Drilling Intersects Multiple Zones of Shallow Gold Mineralization at the Sewum Gold Deposit

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Newcore Gold Ltd. ("Newcore" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NCAU, OTCQX: NCAUF) is pleased to announce additional drill results from the 10,000-metre drill program underway at the Company's 100% owned Enchi Gold Project ("Enchi" or the "Project") in Ghana. Shallow Reverse Circulation ("RC") drilling at the Sewum Gold Deposit ("Sewum") intersected multiple zones of gold mineralization, with hole SWRC194 intersecting 1.85 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au") over 62.0 metres ("m") from 1 m, including a higher-grade intercept of 8.36 g/t Au over 10.0 m from 13 m. The drill program underway at Enchi is focused on resource growth and infill drilling designed to convert Inferred Resources to Indicated. Drilling completed to date as part of the 2024 - 2025 drill program continues to prove out the continuity of gold mineralization and potential for future resource growth across the Project.

Highlights from Drilling at the Sewum Gold Deposit at Enchi

  • Drilling continues to encounter wide zones of gold mineralization within both the oxidized and sulphide mineralization.
    • SWRC194 intersected 1.85 g/t Au over 62.0 m from 1 m in the oxide/transition zones, with a higher-grade interval of 8.36 g/t Au over 10.0 m from 13 m.
    • A second intercept within hole SWRC194 intersected 0.75 g/t Au over 68.0 m from 99 m in the upper sulphide zone, including 1.15 g/t Au over 14.0 m from 102 m.
  • Drilling is proving out the continuity of near surface gold mineralization in all target areas across Sewum.
    • SWRC202 intersected 2.39 g/t Au over 13.0 m from 28 m, with a second zone of 1.65 g/t Au over 5.0 m from surface.
    • SWRC195 intersected two areas of mineralization near surface, including 0.77 g/t Au over 9.0 m from surface, with a second zone of 0.80 g/t Au over 38.0 m from 20 m.
    • SWRC201 intersected 1.07 g/t Au over 27.0 m from 72 m, including 2.82 g/t Au over 8.0 m from 73 m.

Luke Alexander, President and CEO of Newcore stated, "The drill program underway at Enchi continues to deliver strong results with drilling confirming the continuity of gold mineralization across our two largest deposits at Enchi, Boin and Sewum. These latest results from the drill program, focused on Sewum which is our largest deposit at Enchi, highlight the resource growth potential from near surface mineralization that is amenable to open pit mining and heap leach processing. Importantly, mineralization was encountered from surface, with results including higher-grade intervals above the average grade of the deposit as defined in our current Mineral Resource Estimate. We are confidant that with this drill program we will achieve our primary goal of improving the confidence level of the existing Mineral Resource Estimate, an important next step in advancing Enchi towards a Pre-Feasibility Study which we view as a value creating milestone for the Company."

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This release reports results for 33 RC holes totalling 2,922 m (SWRC171 to SWRC203) targeting the Sewum Gold Deposit. 32 of the 33 holes intersected gold mineralization. A total of 8,380 metres in 64 holes have been reported as part of the ongoing 2024 - 2025 drill program at Enchi.

Select assay results from the 33 holes of the drill program reported in this release are below:

 
Table 1 - Enchi Gold Project Drill Highlights
 
Hole IDZone/DepositFrom (m)To (m)Length (m)Au (g/t)
SWRC172Sewum 1.027.026.00.61
including 12.021.09.01.09
SWRC180Sewum 0.026.026.00.66
including 16.023.07.01.46
SWRC182Sewum52.062.010.02.45
including 52.055.03.07.44
SWRC194Sewum1.063.062.01.85
including 13.023.010.08.36
and 99.0167.068.00.75
including 102.0116.014.01.15
SWRC195Sewum0.09.09.00.77
and 20.058.038.00.80
SWRC201Sewum72.099.027.01.07
including 73.081.08.02.82
SWRC202Sewum0.05.05.01.65
and 28.041.013.02.39
Notes:

1. See detailed table for complete results;

2. Intervals reported are hole lengths with true width estimated to be 75 - 85%; and

3. Length-weighted averages from uncut assays.

A plan map showing the drill hole locations can be viewed at:

https://newcoregold.com/site/assets/files/5890/2025_01_30-ncau-nr-enchi-plan-map-sewum.pdf

