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K92 Mining Inc . (TSX:KNT) (OTCQX:KNTNF) is pleased to announce its fourth set of drilling results consisting of 13 holes for total results of 43 holes released to date from its maiden surface diamond drill program at Arakompa, located approximately 4.5 km from the Kainantu Gold Mine Process Plant in Papua New Guinea. K92’s maiden drill program at Arakompa represents the first drilling on the target in 32 years, with limited historic drilling completed, comprising 18 holes totaling 1.8 km of mostly shallow drilling.
Notes:
(1) Drill highlights presented above are core lengths (not true widths).
(2) Gold equivalent (AuEq) exploration results are calculated using longer-term commodity prices with a copper price of US$4.50/lb, a silver price of US$27.5/oz and a gold price of US$2,000/oz.
John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, stated, “The Arakompa maiden drill program continues to make significant progress, with the latest results delivering multiple positives including a 20% increase in bulk zone strike length to ~900 metres, and the delineation of two major subparallel veins over significant strike, AR1 and AR2. Importantly, both AR1 and AR2 are high-grade and have recorded considerable thickness and strong observed continuity, demonstrating high potential for underground mining.
With just over half of the +1.7 km-strike-length mineralized corridor drill tested to date, alongside the significant potential at depth, we believe that we are only beginning to unlock Arakompa’s full potential. Notably, a new compact heli-portable rig is scheduled to arrive at site in mid-2025, significantly enhancing our ability to efficiently target the northern extension of Arakompa, effectively opening up a new front for exploration.
We look forward to continuing to ramp-up exploration activities and provide updates in due course.”
Arakompa Vein System Background
The Arakompa project is interpreted to be an intrusive related gold-copper-silver epithermal vein system with similarities to the producing Kora and Judd vein systems. A significant difference at Arakompa is that it is hosted in tonalite to dioritic rock, whereas Kora and Judd are hosted predominantly in metasediments (phyllite).
Mineralization at Arakompa is in pronounced vein lodes but is also widespread across a very broad envelope, hosted in strongly altered tonalite and diorite. This has been interpreted to have resulted from collapsing argillic and advanced argillic alteration, and the propylitic alteration of the basement tonalite are interpreted to originate from the intrusion of a large magmatic porphyry body. Phyllic alternation appears to be associated with gold mineralization, providing a large halo (at least 100 m wide) around the vein corridor. There has likely been an upwelling of phyllic alteration from the porphyry into the high-grade veins. This has resulted in mineralization between the veins, providing the potential for bulk mining.
Multi-stage mineralizing events with several phases of quartz-sulphide development are apparent within the veins themselves. The sequence of early quartz deposited from a mesothermal dilute fluid followed by pyrite-copper-gold ± Bi-Te-Pb-Zn-Sn mineralization at Arakompa has many similarities to the same events encountered at Kora and Judd.
The main sulphides are pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite and bismuthinite. As at Kora, chalcopyrite forms late, overprinting early phases of pyrite. Gold is documented in petrological reports and shown in photomicrographs as occurring in quartz, or often as inclusions overgrown by chalcopyrite.
Porphyry evidence is widespread at Arakompa. Localized, high-level B veins (quartz with centreline pyrite) are present, typical of the upper parts of a porphyry system. Magnetite-epidote alteration represents classic prograde porphyry assemblages, indicative of the inner propylitic shell. Chalcocite is also locally present, suggesting an underlying copper-enriched body.
