Aim-listed Richmond Hill Resources has managed to consolidate historical exploration data on the Martello project, in Ontario, which, combined with its own maiden drilling and three-dimensional magnetic interpretation, resulted in a better understanding of the Martello geology and the identification of Sakoose as the company's highest priority target.

The company's findings suggest that the Sakoose area may contain multiple subparallel structures rather than a single mineralisation vein and has been further resolved into five subordinate prospecting targets surrounding the historic Martello mine workings.

Richmond has submitted an exploration permit application covering Sakoose and select other priority targets to the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines.

Sakoose historically produced 3 900 oz gold at grades of about 15 g/t from a limited portion of structure believed to extend for more than 1.4 km. "Multiple gold-bearing veins and structures have been documented across the Sakoose area and the system remains open along strike and down plunge," Richmond confirms.

Meanwhile, the company's maiden drill programme was designed to validate historical exploration results, test extensions to known mineralisation and provide geological information for integration into Richmond's district-wide geological model. Five of the seven drill holes completed during the programme were designed as step-out holes testing potential strike extensions to the historically identified high-grade shoot.

Richmond says only two holes directly targeted the previously recognised high-grade core of the system while the balance of step-out holes tested areas beyond the limits of previous drilling.

Over the past six months the company has undertaken a comprehensive review and integration of historical exploration data across the Martello project to help inform the maiden drill programme. The review incorporated historical mine records, assessment reports, geological mapping, drilling records, geophysical surveys and academic studies spanning more than a century of exploration activity.