West Point Gold Initiates Research Program at Gold Chain with the Colorado School of Mines and Joins the Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM)
West Point Gold Corp (WPGCF) has announced its collaboration with the Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM), a joint venture between Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech. The partnership began with Dr. Thomas Monecke's visit to the Gold Chain project, collecting 50 rock samples for various studies and completing hyperspectral scanning of 1,264m of drill core.
The collaboration focuses on understanding gold deposition at the Tyro vein system, which spans 3.5km and shows various vein styles. The company's geological model suggests that the historical Main Tyro vein is part of a larger epithermal, gold-rich system affected by faulting. The project shares similarities with historically productive Katherine and Arabian veins.
The research aims to reconstruct relative depths of different fault blocks through petrographic studies, fluid inclusion analysis, and hyperspectral scanning to better understand gold deposition conditions and guide exploration efforts.
West Point Gold Corp (WPGCF) ha annunciato la sua collaborazione con il Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM), una joint venture tra Colorado School of Mines e Virginia Tech. Il partenariato è iniziato con la visita del Dr. Thomas Monecke al progetto Gold Chain, durante la quale sono stati raccolti 50 campioni di roccia per vari studi e completato lo scansione iperspettrale di 1.264m di nucleo di perforazione.
La collaborazione si concentra sulla comprensione della deposizione dell'oro nel sistema di vene Tyro, che si estende per 3,5 km e mostra diversi stili di vena. Il modello geologico della compagnia suggerisce che la storica vena Main Tyro faccia parte di un sistema epithermale più ampio, ricco di oro e influenzato da faglie. Il progetto presenta somiglianze con le storicamente produttive vene Katherine e Arabian.
La ricerca mira a ricostruire le profondità relative dei diversi blocchi di faglia attraverso studi petrografici, analisi delle inclusioni fluide e scansioni iperspettrali, per comprendere meglio le condizioni di deposizione dell'oro e guidare gli sforzi di esplorazione.
West Point Gold Corp (WPGCF) ha anunciado su colaboración con el Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM), una empresa conjunta entre la Colorado School of Mines y Virginia Tech. La asociación comenzó con la visita del Dr. Thomas Monecke al proyecto Gold Chain, donde se recolectaron 50 muestras de roca para varios estudios y se completó el escaneo hiperespectral de 1,264m de núcleo de perforación.
La colaboración se centra en comprender la deposición de oro en el sistema de venas Tyro, que se extiende por 3.5 km y muestra varios estilos de venas. El modelo geológico de la empresa sugiere que la histórica vena Main Tyro es parte de un sistema epithermal más grande, rico en oro y afectado por fallas. El proyecto comparte similitudes con las venas Katherine y Arabian, históricamente productivas.
La investigación tiene como objetivo reconstruir las profundidades relativas de diferentes bloques de falla a través de estudios petrografías, análisis de inclusiones fluidas y escaneo hiperespectral para comprender mejor las condiciones de deposición de oro y guiar los esfuerzos de exploración.
웨스트 포인트 골드 코퍼레이션 (WPGCF)은 콜로라도 광업학교와 버지니아공대 간의 합작 투자인 탐사를 통한 복구 과학 촉진 센터(CASERM)와의 협력을 발표했습니다. 파트너십은 토마스 모넥 박사의 골드 체인 프로젝트 방문으로 시작되었으며, 이 방문에서 다양한 연구를 위해 50개의 암석 샘플을 수집하고 1,264m의 드릴 코어에 대한 하이퍼스펙트럼 스캔이 완료되었습니다.
이번 협력은 3.5km에 걸쳐 있는 타이로 vein 시스템에서의 금 침착 이해에 초점을 맞추고 있으며, 여러 종류의 vein 스타일을 보여줍니다. 회사의 지질 모델은 역사적인 메인 타이로 vein이 단층에 의해 영향을 받은 더 큰 에피더말, 금 함유 시스템의 일부라는 것을 제안합니다. 이 프로젝트는 역사적으로 생산적인 캐서린과 아라비안 veins와 유사점을 공유합니다.
