TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Junior gold explorer Secova Metals has appointed geology engineer Pierre-Jean Lafleur to its board to manage the exploration programme at its Duvay gold project, in Amos, Quebec.

Lafleur brought with him access to some of the top geologists and technology in the Quebec gold exploration resource sector.

“With the addition of Mr Lafleur, Secova has assured its shareholders that the exploration on Duvay will be executed by one of the best geological engineers in the business. His expertise, combined with access to the best human and technical resources in Quebec, will help the company to more efficiently and effectively determine the extent of the gold structure at Duvay,” stated Secova CEO Brad Kitchen.

Lafleur had started Secova’s winter exploration programme on the advanced-stage Duvay project, where the company planned to complete 3 250 m of drilling. A three-dimensional (3D) induced polarisation survey and compilation of historic data into a 3D model were currently under way. 

Secova advised that the results were expected to contribute to a comprehensive model of the Duvay gold structure, which was located in the Abitibi gold belt, one of Quebec’s best mining jurisdictions.

The winter exploration programme was based on a preliminary assessment report, prepared by PJLGI, which reviewed all available historic information with the objective of proposing an exploration programme that would assist in creating a comprehensive model of the Duvay gold structure.

Most of the historic work at Duvay had been focused near the surface, including 339 drill holes to a depth of about 100 m, and in an area that was only 250 m². Historical gold results from the 1940s through the 1980s reportedly included drill intersections of up to 402 g/t over 0.36 m, 76.8 g/t over 0.46 m and 34.6 g/t over 0.46 m, as well as more recent drilling by Tres-Or, including up to 83.194 g/t over 1 m. 

These selected results showed the presence of gold. A short exploration mine shaft and drifts (1944) reportedly intersected a highly variable gold grade. These findings were similar to typical gold mineralisation in the Abitibi gold belt.