Seabridge Gold

KSM (Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell): EXPLORATION

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Seabridge Exploration Work at KSM

There are two phases of exploration work conducted by Seabridge at KSM. During the period from 2003 to 2005 the property had been under option to Xstrata Canada, who funded and performed the work.  From 2006 to the present, Seabridge funded and undertook its own work following negotiations to terminate Xstrata’s option. 

Xstrata (previously Noranda Inc. and Falconbridge Ltd.) undertook a staged exploration program to systematically evaluate the potential for a large Cu dominated Cu-Au porphyry system at KSM based on the geological similarities to other major Cu-Au porphyry deposits in the Pacific Rim, the existing mineral resource and undeveloped exploration targets.  The program advanced from compilation and digitalization of the existing database, delineation of under-evaluated targets, confirmation and prioritizing of target models with prospecting, geological mapping, soil and rock geochemistry, induced polarization geophysical surveys, and finally first stage drilling of numerous, widely separated areas.  Although every drill hole intersected strong alteration and variably mineralized rock, the results indicated the system at KSM was gold dominated, that is, the largest economic contribution to a potential minable resource would be gold rather than copper.  As this was not in line with Xstrata’s corporate objectives, the company was considering a non-aggressive strategy to maintain the option by meeting its minimum spending commitments.  Thus the work required to make a full evaluation of the potential gold resources would unlikely to have been undertaken.  As this was not in the best interest of Seabridge Gold, an agreement was negotiated that satisfied both companies long term objectives, and returned a 100% ownership of KSM to Seabridge.

2003 to 2005 (Farmed Out Period)

Geology

Mapping, prospecting and rock sampling was focused the Main Copper, Iron Cap, MacQuillan, Arbee, North Mitchell, and Mitchell zones. These areas were targeted based on results of Noranda’s preliminary work in 2003 which identified favourable targets that had not previously been drilled. The objectives of the 2004 program were to identify and delineate productive versus barren intrusives, potassic alteration assemblages and copper-gold distribution / control.

Main Copper Zone

At the Main Copper zone, mineralization is associated with potassic altered, quartz vein stockworked, monzonitic porphyries which intrude quartz-chlorite-magnetite hornfelsed altered volcanics. Petrographic examination indicates chlorite is likely after biotite.  Average Cu and Au values from 55 rock chip samples collected over a 1,000 m × 700 m area are 0.37% and 0.5 g/t respectively.

Immediately east of Main Copper, a new area of copper mineralization was located where melting of thin glacial ice and snowfields has exposed new outcrop.  Disseminated chalcopyrite, minor pyrite, and trace molybdenite occur in intensely silicified rocks and hydrothermal breccias similar to the Sulphurets Gold zone.   The zone is referred to as “ Icefield”.   Ten rock chip samples collected over a 200 by 200 meter area averaged 0.41% Cu and 0.6 g/t Au, and the zone may extend under thin ice cover for several hundred meters to the north and east. 

Iron Cap Zone

The Iron Cap Zone is a large area of well-exposed, intensely and pervasive quartz-sericite-pyrite altered intrusive and volcanic rock at the northeast corner of the claim block.  It covers a roughly 500 by 1500 meter, northeast trending area between the Iron Cap glacier and Mitchell glacier.  Alteration is controlled by northeast trending, near vertical structures and associated stockwork fracture and veins.  Pyrite content varies from 5% to 30% and averages about 15%.  Quartz-pyrite veins up to several meters thick occupy some of the structures.  Forty rock chip samples collected by Noranda over an area of 1200 m × 300 m from the Iron Cap average 0.32% Cu and 1.0 g/t Au.  Higher grade veins within Iron Cap zone attracted previous explorers and were the focus of trenching and three short drill holes which intersected wide intervals of low grade copper-gold mineralization  (S80-15: 0.35% Cu, 0.53g/t Au / 93m, and S80-11: Cu not analyzed, 0.51g/t Au / 229 m).

