New drilling results highlight the potential of the gold deposit
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 3, 2024 /CNW/ - Lundin Gold Inc. (TSX: LUG) (Nasdaq Stockholm: LUG) (OTCQX: LUGDF) ("Lundin Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional drilling results from its ongoing 2024 near-mine exploration program at Bonza Sur, in close proximity to its 100%-owned Fruta del Norte ("FDN") gold mine in southeastern Ecuador. Recent results confirm the significant size of the Bonza Sur mineral deposit. Drilling has extended the deposit's length by 800 metres to approximately 2.6 kilometres and widened it to 150 metres. Importantly, Bonza Sur remains open for further discovery in all directions and at depth.
LUNDIN GOLD REPORTS SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION AT BONZA SUR (CNW Group/Lundin Gold Inc.)
Highlights from the ongoing drill program at Bonza Sur are outlined below (not true widths). Detailed results are provided at the end of this release (see Appendix 1).
Bonza Sur Exploration Drilling Highlights (not true widths):
Drill hole AMN -2024-156 intersected 2.35 grams per tonne ("g/t") of gold ("Au") over 100.30 m from 333.2 m, including:
3.30 g/t Au over 53.20 m from 353.8m
Drill hole BLP-2024-189 intersected 1.54 g/t Au over 123.50 m from 72.90 m, including:
3.08 g/t Au over 48.0 m from 81.3m, with:
10.06 g/t Au over 7.60 m
Drill hole BLP-2024-162 intersected 1.43 g/t Au over 115.60 m from 47.40 m including:
2.43 g/t Au over 58.10 m from 92.90m, with:
4.58 /t Au over 20.50m
Drill hole BLP-2024-173 intersected 1.22 g/t Au over 133.20 m from 31.90 m including:
2.54 g/t Au over 49.80 m from 113.40m, with:
17.29 g/t Au over 2.9m
Ron Hochstein, President and CEO, commented, "The significant and rapid advance of Bonza Sur from an early-stage exploration target to a mineral deposit is an exciting time for Lundin Gold. Our drilling program continues to highlight the meaningful potential of this new discovery. Recent results have defined a much larger mineralized system close to surface that extends over 2.6 kilometres and remains open for further expansion. The Company plans to release an initial mineral resource at Bonza Sur mid-year 2025 and drilling is ongoing."
NEAR-MINE PROGRAM
The ongoing near-mine exploration program continues to unlock the significant potential of Lundin Gold's world-class land package. 2024 marks the largest drilling program ever undertaken on the concessions that host the FDN mine. To date, approximately 56,110 metres of drilling have been completed, with a target of at least 65,000 metres in 2024, primarily focused on the Bonza Sur deposit.
Over recent months, the program has focused on efforts to define and expand Bonza Sur and a total of 43 drill holes across 17,315 metres have been completed. Assay results for these holes are provided in Tables 1 and 2 of this release. Drilling is ongoing, and results for some holes are still pending.
Bonza Sur
Initially discovered through drilling a geochemical soil anomaly one kilometre south of the FDN mine, Bonza Sur continues to evolve as a substantial mineral deposit. The resource envelope now extends over 2.6 kilometres along strike, is 150 metres wide, and reaches at least 500 metres deep (see Figures 1, 2, and 3). Since its 2023 discovery, over 90 drill holes have been completed, and results consistently point to further growth potential.
Bonza Sur is interpreted as a shallow, disseminated gold-silver epithermal system situated east of the East Fault, a critical structural control at FDN. Gold mineralization is characterized by a broad hydrothermal halo with a higher-grade core associated with quartz-chalcedony-manganoan-carbonate veins and veinlets, enveloped by a lower-grade gold zone with silica-illite and sulfides.
The recent drilling program, detailed in Tables 1 and 2, has expanded Bonza Sur in all directions. In the south, drilling has extended mineralization by 800 metres to 2.6 kilometres, with potential for further growth. Drill hole AMN-2024-156 (2.35 g/t Au over 100.30m from 333.2m) is a prime example of these strong results. In the central area, drilling has expanded Bonza Sur laterally by 150 metres to the east. In the north, drill holes have intersected a high-grade gold zone near the surface, surrounded by a wider disseminated gold halo, confirming the mineral envelope in this sector.
All drilling data is being integrated into a new geological model for Bonza Sur, and a metallurgical study is underway. An initial mineral resource estimate is expected by mid-2025. Currently, four drill rigs are active at Bonza Sur, focused on expanding the deposit both along strike and at depth.