Cross sections showing drill results and highlights for holes SWRC182, SWRC194 and SWRC202 can be viewed at:

https://newcoregold.com/site/assets/files/5890/2025_01_30-ncau-crosssections-sewum.pdf

A complete list of the drill results in this release, including hole details, can be viewed at:

https://newcoregold.com/site/assets/files/5890/2025_01_30-ncau-enchi-2024-2025-drill-results.pdf

Drilling at the Sewum Gold Deposit

SWRC171 to SWRC203 (33 RC holes totalling 2,922 m) were completed in the Checkerboard Hill, Extension Parallel Structure and Ridge Zones at Sewum. Drilling targeted near-surface oxidized, transition as well as shallow sulphide mineralization with a goal of infill drilling for resource conversion to improve the confidence level as well as grow the existing Mineral Resource Estimate. RC drilling at Sewum consisted of 50-metre spaced sections with drill holes spaced every 25 metres along the sections. The holes reported in this news release are distributed across 20 separate sections that are spread along a strike length of two kilometres.

At the Checkerboard Hill area of Sewum, two holes (SWRC194, SWRC195) totaling 233 metres were completed. Both holes intersected multiple mineralized structures with wide zones of gold mineralization. SWRC194 intersected 1.85 g/t Au over 62.0 m from 1 m including 8.36 g/t Au over 10.0 m from 13 m, with a second zone of 0.75 g/t Au over 68.0 m from 99.0 m including 1.15 g/t Au over 14.0 m from 102 m. SWRC195 was drilled 150 metres to the south of SWRC194 and intersected 0.77 g/t Au over 9.0 m from surface, with a second zone of 0.80 g/t Au over 38.0 m from 20.0 m. The two holes at Checkerboard Hill confirm the multiple wide subparallel zones at above average grade which constitute this portion of the Sewum Gold Deposit. The zones at Checkerboard Hill are open along strike and to depth with the potential to grow the resource in this area with additional drilling in the future.

Select assay results from drilling completed at the Checkerboard Hill area of Sewum are below:

      
Table 2 - Drill Highlights from Checkerboard Hill at Sewum
      
Hole IDZone/DepositFrom (m)To (m)Length (m)Au (g/t)
SWRC194Sewum1.063.062.01.85
including 13.023.010.08.36
and 99.0167.068.00.75
including 102.0116.014.01.15
SWRC195Sewum0.09.09.00.77
and 20.058.038.00.80
Notes:

1. Intervals reported are hole lengths with true width estimated to be 75 - 85%; and

2. Length-weighted averages from uncut assays.

At the Extension Parallel Structure area of Sewum, seven holes (SWRC196 to SWRC202) totaling 720 metres were completed. Drilling in this area intersected multiple higher-grade gold mineralized structures near surface. The holes in this area were distributed on five sections covering 300 meters of strike length. SWRC202 intersected 2.39 g/t Au over 13.0 m from 28.0 m, with mineralization encountered from surface in a second zone of 1.65 g/t Au over 5.0 m. SWRC201 was drilled 75 metres to the north of SWRC202 and intersected 1.07 g/t Au over 27.0 m from 72 m including 2.82 g/t Au over 8.0 m from 73 m. Additional intercepts from drilling in this area include 0.81 g/t Au over 14.0 m from 20 m (SWRC200) and 2.31 g/t Au over 3.0 m from 63 m (SWRC196). The Extension Parallel Structure, located 150 metres east of the Sewum Extension Deposit, is a more recent discovery at Enchi and is one of the new zones that was included in the Mineral Resource Estimate completed in 2023. This drilling has confirmed the multiple sub-parallel structures within the zone and identified portions of this zone that contain above average grades. To date the structures in this area have been drilled on seven sections testing 500 metres of strike length. The drilling completed in 2024 has extended the mineralization along strike with the zone remaining open along strike, both to the north and to the south. Drilling completed to date on this area has targeted shallow mineralization, with the zone remaining open for expansion to depth.

