Latitude 66 has initiated a diamond drilling program at the K South prospect within its Kuusamo Schist Belt (KSB) gold project in northern Finland. The focus of the initial drilling will be on the K9 and K8 targets, with plans to drill up to 2,000 meters to uncover further high-grade gold mineralization.
The drill rig will first target the K9 prospect, aiming at down-dip and down-plunge electromagnetic (DHEM) conductive plates. This follows previous significant findings, including 22.4 meters grading 2.4 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, 0.07% cobalt, and 0.16% copper from 44 meters depth. Other notable intercepts include 13.45 meters at 6.25 g/t gold and 0.18% cobalt from 21.1 meters, and 50.15 meters with 0.45% cobalt from 124.75 meters.
At the K8 prospect, drilling will also focus on down-dip and down-plunge DHEM plates to build on earlier results such as 19 meters grading 6 g/t gold and 0.04% cobalt from 97.5 meters, 10.3 meters at 4.8 g/t gold and 0.04% cobalt from 89.8 meters, and 6.5 meters at 8.1 g/t gold from 45.1 meters.
Earlier this month, Latitude 66 reported identifying strong conductors at the K9 prospect, which correlate with known gold-cobalt mineralization and shear zones. DHEM results from two adjacent holes confirmed the continuity of K9 mineralization both down-plunge and along strike, supported by favorable host-rock geochemistry.
The company anticipates that results from this drilling campaign will significantly contribute towards developing a maiden JORC resource for the K9 and K8 prospects, helping to expand the existing global resource of 650,000 ounces of gold and 5,840 tonnes of cobalt at the K North deposit.
Latitude 66 Managing Director Grant Coyle expressed enthusiasm about resuming drilling at K South. He highlighted the importance of testing the identified conductive plates and extending from previous high-grade intercepts. The results will help determine the potential for a maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate, aiming to grow the company’s existing resource base.
The drilling campaign is expected to conclude by the end of next month, with assay results anticipated in early November. The rig will remain on site for further drilling and exploration based on current findings.
In addition to the KSB project, Latitude 66 has identified 20 new gold-copper targets at its Perapohja Schist Belt (PSB) project, located 15 kilometers west of Rovaniemi, Lapland, and 200 kilometers west of the KSB resource. The P12 and P13 prospects at PSB show similarities to the K North deposit in both size and potential. Rock-chip sampling will continue through the summer, with plans to develop drill targets for the next year.
Latitude 66 is also monitoring its 17.5% free-carried interest in the Carnaby Resources-operated Great Duchess copper project in Queensland. Recent rock-chip samples from the project have shown up to 28.3% copper, generating market interest as Carnaby progresses toward a maiden resource.
With significant activity in Finland and promising developments at PSB, Latitude 66 is poised to keep investor interest high as the year progresses.
