Kirkland Lake Gold Reports Additional High-Grade Drill Results at Fosterville, Continues to Demonstrate Growth Potential of Swan Zone

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 8, 2017) -

• High-grade, visible-gold mineralization intersected in Swan Zone up to 90 metres ("m") down plunge of recently released Mineral Reserve
  • Key intercepts: 338 g/t Au over 33.6 m (Estimated True Width ("ETW") 4.6 m), 42.9 g/t Au over 49.5 m (ETW 3.6 m) and 11.4 g/t Au over 18.65 m (ETW 18.0 m)
• Continuity of mineralization of Swan Zone defined over strike extent of 300 m with vertical extent of 200 m.

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. ("Kirkland Lake Gold" or the "Company") (TSX:KL)(OTCQX:KLGDF) is pleased to report continued high-grade drill results at depth from underground drilling at Fosterville Mine in Australia. Underground definition drilling continues to infill and target down-plunge extensions of the Swan Zone of the Lower Phoenix gold system to increase Mineral Resource confidence and assess the potential of further Mineral Reserve expansion.

Recent drill results returned from six underground holes totaling 2,652 metres ("m") into existing Mineral Resources and extensions of the Swan Zone (previously referred to as the Lower Phoenix Footwall) of the Lower Phoenix gold system continue to return intervals of extremely high grades with visible gold. Continuity of high-grade visible gold mineralization in the Swan Zone has now been defined over a strike extent of 300 m and vertical extent of 200 m. Recent drilling confirms that high-grade visible-gold mineralization extends approximately 80 m laterally to the south and 40 m below Swan Mineral Reserves as reported in the July 27, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release.

Mr. Tony Makuch, President and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: "Today's drill results continue to demonstrate both the continuity and growth potential of the high-grade Swan Zone within the Lower Phoenix gold system. The Swan Zone is the highest-grade area of the Fosterville mine, with a recently released Mineral Reserve including 532,000 ounces at an average grade of 58.8 g/t Au. Today's results include two intercepts that are located between 70 and 90 m down plunge of the current Swan Zone Mineral Reserve, with additional high-grade mineralization being intersected to the south and at depth of the Zone. The results we are seeing from the ongoing drilling program are increasing our confidence in the geological controls and continuity of grade within the Swan Zone. They are also supporting our view that the potential exists to significantly grow the Swan Zone Mineral Reserve, where the average grade is well in excess of Fosterville's overall underground Mineral Reserve, which includes 1,030,000 ounces at an average grade of 17.9 g/t Au.

"We intend to accelerate progressive step-out extension drilling on the Swan Zone of Lower Phoenix gold system during the second half of 2017, which remains open down plunge. Drilling will also continue to focus on the extensions of the Eagle and Lower Phoenix Zones in the Lower Phoenix gold system as well as on the Harrier gold system to potentially significantly expand Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves at Fosterville."

Swan Mineralized Zone Underground Drilling Program

Results of the ongoing underground resource drilling program at the Swan Zone continue to demonstrate high-grade continuity down plunge. Key intercepts are listed below, with further details provided in the commentary that follows.

Key Intercepts:

• 338 g/t Au⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ over 33.6 m, including 4,177 g/t Au⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ over 0.95 m, 3,079 g/t Au⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ over 0.65 m and 1,037 g/t Au ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ over 3.55 m in hole UDH2081A;
• 42.9 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 49.5 m, including 1,856 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 0.6 m in hole UDH2084D; and
• 11.4 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 18.65 m, including 42.1 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 3.65 m in hole UDE138

Since the May 3, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release, underground diamond drilling has continued to focus on multiple targets, including further testing of the Swan mineralized zone. Reported drill results are from six holes (2,652 m), of which five have significant intercepts.

Drill Hole UDH2081A is located within the Swan Inferred Mineral Resource approximately 70 m down plunge of the Swan Mineral Reserve. The drill hole is oriented sub-parallel to the Swan dip surface and returned a significant intercept of 338 g/t Au⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ over 33.6 m (ETW 4.6 m), including 4,177 g/t Au⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ over 0.95 m (ETW 0.1 m), 3,079 g/t Au⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ over 0.65 m (ETW 0.1 m), 1,037 g/t Au⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ over 3.55 m (ETW 0.5 m) and 714 g/t Au⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ over 1.85 m (ETW 0.3 m).

The drill intercepts for holes UDE138 and UDH2084D occur on 6350mN and 6325mN, respectively, and are 80-90 m down plunge from the Swan Mineral Reserve. Significant results of 11.4 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 18.65 m (ETW 18.0 m), including 42.1 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 3.65 m (ETW 3.5 m) are reported in hole UDE138.