Select assay results from drilling completed at the Extension Parallel Structure area of Sewum are below:

 
Table 3 - Drill Highlights from Extension Parallel Structure at Sewum
 
Hole IDZone/DepositFrom (m)To (m)Length (m)Au (g/t)
SWRC196Sewum63.066.03.02.31
SWRC200Sewum20.034.014.00.81
SWRC201Sewum72.099.027.01.07
including 73.081.08.02.82
SWRC202Sewum0.05.05.01.65
and 28.041.013.02.39
and 60.076.016.00.39
Notes:

1. Intervals reported are hole lengths with true width estimated to be 75 - 85%; and

2. Length-weighted averages from uncut assays.

At the Ridge Zone area of Sewum, 24 holes (SWRC171 to SWRC193, SWRC203) totaling 1,969 metres were completed. Drilling in this area intersected multiple near surface mineralized structures with wide zones of gold mineralization. The holes in this area were distributed on 13 sections covering 1.2 kilometres of strike length. SWRC182 intersected 2.45 g/t Au over 10.0 m from 52 m including 7.44 g/t Au over 3.0 m from 52 m. Hole SWRC180, drilled 150 metres to the south of SWRC182, intersected 0.66 g/t Au over 26.0 m from surface with a higher-grade intercept of 1.46 g/t Au over 7.0 m from 16 m. Additional intercepts from drilling in this area include 0.61 g/t Au over 26.0 m from 1 m including 1.09 g/t Au over 9.0 m from 12 m (SWRC172) and 0.30 g/t Au over 45.0 m from 12 m (SWRC176). The Ridge Zone currently represents the largest portion of the Mineral Resource Estimate defined at the Sewum Gold Deposit, with the majority of the zone already defined to an Indicated Category. The 2024 - 2025 drilling completed in this area of Sewum successfully intersected the targeted structures that required closer spaced drilling for resource conversion.

Select assay results from drilling completed at the Ridge Zone area of Sewum are below:

 
Table 4 - Drill Highlights from the Ridge Zone at Sewum
 
Hole IDZone/DepositFrom (m)To (m)Length (m)Au (g/t)
SWRC171Sewum 56.074.018.00.60
SWRC172Sewum1.027.026.00.61
including 12.021.09.01.09
SWRC178Sewum0.09.09.00.78
SWRC180Sewum0.026.026.00.66
including 16.023.07.01.46
SWRC182Sewum52.062.010.02.45
including 52.055.03.07.44
Notes:

1. Intervals reported are hole lengths with true width estimated to be 75 - 85%; and

2. Length-weighted averages from uncut assays.

This drilling has confirmed continuity along strike and down dip for the principal structures which comprise the Sewum Gold Deposit. The width and gold grades within these drill results are also consistent with prior wider-spaced drilling completed at Sewum.

The drill results released to date from the 2024 - 2025 drill program are from the Boin and Sewum deposits where drilling was designed to improve the confidence level of the existing Mineral Resource Estimate. This recent drilling was drilled in areas where the previous pit constrained Mineral Resource Estimate was classified as Inferred. The results of this recent drilling should allow for conversion of a substantial portion of mineralization within these areas to the Indicated category.

2024 - 2025 Enchi Work Program

A 10,000-metre RC drill program is underway at Enchi, targeting near-surface oxide and shallow sulphide mineralization with a primary goal of infill drilling for resource conversion to improve the confidence level of the existing Mineral Resource Estimate. Most of the infill drilling is allocated to the two largest deposits at Enchi, Boin and Sewum. Improving the confidence level of the Mineral Resource Estimate at Enchi is a key component of the development work required to be completed in advance of commissioning a Pre-Feasibility Study for the Project. A subset of the drill program will also focus on outlining resource growth, with all deposit areas and pre-resource targets at Enchi remaining open along strike and at depth, providing for future resource growth across the district-scale property.

Additional exploration and development work is on-going at Enchi, including metallurgical testwork, drone surveys, an airborne magnetic survey, trenching, hydrogeological testing, geotechnical work, environmental work and soil sampling. Drone topographic surveys are underway, expanding on previously completed work, at the Kwakyekrom and Tokosea deposit areas to provide detailed topographic information required to improve the confidence level of each deposit's Mineral Resource Estimate. Additionally, the drone survey will be completed across the proposed heap leach facility area to contribute additional data for future detailed engineering studies. An airborne magnetic survey will test grass roots targets related to a series of gold-in-soil anomalies and gold mineralization identified in trenching. Soil sampling is also currently being completed on the Omanpe and Abotia licenses with a goal of further defining early-stage targets across Enchi for future trenching and drilling.

