ESGold Corp. is pleased to announce the completion of an internal review of its 2015 VTEM survey data and historic drill database, which confirms the presence of a large-scale geophysical anomaly in the southwestern portion of the Montauban Project. This zone, which has not been drill tested, is considered by ESGold’s technical team to be a high-priority target for future exploration.
The southwest target is defined by a broad, laterally continuous conductivity high (bfz30 EM) coinciding with a strong magnetic anomaly (TMI) — a dual geophysical signature commonly associated with buried sulfide-rich VMS environments. Independent internal interpretation suggests that this zone may be deeper, structurally complex, and potentially larger than the historically mined lens to the northeast.
To contextualise the opportunity, it’s important to note that since the original VTEM survey was flown in 2015, ESGold has strategically expanded its land position and now holds 255 mining claims totaling approximately 13,116 hectares — the largest claim package in the Montauban region. This expansion was specifically designed to encompass high-priority anomalies identified in the survey. Given that VMS systems are known to occur in clusters, ESGold’s expanded land package now positions the Company to fully capture the district-scale discovery potential that the geophysical data suggests. The original VTEM survey was flown From December 6, 2014, to January 13, 2015, and was included in an NI 43-101 Report commissioned and filed by the Company in February 2022 (JPL Geoservices).
Unlocking future potential at Montauban
Historically, Montauban has been viewed as a single-deposit system. However, based on the interpretation of geophysical data from the 2015 VTEM survey, ESGold believes the project may be situated within a broader, potentially stacked or clustered VMS environment. While this concept is supported by the scale and distribution of conductivity and magnetic anomalies identified in the survey, further exploration and drilling will be required to validate the presence of additional mineralised systems
To validate this potential, ESGold is currently finalising a comprehensive 3D geological model — the first in the project’s 110-year history. This model will integrate:
- 2015 VTEM and TMI data
- Over 950 historical drillholes and 18,000+ Au, Ag, and Zn assays
- Structural interpretation from geophysical and geological mapping
- Upcoming ANT (Ambient Noise Tomography) survey data
The ongoing ANT survey — which has been tested to 800 meters in imaging depth — will play a critical role in determining the true scale and continuity of the southwestern anomaly. Once the initial 3D model is released, ESGold plans to expand the ANT program to cover a broader section of the property, targeting additional zones of interest revealed by the new model.
A strategic shift in scope
The Company continues advancing toward near-term production through tailings reprocessing at Montauban, this new anomaly marks a potential inflection point — one that could redefine the company as a district-scale discovery story.
“The southwest anomaly represents a technically interesting and previously untested zone at Montauban,” said Brad Kitchen, President of ESGold Corp. “While our primary focus remains on advancing toward near-term production, the evolving geophysical model and recent land expansion are beginning to reveal a much broader opportunity. With a growing dataset, disciplined exploration approach, and a pathway to self-funded discovery, ESGold is well positioned to pursue both production and the longer-term potential of the Montauban system.”
To find out what else is going on in the mining industry, click here!
