
Epworth Project:
Assays received from 376 rock grab samples and 39 lake sediment samples
First payment received from a total C$3.46 million allocated to Aston Bay with no use of proceeds restriction
Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the initial US$1 million (C$1.38 million1) in funding as part of an agreement with the Company's joint venture partner American West Metals Limited ("American West") and TMRF Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Taurus Mining Royalty Fund L.P. ("Taurus"), whereby Taurus will provide funding of up to US$12.5 million (C$17.3 million[1]) under a royalty package for the Storm Copper Project
Aston Bay and American West have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, with Aston Bay maintaining a free carried interest until a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study. Aston Bay will be allocated 20% of the funding from the royalty package (C$3.46 million[1]) with no use of proceeds restriction.
Highlights
[1] Based on USD:CAD exchange rate of 1:1.3838.
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Bay,commented:
"We are very pleased with the efforts of our partner American West and with this investment in Storm by Taurus. The recognition of the value of the Storm Project by such a well-respected international mining royalty company is a strong endorsement of the potential of the Project.
"The royalty financing provides significant funding and is structured to promote the rapid advancement of the Storm Copper Project. American West continues to actively advance the Project, with goals set to achieve the remaining two milestones in the royalty funding agreement within the next six to twelve months.
"This could bring an additional C$2 million to Aston Bay for a potential total of C$3.46 million non-dilutive funds to advance our other critical minerals and gold exploration projects."
For further details on the royalty package under the Taurus arrangement, see Aston Bay's June 24, 2024 news release.
About Aston Bay Holdings
Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in Nunavut, Canada and Virginia, USA.
The Company is currently exploring the Storm Copper Property and Cu-Ag-Zn-Co Epworth Property in Nunavut. The Company is also in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade critical and precious metals potential in North America.
The Company and its joint venture partners, American West Metals Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tornado Metals Ltd. (collectively, "American West"), have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit. Under the unincorporated joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Storm Project property will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
About American West Metals Limited
AMERICAN WEST METALS LIMITED (ASX:AW1) is an Australian clean energy mining company focused on growth through the discovery and development of major base metal mineral deposits in Tier 1 jurisdictions of North America. The company's strategy is focused on developing mines that have a low-footprint and support the global energy transformation. AW1's portfolio of copper and zinc projects in Utah and Canada include significant existing resource inventories and high-grade mineralization that can generate robust mining proposals. Core to AW1's approach is a commitment to the ethical extraction and processing of minerals and making a meaningful contribution to the communities where its projects are located.
Led by a highly experienced leadership team, AW1's strategic initiatives lay the foundation for a sustainable business which aims to deliver high-multiplier returns on shareholder investment and economic benefits to all stakeholders.
For further information on American West, visit: www.americanwestmetals.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements made in this news release, including those regarding entering into the joint venture and each party's interest in the Project pursuant to the agreement in respect of the joint venture, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For more information contact:
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer
thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com
(416) 456-3516
Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development
sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com
(647) 821-1337
SOURCE: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Epworth Project:
Assays received from 376 rock grab samples and 39 lake sediment samples
Preliminary data from property-wide MobileMT geophysical survey results received and undergoing additional processing
Interpretation and compilation with surface mapping studies are underway for a January 2025 release
Storm Project:
22,475 metres ("m") of drilling completed in 153 drill holes
Work is nearly complete for the maiden resource constructed to Canadian Institute of Mining standards for a January 2025 release
Work continues with partner American West to advance mining and economic studies for a potential low-cost development.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2024 / Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its Epworth Project ("Epworth") and the 2024 drilling and regional exploration activities at the Storm Copper Project ("Storm") in Nunavut.
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Bay,commented:
"It has been a successful year of exploration at both our Storm and Epworth Projects in Nunavut.
"At Storm, 22,475m of drilling was completed, exceeding expectations. Assay results demonstrated consistent copper grades, highlighting the excellent lateral continuity of the high-grade mineralization within the known zones and defining new discoveries and prospective areas. Work is well advanced on the maiden resource for Storm and the development study work. Reports on both fronts are expected in early 2025.
"At Epworth, we are impressed with the preliminary look at the property-wide MobileMT geophysical survey results and rock and lake sediment survey results. We are processing the geophysical results further and look forward to presenting a comprehensive compilation with the mapping and sampling results in January."
Epworth Project
A prospecting, rock sampling, and geological mapping program was conducted in 2024, including structural and stratigraphic studies by Dr. Elizabeth Turner. Nine claims totalling an additional 11,900 hectares ("ha") (119 square kilometres ("km2")) were added to the claims package, now totalling 89,000 ha (890 km2)
An 8,105 line-km airborne MobileMT survey covering the claim block commenced in late August and was completed in late September. Compilation of the assay results and additional geophysical data processing are underway. When all results are received, they will be integrated with historic work and released with a new interpretation in the New Year.
Storm Project
A total of 22,475m of drilling was conducted in 153 drill holes (19,879m in 138 Reverse Circulation ("RC") holes and 2,596m in 15 diamond drill holes) during the 2024 season. Assay results demonstrated consistent copper grades, highlighting the excellent lateral continuity of the high-grade mineralization within the known zones and defining new discoveries and prospective areas. Work is well advanced on a maiden resource constructed to Canadian Institute of Mining standards for a January 2025 release.