Sewum Gold Zone

Sewum is one of the five deposits which comprise the Mineral Resource Estimate at Enchi (Sewum has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 20.9 million tonnes grading 0.48 g/t Au containing 323,300 ounces and Inferred Mineral Resource of 21.8 million tonnes grading 0.53 g/t Au containing 373,100 ounces). Sewum is located 15 kilometres south of the town of Enchi, with nearby roads and power and further access provided by a series of drill roads. Sewum is outlined on surface by a greater than six-kilometre-long and one to two-kilometre-wide gold in soil anomaly. An airborne geophysical anomaly coincident with the Sewum Gold Deposit defines a series of sub parallel and intersecting structures. To date, approximately 50% of the gold-in-soil anomaly at Sewum is untested by drilling, with the average vertical depth of all holes drilled to date at Sewum only down to 75 metres.

Drill Hole Locations

Table 5 - Enchi Gold Project Drill Hole Location Details
 
Hole IDUTM EastUTM NorthElevationAzimuth °Dip °Length (m)
SWRC171521265628718225120-5078
SWRC172521293628770225120-5070
SWRC173521320628836233120-6060
SWRC174521304628813232120-6060
SWRC175521491628830228120-6060
SWRC176521475628780220120-6072
SWRC177521446628754221120-6072
SWRC178521482628875235120-5080
SWRC179521450628801227120-6084
SWRC180521321628958235120-5080
SWRC181521341629045240120-5060
SWRC182521411629166235120-5080
SWRC183521719629772234120-60102
SWRC184521764629828233120()[\]\\.,;:\s@\"]+)*)|(\".+\"))@((\[[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\])|(([a-zA-Z\-0-9]+\.)+[a-zA-Z]{2,}))$/;return b.test(a)}$(document).ready(function(){if(performance.navigation.type==2){location.reload(true)}$("iframe[data-lazy-src]").each(function(b){$(this).attr("src",$(this).attr("data-lazy-src"))});if($(".owl-article-body-images").length){$(".owl-article-body-images").owlCarousel({items:1,loop:true,center:false,dots:false,autoPlay:true,mouseDrag:false,touchDrag:false,pullDrag:false,nav:true})}var a=$("#display_full_text").val();if(a==0){$.ajax({url:"/ajax/set-article-cookie",type:"POST",data:{cmsArticleId:$("#cms_article_id").val()},dataType:"json",success:function(b){},error:function(b,d,c){}})}$(".read-full-article").on("click",function(d){d.preventDefault();var b=$(this).attr("data-cmsArticleId");var c=$(this).attr("data-productId");var f=$(this).attr("data-href");dataLayer.push({event:"paywall_click",paywall_name:"the_manila_times_premium",paywall_id:"paywall_article_"+b});$.ajax({url:"/ajax/set-article-cookie",type:"POST",data:{cmsArticleId:b,productId:c},dataType:"json",success:function(e){window.location.href=$("#BASE_URL").val()+f},error:function(e,h,g){}})});$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .close-btn").on("click",function(){$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form").fadeOut(1000)})});$(document).on("click",".article-embedded-newsletter-form .newsletter-button",function(){var b=$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .newsletter_email").val();var d=$("#ga_user_id").val();var c=$("#ga_user_yob").val();var a=$("#ga_user_gender").val();var e=$("#ga_user_country").val();if(validateEmail(b)){$.ajax({url:"/ajax/sendynewsletter",type:"POST",data:{email:b},success:function(f){$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .nf-message").html(f);$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .nf-message").addClass("show");setTimeout(function(){$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .nf-message").removeClass("show");$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .nf-message").html("")},6000);dataLayer.push({event:"newsletter_sub",user_id:d,product_name:"newsletter",gender:a,yob:c,country:e})},error:function(f,h,g){}})}else{$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .nf-message").html("Please enter a valid email address.");$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .nf-message").addClass("show");setTimeout(function(){$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .nf-message").removeClass("show");$(".article-embedded-newsletter-form .nf-message").html("")},6000)}});$(document).on("click",".article-embedded-newsletter-form .nf-message",function(){$(this).removeClass("show");$(this).html("")});