The maiden drill program by K92 is the first drilling completed on the target in 32 years, with limited and shallow drilling completed historically (18 holes, 1,766 m drilled). Of the 18 holes drilled historically, there were 15 intersections above 5 g/t AuEq, 8 intersections above 10 g/t AuEq and 3 intersections above 20 g/t AuEq, with highlights including:
004DA92 – 4.00 m at 32.03 g/t AuEq (3.32 m true thickness)
013AD92 – 4.00 m at 20.21 g/t AuEq (3.40 m true thickness)
001AD92 – 2.80 m at 16.18 g/t AuEq (2.41 m true thickness)
005AD92 – 2.00 m at 32.01 g/t AuEq (1.26 m true thickness)
016AD92 – 6.30 m at 14.96 g/t AuEq (2.39 m true thickness)
010AD92 – 9.20 m at 10.67 g/t AuEq (4.32 m true thickness)
Surface field work completed historically and by K92 has demonstrated that the target size of Arakompa is significant, with mineralization observed from drill holes, rock samples and surface workings for at least 1.7 km of strike, hosted within an approximately 150- to 225-m-wide mineralized intense phyllic altered package, and a vertical extent of over 500 m.
Figures
Long sections of AR1 and AR2 Veins showing the location of the latest drill holes are provided in Figures 5 and 6, respectively.
Long sections of AR1 and AR2 Veins showing the location of the latest drill holes are provided in Figures 5 and 6, respectively.
Table 1 Kainantu Gold Mine – Significant Intercepts from Arakompa Diamond Drilling |
|||||||||
Hole ID | From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
True width (m) |
Gold g/t |
Silver g/t |
Copper % |
Gold Eq | Vein |
KARDD0031 | 132.20 | 144.00 | 11.80 | 7.08 | 1.48 | 2 | 0.03 | 1.56 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0031 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 2.40 | 1.11 | 2 | 0.03 | 1.18 | |
KARDD0031 | 195.00 | 197.20 | 2.20 | 1.32 | 1.77 | 2 | 0.02 | 1.83 | AR1 |
KARDD0031 | 133.00 | 136.50 | 3.50 | 2.10 | 3.15 | 4 | 0.03 | 3.25 | AR2 |
KARDD0031 | 141.40 | 143.00 | 1.60 | 0.96 | 2.26 | 2 | 0.02 | 2.31 | |
KARDD0032 | 93.10 | 107.60 | 14.50 | 10.15 | 0.53 | 6 | 0.09 | 0.75 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0032 | 65.20 | 66.70 | 1.50 | 1.05 | 3.45 | 5 | 0.01 | 3.54 | AR2 |
KARDD0032 | 93.10 | 94.50 | 1.40 | 0.98 | 1.93 | 21 | 0.61 | 3.15 | AR1 |
KARDD0033 | 295.60 | 353.30 | 57.70 | 34.62 | 1.28 | 3 | 0.08 | 1.44 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0033 | 53.00 | 63.30 | 10.30 | 6.18 | 2.53 | 41 | 0.13 | 3.29 | |
KARDD0033 | 206.65 | 209.50 | 2.85 | 1.71 | 1.24 | 5 | 0.07 | 1.41 | |
KARDD0033 | 295.60 | 298.30 | 2.70 | 1.62 | 1.40 | 6 | 0.10 | 1.64 | |
KARDD0033 | 332.60 | 343.70 | 11.10 | 6.66 | 5.37 | 8 | 0.29 | 5.93 | AR1 |
including | 332.60 | 335.90 | 3.30 | 1.98 | 10.92 | 3 | 0.12 | 11.15 | AR1 |
KARDD0033 | 351.50 | 353.30 | 1.80 | 1.08 | 1.02 | 1 | 0.15 | 1.26 | AR2 |
KARDD0033 | 407.00 | 410.70 | 3.70 | 2.22 | 3.40 | 3 | 0.13 | 3.65 | |