Drill hole UDH2084D is oriented sub-parallel to the Swan dip surface and returned 42.9 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 49.5 m (ETW 3.6 m), including 244 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 6.25 m (ETW 0.5 m), 1,856 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 0.6 m (ETW 0.04 m) and 618 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 0.5 m (ETW 0.04 m).

The results for the above three holes confirm that the approximate 40° west-dipping Swan Zone is continuously mineralized southwards down plunge, where high grades exist and are associated with observed disseminated visible gold in quartz. 

Drill holes UDE136 and UDE145 were recently drilled and returned intercepts that fall between 4090mRL and 4070mRLs and have the potential to support approximately 30 m of Mineral Reserve extension at these elevations. Significant results for these holes comprise 7.1 g/t Au over 13.8 m (ETW 12.3 m), including 25.4 g/t Au over 2.85 m (ETW 2.3 m), in hole UDE136 and 7.1 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 8.15 m (ETW 7.9 m), including 16.6 g/t Au⁽¹⁾ over 1.45 m (ETW 1.4 m) in hole UDE145.

⁽¹⁾ Visible gold present in drill intercept; All drill results are presented in Table 1, and drill collars in Table 2

⁽²⁾ Results included in June 30, 2017 Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves update

To view a PDF of the tables and figures as referenced in this News Release, visit the links below. The tables are also available at the end of the press release.

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1100453t.pdf - Tables

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1100453f.pdf - Figures

Qualified Persons

Troy Fuller, MAIG, Geology Manager, Fosterville Gold Mine, is a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this News Release.

Drilling and Assay QAQC

Kirkland Lake Gold has in place quality-control systems to ensure best practice in drilling, sampling and analysis of drill core. All diamond drill hole collars (Table 2) are accurately surveyed using a Leica Total Stations instrument and down-hole deviations are measured by electronic multi-shot cameras.

Sampling consisted of NQ2 diamond drill core that was cut longitudinally in half with a diamond saw; one-half of the drill core was sent to an independent laboratory for analysis and the other drill core half retained for reference. Drill core sample intervals vary between 0.3 and 1.2 m in length and were determined from logging of sulphide and visible gold.

Samples containing visible gold or considered likely to contain visible gold were separated from sulphide gold samples and dispatched independently for assaying. At the laboratory "visible gold" jobs were processed through a single pulverizer and material barren of gold was crushed before and after each sample to minimize the potential for gold to contaminate successive samples. Sample pulps are returned from the assay laboratory for future reference.

Assay results (Table 1) are based on 25-gram charge fire assays. Mean grades are calculated using a variable lower grade cut-off (generally 2 g/t Au) and maximum 2 m internal dilution. No upper gold grade cut is applied to the data. However, during future Mineral Resource studies the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed.

Drill samples were assayed at On Site Laboratories, an independent laboratory in Bendigo, Victoria. The facility is registered ISO 9001:2008 (CERT-C33510).

About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a mid-tier gold producer with 2017 target production of 570,000 to 590,000 ounces from mines in Canada and Australia. The production profile of the company is anchored from two high-grade, low-cost operations, including the Macassa Mine located in northeastern Ontario and the Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia. Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to planned exploration programs, costs and expenditures, changes in mineral resources and conversion of mineral resources to proven and probable reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future exploration potential, project economics, timing and scope of future exploration, anticipated costs and expenditures, changes in mineral resources and conversion of mineral resources to proven and probable reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Exploration results that include geophysics, sampling, and drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative of the occurrence of a mineral deposit. Such results do not provide assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade, continuity, metallurgical characteristics and economic potential to be classed as a category of mineral resource. A mineral resource that is classified as "inferred" or "indicated" has a great amount of uncertainty as to its existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that any or part of an "indicated mineral resource" or "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category of resource. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into proven and probable reserves.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, among others, risks related to international operations, risks related to obtaining the permits required to carry out planned exploration or development work, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as future prices of gold, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form and other disclosures of "Risk Factors" by the Company and its predecessors, available on SEDAR. Although Kirkland Lake Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors - Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates

All resource and reserve estimates included in this news release or documents referenced in this news release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the "CIM Standards"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators, which established standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. The terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve" and "probable mineral reserve" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. These definitions differ materially from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Industry Guide 7") under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act.

In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in very limited circumstances. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource exists, will ever be converted into a mineral reserve or is or will ever be economically or legally mineable or recovered.

Contact

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.
Anthony Makuch
President, Chief Executive Officer & Director
+1 416-840-7884
tmakuch@klgold.com

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.
Mark Utting
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 416-840-7884, 6205
mutting@klgold.com
www.klgold.com