Dual-listed Kirkland Lake on Wednesday announced new drill results from the Macassa mine, in Ontario, which CEO Tony Makuch described as “extremely encouraging”, identifying a high-grade corridor near the new #4 Shaft being developed.

The new drill results include 19 holes (9 522 m) of underground exploration drilling, as well as 15 holes (29 085 m) of previously drilled and reinterpreted holes.

Results from the drilling included 43.1 g/t over 2.1 m from hole 53-4016, 31.0 g/t over 2.3 m from hole 53-4052 and 16.4 g/t over 2.1 m from hole 53-4088, which define a minimum 75 m extension of the South Mine Complex (SMC) east of the current resource, as well as 19.3 g/t over 4.2 m from hole 53-4086 located 25 m to the south.

One of the new holes (762 m) was designed to test the Main Break below the Kirkland Minerals shaft near the east limit of previous drilling. The hole (53-4052) was highly successful, intersecting 141.1 g/t over 2.4 m and 9.7 gt/ over 2.0 m near the 6 850 Level, 300 m below the deepest level off the Kirkland Minerals shaft and 50 m east of previous drilling.

The high-grade intersection is located within 650 m of the company’s new #4 Shaft location and is believed to be part of a newly-identified corridor of high-grade mineralisation 700 m long and 300 m high along the Main Break.

The new corridor has been identified based on the results of new drilling, as well as the interpretation of previously drilled but not reported holes along the Main Break on the Kirkland Minerals property.  The corridor is located below the 5 850 Levels and extends between the new #4 Shaft location and hole 53-4052.

“We have a truly unique and very exciting opportunity at Macassa to add substantial new mineral resources and, ultimately, mineral reserves through the continued growth of the SMC, the identification of high-grade mineralisation along the largely unexplored Amalgamated Break, and also by drilling along the Main Break, which accounts for most of the 25-million ounces of historic production in the Kirkland Lake camp.

“While the resurgence of mining in Kirkland Lake over the last 10 to 15 years has been driven by the discovery and growth of the SMC, we have always recognised that the Main Break remains a highly-prospective target for additional exploration success and mineral resource growth. The fact that the new corridor of high-grade mineralisation along the Main Break is located close to planned infrastructure adds significantly to the value-creating potential of today’s results,” said Makuch.

Additional key intercepts from the results announced include: 27.7 g/t over 2.1 m from AB17-07W3, 19.7 g/t over 2.0 m from hole AB15-130 and 18.5 g/t over 2.4 m from hole 53-3350. The corridor remains open along strike and to depth.

Exploration drilling at Macassa has temporarily ceased as part of the Covid-19 health and safety protocols, which include the suspension of nonessential work. Upon the resumption of full operations at Macassa, exploration drilling will resume with up to six underground and surface drills.