KARDD0034 | 0.00 | 107.50 | 107.50 | 64.50 | 0.27 | 1 | 0.01 | 0.30 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0034 | 608.80 | 682.70 | 73.90 | 44.34 | 0.23 | 3 | 0.06 | 0.36 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0034 | 334.40 | 336.00 | 1.60 | 0.96 | 1.83 | 27 | 1.25 | 4.13 | |
KARDD0034 | 608.80 | 611.00 | 2.20 | 1.32 | 1.31 | 8 | 0.20 | 1.73 | AR1 |
KARDD0034 | 818.00 | 823.40 | 5.40 | 3.24 | 0.70 | 29 | 0.25 | 1.49 | |
KARDD0035 | 58.50 | 143.80 | 85.30 | 59.71 | 1.00 | 4 | 0.08 | 1.19 | Bulk Intersection |
including | 93.20 | 123.10 | 29.90 | 20.93 | 2.09 | 7 | 0.20 | 2.49 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0035 | 58.50 | 62.00 | 3.50 | 2.45 | 3.05 | 3 | 0.05 | 3.16 | |
KARDD0035 | 93.20 | 94.20 | 1.00 | 0.70 | 1.00 | 48 | 2.72 | 5.85 | AR2 |
KARDD0035 | 112.00 | 123.10 | 11.10 | 7.77 | 4.50 | 10 | 0.19 | 4.93 | AR1 |
including | 120.00 | 121.70 | 1.70 | 1.19 | 12.55 | 15 | 0.19 | 13.04 | AR1 |
KARDD0035 | 140.00 | 143.80 | 3.80 | 2.66 | 1.08 | 21 | 0.11 | 1.54 | |
KARDD0036 | 158.30 | 206.00 | 47.70 | 28.62 | 0.74 | 4 | 0.14 | 1.02 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0036 | 345.00 | 359.70 | 14.70 | 8.82 | 0.82 | 11 | 0.11 | 1.14 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0036 | 158.30 | 165.20 | 6.90 | 4.14 | 2.43 | 11 | 0.31 | 3.05 | |
KARDD0036 | 179.20 | 181.10 | 1.90 | 1.14 | 3.37 | 11 | 0.28 | 3.95 | |
KARDD0036 | 184.60 | 186.60 | 2.00 | 1.20 | 0.94 | 5 | 0.27 | 1.43 | |
KARDD0036 | 203.70 | 206.00 | 2.30 | 1.38 | 2.16 | 18 | 1.04 | 4.00 | AR1 |
KARDD0036 | 345.00 | 348.40 | 3.40 | 2.04 | 2.38 | 35 | 0.38 | 3.44 | |
KARDD0037 | 96.30 | 117.20 | 20.90 | 12.54 | 1.08 | 2 | 0.04 | 1.17 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0037 | 177.00 | 233.20 | 56.20 | 33.72 | 0.96 | 7 | 0.15 | 1.28 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0037 | 96.30 | 100.20 | 3.90 | 2.34 | 2.08 | 2 | 0.02 | 2.14 | |
KARDD0037 | 110.50 | 112.10 | 1.60 | 0.96 | 6.44 | 9 | 0.07 | 6.67 | AR2 |
KARDD0037 | 177.00 | 179.50 | 2.50 | 1.50 | 1.73 | 8 | 0.24 | 2.21 | |
KARDD0037 | 182.50 | 192.10 | 9.60 | 5.76 | 2.69 | 11 | 0.49 | 3.60 | AR1 |
including | 185.10 | 187.40 | 2.30 | 1.38 | 7.92 | 24 | 1.46 | 10.49 | AR1 |
KARDD0037 | 211.40 | 214.60 | 3.20 | 1.92 | 2.01 | 17 | 0.17 | 2.50 | |
KARDD0037 | 228.00 | 231.20 | 3.20 | 1.92 | 2.03 | 31 | 0.39 | 3.06 | |
KARDD0038 | 304.60 | 369.60 | 65.00 | 41.60 | 4.04 | 3 | 0.05 | 4.15 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0038 | 51.60 | 53.80 | 2.20 | 1.41 | 6.43 | 17 | 0.13 | 6.86 | |
KARDD0038 | 311.00 | 313.60 | 2.60 | 1.66 | 3.44 | 20 | 0.32 | 4.20 | AR1 |
KARDD0038 | 355.10 | 369.60 | 14.50 | 9.28 | 17.17 | 4 | 0.07 | 17.33 | AR2 |
including | 355.10 | 362.00 | 6.90 | 4.42 | 34.73 | 7 | 0.11 | 34.99 | AR2 |
including | 368.40 | 369.60 | 1.20 | 0.77 | 6.90 | 4 | 0.07 | 7.06 | AR2 |
