Sierra Nevada Gold announce underground face mapping and sampling of the Superior Vein at its New Pass Project has returned results up to 20.1 g/t Au. Rock chips collected from remnant mineralisation from the Superior Vein, exposed throughout much of Superior Adit 4, generated multiple ore grade samples, ranging from 2.1 - 20.1g/t Au. These results from both relic and peripheral mineralisation underpin the bonanza grades recorded from multiple mining campaigns conducted historically at New Pass.

SNX re-assayed samples from selected intersections from its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program using screen fire techniques. With larger sample volumes, screening helps separate nuggety particulate gold from finer gangue fractions. Hole NP004RC returned conventional fire assays of 2.1g/t Au, which doubled to 4.3 g/t Au from 169.5-171.9m with the use of screen fire assays.

To aid geological modelling, SNX mapped changes in lamination and oxidation in siltstone and brecciation in the wallrock proximal to mineralisation. With these prominent textures and the higher frequency of hanging-wall structures, major ore-hosting veins should be easier to predict. In Superior Adit 4, the Superior vein occupies a prominent fault zone which strikes 10-degrees northwest, with a variable 82-degree dip.

The width of largely quartz-hosted mineralization varies from 0.2 - 1m, with links to wallrock deformation characterised by red, clayey gouge and widespread slickensiding. An ill-defined hanging-wall exhibits irregular shearing with associated breccia and quartz stringer development. Across southern distal zones, weakly mineralised quartz veining is observed, unlike the northern adit development where stoping has exposed remnant ore zones, with cataclastic quartz and secondary hematite-rich fill.

Exploration activity at New Pass progressed favourably in 2022, with confirmation of down dip extensions of high-grade gold bearing mineralisation across the Thomas W and Superior veins from six Reverse Circulation (RC) drillholes for 1353m. Surface and underground sampling of the True-Blue and Superior Veins also aided characterisation of the style and tenor of peripheral and remnant mineralisation. SNX is planning further drilling across the Superior and Thomas W veins to better define their respective dimension and plunge of local mineralisation.

These remaining 10 holes will be prioritised for 2023, to include further testing of these high-grade veins, together with a large, local zinc geochemical anomaly. SNX also notes that further exploration will be needed to test for other prospective deposit types, including both jasperoid and Carlin- type deposits. A more comprehensive underground sampling program will also be completed in 2023, ideally to include all currently accessible Superior and Thomas W infrastructure.