Nine Mile Metals Ltd. (CSE:NINE, OTCID:VMSXF, FRA:KQ9) hits 5.09% copper-equivalent over 14 metres at New Brunswick’s Wedge Mine, with grades climbing to 8.59% Cu-Eq in a peak sample near the bottom of the intercept.
The high-grade section, from drill hole WD-26-14, included a 9-metre run of 6.35% Cu-Eq and a 6-metre run of 7.45% Cu-Eq.
The strongest sample, from 120.50 to 121.5 metres, returned 3.41% copper, 2.29% lead, 11.30% zinc, 55 g/t silver and 0.83 g/t gold.
The company said the six highest-grade samples all sit within the bottom six metres of the intersection, with copper, zinc, silver and gold values strengthening with depth. Peak individual grades across the hole reached 4.57% copper, 11.3% zinc, 2.29% lead, 62 g/t silver and 1.36 g/t gold.
The mineralization consisted of pyritic VMS with visible chalcopyrite and local galena and sphalerite, hosted between 107.35 and 121.5 metres
The company is conducting eight borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) surveys on perimeter holes, with results processed onsite within 24 hours, to target a second round of drilling on the depth and lateral extent of the mineralized lenses.
CEO Patrick Cruickshank called WD-26-14 “a spectacular traditional VMS hole, well balanced in high-grade Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au,” saying the copper and zinc results were outstanding. He noted that because holes are drilled perpendicular to the steeply dipping lenses, the company is measuring the widths of the mineralization rather than its vertical depth, and that these deposits can pinch and swell along strike.
Gary Lohman, Nine Mile’s vice president exploration, said the drill holes collared in the southwest continue to show both base and precious metal grades increasing with depth, and that the upcoming BHEM survey and second drilling round will help characterize the depth and lateral extent of the individual lenses.