KARDD0039 | 416.00 | 449.50 | 33.50 | 20.10 | 0.85 | 5 | 0.09 | 1.06 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0039 | 253.50 | 255.80 | 2.30 | 1.38 | 7.55 | 23 | 0.74 | 9.00 | AR1 |
KARDD0039 | 349.30 | 351.30 | 2.00 | 1.20 | 2.98 | 55 | 0.38 | 4.33 | |
KARDD0039 | 364.20 | 365.30 | 1.10 | 0.66 | 3.35 | 3 | 0.14 | 3.62 | |
KARDD0039 | 448.00 | 449.50 | 1.50 | 0.90 | 13.44 | 33 | 0.17 | 14.16 | |
KARDD0040 | 87.80 | 102.50 | 14.70 | 11.76 | 1.18 | 4 | 0.08 | 1.36 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0040 | 99.50 | 102.50 | 3.00 | 2.40 | 4.78 | 6 | 0.10 | 5.03 | AR1 |
KARDD0040 | 161.40 | 162.60 | 1.20 | 0.96 | 4.47 | 2 | 0.03 | 4.53 | |
KARDD0042 | 185.90 | 236.30 | 50.40 | 40.32 | 1.58 | 6 | 0.15 | 1.90 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0042 | 111.30 | 112.30 | 1.00 | 0.80 | 5.14 | 6 | 0.03 | 5.27 | AR2 |
KARDD0042 | 185.90 | 188.80 | 2.90 | 2.32 | 2.12 | 6 | 0.21 | 2.52 | |
KARDD0042 | 191.40 | 194.00 | 2.60 | 2.08 | 9.06 | 41 | 1.48 | 11.91 | AR1 |
KARDD0042 | 204.70 | 205.80 | 1.10 | 0.88 | 1.57 | 8 | 0.16 | 1.93 | |
KARDD0042 | 226.60 | 228.40 | 1.80 | 1.44 | 1.00 | 4 | 0.06 | 1.14 | |
KARDD0042 | 232.50 | 236.30 | 3.80 | 3.04 | 7.65 | 25 | 0.15 | 8.21 | |
KARDD0042 | 251.40 | 252.90 | 1.50 | 1.20 | 0.99 | 11 | 0.18 | 1.41 | |
KARDD0043 | 227.00 | 267.50 | 40.50 | 32.40 | 1.20 | 3 | 0.03 | 1.28 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0043 | 12.40 | 15.40 | 3.00 | 2.40 | 2.58 | 1 | 0.04 | 2.64 | |
KARDD0043 | 227.00 | 228.00 | 1.00 | 0.80 | 2.56 | 6 | 0.13 | 2.84 | |
KARDD0043 | 230.20 | 235.30 | 5.10 | 4.08 | 5.38 | 13 | 0.07 | 5.67 | AR1 |
KARDD0043 | 257.80 | 260.80 | 3.00 | 2.40 | 2.96 | 3 | 0.05 | 3.08 | AR2 |
KARDD0043 | 265.00 | 267.00 | 2.00 | 1.60 | 1.09 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.11 | |
KARDD0043 | 278.80 | 280.10 | 1.30 | 1.04 | 1.47 | 11 | 0.01 | 1.64 | |
KARDD0043 | 357.90 | 362.20 | 4.30 | 3.44 | 1.16 | 7 | 0.04 | 1.33 | |
KARDD0044 | 268.80 | 328.00 | 59.20 | 35.52 | 1.21 | 2 | 0.02 | 1.27 | Bulk Intersection |
KARDD0044 | 241.60 | 243.80 | 2.20 | 1.32 | 1.02 | 9 | 0.30 | 1.61 | AR1 |
KARDD0044 | 312.00 | 324.00 | 12.00 | 7.20 | 5.18 | 2 | 0.03 | 5.26 | AR2 |
including | 320.60 | 324.00 | 3.40 | 2.04 | 9.91 | 2 | 0.05 | 10.01 | AR2 |
Table 2 Kainantu Gold Mine – Collar Locations for Arakompa Surface Drilling |
||||||||
Hole ID | Collar location | Collar orientation | ||||||
Local North |
Local East | mRL | Dip | Local azimuth |
EOH depth (m) |
|||
KARDD0031 | 69955 | 89875 | 1425 | -79 | 103 | 277 | ||
KARDD0032 | 69946 | 90054 | 1399 | -46 | 110 | 226 | ||
KARDD0033 | 70203 | 89806 | 1517 | -57 | 261 | 467 | ||
KARDD0034 | 69746 | 89992 | 1365 | -62 | 48 | 934 | ||
KARDD0035 | 69954 | 89876 | 1425 | -54 | 108 | 191 | ||
KARDD0036 | 70102 | 89638 | 1554 | -52 | 226 | 503 | ||
KARDD0037 | 69954 | 89876 | 1425 | -67 | 119 | 297 | ||