Qualified Persons
The technical information contained in this News Release has been reviewed and approved by Andre Oliveira, P. Geo, Vice President, Exploration of the Company, who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Samples consist of half HQ and NQ-size diamond core that are split by diamond saw on site, prepared at the ALS laboratory in Quito, and analysed by 50g fire assay and multi-element (ICP-AES/ICP-MS) at the ALS Laboratory in Lima, Peru. The quality assurance-quality control (QA-QC) program of Lundin Gold includes the insertion of certified standards of known gold content, blank and duplicate samples. The remaining half core is retained for verification and reference purposes. For further information on the assay, QA-QC and data verification procedures, please see Lundin Gold's Annual Information Form dated March 26, 2024, filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
About Lundin Gold
Lundin Gold, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, owns the Fruta del Norte gold mine in southeast Ecuador. Fruta del Norte is among the highest-grade operating gold mines in the world.
The Company's board and management team have extensive expertise in mine operations and are dedicated to operating Fruta del Norte responsibly. The Company operates with transparency and in accordance with international best practices. Lundin Gold is committed to delivering value to its shareholders, while simultaneously providing economic and social benefits to impacted communities, fostering a healthy and safe workplace and minimizing the environmental impact. The Company believes that the value created through the development of Fruta del Norte will benefit its shareholders, the Government and the citizens of Ecuador.
Additional Information
The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of Lundin Gold under the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This information was publicly communicated on December 3, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time through the contact persons set out below.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements
Certain of the information and statements in this press release are considered "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" as those terms are defined under Canadian securities laws (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "pending", "intends", "plans", "forecasts", "targets", or "hopes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "will", "should" "might", "will be taken", or "occur" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements and information involve assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict, and are usually beyond the control of management, that could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed by these forward-looking statements and information. Lundin Gold believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. This information speaks only as of the date of this press release, and the Company will not necessarily update this information, unless required to do so by securities laws.
This press release contains forward-looking information in a number of places, such as in statements relating to the Company's exploration plans, activities and results, including the plans to release a resource estimate on Bonza Sur. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as Lundin Gold's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in Lundin Gold's Annual Information Form dated March 26, 2004, which is available at www.lundingold.com or www.sedarplus.ca.
Lundin Gold's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement or that could have a material impact on the Company or the trading price of its shares include: instability in Ecuador; community relations; forecasts relating to production and costs; mining operations; security; non-compliance with laws and regulations and compliance costs; tax changes in Ecuador; waste disposal and tailings; government or regulatory approvals; environmental compliance; gold price; infrastructure; dependence on a single mine; exploration and development; control of Lundin Gold; availability of workforce and labour relations; dividends; information systems and cyber security; Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates; title matters and surface rights and access; health and safety; human rights; employee misconduct; measures to protect biodiversity; endangered species and critical habitats; global economic conditions; shortages of critical resources; competition for new projects; key talent recruitment and retention; market price of the Company's shares; social media and reputation; insurance and uninsured risks; pandemics, epidemics or infectious disease outbreak; climate change; illegal mining; conflicts of interest; ability to maintain obligations or comply with debt; violation of anti-bribery and corruption laws; internal controls; claims and legal proceedings; and reclamation obligations.
APPENDIX 1
Table 1: Drillhole assay results from the near-mine drilling program at Bonza Sur reported for thickness versus grade intervals above 14 (m x g/t Au >14). Drill hole intercepts are reported in drill core lengths