In addition to the drill hole results previously released, several scout holes were drilled to assist in interpreting the geologic framework in the Storm area. Results from these drill holes, the final results of the 2024 program, are presented below.
Figure 1: Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling underway in the Storm area, Nunavut, Canada.
Stratigraphic and Reconnaissance Drilling
RC drill holes SR24-028, SR24-029, SR24-046, SR24-048, SR24-050, SR24-056, SR24-058, SR24-060, SR24-064, SR24-066, SR24-094, SR24-096, SR24-104, SR24-110, SR24-136 were completed within the Storm area during the 2024 drilling program (Figure 2). The drill holes were designed to assist with interpreting the stratigraphy and geological framework in several key areas. The drill holes were also used to help validate and assess the effectiveness of the geophysical surveys in the Storm area.
Drill holes SR24-046, SR24-050, SR24-060, and SR24-136 intersected minor, vein-hosted copper sulphides (Table 2).
The data from the drill holes has improved the geological understanding of the Storm Graben area and helped refine the geological model for the updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of the Storm Project.
Figure 2: Reverse Circulation (RC) drill hole locations covered in this report, overlaying copper deposit outlines, major faults, and topography.
Squall Drilling
RC drill holes SR24-108 and SR24-135 were also completed at the newly discovered Squall Prospect.
The holes were designed to test high-priority EM anomaly A3, which is visible in the data from both the 200m and 400m loop EM surveys (Figure 3). The coincident data suggested that the target may be located at a depth which crossed the designed detection ranges of the two surveys.
Drill hole SR24-108 achieved the maximum achievable depth of 182.9m downhole, limited by available drill rods. The drill hole is interpreted to have hit the eastern edge of the EM anomaly and intersected breccias and vein-hosted chalcocite assaying 2.4% Cu, 5g/t Ag in the last sampling interval of the hole (181.4 - 182.9m).
Follow-up drill hole SR24-135 was drilled to the east of SR24-108 and intersected 1.5m @ 0.5% Cu, 3g/t Ag from 163.07m downhole.
The EM anomaly and copper mineralization is interpreted to be related to a north-south orientated structure centred on drill hole SR24-108. This feature remains open, and future drilling will test the prospect to the north and south of the current drilling.
Figure 3: 400m loop MLEM image (CH20BZ) overlaying drilling and the geological and structural interpretation of the Storm area. The MLEM anomalies discussed in this report are labelled A1- A5.
Update on previously released drilling
The first drill hole of the 2024 season, SR24-001, was drilled approximately 500m north of the Cyclone Deposit and was designed to test a Fixed Loop Electromagnetic (FLEM) target defined during exploration in 2022. The interpretation of the FLEM data suggested that the source of the anomaly could be located at depth but was weakly defined.
SR24-001 was drilled to a maximum achievable depth of 251.5m (limit of RC drill rods), encountering no copper sulphides or other lithologies that could confirm or explain the source of FLEM anomaly. The drill hole encountered weak pyrite (iron sulphides) mineralization at 125m and minor clay layers, but they were not in sufficient abundance to explain the EM response.
The 2024 Moving Loop EM (MLEM) survey was extended into the area to validate the FLEM anomaly but did not did not highlight any significant anomalies. The MLEM survey was optimized to search for conductive bodies between 0-250m depth, suggesting that the FLEM anomaly may be located at a deeper level.
Exploration drill hole SR24-005 was drilled to 251.5m and was designed to test an Induced Polarisation (IP) anomaly and stratigraphic section within the central graben area of Storm.
SR24-005 encountered a thick sequence of pyrite mineralization between 58m and 204m and is the likely source of IP anomalism in this area. The drill hole did not intersect the prospective copper horizon, which is interpreted to be below the extent of the drill hole and deeper than 250m in vertical depth.
Hole ID | Prospect | Easting | Northing | RL | Depth (m) | Azi | Inclination |
SR24-001 | Expl. | 465403 | 8174839 | 308 | 251.5 | 180 | -75 |
SR24-005 | Graben | 464200 | 8173324 | 259 | 251.5 | 180 | -75 |
SR24-028 | Expl. | 465867 | 8174040 | 281 | 140.2 | 180 | -65 |
SR24-029 | Expl. | 465900 | 8174500 | 294 | 251.4 | 180 | -65 |
SR24-046 | Thunder W | 464686 | 8172873 | 253 | 199.6 | 0.3 | -60 |
SR24-048 | Thunder W | 464803 | 8172870 | 252 | 199.6 | 0.1 | -60.1 |
SR24-050 | Chinook W | 465862 | 8172885 | 245 | 150.9 | 359.6 | -60.3 |
SR24-056 | Corona E | 466834 | 8172386 | 244 | 150.9 | 0.2 | -60.1 |
SR24-058 | Corona E | 467248 | 8172395 | 245 | 167.6 | 180 | -60.4 |
SR24-060 | Corona E | 466996 | 8172490 | 251 | 141.7 | 200.49 | -60.3 |
SR24-064 | Cirrus E | 462948 | 8173743 | 223 | 150.9 | 210.41 | -60.2 |
SR24-066 | Cirrus E | 462861 | 8173793 | 218 | 150.9 | 210 | -60.2 |
SR24-094 | Chinook W | 465884 | 8172982 | 250 | 199.6 | 215.64 | -60.2 |
SR24-096 | Chinook W | 465828 | 8172789 | 242 | 129.5 | 180.05 | -60 |
SR24-104 | Expl. | 463100 | 8173180 | 213 | 274.3 | 360 | -85 |
SR24-108 | Squall | 464828 | 8172642 | 245 | 182.9 | 180 | -60 |
SR24-110 | Expl. | 464924 | 8171800 | 184 | 182.9 | 206 | -80 |
SR24-135 | Squall | 464779 | 8172593 | 240 | 230.1 | 180 | -75 |
SR24-136 | Expl. | 462798 | 8174973 | 277 | 199.6 | 180 | -70 |
Table 1: Details for the 2024 drill holes in this report.
