Osisko Metals Incorporated has resumed drilling at Pine Point after a halt for spring break-up.
The objective of the 2018 drill program at Pine Point is to define 50 million tonnes of unclassified near-surface historical resources.
In order to remain on track with its objective, the company applied for and obtained the necessary permits to increase its drill rig count, going from three to seven drills.
"The team has been working diligently at obtaining the permits to allow us to increase the number of drill rigs at Pine Point," said Jeff Hussey, president and chief executive officer of Osisko Metals, in a July 24 news release. "It's our intention to keep moving this project forward aggressively in order to capitalize on the current favourable zinc market fundamentals. Delivering the resource remains a priority for us to unlock the true value potential of this camp."
The majority of the drilling will continue to be focused within the central 20-kilometre-long portion of the property that is located near infrastructure and accessed by paved highway. This area includes the East Mill and Central Zones, where mineralization is shallow and where new compliant resources will form the resource base for future studies.
Osisko Metals completed a 129-hole, 7,860-metre winter drilling program at Pine Point.
The winter campaign was designed to define portions of near-surface historical deposits that are inaccessible in the summer.
The 50,000-metre drill program underway for this year will consist of approximately 700 drill holes.
Cominco Ltd. was the original owner of the former operation that extracted zinc and lead from 50 open pit mines between 1964 and 1987.
Osisko Metals acquired a 100 per cent interest in the Pine Point lead-zinc project trough acquisition of Pine Point Mining Limited in February.