Hole ID
From (m)
To (m)
Interval (m)
Au (g/t)
Ag (g/t)
Target
Zone
BLP-2024-140
207.1
231.9
24.8
0.92
2.95
BLP
Surface
Including
230.1
230.9
0.8
9.08
4.81
BLP-2024-140
332.2
470
137.8
0.83
1.47
Including
333
413.9
80.9
1.11
1.55
with
399.7
413.9
14.2
4.46
1.95
with
401.7
404.8
3.1
9.38
2.42
Including
459
462
3
3.20
2.45
BLP-2024-141
18
191.1
173.1
0.57
6.91
BLP
Surface
Including
133.1
155.4
22.3
1.43
25.37
with
134.8
138.8
4
2.77
11.10
BLP-2024-143
No Significant Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-143-D1
No Significant Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-143-D2
227.4
231.8
4.4
4.17
1.72
BLP
Surface
Including
227.4
228.9
1.5
11.93
3.23
BLP-2024-143-D2A
No Significant Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-143-D3
494.2
515.5
21.3
0.93
20.34
BLP
Surface
Including
506.5
511.5
5
2.56
64.66
BLP-2024-146
0.2
41.35
41.15
0.69
1.28
BLP
Surface
Including
0.2
10.7
10.5
2.27
1.82
with
0.2
3.2
3
4.15
5.25
BLP-2024-146
360.85
361.75
0.9
6.53
326.76
Including
361.35
361.75
0.4
13.70
25.20
HOR-2024-147
55.75
141.9
86.15
0.83
8.43
BLP
Surface
Including
61.4
78.2
16.8
2.02
12.47
with
70
71
1
25.30
34.30
Including
138.2
141.9
3.7
3.27
26.80
HOR-2024-147
229.9
257.8
27.9
0.53
19.64
BLP-2024-149
143.5
147.7
4.2
1.09
2.74
BLP
Surface
Including
143.5
144.4
0.9
4.65
4.12
BLP-2024-151
512.85
540.2
27.35
0.57
7.34
BLP
Surface
Including
523.6
525
1.4
7.93
99.70
AMN-2024-156
333.2
433.5
100.3
2.35
13.15
BLP
Surface
Including
353.8
407
53.2
3.30
8.97
with
359.75
364.05
4.3
5.26
11.43
with
367.6
376.6
9
4.17
7.87
with
389.65
403.05
13.4
3.77
11.31
Including
426.2
430
3.8
4.67
56.66
BLP-2024-157
116.4
140.05
23.65
0.53
11.76
BLP
Surface
Including
124.5
127.8
3.3
1.50
41.70
Including
135.25
137.4
2.15
1.56
36.33
BLP-2024-161
No Significant Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-161-D1
401.35
516.75
115.4
0.6
17.6
BLP
Surface
Including
404.75
410.35
5.6
1.41
7.77
with
408.6
409.35
0.75
9.94
39.2
Including
478.6
516.75
38.15
1.26
44.1
with
485.4
488.8
3.4
6.02
72.26
with
486.4
487.65
1.25
15.22
182.23
BLP-2024-161-D2
175.2
208
32.8
1.17
3.40
BLP
Surface
Including
181.45
185.15
3.7
4.65
10.72
BLP-2024-161-D2
434.7
472.7
38
0.54
27.90
Including
440
442.7
2.7
4.25
17.41
with
440
440.65
0.65
14.4
57.1
BLP-2024-161-D3
174.7
213.3
38.6
0.58
2.50
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-161-D3
324.6
326.6
2
1.68
3.04
BLP-2024-161-D3
471.1
474.6
3.5
1.26
4.87
BLP-2024-161-D3
521.1
557.4
36.3
0.50
26.73
Including
523.1
524.1
1
9.61
21.00
BLP-2024-161-D4
284.8
297.6
12.8
0.55
5.41
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-161-D4
353.7
368.9
15.2
0.57
2.26
Including
365.05
365.5
0.45
12.60
37.00
BLP-2024-161-D4
500.65
600.1
99.45
1.07
6.80
Including
500.65
539.9
39.25
2.54
7.04
with
502.15
504.5
2.35
4.29
7.97
with
530.8
537.9
7.1
12.26
22.63
BLP-2024-161-D5
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-162
47.4
163
115.6
1.43
13.53
BLP
Surface
Including
92.9
151
58.1
2.43
21.28
with
105.05
125.55
20.5
4.58
38.53
BLP-2024-162
258.2
271
12.8
1.05
1.51
Including
259.2
264.9
5.7
2.14
1.27
BLP-2024-166
102.5
173.7
71.2
0.92
7.37
BLP
Surface
Including
123.6
125.7
2.1
4.14
22.56
AMN-2024-168
167.9
238.85
70.95
0.66
2.61
BLP
Surface
Including
167.9
180.2
12.3
2.88
6.89
with
175.9
179
3.1
6.37
11.58
BLP-2024-169
275.4
335.6
60.2
0.48
14.24
BLP
Surface
Including
297.7
301.1
3.4
1.55
129.90
BLP-2024-173
31.9
165.1
133.2
1.22
17.95
BLP
Surface
Including
113.4
163.2
49.8
2.54
31.53
with
132
134.9
2.9
17.29
258.63
BLP-2024-177
265.8
323.45
57.65
0.59
2.45
BLP
Surface
Including
298.6
301.5
2.9
4.87
2.23
with
298.6
299.6
1
10.85
1.27
BLP-2024-179
8.35
9.9
1.55
4.16
13.27
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-179
16.5
33
16.5
0.50
11.81
BLP-2024-179
137.7
192
54.3
0.44
14.48
BLP-2024-179
214
236.6
22.6
0.45
2.85
BLP-2024-182
43.7
187.3
143.6
1.06
5.60
BLP
Surface
Including
76.1
131.1
55
2.33
8.27
with
81.4
96.1
14.7
5.14
13.22
BLP-2024-189
72.9
196.4
123.5
1.54
10.70
BLP
Surface
Including
81.3
129.3
48
3.08
10.68
with
97.4
105
7.6
10.06
27.19
BLP-2024-186
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-187
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
AMN-2024-190
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
AMN-2024-193
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-194
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-195
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-197
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-198
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-201
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
AMN-2024-202
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
AMN-2024-203
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-205
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-208
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-209
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-217
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-218
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
AMN-2024-224