연구는 암석사진 연구, 유체 포함 분석 및 하이퍼스펙트럼 스캔을 통해 다양한 단층 블록의 상대적 깊이를 재구성하여 금 침착 조건을 더 잘 이해하고 탐사 노력을 안내하는 것을 목표로 합니다.
West Point Gold Corp (WPGCF) a annoncé sa collaboration avec le Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM), une coentreprise entre la Colorado School of Mines et Virginia Tech. Le partenariat a commencé avec la visite du Dr. Thomas Monecke au projet Gold Chain, récoltant 50 échantillons de roche pour diverses études et complétant le scan hyperspectral de 1,264m de carottes de forage.
La collaboration se concentre sur la compréhension de la déposition d'or dans le système de veines Tyro, qui s'étend sur 3,5 km et montre différents styles de veines. Le modèle géologique de l'entreprise suggère que la veine historique Main Tyro fait partie d'un système épithermal plus vaste, riche en or et affecté par des failles. Le projet partage des similitudes avec les veines historiquement productives Katherine et Arabian.
La recherche vise à reconstruire les profondeurs relatives des différents blocs de faille à travers des études pétrographiques, une analyse des inclusions fluides et un scan hyperspectral pour mieux comprendre les conditions de déposition de l'or et guider les efforts d'exploration.
West Point Gold Corp (WPGCF) hat seine Zusammenarbeit mit dem Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM) bekannt gegeben, einem Joint Venture zwischen der Colorado School of Mines und der Virginia Tech. Die Partnerschaft begann mit dem Besuch von Dr. Thomas Monecke im Gold Chain Projekt, wo 50 Gesteinsproben für verschiedene Studien gesammelt und eine hyperspektrale Scans von 1.264m Bohrkern abgeschlossen wurden.
Die Zusammenarbeit konzentriert sich auf das Verständnis der Goldablagerung im Tyro-Venensystem, das sich über 3,5 km erstreckt und verschiedene Venentypen aufweist. Das geologische Modell des Unternehmens legt nahe, dass die historische Main Tyro-Vene Teil eines größeren epithermalen, goldreichen Systems ist, das durch Verwerfungen beeinflusst wird. Das Projekt weist Ähnlichkeiten mit historisch produktiven Katherine- und Arabian-Venen auf.
Die Forschung zielt darauf ab, die relativen Tiefen der verschiedenen Verwerfungsblöcke durch petrographische Studien, Fluidinhaltanalysen und hyperspektrale Scans zu rekonstruieren, um die Bedingungen der Goldablagerung besser zu verstehen und die Explorationsbemühungen zu leiten.
- Access to advanced geological evaluation techniques and expertise through CASERM collaboration
- Potential for discovering 'bonanza-type' gold zones in the Tyro vein system
- Extensive 3.5km strike length of the Tyro vein system indicates significant exploration potential
- Tyro vein system is essentially untested
- Complex geological structure with multiple fault blocks requiring extensive study
- Results from rock samples and hyperspectral scanning studies still pending
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 3, 2025) - West Point Gold Corp. (TSXV: WPG) (OTCQB: WPGCF) ("West Point Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has joined the Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining ("CASERM"), a collaborative venture between the Colorado School of Mines ("CSM") and Virginia Tech. Additionally, the Company has expanded its marketing engagement with i2i Marketing Group, LLC ("i2i").
This collaborative effort with CASERM commenced with the recent visit to the Gold Chain project by Dr. Thomas Monecke of CSM and the collection of about 50 rock samples for petrographic, fluid inclusion and geochemical studies. Additionally, as part of this collaboration a team from CSM completed a hyperspectral scan of all 1,264m of drill core from the recently completed drill program. Results from both these studies are pending.
West Point Gold believes that CASERM provides the Company with a unique and critical opportunity to:
Present the Gold Chain project's geologic and exploration models to a broad cross section of geoscientists to better identify tools to guide exploration.
Access tools typically not available to junior explorers with the associated experts to better understand the gold deposition model at Tyro.
Collaborate with experts in epithermal systems to decipher the geologic history of the numerous gold environments identified to date at Gold Chain.