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Width | Cu % | Zn % | Ag g/t |
SR24-001 | NSI | |||||
SR24-005 | NSI | |||||
SR24-028 | NSI | |||||
SR24-029 | NSI | |||||
SR24-046 | 0.00 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 0.36 | - | 1 |
9.14 | 12.19 | 3.05 | 0.49 | - | 1.5 | |
SR24-048 | NSI | |||||
SR24-050 | 106.68 | 108.2 | 1.52 | 0.46 | - | 1 |
SR24-056 | NSI | |||||
SR24-058 | NSI | |||||
SR24-060 | 13.72 | 15.24 | 1.52 | 0.3 | - | 1 |
SR24-064 | NSI | |||||
SR24-066 | NSI | |||||
SR24-094 | NSI | |||||
SR24-096 | NSI | |||||
SR24-104 | NSI | |||||
SR24-108 | 181.36 | 182.88 | 1.52 | 2.4 | - | 5 |
SR24-110 | NSI | |||||
SR24-135 | 163.07 | 164.59 | 1.52 | 0.5 | - | 3 |
SR24-136 | 38.10 | 39.62 | 1.52 | 0.4 | - | 2 |
Table 2: Significant interval table for the drill holes in this report (>0.2% Cu). For the 2024 exploration drill holes where no copper sulphides were intersected (none detected visually and confirmed with portable XRF), no assay analyses were conducted. (NSI = No Significant Interval.)
Details of the delineation drilling and exploration drill holes for the 2024 Storm program are available at https://astonbayholdings.com/news/2024-storm-drill-hole-details/.
Qualified Person
Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.
QA/QC Protocols
The analytical work reported herein was performed by ALS Global ("ALS"), Vancouver, Canada. ALS is an ISO-IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 accredited geoanalytical laboratory and is independent of Aston Bay Holdings Ltd., American West Metals Limited, and the QP.
Samples were subject to 33-element geochemistry by four-acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) to determine concentrations of copper, silver, lead, zinc, and other elements (ALS Method ME-ICP61a).
Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. and American West Metals Limited followed industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the Storm Project, incorporating a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank, duplicate, and standard samples were inserted into the sample sequence and sent to the laboratory for analysis. No significant QA/QC issues were detected during the review of the data. Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. and American West Metals Limited are not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.
*Stated drill hole intersections are all core length and true width is expected to be 60% to 100% of core length.
Agreement with Epstein Research
The Company has entered into an advertisement services agreement with Peter Epstein ("Epstein Research") to increase investor engagement and create more awareness for the Company, starting on October 1, 2024. Epstein Research's engagement is for an initial term of six (6) months and is subject to renewal or cancellation in accordance with its terms (the "Term"). Epstein Research operates from New York, New York, and provides promotional services, including social media and online advertising of the Company posted on Epstein Research homepage, CEO.ca, Substack, and Linked-In; monthly written articles on the Company and/or CEO interviews written exclusively by Peter Epstein; and frequent online commentary on the Company on websites including CEO.ca, Stockhouse, TalkMarkets, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Yahoo Finance, Facebook, StockTwits.
The Company has paid Epstein Research an amount of US$15,000 for the Term for these services. There are no common shares or options to be received as compensation in the service agreement. In addition, Epstein Research is an unrelated and unaffiliated entity in respect of the Corporation and, at the time of the agreement, Mr. Epstein owns securities of the Company purchased on the open market.
About Aston Bay Holdings
Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in Nunavut, Canada and Virginia, USA.
