Pure Gold bets big on Red Lake exploration.

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Pure Gold Mining is significantly expanding its exploration program in Red Lake.

The Vancouver junior miner is tacking on an additional 35,000 metres to this year's diamond drilling at its Madsen Gold Project to boost this year's total drilling plan to 51,000 metres.

The bulk of the planned $9.1-million expansion of the program is focused on the project's McVeigh horizon.

The dormant Madsen Mine once produced 2.5 million ounces of gold down to a depth of 1,200 metres. Of this, the Austin horizon was the main source of mine feed. The company said the results of its drilling program confirm that the McVeigh is a fold continuation of the Austin horizon.

The expanded program will focus on the McVeigh horizon by testing the downward plunge of the high-grade shoots below what was mined historically.

A third rig will be added to accelerate the drilling. Other exploration will...