Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. is advancing its gold exploration techniques through an orientation study using Chrysos PhotonAssay™ technology at its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property in central British Columbia, Canada. The company's collaboration with ALS Canada Ltd. focuses on evaluating a non-destructive analysis method that employs high-energy photons to interact with sample materials. This technological approach represents a significant departure from traditional fire assay techniques, which typically examine only 30-50 grams of material, whereas PhotonAssay™ can analyze up to 500 grams per assay.
The enhanced sample capacity of PhotonAssay™ technology potentially provides more comprehensive and representative gold content measurements. This innovation specifically targets the persistent challenge known as the 'nugget effect', a phenomenon particularly prevalent in gold mineralization where coarse gold particles can lead to inconsistent assay results. The technology shows particular promise for the company's Halo zone target, where recent drill holes have exhibited coarse, visible gold particles that traditional methods might not accurately quantify.
By analyzing substantially larger sample volumes, the PhotonAssay™ method promises to more accurately quantify both finely dispersed and coarse gold particles within geological samples. The orientation study will initially compare PhotonAssay™ results with traditional fire assay methods using existing core samples from previous drilling campaigns. Company President and CEO Frank Callaghan emphasized the potential of this technological approach, noting that it could optimize resource evaluation and enhance the transparency and reliability of assay data for future exploration and development efforts.
The technical implementation of the study involves analyzing core samples from previous drill holes, including the recent QGQ24-21 hole that showed promising mineralization characteristics. Researchers anticipate receiving and reporting assay results in the coming weeks, which will provide critical comparative data between the traditional and new analytical methods. The successful implementation of this technology could potentially revolutionize gold exploration techniques by providing more accurate and representative analysis methods for precious metal deposits, particularly in areas affected by the nugget effect phenomenon that has long challenged mineral resource estimation accuracy.
