Alpha Gold today announced that a drill program of approximately 5,000 metres is slated to begin in early August 2009. Exploration in 2009 will initially focus on the Canyon Creek Skarn (“CCS”). The goal of the 2009 exploration program is to focus on targets that indicate the potential for new discoveries and some infill drilling that, if successful, will result in expanding the current resource and possibly demonstrating continuity or expansion of other zones.
The design and logistics of 2009 field program will be finalized when all historical property data has been completely integrated into the drilling database and will commence when ground conditions permit. “Once permits are in place and drill targets have been finalized, we will have a drill turning on the property,” explained Richard Whatley, President and CEO. Geophysical, geochemical and geological data are being compiled by Hungry Hill Geological Ltd., the Company’s new Geological Consultant, and all historical data re-analyzed in order to generate targets in and around the CCS and the Glover Stock. Diamond drilling using NQ core size on the CCS will focus on three priority areas: (i) infill drilling to better establish the resource parameters of CCS mineralized body needed for an NI 43-101 resource calculation; (ii) new step-out targets that have the potential to extend the existing CCS mineralized zone; and (iii) test drilling skarn-like geophysical and geochemical anomalies that have been, and may still be, identified.
During this season, aerial orthophotography of the Lustdust Property and real time GPS surveying of all drill collars are proposed which will add to the reconnaissance for advancing the potential of the CCS. The total cost of the 2009 drill program is estimated to be C$1.3 million. There is C$3 million in the treasury. It is expected that upon completion of the 2009 drill program, a stand alone resource estimate can be reinitiated on the CCS. Earlier work on an NI 43-101 compliant estimate was discontinued due to insufficient drill data and downhole geophysics to meet NI 43-101 criteria.