The Company is currently exploring the Storm Copper Property and Cu-Ag-Zn-Co Epworth Property in Nunavut, as well as the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia. The Company is also in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade critical metals potential in North America
The Company and its joint venture partners, American West Metals Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tornado Metals Ltd. (collectively, "American West"), have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit. Under the unincorporated joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Storm Project property will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements made in this news release, including those regarding entering into the joint venture and each party's interest in the Project pursuant to the agreement in respect of the joint venture, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For more information contact:
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer
thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com
(416) 456-3516
Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development
sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com
(647) 821-1337
SOURCE:Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Drilling, soil geochemistry and electromagnetics continue to highlight large-scale regional exploration potential
Seabreeze Prospect:
Greenfield exploration has defined a new base metal prospect at the far northwestern extent of the 110 kilometre ("km") long copper belt - this new area is named ‘Seabreeze' and covers an area of approximately 10 km x 2 km
Ground gravity survey at Seabreeze has identified dense features within the prospective Allen Bay Formation - the same stratigraphic host to the Storm copper deposits
Hailstorm Prospect:
Geological mapping and rock sampling have discovered chalcocite gossans grading >50% copper ("Cu") within an unexplored area at Storm to the south of the Southern Graben - now named ‘Hailstorm'
Follow-up geochemical sampling has defined a 250 m x 250 m copper anomaly along a major fault
The geological setting is identical to that of the near-surface, high-grade copper deposits at Chinook, Thunder, Lightning Ridge, and Corona
Tornado Prospect:
Deep searching Moving Loop Electromagnetics ("MLEM") has defined new conductors below the limit of current drilling at Tornado, 5 km along strike from the known Storm deposits
All Reverse Circulation ("RC") drill holes have intersected anomalous copper, silver, and zinc in favourable geological locations, confirming the Storm mineralization model at Tornado and providing compelling targets for follow-up drilling
Tempest Prospect:
Reconnaissance drilling at Tempest - located 40 km south of the known Storm copper deposits - has intersected anomalous copper, zinc, and silver within Storm-style stratigraphy
The area is defined by a 4km-long zone of gossans, grading up to 38.2% Cu and 30.8% Zinc ("Zn"), confirming Tempest as a high-priority prospect for follow-up drilling
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 25, 2024 / Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the 2024 drilling and regional exploration activities at the Storm Copper Project ("Storm" or the "Project") on Somerset Island, Nunavut. The exploration program is being conducted by American West Metals Limited ("American West"), the Project operator. Aston Bay and American West have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture with respect to the Storm Project property, with Aston Bay maintaining a free carried interest until a decision to mine is made upon completion of a bankable feasibility study.
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Bay,commented:
"Greenfields regional exploration continues to deliver discoveries at Storm. In addition to the successful delineation drilling program this year, the geological team has discovered two new zones with copper, zinc and silver mineralization, reinforcing the belt-wide prospectivity of this 110 km-long trend. The successful prospecting, geophysics, geochemistry and drilling programs all point to the untapped potential for more copper at Storm, and we look forward to testing these new discoveries while advancing the known deposits toward development.
"Work is advancing well on the maiden resource for Storm as well as the development study work with news expected over the coming months."
Figure 1: Copper gossan from the Hailstorm Prospect. This is massive chalcocite (copper sulfide), yielding >50% Cu (50% is the upper limit of the assay technique used).
Figure 2: Prospect location map of the Storm Project highlighting the main prospective copper and zinc stratigraphic horizons.
New copper prospects discovered
Seabreeze
Detailed mapping, geochemical and ground gravity surveys have been completed over the northwestern extent of the 110 km-long prospective copper horizon (Figure 2). This area contains extensive outcrops of Allen Bay Formation rocks, the primary host to the known copper deposits in the Storm area. These surveys were the first detailed exploration of the area, now named ‘Seabreeze.'
Mapping within the prospect area confirms a geological setting similar to that of the Storm deposits, which are approximately 40 km to the east. The mapping at Seabreeze has identified the prospective contact between the Cape Storm and Allen Bay Formations and several fault zones that are known controls of the copper mineralization at the Project.
Soil geochemical sampling was completed within two targeted grids, with 76 soil samples collected at an average 400 m x 400 m spacing (21 samples in the north and 55 in the south, respectively), depicted in Figure 3.
The assays show an anomalous copper signature spatially associated with the northwest-southeast structural trend within the Allen Bay Formation and confirm the prospectivity of the northwestern extent of the copper belt. The results now confirm the potential for further discoveries of copper and zinc along the entire 110 km strike of the belt.
The ground gravity survey was completed at a nominal 200m line- x 50m station-spaced grid over an area of 6 km2 across the contact with the Allen Bay and Cape Storm formations. The survey aimed to screen for dense bodies that may represent accumulations of mineralization and to delineate favourable lithology that may host mineralization.
The gravity survey yielded strong gravity anomalies, likely within the Allen Bay Formation. This association between higher densities and the prospective Allen Bay stratigraphy is observed in the Storm area and is significant at Seabreeze due to the proximity of the Seal zinc-silver deposit (see December 6, 2017, Aston Bay news release), located approximately 3 km to the south: base metal mineralization is typically zoned, with a copper mineralized central core surrounded by zinc mineralization on the periphery. Follow-up exploration at the Seabreeze Prospect will include detailed ground EM and an expansion of the gravity surveys.
Figure 3: Seabreeze prospect showing soil sample locations, copper geochemistry, and the gravity imagery (Bouguer anomaly - hotter colours indicate an increase in density), overlaying regional geology. Note the location of the contact between the Cape Storm and Allen Bay Formations, and proximity to the Seal zinc-silver deposit.
Hailstorm
Reconnaissance mapping and rock sampling in the southern graben area of Storm has discovered a new zone of copper gossans proximal to a major interpreted fault (Figure 2). Follow-up soil sampling identified a 250 m x 250 m copper anomaly located along the strike of the fault, suggesting structural control to the mineralization as is typical at Storm (Figure 4).
Massive chalcocite boulders sampled from the copper gossans returned grades up to 50% Cu (Figure 1 - 50% is the upper detection limit of the assay method used). Massive copper sulfides are commonly associated with large structures in the Southern Graben area, an identical geological setting to the known copper deposits to the north. This new area has been named ‘Hailstorm.'