"We are excited to join this program, as it is designed to provide us with a better understanding of gold deposition at the Gold Chain project, as West Point Gold pursues a maiden resource at Tyro," stated Rob Johansing, VP Exploration. Mr. Johansing continued, "Our collaboration with CASERM provides us with many benefits not available to other junior explorers that significantly include cost effective access to advanced geologic evaluation techniques and expertise as we expand our efforts to many other large-scale targets at the Gold Chain project."
Understanding the Tyro Vein System at the Gold Chain project
On, May 9, 2023, West Point Gold provided a revised geologic model for the Tyro vein system based upon drilling, geophysics, mapping and sampling. It was suggested that the historical Main Tyro vein is a segment of a much more extensive epithermal, gold-rich vein system (Figure 1). The vein system is characterized by abrupt changes in vein styles, vein textures, vein mineralogy and gold grades. Ongoing mapping supports a conclusion that these changes reflect intra- to post-mineral faulting which has dissected the vein system by down-dropping portions of the vein on the SW and NE extensions and relatively elevating central portions (axis of the Katherine Horst) where 'bonanza'-type gold values have been observed along surface vein exposures (Figure 1) and in drill holes.
Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the Tyro vein system showing the vein segments defined by WNW- to NW-trending intra- to post-mineral faults and veins.
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Figure 2. Generalized geologic projection of vein segments into the trace of the Tyro vein system. The section is oriented about N45oE and across the Katherine Horst revealing the relative elevation of the Tyro mine segment with elevated gold values.
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The Tyro vein system shares several similarities to the historically productive Katherine and Arabian veins (Arizona Gold and Silver), NW and SE, respectively, of the Gold Chain project.
Identifying and Defining Gold Targets
Many low-sulfidation epithermal deposits have zones of bonanza-type ore grades confined to crustiform quartz veins that range from centimetres to several metres in width. These bonanza-type zones occur at a specific depth below the paleowater table. In most deposits, the shallow portions of the veins may be barren or host only low-grade precious metal values. Deeper within the vein system, i.e. bonanza zone, elevated gold and silver values may dominate along with higher base metal (Cu-Pb-Zn) grades. In the neighboring Oatman district, the productive or 'bonanza' zone extended vertically between 300 and 400 metres and consisted of multiple mineralizing events (Lauson, 1931) but with very minor base-metal values.
Thermodynamic modeling suggests that precious metal enrichment in epithermal deposits that formed by gentle boiling should occur in a defined boiling horizon as >
Knowledge of the paleodepth of vein formation is critical to mineral exploration, especially if the veins are dissected by later faulting. The Gold Chain project represents an excellent example of a dissected low-sulfidation epithermal vein. The Tyro vein has been offset in several spots (see Figures 1 and 2) resulting in notable differences in vein style, texture and gold grade along with distinct alteration styles suggesting formation at different depths below the paleosurface. The Tyro vein over its nearly 3.5 km strike length hosts a spectrum of vein styles ranging from crustiform-banded quartz-chalcedony-adularia-calcite of the boiling zone to extensive outcrops of opaline silica-clay-hematite developed in the vapor-dominated part of the hydrothermal system, i.e. Frisco graben.
The textural/geochemical model shown in Figure 3 has been utilized to place the various segments of the Tyro vein system into context within the Low Sulfidation Epithermal Model (Buchanan, 1980). The model emphasizes the Company's belief that only the Tyro Mine segment is situated in the 'bonanza' zone and all other segments are positioned higher in the model. Consequently, the Tyro vein system is essentially untested.
Figure 3. Exploration model for low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver vein systems illustrating vertical variations in quartz textures, structure, alteration and geochemistry along with the estimated vertical positions of the several structural segments of the Tyro vein system. Diagram adapted from: Buchanan (1980), Hollister (1985), Berger & Eimon (1983), Anaconda Corp. (1983), Guoyi (1992) and Corbett & Leach (1996).
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Characterizing the Conditions of Gold Deposition
The West Point Gold, CASERM collaboration aims to reconstruct the relative depth of the different fault blocks through an in-depth petrographic study. This study will include a characterization of quartz textures in outcrop or core samples and documentation of fluid inclusion populations and their micro-thermometric properties.
