Anova Metals has lined up a major field program for 2022 at its 1Moz Big Springs gold project in Nevada as it looks to add world-class discoveries to its bountiful US gold resource.

Anova (ASX:AWV) will launch waves of modern exploration activities over the 2022 field season to work up drill targets, alongside a process to expand its plan of operation with the US forestry service.

The campaign of IP surveying, soil and rock chip sampling and extensive field mapping will set up Anova for a targeted program in 2023 consisting of more than 10,000m of drilling looking to outline world class deposits at greenfields targets.

It comes on top of the planned release of an updated Big Springs resource estimate which is both JORC 2012 and NI 43-101 compliant and is on track for completion in the September quarter.

Big Springs, Big Opportunity

Big Springs sits just 20km north of the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine, a 10Moz monster which has operated for 40 years and is a typical Carlin-type gold deposit.

That is the style of gold found in Northern Nevada’s Carlin trend, home to multi-million ounce gold mines owned by the world’s largest gold companies Barrick and Newmont.

The planned drill program in 2023 is expected to be the largest in 17 years at Big Springs, which remains underexplored despite its prominent 1Moz resource.

Anova says the decision to focus exploration initiatives on drilling next year under an expanded POO will allow for testing of opportunities “within the wider Big Springs package and the clear potential to deliver genuine step-change for Anova in terms of further resource growth and new discoveries.”

“Moreover, the costs of a significantly smaller drilling program are relatively high and inefficient on a unit basis (a high percentage being mobilisation),” the company said.

The 2022 field season at Big Springs started with new claims being pegged over soil geochemical anomalies in the Jacks Creek area on the southwest side of Anova’s property followed by an IP survey over known mineralising structures within and proximal to the existing Big Springs lease.

A soil sampling program will be carried out over a key target area on the southeast side of the property known as Golden Dome, and extensive field mapping and selective rock chip sampling will commence at the Golden Dome, Jacks Creek, Dorsey Creek, and Mac Ridge prospects.

WA in focus

 At the same time as it zeroes in on growth prospects in Nevada over the next three years, Anova is also broadening its focus to its home base of WA.

Anova says it is “actively seeking the addition of a high-calibre, early stage/greenfields exploration project in Western Australia to complement its more advanced Big Springs Gold Project in Nevada.”

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Anova Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.