Follow-up exploration at the Hailstorm Prospect will include RC drilling.
Figure 4: Map of the Southern Graben area showing the location of the Hailstorm Prospect and copper soil geochemistry in relation to the known copper deposits, overlaying aerial photography and major faults.
High-priority EM targets defined at Tornado
The Tornado Prospect is located 5 km along strike from the Storm deposits to the east (Figure 2). It is centred on an area with abundant chalcocite and malachite boulders within a 3.2 km x 1.5 km geochemical copper anomaly. The large copper anomaly shares the same linear trend as the main structural features of the Storm Graben. Most of the anomalous copper samples are located proximal to the interpreted Northern Graben Fault, which is a similar setting to that of the large and laterally extensive Cyclone Deposit.
Exploration at Tornado during 2024 included deep-searching MLEM surveys and RC drilling.
The MLEM survey was conducted over six lines incorporating 115 stations, using a 400 m line-spacing and 100 m station-spacing for a total of 10.9 linear km. The survey aimed to screen the area for high-grade copper sulfides (which are successfully defined by EM at Storm) and to aid in mapping the stratigraphy and structures that could potentially host copper sulfide mineralization.
The survey defined two strong anomalies located within the prospective Allen Bay Formation. The 3D modelling suggests that the EM anomalies may be flat lying and located deeper than the current limit of the recent RC drilling (>150 m vertical depth, Figure 5). The strong positive correlation between the recent MLEM surveys, historical VTEM surveys, and copper mineralization supports the interpretation of the structural setting and deep copper potential at Tornado.
Figure 5: Oblique section view of the drill line at the Tornado prospect looking WNW. The image shows MLEM image (CH18BZ) and geology (map view, top - warmer colours indicating higher conductivity) above 3D inversion shells from the 2011 VTEM survey (cross-section view, bottom - cooler colours indicating higher conductivity). The section location is illustrated in Figure 6.
Historical drill hole AB18-07 was drilled to a downhole depth of 300 m, intersecting brecciated Allen Bay Formation throughout the entire hole and logged visual copper oxide mineralization (0.5% abundance between 19.35 m and 21.2 m downhole). Further to the east, though not covered by the recent MLEM survey, historical drill hole AB18-01/01B also intersected disseminated and veinlet-hosted visual chalcocite between 88.9 m and 110.3 m downhole (0.5 - 1% in abundance). These drill holes have not been assayed.
Five drill holes were completed by the helicopter-portable RC drill, and all holes intersected the prospective Allen Bay Formation. Drill hole SR24-131 was collared in the Douro Formation of the central Tornado graben and only just intersected the Allen Bay Formation at the end of the drill hole, indicating that the central block of the graben may have been faulted downwards approximately 175-200 vertical metres.
Anomalous copper, zinc or silver were observed in all drill holes. The highest copper and silver values were intersected in drill hole SR24-129, located proximal to the northern Tornado graben fault, a similar position to the copper-mineralized historical drill hole AB18-07 as described earlier (Table 2).
Drill hole SR24-133 was drilled 750 m north of the Tornado Graben Fault and intersected a 32 m thick interval of anomalous zinc mineralization from the surface with a maximum value of 1,040ppm Zn. This zonation of a copper mineralized core close to the graben faults (the presumed conduit of the mineralizing fluids) surrounded by peripheral zinc mineralization is typical at Storm.
The Tornado area contains a compelling coincidence of ideal structural and stratigraphic setting, strong gravity and EM anomalies, and copper geochemistry, located just 5 km along strike from Storm. These features rank the area as highly prospective for discovering additional copper mineralization. Follow-up exploration will include RC and deeper diamond drilling.
Visual estimates of mineral abundance, type or habit should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Laboratory assays are required to determine the presence and grade of any contained mineralization within the reported visual intersections of copper sulfides.
Figure 6: MLEM image (CH18BZ) of the Tornado and Blizzard 400 m loop survey overlaying geology and interpreted major faults. Hotter colours indicate higher conductivity.
Drilling confirms copper and zinc at the Tempest Prospect
The Tempest Prospect is located approximately 40 kilometres south of the copper deposits at Storm (Figure 2). The area is defined by a 4km long zone of gossans, with up to 38.2% Cu and 30.8% Zn in surface grab samples (see November 27, 2023, Aston Bay press release).
This area is considered the southern extension of the highly prospective Storm Copper and Seal Zinc horizons. These formations overlap the much older Proterozoic rocks that outcrop in the Boothia Uplift to the west. This geological setting with an unconformity (an ancient weathered surface) between two geological terranes suggests a permeable zone close to potential source rocks, highly prospective for fluid migration and base metal mineralization.
Three shallow reconnaissance exploration drill holes were completed at Tempest in 2025. Each hole reached a downhole depth of 200 m and was designed to test the stratigraphy and potential source of the highly anomalous copper and zinc at the surface (Figure 7).
The drilling confirmed the presence of Storm-style stratigraphy with thick intervals of the Allen Bay Formation. Anomalous copper, silver and zinc were encountered in all three drill holes, with particularly thick intervals of zinc and silver in drill hole SR24-098 (137.3m @ 137ppm Zn, 1.2g/t Ag - Table 2).
