Thistle Resources Inc. has initiated its 3,000-metre Phase 3 drill program at the Middle River Gold Project, with a drill rig now onsite and positioned on its first pad to collar hole MRG-26-01.

The active campaign builds on earlier exploration phases. Prior work at the property comprised Phase 1 and Phase 2 drilling programs that confirmed gold mineralization from surface down to 130 metres depth along a 7-kilometre mineralized fold trend identified by Abitibi Geophysics' 3D Orion Vision Technology. Previous announcements reported the receipt of Phase 3 drill permits and ongoing planning, moving the project into active execution with the rig turning on the first target area.

Thistle plans to utilize data from the current drill program alongside its 3D geological model to determine an updated National Instrument 43-101 resource estimate for the property. While the company holds a long-term exploration target of defining more than two million ounces of gold at Middle River, management notes that this figure represents an internal exploration goal rather than a current resource estimate.

The ongoing campaign is designed to expand the footprint of the deposit along the mineralized fold system while also testing the depth potential of the system, including an untested lower zone located 400 metres below surface.

We are thrilled to have started on our new 3000m Drill Program at our Flagship Middle River Gold Deposit. We look to increase the deposit's footprint towards our 2M oz goal. We have 7kms of identified high-priority mineralized folds on our property target area, identified by Abitibi Geophysics 3D Orion Technology. It also has identified a new untested lower zone at 400 meters below. Our 3D model will assist in determining an updated NI 43-101 and defining the size and scale of this system. We look forward to keeping everyone up to date and announcing our 1 st drill results.

— Patrick J. Cruickshank, MBA, President & CEO - Director

The company expects to release its first analytical results from the Phase 3 program as drilling advances and samples are processed through the laboratory.

Read the full announcement: Thistle Resources Commences Its 3000m Drill Program at Its Middle River Gold Project in the Bathurst Mining Camp, NB