Mining News: Northern Neighbors: Atac prepares to permit road to Tiger; drill two new Rackla gold zones

Atac Resources Ltd. said its first phase of exploration in 2016 at the Rackla gold project in the Yukon Territory will focus on drilling new targets in both the Rau and Nadaleen trends. The company is also preparing to permit a 69-kilometer (43 miles) road to the Rau trend and optimize the Tiger gold project found there. A 2014 preliminary economic assessment for Tiger envisions a seasonal open-pit mine that would produce 221,558 ounces of gold from 2.06 million metric tons of oxide material at an average diluted grade of 3.72 grams per metric ton gold over a four-year mine life. At the Nadaleen trend, Atac plans to carry out roughly 2,000 meters of rotary air blast drilling to follow up on the 2015 discovery hole at the Orion target which returned 3.79 grams per metric ton gold over 47.24 meters. At the Rau trend, the company plans to follow up on 11 priority targets identified within the 10-square-kilometer (2,500 acres) Airstrip gold anomaly that was discovered in 2015. Located about 4,000 meters south of the Tiger deposit, Airstrip is the largest gold anomaly in the Rau trend. Work in 2016 will include targeted geologic mapping, test pitting, trenching, soil grid extension and prospecting, with follow-up rotary air blast drilling if warranted. Atac has been preparing for permitting a tote road to the Rau Trend and Tiger gold deposit. Key studies have been completed along the proposed tote road route, including heritage, wildlife, hydrological and water quality surveys and preliminary engineering design. These studies will be used to support the permitting process that is scheduled to begin in April 2016. The proposed tote road would branch off the Hanson Lake Road west of Keno City and is envisioned as a gated, single-lane and radio-controlled road suitable for vehicles that support advanced exploration. The road would consist of 52 kilometers (32 miles) of new road and upgrading of 17 kilometers (11 miles) of pre-existing winter road. Atac President and CEO Graham Downs said the road would “support future pre-feasibility level work at the Tiger gold deposit and advanced exploration at more than 20 gold targets and numerous gold-copper-skarn and silver-lead-zinc targets. Obtaining a tote road permit for the Tiger gold deposit would be a major milestone in advancing the Rackla gold project.” Atac said it has about C$16 million in its treasury.

- Shane Lasley