Blackhawk

Blackhawk Porphyry and Epithermal Copper/Gold Projects

The Blackhawk Project is a large-scale copper–gold system located within the Excelsior Mountains of Mineral County, Nevada, approximately 40 minutes from the regional centre of Hawthorne. The project is easily accessed via paved State Highway 95, followed by all-weather gravel roads via the historic mining township of Marietta. Comprising 636 contiguous 20-acre claims covering approximately 49 km², Blackhawk benefits from excellent infrastructure and access within a premier mining jurisdiction.

Sierra Nevada Gold has identified two major components of a significant mineralised system at Blackhawk: a high-grade epithermal vein field and a district-scale porphyry copper–gold system. These overlapping systems provide a compelling exploration opportunity, with potential for both near-surface high-grade mineralisation and large-scale bulk tonnage targets at depth.

The epithermal component is characterised by a network of structurally controlled gold–silver and base metal veins, covering an area of approximately 5 km² and comprising over 22-line kilometres of largely untested vein structures. Historical mining activity, dating from the 1860s to early 1900s, focused on multiple centres including the Endowment, Morning Star and Blackhawk mines. Recent work by SNX has returned bonanza-grade rock chip results and drilling, confirming the presence of high-grade mineralisation and supporting the delineation of multiple drill-ready targets across the vein system.

Underlying and partially coincident with the epithermal system is a large, fertile porphyry copper–gold system defined by an extensive alteration footprint exceeding 30 km². At its core lies a 4 km diameter ring of historic workings associated with porphyry-style mineralisation, spatially coincident with a 13 km² induced polarisation (IP) chargeability anomaly indicative of significant sulphide accumulation at depth. This combination of geological, geochemical and geophysical features highlights the potential for a major porphyry-related copper–gold discovery.

The project is strategically located within the highly endowed Walker Lane Trend, a Tier-1 mineral province hosting numerous world-class deposits. Notable examples include the Round Mountain Gold Mine (>20 Moz gold), the Comstock Lode (8.5 Moz gold and 200 Moz silver), the Yerington Copper District (>4 Mt copper), and the Candelaria Silver Mine (~230 Moz silver), located approximately 25 km along trend from Blackhawk. The Walker Lane is a major structural corridor characterised by strike-slip and transtensional deformation, providing a favourable setting for large mineral systems.

Initial diamond drilling at Blackhawk has begun to validate the scale and fertility of the system. Hole SNX001D, drilled to a depth of 1,196.98 m, intersected encouraging porphyry-style alteration with elevated copper and molybdenum to end of hole. The presence of inner propylitic to local potassic alteration, along with “B”-type veining, represents important vectors toward potential higher-grade porphyry mineralisation. In addition, significant fault zones encountered in drilling highlight the presence of major fluid pathways, further supporting the potential for a large and well-developed hydrothermal system.

Blackhawk represents a rare opportunity to explore a large-scale, underexplored porphyry–epithermal system within one of the most productive mineral belts in the United States, with clear vectors toward both high-grade and bulk tonnage mineralisation established.

For the latest updates on exploration and drilling activities, please refer to Sierra Nevada Gold’s ASX Releases and Corporate Presentations