To the west, an altered dioritic intrusive body intermittently exposed over 200 by 800 meters is laced with a quartz stockwork of varying intensity.  Fracture coating and disseminated chalcopyrite and malachite after chalcopyrite, with minor pyrite, occurs throughout the intrusive.  The west side is a transitional zone with rafts and zenoliths of strongly quartz-chlorite (biotite)-magnetite hornfelsed andesites and sediments with malachite after disseminated chalcopyrite, and minor pyrite.  The nearest drillhole to this area is DDH 80-16, some 200 meters to the southeast; it intersected 129 meters of variably quartz-pyrite altered volcanics grading 0.25% Cu and 0.32 g/t Au. 

Macquillan Zone

The Macquillan Zone occurs on the mostly forested slope north of the Sulphurets glacier, southeast of the Sulphurets deposit.  Disseminated and veinlet chalcopyrite and pyrite is associated with an altered feldspar phyric intrusive, and mineralization occurs in both the intrusive and surrounding hornfelsed sediments.  The intrusive is strongly quartz-sericite altered, with variable stockwork of thin quartz veinlets. The sediments have been pervasively silicified and form massive, prominent, rusty purple weathering outcrops.  Less silicified sediments are calcareous, with local thin limestone beds that have been marbleized.  Rock chip sampling returned and average of 0.29% Cu, 0.23 g/t from 10 partially leached samples and outline a outlououl mineralized area of at least 600 by 300 meters. 

North Mitchell

Copper mineralization on the north slope of Mitchell Creek above the Mitchell thrust fault is hosted by a distinctive, reddish-purple crowded Kspar-quartz porhyritic granite. Hematite dusting is ubiquitous, and magnetite is disseminated and in veinlets with quartz. Copper occurs as disseminated and fracture filling chalcopyrite, and with quartz-magnetite veinlets. The 2004 program revealed the intrusion to underlie an area at least 600 m × 400 m. Mineralization is richest near the margins, but is widespread throughout, with analyses returning 0.2 – 0.7% Cu and about0.1 g/t Au. Quartz veins and stockworks ± chalcopyrite – magnetite are locally well developed in the intrusion, and persist about 100 m into hornfels country rock to the east. The strong hematite-magnetite association is reflected by a positive magnetic anomaly revealed in Placer Dome’s aerial magnetic survey which extends under the volcanics at least 1000 m to the northwest.

Arbee Zone

The Arbee zone is a claim group of four 2-post claims covering about 0.64 square kilometers surrounded on three sides by the KSM property, and has been owned by Mr. Donald Ross of Ketchikan, Alaska since 1960.  The property is underlain by siliceous, aphanitic, pale grey, hornfelsed andesite and volcaniclastics that have been intruded by numerous dykes and small irregular or deformed bodies of monzonitic porphyry.  A network of quartz stockwork veinlets of variable intensity typically cuts both the intrusive and the hornfels.  Disseminated, fine-grained pyrite is ubiquitous, and late pyrite veinlets are common.  Malachite staining stems from minor quantities of disseminated chalcopyrite.  Rock samples of siliceous hornfels averaged 2198 ppm Cu and 159 ppb Au.  One sample of porphyry contained 2502 ppm Cu and 95 ppb Au. 

This property was subsequently purchased by Seabridge in 2007.

Mitchell Zone

The Mitchell zone is the steep, prominent gossan immediately south of Mitchell glacier and north of the Arbee claim.  It consists of a foliated, schistose zone of intensely sericite and pyrite altered rocks, with a variably abundant stockwork of deformed and flattened quartz veinlets.  The schistosity generally follows an east-southeast direction, and dips steeply to moderately to the north.  Pyrite content ranges from 5 to 20%, and occurs as fine disseminations, with less common fractures and veinlet fillings. The degree of alteration and deformation are such that identification of the protolith is not possible. 