Although the high grades of the surface gossans were not replicated with the current drilling, the 4 km strike length of the gossans and thick intervals of zinc and silver in the drilling suggest a significant mineralizing event. Furthermore, the copper deposits at Storm are typically confined to the upper sequence of the Allen Bay Formation near the contact with the Cape Storm Formation. This contact is mapped further east in the Tempest area, suggesting that the current drill holes have intersected the lower, less prospective part of the Allen Bay Formation.
Deep searching ground EM will next be used to screen the area in more detail and to highlight high-priority targets for follow-up drilling.
Figure 7: Map of the Tempest Prospect showing drilling, geochemical sampling locations, rock samples, and lithological unit boundaries overlaying aerial photography.
Hole ID | Prospect | Easting | Northing | RL (m) | Depth (m) | Azimuth | Inclination |
SR24-098 | Tempest | 464948 | 8174283 | 302.8 | 149.4 | 179.71 | -70.5 |
SR24-100 | Tempest | 473230 | 8137717 | 299.7 | 199.64 | 285 | -50 |
SR24-102 | Tempest | 473634 | 8133161 | 296.6 | 199.6 | 109.19 | -45.05 |
SR24-129 | Tornado | 471008 | 8170156 | 295.0 | 199.64 | 180 | -60 |
SR24-130 | Tornado | 471012 | 8170973 | 277.9 | 199.64 | 200.27 | -52.1 |
SR24-131 | Tornado | 470928 | 8169888 | 289.0 | 199.64 | 200.17 | -60.26 |
SR24-132 | Tornado | 470866 | 8169491 | 291.4 | 199.64 | 200.25 | -55.08 |
SR24-133 | Tornado | 470244 | 8171463 | 255.7 | 199.64 | 199.97 | -59.97 |
SR24-134 | Tornado | 470273 | 8169986 | 268.0 | 199.64 | 199.97 | -60.14 |
Table 1: Details for the 2024 regional exploration drill holes.
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Width | Cu ppm | Zn ppm | Ag g/t |
SR24-098 | 0 | 118.87 | 118.87 | 6.5 | 137.3 | 1.2 |
128.02 | 143.26 | 15.24 | 5.5 | 64 | 0.6 | |
146.3 | 150.88 | 4.58 | 5 | 36.7 | 0.8 | |
188.98 | 190.5 | 1.52 | 5 | 30 | 0.5 | |
SR24-100 | 1.52 | 56.39 | 54.87 | 5.1 | 64.4 | 1.0 |
57.91 | 65.53 | 7.62 | 5 | 50 | 0.6 | |
67.06 | 68.58 | 1.52 | 5 | 30 | 0.5 | |
70.1 | 71.63 | 1.53 | 5 | 40 | 1.0 | |
73.15 | 76.2 | 3.05 | 5 | 40 | 0.8 | |
88.39 | 103.63 | 15.24 | 6.5 | 103.9 | 1.5 | |
105.16 | 108.2 | 3.04 | 5 | 110 | 1.5 | |
109.73 | 112.78 | 3.05 | 7.5 | 30 | 1.0 | |
118.87 | 120.4 | 1.53 | 5 | 30 | 2.0 | |
121.92 | 126.49 | 4.57 | 5 | 30 | 1.0 | |
137.16 | 140.21 | 3.05 | 5 | 30 | 1.5 | |
143.26 | 156.97 | 13.71 | 7.2 | 57.8 | 1.4 | |
182.88 | 188.98 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 42.5 | 1.5 | |
SR24-102 | 28.96 | 35.05 | 6.09 | 6.2 | 52.5 | 0.9 |
45.72 | 47.24 | 1.52 | 5 | 40 | 1.0 | |
48.77 | 54.86 | 6.09 | 5 | 35 | 1.0 | |
65.53 | 67.06 | 1.53 | 5 | 60 | 2.0 | |
70.1 | 76.2 | 6.1 | 5 | 30 | 1.1 | |
108.2 | 111.25 | 3.05 | 5 | 35 | 1.0 | |
115.82 | 117.35 | 1.53 | 5 | 30 | 1.0 | |
152.4 | 153.92 | 1.52 | 5 | 50 | 1.0 | |
SR24-129 | 0.00 | 3.05 | 3.05 | 125.1 | 35.0 | 2.0 |
Incl. | 1.52 | 3.05 | 1.53 | 170.0 | 40.0 | 2.0 |
18.29 | 19.81 | 1.52 | 100.0 | 10.0 | 1.0 | |
53.34 | 59.44 | 6.10 | 177.2 | 17.5 | 1.2 | |
Incl. | 54.86 | 57.91 | 3.05 | 289.5 | 15.0 | 1.5 |
176.78 | 178.31 | 1.53 | 50.0 | 10.0 | 0.5 | |
181.36 | 185.93 | 4.57 | 50.0 | 10.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-130 | 0.00 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 50.0 | 30.0 | 1.0 |
53.34 | 54.86 | 1.52 | 60.0 | 30.0 | 1.0 | |
59.44 | 60.96 | 1.52 | 50.0 | 30.0 | 1.0 | |
64.01 | 65.53 | 1.52 | 50.0 | 60.0 | 1.0 | |
68.58 | 73.15 | 4.57 | 76.6 | 10.0 | 1.0 | |
Incl. | 68.58 | 70.10 | 1.52 | 130.0 | 10.0 | 1.0 |
79.25 | 80.77 | 1.52 | 100.0 | 40.0 | 2.0 | |
88.39 | 89.92 | 1.53 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-131 | 0.00 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 60.0 | 30.0 | 0.5 |
4.57 | 6.10 | 1.53 | 60.0 | 40.0 | 0.5 | |
7.62 | 9.14 | 1.52 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 0.5 | |
SR24-132 | 6.10 | 7.62 | 1.52 | 230.0 | 10.0 | 0.5 |
38.10 | 39.62 | 1.52 | 50.0 | 10.0 | 0.5 | |
56.39 | 64.01 | 7.62 | 66.0 | 12.0 | 0.8 | |
Incl. | 60.96 | 62.48 | 1.52 | 100.0 | 10.0 | 0.5 |
