Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control (" QA/QC") and the interpretation of results is
performed by qualified persons employing a QA/QC program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best
practices.
Drill core samples were delivered by Major Drilling to Western Exploration's secure warehouse/logging
facility in Mountain City and washed, photographed and logged by company geologists. Quality control
(QC) samples are inserted at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks, core duplicates and
reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance.
Drill core samples are transported by Neilsen Exploration to McClelland Laboratory Inc. located in Sparks,
Nevada, for sample preparation and an alysis. Each interval is removed from the core box, weighed and
crushed using a jaw-crusher to an approximately 2" top size. The crushed interval is blended by repeated
coning and is quartered to obtain a one-quarter split for finer crush. Each one-quarter split is crushed to
10 mesh (2 mm) and split to obtain 0.25 – 0.50 kg for pulverization. For fire assays, the 0.25 kg split is
pulverized to >95%-150 mesh (106µm). Analysis for gold and silver is completed using a 30-gram fire assay
with AA finish. For the CN soluble tests, A 10-gram aliquot of sample (>95%-106 µm) is leached by shaking
in a 50 mL test tube for 1 hour, at ambient temperat ure and 33.3% solids, using a solution of NaCN (5.0
gpL) and pH > 11.0 using NaOH. The solution is separated by centrifuging. Clear solution is analyzed by AA
for gold.