NV Gold Signs up to US$10 Million Option Deal with Hochschild on its 100% Controlled SW Pipe Gold Project
NV Gold Corporation (TSXV:NVX)(OTCQB:NVGLF) (“NV Gold” or the “Company“) reports that Hochschild Mining (US) Inc. (“HOC US”), a subsidiary of Hochschild Mining PLC (“Hochschild”) (LSE:HOC), has entered into an option agreement (the “Agreement”) with it in respect of the Company’s 100% controlled SW Pipe Gold Project (the “Property”), located along the Cortez Gold Belt approximately 6 km southwest of the Pipeline Gold Mine operated by Nevada Gold Mines (joint venture between Barrick Gold Corp. and Newmont Corporation).
Highlights of the Option Agreement:
- Within 30 days of signing the Agreement HOC US will pay the Company US$50,000 plus the annual renewal costs of the Property in 2020.
- HOC US can earn a 51% interest in the Property by incurring US$7.5 million in exploration expenditures over 5 years (“Phase 1 Earn-in”) and making additional cash payments to NV Gold totalling US$750,000.
- HOC US may earn-in an additional 24% interest in the Property by incurring an additional US$2.5 million in exploration expenditures and delivering a completed Feasibility Study within 3 years of the Phase 1 Earn-in date (which may be extended by up to 3 further years subject to agreed payments by HOC US for each 12 month extension (“Phase 2 Earn-in”).
- At anytime after earning in a 51% interest in the Property (but prior to the expiry of the Phase 2 Earn-in period), HOC US can purchase 100% of the Property for US$25 million or 12,500 ounces of gold, at NV Gold’s election, and NV Gold would retain a 2% Net Smelter Royalty.
“The close proximity to a larger operating gold mining complex operated by Nevada Gold Mines, and the known low grade gold system present at the SW Pipe Gold Project, provides the opportunity for a major discovery at depth. NV Gold will remain operator of the initial exploration programs on the project and we are excited to work with Hochschild to test the project at depth for extensions of the neighbouring multi-million ounce gold deposit at the Pipeline Mine. Initially the work will be aimed at assessing the potential for mineralization beyond the historic drilling and, in particular, for mineralization within steep “feeder” structures, which have not been tested by the historic vertical drilling. This will be an exciting exploration program,” commented Peter A. Ball, President and CEO of NV Gold.
About the SW Pipe Gold Project
The SW Pipe Gold Project, strategically located and adjoining claims controlled by Nevada Gold Mines and the Pipeline Mine (refer to Figure 1), is a significant land position covering a known, historical shallow gold system. Publicly available reports indicate that the Pipeline Mine is estimated to contain at least 20 million ounces of gold (comprised of past production plus publicly-reported reserves). The SW Pipe Project covers 84 claims, or approximately 6.5 square km (2.5 square miles), and is reported to host a shallow, sediment-hosted gold system.
Figure 1: SW Pipe Gold Project, Cortez Trend, Nevada
Mineralization at SW Pipe is observed largely within 100 m of surface, and is reportedly within the Silurian Elder Sandstone, a unit within the western-facies sequence within the upper-plate of the regional Roberts Mountains thrust fault. Historical work by previous operators has identified gold mineralization over a vertical range of at least 320 m within an area of at least 1,200 m by 800 m.
NV Gold has obtained and has recently reviewed the historic exploration data with Hochschild, which includes original assay certificates and drill logs from drill holes, surface rock-chip and soil data, internal third party reports and geologic and geophysical interpretations.
Although the historic exploration data at SW Pipe was generated by reputable companies, NV Gold cannot verify the data or determine the quality assurance and quality control measures applied in generating the data other than to review the assay certificates and drill logs. Accordingly, the Company cautions that the exploration data reported in this news release may not be reliable.
Peter A. Ball, President and CEO of NV Gold also commented, “This is a strategic milestone for the Company to secure an exploration partner like Hochschild. NV Gold controls an extensive portfolio of projects in Nevada, at various stages of exploration, and is currently touring other interested mining companies for potential other joint ventures. In addition, assays from the recently completed drill programs at the Company’s Slumber and Sandy Gold Project are expected shortly.”
Quinton Hennigh (Ph.D., P.Geo.) is a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Dr. Hennigh is a director of NV Gold and is not independent and is also the President, Chairman and a Director of Novo Resources Corp.
About NV Gold Corporation
NV Gold (TSXV: NVX; OTCQB: NVGLF) is an exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia that is focused on delivering value through mineral discoveries in North America, leveraging its highly experienced in-house technical knowledge.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Peter A. Ball
President & CEO
For further information, visit the Company’s website at www.nvgoldcorp.com or contact:
Peter A. Ball, President & CEO
Phone: 1-888-363-9883
Email: peter@nvgoldcorp.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s planned exploration activities, the potential for a discovery at its properties, the presence of a shallow, sediment hosted gold system on the SW Pipe Project, the timing of undertaking its work and disclosure of results, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s plans or expectations include regulatory issues, market prices, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals, the extent to which mineralized structures extend on to the Company’s Projects and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.