73.15 | 74.68 | 1.53 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1.0 | |
77.72 | 79.25 | 1.53 | 70.0 | 240.0 | 1.0 | |
166.12 | 169.16 | 3.04 | 95.0 | 85.0 | 1.5 | |
Incl. | 166.12 | 167.64 | 1.52 | 140.0 | 160.0 | 2.0 |
178.31 | 181.36 | 3.05 | 85.1 | 30.0 | 0.8 | |
Incl. | 179.83 | 181.36 | 1.53 | 120.0 | 40.0 | 1.0 |
6.10 | 7.62 | 1.52 | 230.0 | 10.0 | 0.5 | |
SR24-133 | 0.00 | 3.05 | 3.05 | 120.2 | 686.2 | 0.7 |
Incl. | 1.52 | 3.05 | 1.53 | 170.0 | 1040.0 | 0.5 |
7.62 | 9.14 | 1.52 | 90.0 | 480.0 | 0.5 | |
24.38 | 25.91 | 1.53 | 50.0 | 270.0 | 0.5 | |
38.10 | 44.20 | 6.10 | 70.0 | 259.9 | 0.5 | |
SR24-134 | 32.00 | 33.53 | 1.53 | 90.0 | 110.0 | 1.0 |
36.58 | 39.62 | 3.04 | 50.0 | 65.0 | 1.0 | |
74.68 | 76.20 | 1.52 | 80.0 | 90.0 | 1.0 |
Table 2: Summary of significant drilling intersections for the greenfield regional prospects (>50ppm Cu, 25ppm Zn, 1g/t Ag). The intersections are expressed as downhole widths and are interpreted to be close to true widths.
Details of the delineation drilling and exploration drill holes for the 2024 program are available at https://astonbayholdings.com/news/2024-storm-drill-hole-details/.
Qualified Person
Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.
QA/QC Protocols
The analytical work reported herein was performed by ALS Global ("ALS"), Vancouver, Canada. ALS is an ISO-IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 accredited geoanalytical laboratory and is independent of Aston Bay Holdings Ltd., American West Metals Limited, and the QP.
Samples were subject to 33-element geochemistry by four-acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) to determine concentrations of copper, silver, lead, zinc, and other elements (ALS Method ME-ICP61a).
Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. and American West Metals Limited followed industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the Storm Project, incorporating a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank, duplicate, and standard samples were inserted into the sample sequence and sent to the laboratory for analysis. No significant QA/QC issues were detected during the review of the data. Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. and American West Metals Limited are not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.
About the Storm Copper and Seal Zinc-Silver Projects, Nunavut
The Nunavut property consists of 173 contiguous mining claims covering an area of approximately 219,257 hectares on Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada. The Storm Project comprises both the Storm Copper Project, a high-grade sediment-hosted copper discovery (intersections including 110 m* @ 2.5% Cu from surface and 56.3 m* @ 3.1% Cu from 12.2 m as well as the Seal Zinc Deposit (intersections including 14.4 m* @ 10.6% Zn, 28.7g/t Ag from 51.8 m and 22.3 m* @ 23.0% Zn, 5.1g/t Ag from 101.5 m). Additionally, there are numerous underexplored and undrilled targets within the 120-kilometre strike length of the mineralized trend, including the Tornado copper prospect, where ten grab samples yielded >1% Cu up to 32% Cu in gossans. The Nunavut property is now the subject of an 80/20 unincorporated joint venture with American West (see "Agreement with American West" below for more details).
Storm Discovery and Historical Work
High-grade copper mineralization was discovered at Storm in the mid-1990s by Cominco geologists conducting regional zinc exploration around their then-producing Polaris lead-zinc mine. A massive chalcocite boulder found in a tributary of the Aston River in 1996 was traced to impressive surface exposures of broken chalcocite mineralization for hundreds of metres of surface strike length at what became named the 2750N, 2200N, and 3500N zones. Subsequent seasons of prospecting, geophysics and over 9,000 m of drilling into the early 2000s confirmed a significant amount of copper mineralization below the surface exposures as well as making the blind discovery of the 4100N Zone, a large area of copper mineralization with no surface exposure.
