(Sharecast News) - Great Western Mining Corporation announced on Tuesday that the upgrade of the road to its Mineral Jackpot group of properties was now complete.
The AIM-traded firm said the road connects its base at Marietta to the Mineral Jackpot properties, made up of five historic mines - Mineral Jackpot, Bass, Ming Toy, Silver Bell and Silver Moon.
None of those, which dated from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, had been exploited in recent times, but in the last two years rock chip sampling, soil sampling, magnetometer surveys and drone surveys by Great Western had identified "exciting potential" for further gold and silver exploitation.
As it previously said, Great Western estimated an approximate doubling of the mineralisation over the area, and believed there was connectivity between the five individual mines.
The road to Mineral Jackpot is 14 kilometres long, with a vertical elevation of about 660 metres from Marietta to the mine site.
Great Western said the work involved widening the existing road from eight to 14 feet, and grading it.
Where the road was built into the mountainside, it was blasted over several hundred metres to achieve the required width, and was now accessible for large vehicles including rigs and equipment for drilling, and trucks for removing spoil material for processing.
The company has a permit in place for a five shallow-hole drill programme at Mineral Jackpot, to test high grade outcropping veins close to the historical mine workings.
It was aiming to drill some or all of the holes as part of the 2022 work programme, subject to contractor availability.
A total of 51 spoil heaps had already been identified at Mineral Jackpot, left over from historic mining operations.
"Completion of this road represents a very positive start to the 2022 work season on our claims in Mineral County, Nevada and is a significant step in enabling us to exploit the Mineral Jackpot area," said chairman Brian Hall.
"Our field team is in place and well advanced in preparations for first drilling, likely to commence at the Rock House properties, the precise timing of which will depend on the drill contractor.
"We will keep shareholders informed and are looking forward to making strong progress on all fronts this year."
At 1310 BST, shares in Great Western Mining Corporation were up 3.85% at 0.14p.
Great Western (GWMO)