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-225
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
BLP-2024-226
Pending Results
BLP
Surface
Table 2: Bonza Sur Collar Drill Holes
Hole ID
Target
Easting
Northing
Elevation
Azimuth
Dip
EOH (m)
Drilling Type
Year
BLP-2024-140
Bonza Sur
778616
9580904
1508
88
-67
500.75
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-141
Bonza Sur
778688
9580440
1578
89
-70
323.20
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-143
Bonza Sur
778816
9581523
1449
269
-45
198.70
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-143-D1
Bonza Sur
778816
9581523
1449
269
-45
361.30
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-143-D2
Bonza Sur
778816
9581523
1449
269
-45
107.25
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-143-D2A
Bonza Sur
778816
9581523
1449
269
-45
295.90
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-143-D3
Bonza Sur
778816
9581523
1449
269
-45
560.55
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-146
Bonza Sur
778687
9580443
1579
298
-56
520.25
Surface
2024
HOR-2024-147
Bonza Sur
778723
9580099
1609
264
-45
424.65
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-149
Bonza Sur
778692
9580980
1517
99
-44
256.70
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-151
Bonza Sur
778705
9581803
1489
268
-49
624.20
Surface
2024
AMN-2024-156
Bonza Sur
778747
9579870
1657
72
-44
500.00
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-157
Bonza Sur
778685
9580242
1601
299
-54
507.20
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-161
Bonza Sur
778866
9580888
1525
256
-46
148.50
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-161-D1
Bonza Sur
778866
9580888
1525
256
-46
387.80
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-161-D2
Bonza Sur
778866
9580888
1525
256
-46
420.80
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-161-D3
Bonza Sur
778866
9580888
1525
256
-46
460.15
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-161-D4
Bonza Sur
778866
9580888
1525
256
-46
379.20
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-161-D5
Bonza Sur
778866
9580888
1525
256
-46
556.00
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-162
Bonza Sur
778468
9581652
1454
289
-44
275.80
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-166
Bonza Sur
778342
9581540
1461
93
-61
321.10
Surface
2024
AMN-2024-168
Bonza Sur
778744
9579869
1657
269
-45
440.35
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-169
Bonza Sur
778673
9581293
1498
262
-44
492.65
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-173
Bonza Sur
778468
9581653
1454
269
-61
300.60
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-177
Bonza Sur
778638
9581037
1526
103
-71
589.70
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-179
Bonza Sur
778616
9580902
1509
128
-69
512.15
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-182
Bonza Sur
778343
9581541
1461
68
-38
400.05
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-186
Bonza Sur
778654
9581180
1521
90
-42
250.40
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-187
Bonza Sur
778675
9580698
1540
89
-74
300.15
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-189
Bonza Sur
778342
9581541
1461
69
-54
350.05
Surface
2024
AMN-2024-190
Bonza Sur
778748
9579869
1657
74
-33
507.05
Surface
2024
AMN-2024-193
Bonza Sur
778826
9580014
1634
84
-34
515.15
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-194
Bonza Sur
778654
9581180
1521
91
-59
403.00
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-195
Bonza Sur
779593
9580744
1650
294
-50
430.25
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-197
Bonza Sur
778723
9580636
1569
119
-50
367.65
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-198
Bonza Sur
778654
9581180
1521
90
-79
351.50
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-201
Bonza Sur
779048
9581111
1548
89
-40
350.05
Surface
2024
AMN-2024-202
Bonza Sur
778748
9579869
1657
74
-49
500.00
Surface
2024
AMN-2024-203
Bonza Sur
778825
9580014
1634
84
-45
440.15
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-205
Bonza Sur
778534
9581207
1473
89
-70
347.35
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-208
Bonza Sur
779595
9580744
1651
254
-50
441.05
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-209
Bonza Sur
779001
9581334
1486
270
-60
181.60
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-217
Bonza Sur
779047
9581111
1548
89
-60
479.10
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-218
Bonza Sur
778457
9581058
1458
83
-39
360.20
Surface
2024
AMN-2024-224
Bonza Sur
779018
9579691
1733
90
-44
430.00
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-225
Bonza Sur
778674
9580698
1541
89
-39
350.05
Surface
2024
BLP-2024-226
Bonza Sur
778984
9579462
1720
304
-45
478.90
Surface
2024
SOURCE Lundin Gold Inc.
For more information, please contact: Ron F. Hochstein, President and CEO, Tel (Ecuador): +593 2-299-6400, Tel (Canada): +1-604-806-3589, [email protected]; Brendan Creaney, Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations, Tel: +1 604-376-4595, [email protected]
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