Low-grade copper and gold mineralization is widely distributed throughout the zone, however the controls have not been well established.  Three short drill holes completed by previous owners tested the east end of the zone and cut wide intervals of schistose, sericite-pyrite altered rocks with deformed quartz veinlets, ending in mineralization. A conceptual resource estimate of 200 Mt grading 0.2% Cu and 0.8g/t Au is reported in Kirkham and Margolis, 1995.  Composited assay intervals include S91-395: 0.25% Cu, 0.68g/t Au / 191m.  Similar alteration has been observed in recently exposed areas previously covered by the Mitchell glacier as far as 1500 meters further east.  Several hundred meters west of the intense sericite-pyrite alteration, the zone hosts strong quartz stockwork with disseminated and veinlet pyrite, chalcopyrite, with chlorite (and/or green sericite) and magnetite alteration dominant.   It is distinct in that the degree of deformation is much less, and pervasive pale sericite-pyrite alteration is diminished.  This area is  highlighted in aerial magnetic survey as a distinct positive magnetic feature.  The average of seven samples collected over a 500 x 700 meter area is 0.2% Cu and 0.7g/t Au. 

Petrographics

2003 Carson Geomin

Fifty-six hydrothermally-altered surface and drill-core specimens from KSM were submitted to Carson GeoMin for mineralogical study and interpretation.  The most important observations provided were:

• phyllic alteration (quartzsericite-pyrite ± clay and very minor K-feldspar) dominates throughout most of the altered-mineralized surface area, affecting almost all rock-types. Sporadic occurrences of propylitized rocks occur within the phyllic-altered areas.
• an area of potassic alteration (hydrothermal biotite ±K-feldspar) occurs on the westcentral edge of the phyllic-altered area, and hydrothermal biotite is also present in the Sulphurets
  deposit.  Much of the biotite in the samples studied is retrograded (chloritized)
• remnants of primary K-feldspar phenocrysts are common in many of the phyllic-altered monzonitic samples
• small-scale deformation features are common
• pyrite and chalcopyrite are widespread; highly variable in abundance
• gold is also widespread; most of the gold grains observed occur as very fine inclusions and microveinlets pyrite
• the minor sulphides observed - sphalerite, galena, and proustite-pyrargyrite, as well as much of the tetrahedrite - occur as very fine inclusions in pyrite and occur mostly along the N, E and S fringes of the system

He concludes that the widely-dispersed alteration and highly-anomalous Cu-Au mineralization observed at KSM is probably due to "structural leakage" of, or from, the potassic-Cu-Au core-zone of a world-class-sized (40 sq km) quartz monzonite related porphyry system.

2004 Carson Geomin

Thirty-four hydrothermally additional specimens from KSM were submitted to Carson GeoMin in 2004. The most important observations were:

• Twenty-five samples from Sulphurets to Iron Cap confirm that variable-intensity fine-grained phyllic-argillic alteration affects almost all rock-types and dominates in all these areas except for Main Copper (potassic), and that sporadic occurrences of propylitized rocks are present in these phyllic-argillic altered areas.
• The remaining nine samples were from the North Mitchell and exhibit hydrothermal biotite and/or chlorite-retrograded hydrothermal biotite, intergrown with chalcopyrite. Recrystallized fine-grained sedimentary or volcanic rocks probably also contain some contact metamorphic (hornfels) biotite. retrograded biotite is similar to that at the Main Copper area.  These samples confirm the presence of a potentially large area of retrograded potassic alteration with associated copper mineralization at North Mitchell.

This study confirms the widespread presence of small-scale deformation and recrystallization features. These probably formed during the emplacement of multiple intrusions along active major faults during on-going pre- to post-intrusive/mineralization movements on the faults and their related smaller-scale faults, folds and fractures. Some degree of foliation is exhibited by nearly all of the hand specimens, and microscopic examination reveals the widespread occurrence of pressure-shadow grains of quartz and sericite. Some of these features indicate intrusion and mineralization were at least partly contemporaneous with deformation. Due to the structural in place during its evolution, the KSM system was relatively "open" and permeable, allowing for the outward dispersion of the hydrothermal fluids for considerable distances, resulting in the widespread and diffuse zoning of the alteration and mineralization including the widespread retrograde chloritization of hydrothermal biotite.

The results of this study support the previous interpretation. By this interpretation, the economic potential of the property is dependant upon having a major part of the copper core-zone still physically intact, and still of economic grade.

