Flow Metals Corp. has announced a technical update on its Sixtymile Gold Project, Yukon. Recent re-logging of historic drill core has resulted in a revised structural interpretation of gold mineralisation.
The revised interpretation supports a fold-controlled orogenic gold model, in which, gold-bearing quartz veins preferentially develop within competent, quartz-rich layers; mineralisation is structurally focused within antiformal fold geometries; and deformation and veining intensify near a pre-existing ductile shear/thrust zone, interpreted to have acted as a regional fluid conduit.
Detailed re-logging of historic drill hole DDH-11-18 has identified a fold structure within the schist host rocks. Core observations show a systematic swing in foliation orientation consistent with a large-scale fold, interpreted to have a wavelength of approximately 100-150 metres. The highest grades in DDH-11-18 correlate with competent quartzite units proximal to well-developed crenulation cleavage. This fold geometry provides a new structural framework for understanding the distribution of gold mineralization on the property.
Re-logging also identified sedimentary features interpreted to be consistent with a metamorphosed turbidite sequence, including:
- Repeated fining-upward units.
- Interlayered quartz-rich and micaceous horizons, locally carbonaceous.
- Strong competency contrasts between quartzite and pelitic schist.
These observations suggest that the schist in the target area represents a layered metasedimentary package rather than a homogeneous schistose unit. Competency contrasts between quartz-rich and pelitic layers are interpreted to strongly influence the distribution of deformation and veining.
Historic drill core indicates that gold mineralisation is stronger in quartz-rich units than in adjacent schistose intervals, consistent with competency-controlled vein emplacement model.
Future exploration will focus on structural modelling of the newly recognised fold architecture; tracking quartz-rich horizons through the fold geometry; testing down-plunge continuity of mineralised zones; and evaluating potential fold repetitions along the structural corridor.
This refined model narrows targeting to specific structural positions where favourable host lithologies and deformation conditions coincide.
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