KARDD0038 | 70204 | 89805 | 1517 | -50 | 238 | 466 | ||
KARDD0039 | 70095 | 89630 | 1554 | -65 | 230 | 472 | ||
KARDD0040 | 69953 | 89878 | 1425 | -47 | 58 | 245 | ||
KARDD0042 | 69954 | 89878 | 1425 | -70 | 58 | 304 | ||
KARDD0043 | 70095 | 89630 | 1554 | -52 | 316 | 377 | ||
KARDD0044 | 70095 | 89630 | 1554 | -65 | 313 | 408 |
Drill Hole Sampling Methodology, QA/QC and Qualified Person
The diamond drill hole is first logged to determine the sampling intervals, which range from a minimum of 0.1 metres to generally 1 metre. The drill core is sawn half core cut along a reference line, with the remainder of the core returned to the core tray. Core samples are then placed in numbered calico and plastic bags, with a numbered sample ticket for dispatch to the assay laboratory. Samples are separately assayed for gold, copper and silver. K92’s procedure includes the insertion standards, blanks and duplicates. Gold assays are by the fire assay method. Copper and silver assays are by three-acid-digestion method (nitric, perchloric and hydrochloric mix).
K92 maintains an industry-standard analytical quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) and data verification program to monitor laboratory performance and ensure high quality assays. Results from this program confirm reliability of the assay results. All sampling and analytical work for the mine exploration program is performed by Intertek Testing Services (PNG) Ltd, an independent accredited laboratory that is located on site. External check assays for QA/QC purposes are performed at SGS Australia Pty Ltd in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
K92 Interim Vice President Exploration, Andrew Kohler, MAIG, Qualified Person under the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects , has reviewed and is responsible for the technical content of this news release. In addition to the analytical QA/QC program outlined above, data verification also includes significant time onsite reviewing drill core, soil and outcrop sampling, artisanal workings, as well as discussing work programs and results with geology personnel and external consultants.
About K92
K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of gold, copper and silver at the Kainantu Gold Mine in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, as well as exploration and development of mineral deposits in the immediate vicinity of the mine. The Company declared commercial production from Kainantu in February 2018, is in a strong financial position, and is working to become a Tier 1 mid-tier producer through ongoing plant expansions. A maiden resource estimate on the Blue Lake copper-gold porphyry project was completed in August 2022. K92 is operated by a team of mining company professionals with extensive international mine-building and operational experience.
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