Geochemistry

A total of 533 rock samples were collected from exposures throughout the targets selected for evaluation in 2004 and 2003.  The results are presented in the following maps and confirm the widespread, district scale, disseminated and vein controlled mineralization consistent with world class Au-Cu porphyry systems.

Soil samples were collected at 100m intervals along widely spaced lines which were also used for geophysical surveys.  Line directions were dictated by topography and thus are not linear.  A total of 333 samples were collected, however Xstrata chose not to analyze the soils for gold.  Copper results, however, even at the wide line spacings utilized, demonstrate a very large anomaly, still open north and south, and confirm the large size of the mineralizing system at KSM.

Geophysics

Induced polarization surveying was utilized as final confirmation, prior to drilling, that the sulfide or mineralizing system at KSM was of a world class scale and could satisfy Noranda’s minimum exploration criteria.   A pole – dipole IP survey was conducted on 7 widely spaced lines and was designed for the best combination of depth penetration and resolution. It employed an “expander array”, consisting of four 100m receiver dipoles, two 200 m receiver dipoles and finally two 300 m receiver dipoles for a total array length of 1500 m.  The widespread strong chargeability and low resistivity responses detected in rocks beneath the Sulphurets thrust fault satisfactorily demonstrate the extent of sulfide bearing, altered rocks.  However, as is typical of the IP method, it does not differentiate between areas of strong pyrite but weak chalcopyrite (copper sulfide) mineralization or those with both pyrite and chalcopyrite.

2005 Diamond Drilling

Iron Cap Zone

Five drill holes totaling 1,246.6 metres were completed at Iron Cap.  All holes cut long intervals of very fine grained chalcopyrite mineralization in intensely phyllic altered monzonite.  Silicification and hydrothermal breccia textures are common.  There is a general trend moving east to west where late stage epithermal veins in intense phyllic alteration overprint porphyry quartz stockwork veining with potassic.  Potassic alteration also increases with depth towards northwest edge of drilled area.  The epithermal style veins are decimeter scale, with a crude cockscomb banded texture, and polymetallic with pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, and tetrahedrite or tennantite. 

North Mitchell Zone

Three holes totaling 914.4 meters were drilled at North Mitchell.  NM-05-01 tested the northern contact area and encountered weak Cu-Mo mineralization in hornfels before passing into granite at 132.4 m. The granite is extensively veined (qtz, py, qtz-py, and qtz-magnetite) and locally brecciated, but contains only traces of chalcopyrite. Veining and mineralization diminish downhole, away from the north contact. Dykes of the granite in the hornfels are barren, but the hornfels is preferentially mineralized adjacent to them. The hornfels returned 0.18% Cu and 0.10 g/t Au over 127.5 m, from 4.9 to 132.4 m. NM-05-02 tested the south margin of the granite and encountered a glassy, aphyric felsite with abundant intrusion breccia zones and magnetite cemented hydrothermal breccias. Both of these contain locally impressive splashes of chalcopyrite, but the overall content was only 0.14% Cu and 0.08 g/t Au over 114.6 m from 205.0 to 319.6 m. Exotic fragments show strong potassic alteration, and locally contain abundant disseminated chalcopyrite (2 - 10%).  NM-05-03 tested the eastern end of the granite, and intersected barren porphyry and ended in phyllic rocks of the Mitchell zone beneath the Mitchell thrust fault which returned an interval grading 0.26% Cu and 0.25 g/t Au over 66.3 m, from 190.6 to 256.9 m.

Mitchell Zone

WM-05-01 tested a positive magnetic anomaly approximately 800 meters west of the previously drilled portion of the Mitchell Zone.  It collared in schistose, foliated sericite-chlorite altered rock with deformed quartz veins.  Anomalous copper grades are attributed to fine disseminated chalcopyrite.  From 13 to 58.1 metres, the rock is highly schistose and breaks easily along foliation planes.  The fissile nature abruptly ends at 58.1 metres, and the intensity of quartz stockwork veinlets gradually increases with depth. Copper and gold grades also gradually increase, but tend to level off towards the bottom of the hole.  Increasing grades also appear to correlate with magnetite content and appearance of k-feldspar flooding.  The interval from 171.6 to 237.6 assays 0.24% Cu and 1.10 g/t Au over 66 metres.  As elsewhere on the property, there is a late set of ragged calcite veinlets which is likely related to regional deformation.

