Chicken Mountain Drilling Confirms Broad, Consistent Gold Zones and Resource Upside
New results from Tectonic Metals’ (TSXV:TECT, OTCQB:TETOF) 2025 drill campaign at Chicken Mountain have delivered substantial gold intercepts, pointing to an expansive, vertically extensive, and continuously mineralized gold system at the Flat Gold Project in Alaska. Notably, assays from just 10 of 79 holes drilled have revealed up to 1.46 g/t Au over 26 metres, embedded within a broader zone of 0.69 g/t Au over nearly 125 metres, demonstrating the project's potential for a bulk-tonnage, open-pit, heap-leachable opportunity.
Key Results Demonstrate Robustness and Continuity of Gold System
The first tranche of drill data highlights:
- 100% Drill-Hit Success: Every hole to date has encountered gold mineralization—53 of 96 holes ended in mineralization, which remains open in all directions.
- Scale and Continuity: Three kilometers of mineralized strike at surface, and vertical continuity confirmed to more than 350 metres.
- Bulk Tonnage and Starter-Pit Potential: Broad intercepts with consistent grades, and emerging high-grade domains within the mineralized envelope.
| Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Length (m) | Gold (g/t Au) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMD25-011 | 20 | 46 | 26 | 1.46 | Within 0.91 g/t Au over 52m; 0.69 g/t Au over 124.97m |
| CMD25-014 | 49 | 83 | 34 | 1.10 | Within 0.79 g/t Au over 51.15m |
| CMR25-050 | 140.21 | 158.5 | 18.29 | 1.08 | RC; includes 36.58m at 0.83 g/t Au |
| CMR25-049 | 108.2 | 118.87 | 10.67 | 1.97 | RC; and 1.52m at 12.64 g/t Au |
| CMD25-016 | 97 | 223 | 126 | 0.44 | Includes intervals >1.0 g/t Au |
Metallurgical Tests Point to Economic Heap Leach Processing—Mirroring Fort Knox
Metallurgical holes drilled through broad gold zones have generated coarse-crush samples for column leach testing, returning strong gold recoveries (91%–96%) on oxidized and mixed ore. For context, Chicken Mountain's reported average grades of 0.69 g/t Au over 125 metres and locally higher-grade domains compare favorably with heap-leach operations globally—many of which operate profitably at grades as low as 0.3 g/t Au, as demonstrated by Kinross Gold's Fort Knox mine, also in Alaska.
| Mine | Average Grade (g/t Au) | Heap Leach Recovery (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Mountain (Test) | 0.69 | 91–96 |
| Fort Knox (Kinross) | 0.30 | N/A |
| Global Heap Leach Avg. | 0.51 | Varies |
RIRGS Model Consistency Suggests Geological Upside
The geometry, alteration, and grade distribution at Chicken Mountain match the features of Reduced Intrusion-Related Gold Systems (RIRGS)—the same deposit type as Fort Knox. This consistency provides further confidence in the project's ability to deliver scale and long-life production potential. Notably, mineralization is open at depth and along strike, with much of the current drilling focused on expanding these high-potential zones and supporting future resource modeling and economic assessments.
Project Momentum: Resource Definition and Next Steps
The latest drilling strategy, focused on extension and infill, resource-ready datasets, and follow-up on high-grade starter pits, is aimed squarely at moving Chicken Mountain toward a maiden resource and preliminary economic assessment. Upcoming assay results from an additional 114 drill holes (covering multiple prospects at Flat) are expected to refine grade and geometry models, underpinning ongoing development planning.
Takeaway: Substantial Progress and Upcoming Catalysts
With a 100% hit rate so far, broad mineralized zones, robust metallurgy, and geology in line with other successful bulk-tonnage, heap-leach projects, Chicken Mountain stands out as an emerging open-pit gold opportunity in Alaska. Investors and stakeholders should watch for further assay results and the forthcoming resource definition process as key milestones in assessing project scale and economics.
Note: The information provided here is based on initial assay results and preliminary technical observations. True widths are undetermined; intercepts are reported as downhole lengths.
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