Selkirk Copper Mines says it has identified a significant high-grade copper-gold-silver discovery at its Minto Project in Yukon, Canada, following results from a completed Phase 1 drilling program and the start of an ongoing Phase 2 campaign. The company reported that the latest drilling confirmed the 301 Lens beneath the Area 118 zone. The announcement also includes additional high-grade intercepts from Minto East, Minto North and Ridgetop.
Area 118 drilling confirms 301 Lens below known near-surface resources
Area 118 is described as being south of previous open-pit operations. Selkirk Copper said geological modelling identified unexplored anomalies beneath known near-surface resources, leading to the Phase 1 drilling campaign. The company reported that the drilling confirmed the presence of the 301 Lens at an estimated depth of about 100 to 140 metres below existing resources.
The company stated that the lens has been traced over an area of roughly 500 by 300 metres. Mineralized thicknesses were reported to range from 4 to 20 metres. Geologists cited by the company believe the discovery could form part of a larger stacked-lens mineralization system similar to those identified elsewhere across the Minto mining district.
Selkirk Copper said the mineralization is primarily hosted in altered granodiorite rocks and consists mainly of bornite and chalcopyrite. It reported that bornite-rich zones have delivered the strongest copper and gold grades in the intercepts reported for Area 118. The company also said new intercepts occur within approximately 300 metres of historical underground development.
Key intercepts from drill hole 26SCM157 include copper, gold and silver grades
The standout result for Area 118 was reported from drill hole 26SCM157. Selkirk Copper said the hole returned 4.39% copper, 7.60 g/t gold, and 21.07 g/t silver over 4.1 metres. The company added that a broader interval graded 1.56% copper, 2.26 g/t gold, and 7.63 g/t silver over 15.7 metres.
The company also highlighted individual one-metre samples described as rich in bornite mineralization. It said these samples returned up to 4.6% copper, 23.1 g/t gold, and 26.4 g/t silver. Selkirk Copper stated these values rank among the highest precious-metal grades recorded at the Minto property.
Minto East reports deepest high-grade intercept near 640 metres depth
Selkirk Copper said exploration results were not limited to Area 118, with drilling at Minto East expanding multiple stacked mineralized lenses. The company reported high-grade mineralization at depths it said had not been previously tested at the project. One of the results highlighted for Minto East came from drill hole 26SCM134.
The company stated that drill hole 26SCM134 intersected 3.77% copper, 6.74 g/t gold, and 23.68 g/t silver over 3.8 metres. It added that this occurred within a broader interval grading 1.38% copper, 2.34 g/t gold, and 8.67 g/t silver over 11.3 metres.
Selkirk Copper said this mineralization was encountered at nearly 640 metres below surface, which it described as the deepest high-grade intercept drilled at Minto to date. It noted that previous drilling rarely extended beyond 500 metres at the project. The company also said several intercepts are located close to historical underground workings.
Minto central mine area finds new 117 Lens between main pit and Area 2 pit
The company reported another new mineralized body in the central mine area, identified as the 117 Lens. Selkirk Copper said drilling between the historical Minto Main Pit and Area 2 Pit led to its discovery. It described the zone as containing broad intervals of copper-gold-silver mineralization alongside higher-grade cores.
A key result for the 117 Lens was attributed to drill hole 26SCM142. Selkirk Copper said it returned 2.93% copper, 1.50 g/t gold, and 16.37 g/t silver over 5.0 metres. The company stated that the lens has been outlined over an area of approximately 300 by 250 metres and remains open toward the west.
The company also reported a step-out hole drilled about 150 metres beyond previous limits intersected nearly 48 metres of mineralization. It said this result indicates expansion potential beyond currently defined boundaries for the lens.
Minto North expands high-grade 202 Lens with intercepts tied to bornite and chalcopyrite
Selkirk Copper said drilling at Minto North expanded the high-grade 202 Lens. It described this lens as one of the strongest mineralized zones identified during its exploration program at Minto. The company highlighted an intercept from drill hole 26SCM131.
The reported result included 3.56% copper, 2.34 g/t gold, and 21.42 g/t silver over 3.7 metres from drill hole 26SCM131. Selkirk Copper added that a broader interval graded 0.89% copper, 0.49 g/t gold, and 4.84 g/t silver over 21.7 metres.
The company stated that the 202 Lens has been traced across a footprint of approximately 300 by 400 metres and reaches thicknesses up to 30 metres. It said high-grade mineralization is associated with bornite- and chalcopyrite-rich zones based on its reporting for these intercepts.
Ridgetop targets near-surface intervals including long shallow mineralization width
The company also pointed to results from its Ridgetop area, describing it as emerging as a source of potential near-surface resources alongside deeper targets elsewhere on the property. Selkirk Copper said drilling there has intersected broad zones close to surface, including drill hole 26SCM137. It reported that this hole returned