Icefields Zone

Two holes, inclined towards each other on the same section were collared to test the zone, which lies along strike of the Sulphurets zone several hundred meters to the northeast.  In hole IF-05-01, fine disseminated chalcopyrite occurs in variably silicified and brecciated rocks down to 121 metres, with grades averaging on the order of 0.2% Cu and 0.2 g/t Au.  Below this depth, there is a sharp change in mineral tenor, with copper falling and gold increasing as indicated in the following table.   Hole IF-05-02 intersected a phyllic altered, mylonitized tuff below oxidized till of the same lithology.  Low copper and gold grades are associated with silicification along veins, crackle breccias and hydrothermal breccias.  Below a depth of 34.4 metres anomalous copper and gold values are accompanied by anomalous arsenic, lead, and zinc concentrations.

Main Copper Zone

Drilling in 2005 focused in areas of highest geochemistry, potassic alteration, and strong magnetics.  Three holes totaling 956.5 metres were completed; a fourth was abandoned at 25.7 metres due to hole conditions.  Long intervals of low grade copper-gold mineralization were intersected in each hole, including 0.33% Cu, 0.32 g/t Au over 70 metres in hole MC-05-01, 0.24% Cu, 0.17 g/t Au over 234 metres in hole MC-05-02, 0.17% Cu, 0.30 g/t Au and 0.16% Cu, 0.58 g/t Au over 25.7 metres in hole MC-05-03. 

Mineralization occurs as fine grained chalcopyrite, best developed in siliceous, hornfelsed andesites and transitional contact breccias of monzonite porphyry.  Magnetite is commonly associated with chalcopyrite.  There is a weak stockwork of millimeter scale quartz veins in the andesites and contact areas of the monzonite.  Coarser chalcopyrite is often developed at vein and fracture intersects.  There is a late set of ragged calcite veinlets which is likely related to regional deformation, however it may in part be a component of a propylitic assemblage that includes chlorite and epidote .  Chalcopyrite is occasionally remobilized and reprecipitated in calcite veinlets.

Minor native Cu and chalcocite were observed from 170.45 to 171.45 metres in hole MC-05-02 beneath an incompletely oxidized horizon with malachite on weathered fractures.  This is probably a thin, supergene enriched horizon developed during an earlier period of aridity and lower water tables.

MC-05-03 intersected the Sulphurets zone beneath the Sulphurets fault at 227m.  Here, the alteration is dominantly phyllic, and higher gold grades are accompanied by higher arsenic, antimony, lead and zinc concentrations, indicative of a shallower epithermal environment or high sulphidation overprint.  The fault zone is marked by a zone of clayey gouge and strongly foliated, schistose, mylonitic rock.

Grades are lower in the porphyry than in the andesites and breccias developed at the contacts, and the source of hydrothermal fluids and metals may originate from a deeper intrusive phase remains.   The fluids ascended along fracture networks preferentially developed in the brittle, brecciated transitional contact areas between the hornfelsed andesites and porphyry intrusions. 

Macquillan  Zone

Hole MQ-05-01 was designed to test a strong chargeability anomaly near exposures with fine disseminated chalcopyrite associated with strong silica flooding, stockwork veining, and hydrothermal breccias.  Host rocks are finely porphyritic, massive diorite or andesitic intrusive.   Disseminated and veinlet pyrite content ranges from a few up to ten percent and increases with intensity of silicification.  High arsenic values are due to fine arsenopyrite.  These features  suggests a deeper, higher temperature environment peripheral to porphyry a gold-copper setting. There is a late set of ragged calcite veinlets which is likely related to regional deformation.   

