U.S. Gold has launched its Autumn 2018 drilling program at its Keystone project located in Nevada's Cortez Trend.

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Image: A gold mineral. Photo: courtesy of carlos aguilar/Freeimages.com.

The program is expected to test several drill targets in areas previously inaccessible with a drill because of permitting limitations. Identification and qualification of these targets has been in progress since the onset of the exploration program almost 3 years ago.

This targeting effort has included iterative detailed gravity surveys, detailed geological mapping and associated prospecting, rock sampling and detailed gridded soil surveys, in addition to prior scout hole drilling. 2016-2018 scout-type drill holes, comprised of 22 individual holes drilled from 15 total drill sites, have importantly added to the knowledge of, and geological understandings of the permissive lithologies and favorable stratigraphy of the project.

Scout drilling has also encountered thick sections of permissive rock, including Horse Canyon, Wenban, and Roberts Mountains Formations (similar host rock packages to the sizeable deposits at the north of the Cortez Trend), hosting anomalous to multiple gram gold intervals associated with very anomalous and thick intervals of pathfinder metals.

The Autumn 2018 drilling program will now provide a first test to some of the most compelling targets on the Keystone project.

U.S. Gold exploration vice president Dave Mathewson said: “We are very pleased to finally move forward with the assessment of these Keystone drill targets. These targets have been qualified and prioritized by our experienced exploration team which includes Ken Coleman, Project Geologist and Brion Theriault, Senior Consulting Geologist. A reverse circulation drill will be employed to drill the holes, up to 2000 feet of depth each, into these targets.”

The Autumn 2018 drill target sites, designated by Pdh #, have been identified, vetted, prioritized, and presented in numerical order, see attached figure:

The following provides a brief summary description of these prioritized drill targets:

Pdh-1 : Priority #1 – Sophia target test, approximately 1000 feet north of previous drill holes, of Carlin-style gold mineralization in Wenban at the intersection of a N35+/-W and N60W fault zone with strongly anomalous gold and pathfinder metals in surface soils and rock chip samples. This intersection is also coincident with a pronounced gravity low feature.

Pdh-2: East flank target test of several permissive horizons in Wenban and upper Roberts Mountains Formations in the footwall of N20-25W trending structure and antiform intersected by dike-filled N40-60E faults. A major mineralized structure is indicated by a sharp gravity gradient and strongly anomalous gold and pathfinder metals in soils and rocks.  Historic shallow holes in this area encountered gold intercepts > 3-gram gold/ton near surface.

Pdh-3: East Flank target test of Wenban beneath relatively thin veneer of altered upper-plate at the intersection on multiple N70W, N25-30W, and N40E striking dike-filled structures. The surface is characterized by highly anomalous pathfinder metals and moderate gold in soils and some rock samples.

Pdh-4: This hole will test an untested strong induced polarization chargeability anomaly subjacent to the historic mined Keystone skarn-hosted base and precious metals deposit. Surface samples in this area include the highest gold samples, i.e. > 20-gram gold/ton, ever obtained in the district.

Pdh-5: East Flank target zone: this hole will test potential Carlin-style mineralization within Wenban at the intersection of N30W, N20E, and N50E faults within a strong N20-25W trending gravity linear zone. Surface soils and rock samples are moderately anomalous in gold and pathfinder metals.

Pdh-6: North Cross target: this hole will test potential Carlin-style mineralization in Wenban limestone beneath thin altered upper-plate and volcanic cover at the intersection of N30E and N60W trending, partially dike-filled faults. This site is also located at the intersection of broad N60W trending hills and N25-25W gravity linears.

Pdh-7: This hole will test the potential for Carlin-style mineralization in Cambrian upper-plate at a location where a silicified dacite dike crops out at the surface. Argillized greenstones in this area contain goethite-barite veinlets.

Pdh-RS: This hole is a remote-sensing identified target opportunity located west of the historic Keystone mine in altered Wenban Formation.

Dave Mathewson said: “Our exploration team is very much looking forward to this drilling assessment of the more apparent and compelling targets that we have, up to this time, identified on the Keystone project.

“Extensive and diligent work has brought us to this point, and we are really excited to test Keystone’s significant potential. We are hopeful to have all the assay results for this drilling by the end of this year.”

Source: Company Press Release