High-Grade Intersections in Saddle Zone

Drilling at the Detour Lake 

Kirkland Lake Gold announced results from 25 holes (19,523 m) and one wedge hole (1,110 m) of drilling at the Detour Lake property. The new holes being reported are the third batch of results from the recently announced 250,000 m exploration program, which the Company is targeting for completion by the end of 2021. The program is being completed to collect information for an updated, and potentially expanded, Mineral Reserve as well as to support the completion of a new production plan. 

Most of the new holes announced today are from drilling in the Saddle Zone, located between the Main Pit and West Pit locations, which has been underexplored and has no Mineral Reserves and only limited Mineral Resources. Several new holes are also being announced from the area west of the West Pit, which also contains only limited past drilling.

Tony Makuch, President  and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: “Today’s results provide further evidence that a much larger and higher-grade deposit exists around the Main Pit and West Pit locations at Detour Lake Mine than is currently included in Mineral Reserves. 

We continue to intersect broad zones of mineralization in the Saddle Zone between the two pits, which demonstrate the potential for continuous mineralization over very large area and supports our view that a much larger pit design concept may be warranted leading to substantial Mineral Reserve growth, increased levels of production and improved unit costs. 

In addition, with a growing number of high-grade intersections at depth, we are increasingly optimistic that both production levels and average grades can be augmented through the addition of an underground mining operation. We are also very encouraged by drill results on the west side of the property, which include extending mineralization 200 m west of the current West Pit location. 

We are still relatively early in our 250,000 m drill program and expect 2021 to be a very important year for establishing the full potential of the Detour Lake Mine.”