2006 to 2009 (Seabridge Exploration)

Geology

In September 2006. Seabridge commissioned Geosciences de Mexico SA de CV to undertake an evaluation of the Mitchell and Sulphurets zones with the goal of identifying the principal controls of metal distributions the potential size of the mineralized system.  A pair of geologists spent 5 field days examining the zones and drill core.  The principal conclusions were:

• KSM comprises the major portion of a mineralized district of minimum aerial extent of 40 sq km. The western extension of the district is interpreted to lie beneath a thrust sheet comprised of unmineralized sedimentary strata. 
• The size, alteration assemblages, and metal content of the exposed mineralized area are consistent with those of a large porphyry copper system, however alteration assemblages associated with Cu and Au distributions at the Mitchell deposit differ from typical porphyry related systems. 
• Regional metamorphism has probably modified original alteration and metal distribution characteristics of a porphyry system. 
• Lithology does not appear to be an important factor and megascopically identified alteration mineral assemblages cannot be readily correlated with metal distributions.
• At Mitchell, structural controls are probably the most important control of metal distributions, It may be controlled by a large-scale shear zone exposed in Mitchell Creek.
• Cu and Au contents similar to those already identified may extend to vertical depths far beyond those tested by current drilling.
• It is probable that additional concealed deposits are present beneath the hanging wall rocks of the Sulphurets and Mitchell thrusts. 
• The size of the district and of the deposits thus far drill tested indicates that the system has produced in excess of 1Gt of mineralized material (as defined by an 0.1% Cu “ore shell”). 

Seabridge submitted a suite of 37 core samples from throughout the Mitchell deposit for polished thin section mineralogical and petrographic analysis to Petrographic Consultants International in 2007.  The observations basically concur with earlier studies.  PCI notes the strong deformation and mylonitization, episodic vein development, very fine grained habit of gold associated with sulfides, main lithologies of dioritic intrusives and andesitic tuffs, retrograde alteration of secondary biotite alteration to chlorite, and rare, late stage, fine sulphosalts in the peripheral areas.

2006 Diamond Drilling

Mitchell Zone

Upon re-acquisition of a 100% interest in KSM from Xstrata, Seabridge undertook a diamond drilling program which was executed by personnel of Falconbridge Ltd. under terms of the agreement, with some assistance provided by Seabridge.  Between July and October, 2006, a total of 7,505.8 metres was drilled in 24 holes on the Mitchell zone. The updated geological model of January 2010 incorporates all of Seabridge’s drilling from 2006 to 2009, and has already been described in the section covering KSM geology.  All holes were targeted to delineate the Mitchell zone and provide data to enable a resource estimate. The table below provides the composited assay results.

Resource Modeling Inc. was contracted to provide an estimate of resources and calculated the following inferred resource for the Mitchell Zone:

Sulphurets Zone

At Sulphurets, five holes totaling 1,623 meters were drilled in a program designed to extend the known strike extents to the northeast and southwest.  This objective was achieved, however a new resource estimate was not commissioned at this time.

2007 Diamond Drilling

Mitchell Zone

In 2007, all drilling at the KSM project was undertaken within and peripheral to the Mitchell zone.  A total of 15,293.5 meters of core drilling in 37 holes were completed.  The program was designed to provide greater data density and delineate mineralization to allow a new resource estimation that would demonstrate an expanded resource, as well as upgrading resource classification where data continuity and density was sufficient.

Resource Modeling Inc. was contracted to provide an updated estimate of resources using the new drill data and Seabridge’s update geological model, and calculated the following resources for the Mitchell Zone, as well as updated resource estimates for Sulphurets and Kerr.

2008 Diamond Drilling

Mitchell Zone

Seabridge’s 2008 exploration efforts centered primarily around infill and step-out drilling within the Mitchell deposit in order to improve the overall confidence in the estimate of the in situ resources and to try explore for potentially higher-grade zones within the currently recognized deposit.  Thirty-four core holes totaling 15,416 meters were drilled within the Mitchell zone in 2008. In addition to logging and sampling, representative samples from the 2008 drilling program were selected for metallurgical test work that is currently underway.

