VANCOUVER, B.C. Western Copper and Gold Corporation (“Western” or the “Company”) (TSX: WRN; NYSE American: WRN) announces its 2021 exploration and drilling program (the “Program”) at its wholly owned Casino Copper-Gold Project (“Casino”).
The Program was developed with input from Rio Tinto as outlined in the Investor Rights Agreement and Subscription Agreement entered as part of an investment by Rio Tinto Canada in Western (see news release dated May 17, 2021). The Program consists of several components outlined below:
Exploration Drilling
The 2021 program will include an exploration diamond drilling phase comprising roughly 5,000 metres in 12 holes. These will target the peripheral areas of the Casino Deposit (the “Casino Deposit” or “Deposit”), as well as several exploration targets within the Canadian Creek property. Drilling on Canadian Creek will specifically target at least three areas having prospective soil geochemical and/or geophysical signatures. These include an area of anomalous molybdenite revealed from soil sampling and a potassium anomaly revealed from geophysical radiometric surveying. Also, a prospective magnetic “low” anomaly south of the main Casino Deposit will also be tested.
Metallurgical and Geotechnical Drilling
The diamond drilling program will also include a metallurgical component comprising 1,000 metres of large-diameter core in three holes, to test amenability of the mineralization to mineral processing. The program also includes roughly 1,500 m of geotechnical and hydrological drilling in the Deposit area, as well as a 910 metre geotechnical program designed by Knight-Piesold Consulting. This will target the ground conditions of the proposed tailings management facility, proposed heap leaching and milling facilities and new airstrip.
Resource Confirmation Drilling
The 2021 program also includes a five-hole, 1,500 metre resource confirmation campaign, targeting the eastern and southern margins of the main Deposit. This campaign is designed to confirm the lithological and mineralogical settings of this portion of the Deposit. Core obtained will undergo metallurgical testing as well as conventional gold and multi-element analyses.
Soil Sampling
The 2021 program includes a soil sampling component, covering the majority of the Casino property and focusing particularly on areas east and south of the Casino Deposit. The program will comprise of collection of roughly 2,400 “B-horizon” soil samples on a 200 m by 200 m grid spacing. The objective is to identify any geochemical signatures that may indicate a second porphyry centre or further mineralized zones related to the main Deposit.
Enersoft Logging
The program also involves scanning of drill core utilizing the innovative “GeologicalAI” robotic scanning device built by Enersoft Inc., of Calgary, Alberta. The scanning includes “LIDAR” (Light Detection and Ranging) scanning, XRF analysis, hyperspectral analysis and some geotechnical analyses. The primary focus will be to establish a standardization of rock types drilled throughout all programs completed to date. Scanning will be done on the majority of drill core form the 1992 through 1994 programs, much of the core from the 2008 through 2012 programs, and some core from the high-grade “Deposit Core” identified by Western from the results of the 2020 program. Scanning will also be done for all of the 2021 metallurgical, geotechnical and resource confirmation drilling, and on the 2021 exploration drilling where warranted.
“We are excited to launch our exploration and drilling program developed with Rio Tinto.”, said Paul West-Sells, President and CEO, “In addition to targeting new exploration targets, the work performed over the summer will provide important information that we will use as we move the Casino Project towards feasibility.”
COVID-19 Policy
The health and safety of our employees, contractors, visitors and the communities in which we operate are paramount. To that end, we have implemented a COVID-19 policy to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at our exploration camp, and in the Yukon. We will continue to follow the guidance issued by the Federal and Territorial governments for the operation of remote camps and mining operations. All of our policies can be found on our website, at https://casinomining.com/about-us/casino-site-policies/.
Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Carl Schulze, P.Geo, and a ‘Qualified Person’ as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101.
ABOUT WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD CORPORATION
Western Copper and Gold Corporation is developing the Casino Project, Canada’s premier copper-gold mine in the Yukon Territory and one of the most economic greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world. For more information, visit www.westerncopperandgold.com.
On behalf of the board,
“Paul West-Sells”
Dr. Paul West-Sells
President and CEO
Western Copper and Gold Corporation
For more information, please contact:
Sandy Noyes
Director, Investor Relations 604.638.2520 or snoyes@westerncopperandgold.com
