West Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - Bitterroot Resources Ltd. (BTT, TSX-V) has completed 1,582 metres of drilling in eight (8) holes at its Hackberry Silver Project in Mohave County, Arizona. This Phase 1 program was the first drill-test of the area adjacent to the main Hackberry Mine’s underground workings and down-dip of the Hackberry South adit. Maps and cross-sections describing the areas drilled are available on the Company’s website www.bitterrootresources.com. Assay results have been received from the first six (6) holes, which are presented below.
Drilling has confirmed that the Hackberry mineralized trend exhibits good continuity and a consistent pattern of alteration zonation along the 400 metres of strike length which were drill-tested in Phase 1. The highlight of the drilling completed to date is hole HB-17-06, which intersected 4.87 metres grading 259 grams Ag/tonne (estimated true thickness 3.56 metres), including 1.65 metres grading 667 grams Ag/tonne (estimated true thickness 1.21 metres). This hole intersected the mineralized zone approximately 220 metres below surface.
Hole HB-17-05, located 80 metres south of HB-17-06, was lost in an intensely argillic-altered zone three (3) to five (5) metres above the projected target, at approximately 240 metres down-hole. This hole may be re-entered or re-drilled in the future. Hole HB-17-07 intersected significantly more silicification and hematization than seen in the other holes. Based on visual inspection and hand-held XRF analysis, the mineralized zone intersected in this hole is approximately 1.0 metres thick. Hole HB-17-08 intersected a 1.1 metre-thick mineralized zone at only 80 metres down-hole, also based on visuals and XRF readings. Assays are pending for holes HB-17-07 and 08.
In summary, limited drilling down-dip of the Main Hackberry mine suggests there is potential for thickening of the high-grade silver-mineralized interval down-dip and southwest of HB-17-05 and HB-17-06. The following table summarizes the significant mineralized drill intercepts.
Holes HB-17-01, 02 and 03 tested the mineralized zone down-dip from the Hackberry South adit. The results from this area confirmed strong alteration and mineralization at the anticipated target depths, but the lower grades and narrower thicknesses encountered do not currently merit follow-up drilling.
| Hole No. | From (m) | To(m) | Drill Intercept (m) |
Est. True Thickness (m) |
Silver (gpt) | Gold(gpt) |
| Main Hackberry | ||||||
| HB-17-04 | 200.84 | 201.91 | 1.07 | 0.97 | 106 | 0.44 |
| HB-17-05 | Hole lost immediately above mineralized zone | |||||
| HB-17-06 | 213.73 | 218.60 | 4.87 | 3.56 | 259 | 0.33 |
| incl. | 216.25 | 217.90 | 1.65 | 1.21 | 667 | 0.82 |
| HB-17-07 | results pending | |||||
| HB-17-08 | results pending | |||||
| Hackberry South | ||||||
| HB-17-01 | 116.14 | 118.40 | 2.26 | 2.05 | 64 | 0.11 |
| incl. | 116.14 | 116.51 | 0.37 | 0.34 | 176 | 0.22 |
| and | 116.92 | 117.50 | 0.58 | 0.52 | 95 | 0.20 |
| HB-17-02 | 110.94 | 111.72 | 0.78 | 0.71 | 29 | 0.06 |
| incl. | 111.59 | 111.72 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 141 | 0.24 |
| HB-17-03 | 125.00 | 125.99 | 0.99 | 0.83 | 108 | 0.77 |
All assays were completed by ALS Vancouver. Sample preparation was done by ALS Tucson.
Phase 2 drilling on the adjacent unpatented Federal mining claims is expected to commence in January 2018. This drilling will test the CMH, Silver King South and Silver King North targets. These targets are also located on the Hackberry mineralized trend, between 0.4 and 2.0 km northwest of the Main Hackberry mine.
A Notice of Work and reclamation bond have been filed with the Kingman Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management and final acceptance is expected in the coming weeks. Construction of access trails will commence immediately thereafter.
The Qualified Person, as defined in NI 43-101, responsible for the technical content of this news release is consulting geologist Glen W. Adams, PG, M.Sc.
