Sierra Nevada Gold Uncovers High-Grade Gold Targets at New Pass Project
Sierra Nevada Gold (ASX: SNX) has identified multiple high-grade gold targets at its New Pass Project in Nevada, significantly enhancing the property's exploration potential as the company prepares for bulk sampling later this year.
The Sierra Nevada Gold New Pass Project continues to demonstrate exceptional promise, with recent geological mapping and sampling revealing impressive gold grades across the property. These discoveries come at a strategic time as the company advances its exploration plans in one of America's premier gold mining jurisdictions.
Furthermore, the company's systematic approach to understanding the mineralisation system is providing critical insights that will guide future exploration efforts and maximise discovery potential.
Vein Study Reveals Exceptional Gold Grades
Recent geological mapping and sampling at the Sierra Nevada Gold New Pass Project has yielded impressive gold results, including:
- A peak gold result of 39.8 g/t Au from a laminated quartz vein
- An in-situ result of 23.3 g/t Au from a newly identified sub-parallel vein east of the Thomas W workings
- Multiple +10 g/t Au samples from the Thomas W vein
The company's detailed vein-style study has established a clear correlation between veining style and gold grade, with the highest grades associated with laminated quartz veining showing moderate brecciation. This understanding will be crucial for the planned bulk sampling program at the Superior Vein, expected in Q4 2025.
"Our latest work has revealed more high-grade targets at New Pass, and we will commence following these up while we finalise plans for a bulk sampling program at the Superior Vein. New Pass offers immense potential, and we can see in some areas we have barely scratched the surface," commented SNX Executive Chairman Peter Moore.
Key Geological Discovery Expands Exploration Potential
One of the most significant findings from the recent work is the identification of a fluvial channel that was previously misinterpreted as the New Pass Fault. Historical understanding suggested this fault separated ore-hosting rocks from post-mineral volcanics, effectively limiting the exploration area.
The new interpretation reveals:
- The feature is actually an erosional surface, not a fault
- It contains clasts of quartz veining, demonstrating it formed after mineralisation
- This discovery expands the exploration search space to the south
This revelation transforms the exploration approach at New Pass, opening up potential for new near-surface gold targets in areas previously thought to be cut off from mineralisation.
The Promising Saddle Target
The Saddle Target, located 500m north of the main mining area, continues to show significant potential. Recent sampling of sulphidic breccia and high-level quartz veining returned anomalous pathfinder elements including arsenic, copper, antimony, and zinc.
Key findings include:
- Two large subsurface IP chargeability anomalies directly along strike of the Superior and Thomas W veins
- Sample results including 0.11 g/t Au, 1.13 ppm Ag, 387 ppm As, 299 ppm Cu, 79.3 ppm Sb, and 1,050 ppm Zn
- Evidence suggesting the Saddle Zone is located on and exploiting similar fluid pathways as the high-grade veins
These results reinforce the potential of the Sierra Nevada Gold New Pass Project to host multiple mineralised zones beyond the currently identified high-grade veins.
Understanding Epithermal Gold Systems
The Sierra Nevada Gold New Pass Project represents a classic example of an epithermal gold system. In these systems, gold mineralisation occurs relatively close to the surface in veins formed by hydrothermal fluids.
What is an Epithermal Gold System?
Epithermal gold deposits form at shallow depths (within 1.5 km of the surface) and moderate temperatures (150-300°C). They typically develop where heated groundwater carrying dissolved minerals rises toward the surface through fractures in the rock.
Different veining styles observed at New Pass provide important clues about the system:
| Vein Type | Description | Gold Association at New Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Laminated | Thin, parallel layers of quartz | Highest gold grades (10-39.8 g/t Au) |
| Brecciated | Angular rock fragments cemented by quartz | Moderate grades (2.34-7.11 g/t Au) |
| Massive | Solid, homogeneous quartz | Lower grades (up to 0.18 g/t Au) |
The laminated veining that SNX has found to contain the highest gold grades is characteristic of fluid boiling zones where precious metals precipitate most efficiently. By understanding these textural variations, geologists can target the most prospective parts of the epithermal system.
Next Steps for Sierra Nevada Gold
SNX has outlined a clear pathway forward at the New Pass Project:
- Detailed mapping over newly identified areas south of historical mining activities
- Selective sampling and additional geological mapping at the Saddle Zone
- Additional petrographic study of outcropping intrusive rocks
- Finalising permits for bulk sampling at the Superior Vein in Q4 2025
This methodical approach demonstrates the company's commitment to thoroughly understanding the geology before advancing to more capital-intensive exploration phases.
Regional Context and Comparison
The Sierra Nevada Gold New Pass Project sits within Nevada's well-established gold mining district. The high-grade nature of the project bears similarities to other significant gold discoveries in the region, such as Tesoro's Ternera deposit in Chile and Mithril's exceptional high-grade gold and silver at La Soledad.
However, what sets New Pass apart is its combination of high grades and the newly expanded exploration footprint, offering significant upside potential for the company and its investors.
Why Investors Should Follow Sierra Nevada Gold
Sierra Nevada Gold presents a compelling investment opportunity for several reasons:
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High-Grade Gold Potential: The consistent high-grade gold results from surface sampling (up to 39.8 g/t Au) suggest significant in-situ gold mineralisation.
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Expanded Exploration Footprint: The new geological interpretation has effectively expanded the exploration area, potentially leading to new discoveries.
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Strategic Nevada Location: The New Pass Project is located along the Austin Trend in Nevada, parallel to the prolific Carlin and Battle Mountain Trends that host world-class gold deposits.
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Near-Term Catalysts: With bulk sampling planned for Q4 2025, investors can expect regular news flow and potential value-driving results.
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Systematic Exploration Approach: The company's methodical approach to understanding the mineralising system demonstrates technical expertise that can maximise discovery potential.
The company's progress mirrors other successful exploration stories like the recent validation of gold systems at the Lancefield Trend and high-grade gold discoveries at Penny South Mine.
As the company advances its drilling program similar to Hammer Metals' copper-gold initiative, Sierra Nevada Gold has positioned itself to unlock significant value at New Pass, with its latest findings opening up multiple new high-grade target areas while preparing for bulk sampling operations.
The Sierra Nevada Gold New Pass Project represents an exciting opportunity in the gold exploration sector, combining high-grade potential with systematic exploration in a world-class mining jurisdiction.
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