Tom. Quote from the latest Victoria press release:
Hole NW-12 is at a depth of 593 meters (467 meters vertical) where a dyke caused slower than normal drilling advancement. The Company believes that this dyke could have acted as a barrier to gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids from depth that may have pooled below the dyke. For example, some of the higher gold grades from drill hole NW-9 (released on October 2, 2008) were near this same dyke.
This wording led me to state the words in question. I haven't seen the dike and Victoria does not say what kind it is or how it may have been altered but they are the ones who say the dike could have acted as a barrier to gold bearing fluids that may have pooled below the dike. Mineralizing fluids will not mineralize something they cannot penetrate. I have no theory's about any of this I merely stated possibilities based on the very limited information in the press release and my knowledge of parameters that can affect drilling conditions or susceptibility of rocks to ore formation. The dike in question might be harder in one place than another due to composition change which would affect drilling, but what that change might be in this case or whether a different factor such as caving of bad ground in the fault hosting the dike might be causing their drilling trouble is all pure conjecture from my quarter. Perhaps asking the Victoria people these questions directly would be more fruitful.
I sent an email to Chad to see if he has any comments to add regarding the dike issue.
tom
