Omai Gold Commences Gilt Creek Drill Hole Planned to Also Explore the Blue-Sky Depth Potential of the Wenot Deposit
- Strong resource base with combined Indicated Resources of 1.98M oz gold and Inferred Resources of 2.28M oz gold across two deposits
- Robust cash position of C$29 million as of March 31, 2025
- Potential for significant resource expansion with gold grades and zone widths increasing with depth
- Strategic location of deposits could allow accelerated underground access to deeper Wenot zones through Gilt Creek development
- Deep drilling program carries execution risks with planned depth of 1,800-2,000m
- Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment not expected until later in 2025
- Success of deep exploration is not guaranteed and would not immediately add to current resources
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced on a deep hole that is planned to initially drill across the Gilt Creek gold deposit, then to continue to drill in order to test the adjacent Wenot gold deposit at a vertical depth of approximately 1,100m. Gilt Creek and Wenot are two adjacent orogenic gold deposits on the Company's
This new hole (25ODD-122) will provide additional data as it drills across the Gilt Creek gold deposit then, very significantly, is planned to continue a further 600m-800m to explore for the extension of the near-vertical Wenot gold zones at approximately 1,000m to 1,200m vertical depth or roughly 600m below the known deposit. A gold intersection at this depth would not add to the Wenot resources in the short-term, however, would be indicative of the upside and long term mine life potential of this large Omai gold camp.
Elaine Ellingham, President & CEO, commented: "Our 2025 goal is to more fully realize the expansion potential of the gold resources at Omai, with a vision towards a multi-decade mine life. By accelerating our testing of the Wenot deposit starting in 2024, our drilling has provided ample evidence of the continuity of the gold zones down to depths of at least 500m, establishing Omai as one of the largest and fastest-growing gold camps in the Guiana Shield greenstone belt. We believe that we are on the path to maximizing the value of this large, two-deposit gold project with the current resource expansion drill program at Wenot, the updated MRE for Wenot that is underway, and the updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") to follow. By testing the Wenot deposit at much greater depths we hope to further unveil the blue-sky expansion potential of the Omai property, which we believe would unlock further value for all stakeholders."
The Company has completed 46 holes totalling 29,050m since the completion of the most recent NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for Wenot in February 2024. An updated NI 43-101 MRE to incorporate these new results has commenced, while additional assay results are pending for several holes. Drilling continues on the Wenot expansion drill program with two drills.
This new drill hole (25ODD-122) is designed to achieve several objectives: 1) to assist in the Gilt Creek mine planning and metallurgical studies that will facilitate its inclusion into an updated PEA mine plan anticipated later in 2025, 2) to further explore the lateral extent of the Gilt Creek intrusion-hosted gold deposit, and, very significantly, 3) to explore the open depth potential of Wenot well below the known limits of the deposit, that could be indicative of the potential for a multi-decade mine life for the Omai project. This deep hole is expected to be 1,800 to 2,000m in length, well within the capability of the drills on-site, however will be closely monitored for successful completion.
Gilt Creek Deposit Background
The Gilt Creek gold deposit is a 500m by 275m intrusion-hosted orogenic gold deposit. It is located approximately 500m north of the Wenot gold deposit on the Omai property (Figure 1). The MRE for Gilt Creek comprises Indicated Mineral Resources of 1,151,000 ounces gold averaging 3.22 g/t Au and Inferred Mineral Resources of 665,000 ounces gold averaging 3.35 g/t Au, using a 1.5 g/t Au cutoff and a US
The Gilt Creek gold deposit is relatively shallow with approximately
Wenot Extension Target
The Wenot deposit is a 2.5km long, shear-hosted, orogenic gold deposit with a current Indicated MRE1 of 834,000 ounces grading 1.48 g/t Au and Inferred MRE of 1,614,000 ounces grading 1.99 g/t Au. Gold mineralization at Wenot is dominantly hosted within multiple, parallel, near-vertical zones along the east-west trending shear corridor. Gold zones at Wenot have been identified from surface to a maximum vertical depth of 555m.
A late post-mineralization diabase dike that underlies the Gilt Creek pit extends under Wenot and has been intersected in a few holes from 480m to 510m depth. The Wenot orogenic gold zones pre-date this later dike and therefore most likely continue below. The recent drilling provides ample evidence that the gold grades and zone widths increase with depth and appear to potentially support underground mining at greater depths. There are multiple examples of orogenic gold deposits extending to great depths and confirmation of this for the Wenot deposit could have significant impact for ensuring a longer potential mine life for the Omai gold project. The Gilt Creek deposit is robust and, pending the updated PEA later in 2025, may support an economically attractive underground mining scenario. Therefore, the discovery of Wenot gold zones extending to depth just 500m south of an underground Gilt Creek mine could allow accelerated underground access to a deeper Wenot deposit, far earlier than from surface or an eventual Wenot pit bottom.
With two significant gold deposits, both with indications of continuations at depth, the Omai property offers significant upside potential. Drilling to date has been highly successful and the Company continues to be well-funded with a cash position at Quarter end, March 31, 2025 of approximately C
1 NI43-101 Technical Report dated May 21, 2024 "UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE OMAI GOLD PROPERTY, POTARO MINING DISTRICT NO.2, GUYANA" was prepared by Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, President of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. is available on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website. It includes a Wenot resource of 834,000 indicated ounces of gold averaging 1.48 g/t Au and 1,614,000 inferred ounces of gold averaging 1.99 g/t Au, and the adjacent Gilt Creek resource of 1,151,000 indicated ounces of gold averaging 3.22 g/t Au and 665,000 inferred ounces of gold averaging 3.35 g/t Au.
2 Past production at the Omai Mine (1993-2005) is summarized in several Cambior Inc. documents available on SEDARplus.ca, including March 31, 2006 AIF and news release August 3, 2006.
Figure 1. Plan map showing location of Hole 25ODD-122
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Figure 2. Cross-section of deep hole 25ODD-122, looking east
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Qualified Person
Elaine Ellingham is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is not considered to be independent for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.
ABOUT OMAI GOLD
Omai Gold Mines Corp. is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on rapidly expanding the two orogenic gold deposits at its
For further information, please see our website www.omaigoldmines.com or contact:
Elaine Ellingham, P.Geo.
President & CEO
elaine@omaigoldmines.com
+1.416.473.5351
David Stewart, P.Eng.
VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations
dstewart@omaigoldmines.com
+1.647.294.8361
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of completion of exploration, trenching and drill programs, and the potential for the Omai Gold Project to allow Omai to build significant gold Mineral Resources at attractive grades, and forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. Further, the Mineral Resource data set out in the Omai Gold news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Further, the Preliminary Economic Assessments and related data discussed in this news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Omai Gold Mines Corp. to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to international operations; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold, copper and other minerals and metals; general market conditions; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; uncertainty of access to additional capital; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities.
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