A comprehensive geological study conducted by the Colorado School of Mines has revealed promising findings at the Surebet discovery within the Golddigger Property in British Columbia's Golden Triangle, highlighting substantial untapped gold potential. The research identified two distinct high-grade gold environments: shear-hosted quartz-sulfide veins and gold-bearing felsic to intermediate dykes. Both settings demonstrate widespread visible gold that increases in abundance and coarseness with depth, suggesting significant mineralization potential that extends well beyond current exploration levels.
Notably, the study's mineralization age analysis revealed dates between 50.7 and 52.0 million years, confirming a common Eocene-age magmatic origin. This finding is particularly significant because it challenges previous geological assumptions that historically focused on Jurassic-era mineral targets in the region. The Eocene-age confirmation represents a paradigm shift in understanding the area's geological history and opens up new exploration possibilities that were previously overlooked by conventional geological models.
Researchers observed melt droplet inclusions and fluid textures that unveiled a previously unrecognized phase separation process in CO₂-rich hydrothermal fluids. This discovery provides crucial insights into the mineralization mechanisms and helps explain the exceptional gold grades encountered throughout the system. The identification of this unique fluid behavior represents a major advancement in understanding how high-grade gold deposits form in this geological setting.
Drill data from 243 holes substantiates the scale of the gold system, with notable intercepts reaching as high as 34.52 g/t AuEq over 39 meters. These impressive results demonstrate the continuity and quality of mineralization across the property. The research underscores the potential of Reduced Intrusion-Related Gold (RIRG) systems and provides a compelling geological model for future exploration efforts throughout the Golden Triangle region and similar geological provinces worldwide.
McEwen Mining views these results as a significant validation of the region's prospectivity and an important step in understanding the area's geological complexity. The findings not only confirm the economic potential of the Surebet discovery but also establish a new framework for exploration targeting that could lead to additional discoveries in under-explored parts of the Golden Triangle. This research represents a fundamental advancement in the geological understanding of one of Canada's most promising mineral districts.
