Mining News: Independence explores gold portfolio in Yukon

Independence Gold Corp. May 31 announced plans for a C$2-million exploration program in the Yukon this year that will include drilling at its Boulevard gold project, adjacent to Goldcorp’s Coffee project, and geochemical sampling on several of the company’s Yukon properties and other property acquisitions. Goldcorp has invested in Independence and currently owns 19.9 percent of the exploration company. During the 2017 program, Independence plans to continue systematically exploring the Boulevard project, undertaking a detailed geochemical sampling program over numerous known anomalies to identify targets for drilling. The company also plans to complete roughly 2,500 meters of drilling to further evaluate the Denali, Sunset, and Sunrise zones, and test new targets identified during the sampling program. The Denali zone is a 1,200-meter-long multi-element geochemical anomaly located about 12 kilometers (seven miles) west of the Coffee gold deposit that has been confirmed by drilling in multiple holes. YCS15-03, drilled in the center of this anomaly, cut 6.1 meters of 4.25 grams per metric ton gold. Sunrise-Sunset, a 2,300-meter-long multi-element soil anomaly located about nine kilometers (six miles) south of the Coffee deposit, has also been confirmed by drilling. BV16-54, drilled there last year, cut 39.6 meters averaging 1.58 g/t gold. The company also plans to carry out reconnaissance geochemical sampling program to identify potential future drill targets across underexplored areas of the Boulevard property. In addition to work at Boulevard, Independence plans to undertake exploration programs on its other Yukon gold properties in the Yukon, including Moosehorn and Henderson, both of which received funding this season from the Yukon Mineral Exploration Program. Moosehorn hosts a 1,400-meter-long gold-arsenic soil geochemical anomaly located along a topographic high that drains into multiple creeks mined for placer gold. The company plans to complete a reconnaissance style geochemical sampling program across the remainder of property and to test the known anomaly with a GeoProbe. The Company also plans to drill approximately 400 meters on Henderson to discover a source for the placer gold which has been mined from North Henderson Creek. Independence said it continues to evaluate additional early stage projects in Yukon and intends to add to its current portfolio.

–SHANE LASLEY