Deep Exploration Drilling Extends Mineralization At Island Gold Mine

MONTREAL – Richmont Mines Inc. reported results from its deep exploration drilling to test part of the down plunge projection of the Island Gold deposit to the east. Highlights include intersections of 19.87 g/t Au over 3.93 meters at a vertical depth of 1,203 meters and 7.44 g/t Au over 8.49 meters at a vertical depth of 858 meters. Richmont is also pleased to announce a $7.6 million exploration program for Island Gold Mine in 2015.
Renaud Adams, President and CEO said, "We are very pleased with recent assay results from our step-out exploration drilling programs at Island Gold. A hole drilled from surface in December reaffirms the potential for extending our existing deep resource to the east as well as below its currently defined 1,000 meter limit. The hole intersected mineralization at a depth of about 1,200 meters, at an approximate 250 meter down plunge from the limits of the currently defined resources. Results such as this reinforce our belief of the potential to grow this deposit both laterally and at depth.
Our primary objective in 2015 is to unlock the value of Island Gold. To this end, our exploration drilling will focus on lateral expansion of our current resource base, mainly toward the east, with the objective of increasing the number of ounces per vertical meter down to a depth of 1,000 meters, which would favorably impact our development cost per ounce."
Recent drill results (cut grades over true widths): in hole GD-14-01C from surface, intersections of 19.87 g/t Au over 3.93 meters in the C Zone, and 21.1 g/t Au over 0.95 meters in an undetermined zone, and in hole 400-528 09 drilled from underground, an intersection of 7.44 g/t Au over 8.49 meters in the C Zone 61,000 meters of exploration drilling planned at Island Gold during 2015, primarily to test the eastern extension of the deposit at depths of below 600 meters, as well as the potential closer to surface to the west and to the east of the existing operations and resource base; Focus will be on completing the exploration/definition drift on the 620 meter level of the mine which will better facilitate the 2015 drilling programs; 150 meters of the planned 600 meters of drifting have been completed as of the end of 2014, with development expected to be done by Q3 2015.
In September 2014 the Corporation announced plans to complete several additional exploration drill holes in order to better evaluate the potential of the deposit towards the east between depths of approximately 800 and 1,000 meters. Hole GD-14-01C, drilled from surface, intersected the targeted C Zone at a vertical depth of 1,203 meters, and assayed 19.87 g/t Au over a true width of 3.93 meters. Significantly, this intersection is approximately 250 meters down plunge from the limits of the currently defined resources, and is considered indicative of the excellent potential for the down plunge extension of Island Gold Mine’s mineralization. An additional intersection of 21.1 g/t Au over 0.95 meters is not within the C Zone, but its relationship is yet to be determined. A second hole being drilled from surface will be concluded shortly, however the areas previously targeted by the remaining planned holes from surface will be drilled at a later date from the 620 meter exploration drift as development advances by the contractor, and drill access has been attained.
The additional two holes, drilled from underground (400-528-09 and 400-528-10), both successfully intersected the C Zone. Hole 400-528-09 intersected 7.44 g/t Au over 8.49 meters at a vertical depth of 858 meters, which is not a significant step out from the known resources, while hole 400-528-10 intersected 4.44 g/t Au over 6.07 meters at a vertical depth of 1,091 meters, which is approximately 100 meters below the currently defined resource base. A second zone grading 4.79 g/t Au over 2.87 meters at a vertical depth of 1,179 meters was similarly intersected by hole 400-528-10. While in a zone that is yet to be determined, this intersection is an approximate 200 meter step out to depth from the known resource, and is very encouraging.
Richmont has approved a $7.6 million exploration budget for the Island Gold Mine property for 2015, as detailed in Table 2. The 61,000 meter exploration drill program has two primary objectives. The first is to test the eastern extension potential of the resource between 500 and 1,000 meters of depth with a budgeted 41,000 meters of underground drilling. This drilling will be more heavily weighted to the second half of the year once access has been achieved via the 620 meter level drift currently being developed by the contractor. Carrying out drilling from underground is less expensive considering the depths that are being targeted, and will also enable a better core angle. The second primary objective is to test a number of targets and target areas located toward the western property boundary, as well as to the east of the existing operations. This surface exploration drilling will encompass 20,000 meters, and will test the targeted areas from surface to a depth of approximately 750 meters.
The $7.6 million exploration budget for Island Gold in 2015 will be a significant step to unlocking the future value of this asset through the potential growth of the currently defined 1.0 million ounce resource.
Richmont Mines has produced over 1.4 million ounces of gold from its operations in Quebec, Ontario and Newfoundland since beginning production in 1991. The Corporation currently produces gold from the Island Gold Mine in Ontario, and the Beaufor and Monique Mines in Quebec. The Corporation is also advancing development of the extension at depth of the Island Gold Mine in Ontario. With over 20 years of experience in gold production, exploration and development, and prudent financial management, the Corporation is well-positioned to cost-effectively build its Canadian reserve base and to successfully enter its next phase of growth.