Once again Resource Modeling Inc. was contracted to provide an updated estimate of resources using the new drill data and Seabridge’s update geological model, and calculated the following resources for the Mitchell Zone, as well as updated resource estimates for Sulphurets incorporating results of 3 holes drilled in 2008.

Sulphurets Zone

Three diamond core holes totaling 1,761 meters were also drilled within the Sulphurets zone to follow up on the down-dip extension of previously defined mineralization. Like the 2008 Mitchell drilling, samples from the 2008 Sulphurets drilling program were selected for ongoing metallurgical testing.

Other Areas

A few holes targeted the North Mitchell zone above the Mitchell thrust fault.  Weak mineralization occurs mainly in the fractured, brittle hornfelsed volcanics and sediments at the contact zone with relatively barren monzonite porphyry.  This intrusive is distinct from the dioritic porphyries that are associated with the formation of the Mitchell zone.

2009 Diamond Drilling

Seabridge’s 2009 exploration work concentrated on infill drilling within the Mitchell, Sulphurets, and Kerr deposits in order to upgrade resource categories within current pit designs to at least an indicated level. At Mitchell, nine of the holes totaling 3,754.6 were drilled using larger diameter HQ tools to allow detailed geotechnical data collection including down-hole digital photography. In addition, 18 shallow, large diameter holes were drilled at various locations throughout the property for geotechnical purposes.

Mitchell Zone

Eighteen core holes were drilled directly targeting the Mitchell zone totaling 5,597.8 meters. The majority of these holes were drilled along the northern and southern flanks of the mineralized zone to test the north dipping extension of the system and upgrade Inferred material to Indicated.

Sulphurets Zone

Eight diamond core holes totaling 3,297.6 meters were also drilled within the Sulphurets zone to follow up on the down-dip extension of previously defined mineralization. Like the 2008 Mitchell drilling, samples from the 2008 Sulphurets drilling program were selected for ongoing metallurgical testing. The majority of these holes were drilled along the western flank of the west dipping mineralized zone below the Sulphurets thrust fault in order to upgrade Inferred resources to an Indicated category. Several of holes also tested the Main Copper zone, which is located immediately above the Sulphurets thrust fault.

Kerr Zone

Five holes totaling 956.8 meters were drilled at various locations in the Kerr zone primarily do acquire geotechnical data for mine design, and core for metallurgical testing.  The results are consistent with historical drilling.  The holes were large diameter HQ size, which enhanced recoveries in the “rubble” zone where leaching of fine anhydrite filled fractures has produced an unconsolidated rock.  Recoveries are in the 70% to 90% range in this material.

Other Areas

Nine additional holes were drilled for geotechnical purposes, including mine and infrastructure design at scattered areas in North Mitchell zone (M-09-097, 098) and other areas beyond the mineralized zones.

The new geological model and expanded assay data base were used to update the resource estimate at KSM.  This was used in the design of an improved mine plan and mineral reserve published in the project’s Pre-Feasibility Study completed in early 2010.

2010 Seabridge Exploration Program

Exploration drilling planned for 2010 will target extensions to and upgrading of existing resources at Mitchell and Sulphurets. At Mitchell, opportunities exist to convert inferred resources to indicated or measured reserves within the conceptual economic pit limits, especially along the east and north edges of the current measured+indicated reserves. This is expected to require at least 3,000 meters of drilling.

Similar opportunities exist at Sulphurets, especially to the southwest.  The program is anticipated to expand the current economic pit at depth and to the southwest by drilling off open-ended mineralization with strong indications of geological continuity.  This will require a minimum of 5,000 meters of drilling.

At the Iron Cap zone, fill in drilling at roughly 200m centers is proposed in order to refine the geological model and provide sufficient data density that will enable a resource estimation. This will require a minimum of 5,000 meters of drilling in holes ranging from 250 to 500 meters in depth.  Composited assays from previous shallow, widely spaced mineralized intercepts at the Iron Cap zone include:

 

All disclosure of a scientific or technical nature was prepared by, or under the supervision of,
William E. Threlkeld (Licensed Registered Geologist #790 in the State of Washington), a Vice President of Seabridge. Mr. Threlkeld is a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101.