Drilling completed and additional technical studies
underway
Company plans to rapidly advance the project once PFS results
are received
ELKO, Nevada, Dec. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Gold Corp.
(NASDAQ: USAU) (the "Company"), a gold exploration and development
company, is pleased to provide an end of field season report for
its CK Gold Project, an advanced stage gold and copper exploration
and development project located just outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Activities, beyond ongoing
baseline monitoring, concluded at the end of November in support of
the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) in progress for the Project.
Field activities commenced in August
2020, and many important accomplishments have been achieved
to date.
Highlights of Field Activities:
- 11,655 man-hours worked with no lost time or medical reportable
injuries
- No COVID-19 related cases reported
- No environmental incidents reported
- Over 100,000 ft of historic core relogged to foster a better
geological interpretation of the resource
- 10,562 ft of core drilling captured material for metallurgical
testing, geotechnical and hydrological characterization at an
all-in cost of $83/ft (less
assays)
- 8,495 ft of reverse circulation drilling conducted to further
explore and convert inferred resources to measured and indicated at
an all-in cost of $68/ft (less
assays)
- 2,370 ft of monitoring wells drilled to establish hydrological
regime at the project site and commence monitoring for
environmental baseline in support of eventual permit
applications
- Geotechnical logging of 4,910 ft of core to establish pit slope
stability characteristics including the installation of vibrating
wire piezometers in four holes for slope design and eventual
monitoring
- Falling head and packer tests on several holes conducted to
build a hydrological model aimed at establishing both open pit
operational criteria and options for post mining land use of the
open pit
- A soil sampling program conducted to cover the entire lease
area aimed and exploration and condemnation for future plant
construction
- Wetlands and surface water surveyed to characterize the site
for future permitting, allowing avoidance of sensitive areas and
support eventual permit application
- A meteorological station established to gather baseline
conditions for eventual permitting
Pre-Feasibility and Project Health and Safety Update
The following points outline progress to date:
- August – initiated PFS Study for the CK Gold Project with
associated consultants
- August 5th – commenced complete
re-log of historic drill core with oversight from highly
experienced consulting geologists
- September 5th – held
kick-off meeting with diamond drill crew at the CK Gold Project
site
- October 2nd –
completed last of seven diamond core drill holes totaling 4,652 ft
(1,418 m) to gather metallurgical
samples from representative areas of the known resource
- October 3rd –
initiated the first of five planned geotechnical and hydrological
diamond core holes to be completed in early November. Approximately
4,800 ft planned
- October 15th – R/C
drill rig commenced on site drilling on 6 well/monitoring holes for
site water characterization and up to 10 exploratory holes aimed at
infill drilling to convert inferred resource to measured/indicated
category, as well as expand limits of known resources. Drilling
continued into November and total footage of 12,000 ft is
anticipated before demobilizing for winter
- November 16th-
completed five geotechnical core holes and one exploration core
hole, for 5,910 ft.
- November 22nd-
completed nine RC step-out-exploration holes, for 8,495 ft.
- Contracted hydrological consultants to characterize local
groundwater hydrology, open pit hydrology and surface
hydro-geochemistry, and to establish project baseline for the
natural hydrological conditions. Falling head and packer testing is
ongoing during the drilling program
- Contracted geotechnical consultants to establish open pit
stability and design parameters. Specific geotechnical logging,
point load testing and lab sample selection is ongoing during the
drilling program
- Contracted local environmental and permitting specialist to
assist with environmental baseline program design and capture, and
permit application preparation. This includes the deployment of a
monitoring station and assessment of drainages for any potential
wetland impact
- Monitored the delivery, chain of custody and QA/QC for assay
values at the laboratory, prioritizing metallurgical samples to
allow metallurgical work to commence as soon as representative
composites can be identified once assay results are received
In commenting on the program, George
Bee, President and CEO of U.S. Gold Corp. stated, "We are
grateful for our valued collaboration with all our consultants and
drill contractors. They have done an outstanding, safe and
responsible job. We also thank our local hosts, including the
respective Wyoming agencies that
have been very helpful and the local ranch owner who holds grazing
rights on our mineral leases. We eagerly await the assay values,
which will allow us to build a new resource model incorporating a
better understanding of geologic controls. With the drilling from
2017, 2018, and now 2020, we anticipate expanding the resource.
While we have much work to do to support our studies, our priority
is to get the first seven metallurgical holes to the assay
laboratory to start tests to enhance gold and copper recovery
beyond that which we see in the preliminary economic assessment
conducted some years ago. Going well beyond the minimal PFS
requirements and capturing baseline data should help put the
company in a position to rapidly advance the project once we have
the PFS results in hand."
COVID-19 Policy
U.S. Gold Corp. recognizes the heightened health risks
associated with the current pandemic. At this stage of the CK Gold
Project development, focusing largely on the gathering of
information from the field, our personnel, contractors and
consultants do not need to come into close contact with others
apart from work within individual pods such as the drill crew and
core logging personnel. Much of our work is conducted outdoors and
physically separated. Meetings are conducted from remote locations
using available video conferencing software. When it is necessary
for individuals to meet or visit facilities, health guidelines are
followed to avoid and minimize the risk of spreading the COVID-19
virus. We take the health and safety all those associated with our
activities very seriously. If necessary, we will suspend activities
and observe quarantine regimens until any health uncertainty
passes.
Note on Qualified Person
QP Review: This statement has been reviewed by Kevin Francis, P Geo, SME Registered Member,
Principle of Mineral Resource Management LLC who has inspected the
data furnished in this announcement and has knowledge of the
activities outlined in the CK Gold Project update. Acting within
the scope of his expertise, Mr. Francis as a Qualified Person, has
reviewed the information provided and finds it to be accurate and
reflecting facts.
About U.S. Gold Corp.
U.S. Gold Corp. is a publicly traded, U.S. focused gold
exploration and development company. U.S. Gold Corp. has a
portfolio of exploration properties. Copper King, now the CK Gold
Project, is located in Southeast
Wyoming and has a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)
technical report, which was completed by Mine Development
Associates available on the US. Gold Corp. website. Keystone
and Maggie Creek are exploration
properties on the Cortez and Carlin Trends in Nevada. The
Challis Gold Project is located in Idaho. For more information about U.S.
Gold Corp., please visit www.usgoldcorp.gold
Safe Harbor
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of
forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "forecast,"
"estimated," and "intend," among others. These forward-looking
statements are based on U.S. Gold Corp.'s current expectations, and
actual results could differ materially from such statements. There
are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.
These factors include, but are not limited to, risks arising
from: the prevailing market conditions for metal prices and mining
industry cost inputs, environmental and regulatory risks, risks
faced by junior companies generally engaged in exploration
activities, whether U.S. Gold Corp. will be able to raise
sufficient capital to implement future exploration programs,
COVID-19 uncertainties, and other factors described in the
Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be reviewed
at www.sec.gov. The Company has based these
forward-looking statements on its current expectations and
assumptions about future events. While management considers these
expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently
subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory,
and other risks, contingencies, and uncertainties, most of which
are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's
control. The Company makes no representation or warranty that the
information contained herein is complete and accurate and we have
no duty to correct or update any information contained
herein.
For additional information, please contact:
U.S. Gold
Corp. Investor Relations:
+1 800 557 4550
ir@usgoldcorp.gold
www.usgoldcorp.gold