The company says the footwall zone discovery represents the project's third mineralised sector, complementing the East Lens and the West Lens.
The Thunder Bay, Ontario-based company said the new footwall zone was discovered in hole PM-18-031 about 150m to the north (deeper into the footwall) below the East Lens at a vertical depth of 650m. The hole returned 16.6% zinc, 8.4% lead, 1.9% copper, 612 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 0.5g/t gold over a 4.1m interval from 733.9m down hole. This reflected zinc-equivalent of 38.2%.
The 4.1m massive sulphide intersection occurs in "intensely altered felsic fragmental rocks" suggesting the presence of folded and or stacked massive sulphide lenses. The replacement-style massive sulphide mineralisation comprises pyrite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite that includes high-grade base and precious-metal values.
Wolfden said historic drill results from the 1980s indicated that only two of the more than 70 drill holes were extended deep enough to intersect what would be the plane of the footwall zone. Those holes were located some distance away from the high-grade intercept of hole 031, and returned several narrow intervals of massive sulphide mineralisation bearing appreciable zinc-lead values.
The company said follow-up drilling was "clearly warranted" to test for extensions of this zone.
Wolfden also released the results from two additional step-out holes that intersected the West Lens 550-600m below surface, cutting 10.2% and 33.1% zinc-equivalent over 0.7m and 19.5m, respectively. These results were not included in the recent resource estimate and indicated the significant potential to add to the mineral resources at depth, the company said.
Further, the company also reported that hole PM-18-035 encountered 40.1m grading 4.5% zinc-equivalent 380m below surface.
This intercept was 40m west and 60m deeper than the neighbouring historical drill hole G-70, that yielded multiple intercepts including 17.2m of 4.1% zinc-equivalent, 38.1m at 4.7% and 17.9m of 8.2% within a 90m massive sulphide interval, Wolfden said.
"The excessive thickness of the massive sulphide lens at this locale is of more interest and may represent the hinge or keel of a fold in the lens that plunges at depth towards the southwest. Further drilling to test this theory and explore for higher grades is warranted," the company said.
"The next programme will include down-hole electromagnetic surveys (BHEM) to assist in the targeting of possible extensions of the footwall zone prior to drill testing. Some BHEM surveying of the main zones that was completed in December, is under review and will be incorporated into an aggressive 2019 follow-up drill programme as part of the company's efforts to continue to expand and upgrade the mineral resources of the project," SVP exploration Don Hoy said.
The stock (TSXV:WLF) has had a rough year in Toronto, and still sits 46% below its value a year ago, despite a 28% gain to date this year. At midday Tuesday, the equity was trading 1.67% or C0.5c lower at 29.5c, capitalising the company at $34 million.