The petrographic work will include a classification of the quartz textures present following the classification scheme of Dong et al. (1995) and Moncada et al. (2012). Quantifying quartz textures will constrain the processes by which mineral deposition occurred in the vein and allow distinction between fluid cooling, gentle boiling, and vigorous boiling (Moncada et al., 2012). Different processes of quartz deposition may have occurred in the different fault blocks with boiling occurring within a defined horizon.
This collaborative effort will also focus on ore mineralogy as West Point Gold initiates metallurgical studies at Tyro. In addition to characterizing both gold and silver, these petrographic studies may reveal whether different fault blocks show systematic variations in ore mineral associations that may be related to the temperature of the hydrothermal fluids, which increases with depth in low sulfidation epithermal systems.
During the above studies, samples will be investigated for their fluid inclusion inventory. Fluid inclusions represent small amounts of hydrothermal fluids that were entrapped in the quartz during or after quartz formation. Micro-thermometric measurements made on samples from the different fault blocks will then be compared to determine whether significant differences can be identified. If different maximum homogenization temperatures are obtained, this will show conclusively that the veins outcropping in the different fault blocks formed at different depths below the paleosurface.
Hyperspectral Studies and Gold-Related Alteration
In addition to petrographic studies of the Tyro vein system, pulp samples from the recent trenching program across the Main Tyro vein (July 11, 2024), have been subjected to hyperspectral scanning along with core from the Fall 2024 drill campaign. The objective here is to determine the clay mineralogy of the alteration halo around the veins in the different fault blocks as the clay mineralogy strongly correlates with the temperature of the fluid-rock interaction.
About CASERM
Research at CASERM is supported through an active membership of exploration, mining, and service companies as well as government agencies. CASERM forms part of the National Science Foundation's Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers program. The National Science Foundation takes a supporting role in the development and evolution of the research center and provides a framework for its operation.
Expansion of i2i Marketing Engagement
West Point Gold has expanded its marketing agreement with i2i previously announced on December 20, 2024. The Company and i2i have agreed to expand the marketing and media distribution services agreement beyond the initial one-month term, for a further three months. The supplemental fee is expected to be US
i2i will create an advertising campaign and utilize its physical marketing program strategy with the aim of increasing investor awareness through various on-line platforms and methods of engagement, including the direct mailing of advertising materials to potentially interested parties.
The Company will not issue any securities to i2i as compensation for its marketing services. As of the date hereof, to the Company's knowledge, i2i (including its directors and officers) does not own any securities of the Company and is arm's length to the Company.
The expanded marketing agreement with i2i remains subject to the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Qualified Person
Robert Johansing, M.Sc. Econ. Geol., P. Geo., the Company's Vice President, Exploration is a qualified person ("QP") as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.
About West Point Gold Corp.
West Point Gold Corp. (formerly Gold79 Mines Ltd.) is a publicly listed company focused on gold discovery and development at four prolific Walker Lane Trend projects covering Nevada and Arizona, USA. West Point Gold is focused on developing a maiden resource at its Gold Chain project in Arizona, while JV partner Kinross is advancing the Jefferson Canyon project in Nevada.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Aaron Paterson, Corporate Communications Manager
Phone: +1 (778) 358-6173
Email: info@westpointgold.com
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are made as of the date hereof and are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions which involve risks and uncertainties associated with our business, including any future private placements, the uncertainty as to whether further exploration will result in the target(s) being delineated as a mineral resource, capital expenditures, operating costs, mineral resources, recovery rates, grades and prices, estimated goals, expansion and growth of the business and operations, plans and references to the Company's future successes with its business and the economic environment in which the business operates. All such statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements contained herein that are statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the Company's continuous disclosure documents, which can be found on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. West Point Gold does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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FAQ
What is the significance of West Point Gold's (WPGCF) collaboration with CASERM?
How long is the Tyro vein system at WPGCF's Gold Chain project?
What type of gold deposit is WPGCF exploring at the Gold Chain project?
How many meters of drill core did WPGCF analyze with hyperspectral scanning?