Following the merger of Cominco with Teck in 2001 and the closure of the Polaris Mine, the Storm claims were allowed to lapse in 2007. Commander Resources staked the property in 2008 and flew a helicopter-borne VTEM survey in 2011 but conducted no additional drilling. Aston Bay subsequently entered into an earn-in agreement with Commander and consolidated 100% ownership in 2015. Commander retained a 0.875% Gross Overriding Royalty in the area of the original Storm claims which was purchased by Taurus Mining Royalty Fund L.P. in January 2024.
In 2016 Aston Bay entered into an earn-in agreement with BHP, who conducted a 2,000-station soil sampling program and drilled 1,951m of core in 12 diamond drill holes, yielding up to 16 m* @ 3.1% Cu. BHP exited the agreement in 2017 and retains no residual interest in the project. Aston Bay conducted a property-wide airborne gravity gradiometry survey in 2017 and drilled 2,913 m in nine core holes in the Storm area in 2018, yielding a best intercept of 1.5 m* @ 4.4% Cu and 20.5 m* @ 0.6% Cu.
Agreement with American West
On March 9, 2021, Aston Bay entered into an option agreement with American West Metals Limited (American West) and its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Tornado Metals Ltd., pursuant to which American West was granted an option to earn an 80% undivided interest in the Project by spending a minimum of CAD$10 million on qualifying exploration expenditures. The parties amended and restated the Option Agreement as of February 27, 2023, to facilitate American West directly earning an interest in the Project alongside its Canadian subsidiary without any change to the overall commercial agreement between the parties. The expenditures were completed during 2023, and American West exercised the option. American West and Aston Bay have formed an 80/20 unincorporated joint venture.
Under the joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Project will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
Recent Work
American West completed a fixed loop electromagnetic (FLEM) ground geophysical survey in 2021 that yielded several new subsurface conductive anomalies. A total of 1,534 m were drilled in 10 diamond drill holes in the 2022 season, yielding several impressive near-surface intercepts, including 41m* @ 4.1% Cu as well as 68m of sulfide mineralization associated with a deeper conductive anomaly.
In April 2022, results of beneficiation studies demonstrated that a mineralized intercept grading 4% Cu from the 4100N area could be upgraded to a 54% Cu direct ship product using standard sorting technology. Further beneficiation and metallurgical studies are ongoing.
In April 2023, American West embarked on a spring delineation drilling program using a helicopter-portable RC drill rig as well as conducting gravity and moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) ground geophysical programs.
The summer 2023 program conducted further delineation drilling of the near-surface high-grade copper zones to advance them toward maiden resource estimates in 2024. Deep diamond drilling during 2023 discovered high-grade copper sulfides up to 2.7% Cu at approximately 300 m vertical depth (ST23-02), suggesting the potential for the discovery of large-scale copper targets at depth.
Diamond drilling of new high-priority deep MLEM targets, RC delineation drilling for resource development and additional geophysical surveys are now underway in the 2024 program. Metallurgical studies and environmental baseline studies are ongoing, with bulk sampling for prefeasibility-level processing planned for summer 2024.
*Stated drill hole intersections are all core length and true width is expected to be 60% to 100% of core length.
About Aston Bay Holdings
Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in Nunavut, Canada and Virginia, USA.
The Company is currently exploring the Storm Copper Property and Cu-Ag-Zn-Co Epworth Property in Nunavut, as well as the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia. The Company is also in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade critical metals potential in North America
The Company and its joint venture partners, American West Metals Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tornado Metals Ltd. (collectively, "American West"), have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit. Under the unincorporated joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Storm Project property will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
About American West Metals Limited
AMERICAN WEST METALS LIMITED (ASX: AW1) is an Australian clean energy mining company focused on growth through the discovery and development of major base metal mineral deposits in Tier 1 jurisdictions of North America. The company's strategy is focused on developing mines that have a low-footprint and support the global energy transformation. AW1's portfolio of copper and zinc projects in Utah and Canada include significant existing resource inventories and high-grade mineralization that can generate robust mining proposals. Core to AW1's approach is a commitment to the ethical extraction and processing of minerals and making a meaningful contribution to the communities where its projects are located.
Led by a highly experienced leadership team, AW1's strategic initiatives lay the foundation for a sustainable business which aims to deliver high-multiplier returns on shareholder investment and economic benefits to all stakeholders.
For further information on American West, visit: www.americanwestmetals.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements made in this news release, including those regarding entering into the joint venture and each party's interest in the Project pursuant to the agreement in respect of the joint venture, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For more information contact:
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer
thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com
(416) 456-3516
Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development
sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com
(647) 821-1337
SOURCE: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
98 metres of copper sulfides reinforce large-scale sediment-hosted copper potential
Highlights:
The 2024 deep drilling program has delivered further evidence of a very extensive laterally oriented deeper copper horizon that covers an area of more than 10 square kilometres ("km 2")and remains open
All three deeper drill holes in the 2024 program - collared approximately 2 km apart from each other - have intersected copper sulfides and prospective stratigraphy within the interpreted deeper copper horizon
The second 2024 deep diamond drill hole (ST24-02) drilled during 2024 has intersected an aggregate of 98.6 metres ("m") of copper sulfide mineralization within multiple horizons
The third 2024 deep diamond drill hole (ST24-03) - targeting a 1,300m x 500m EM anomaly below the Cirrus Deposit - was suspended due to a highly fractured zone on approach to the target EM plates, and will now be completed in early 2025
ST24-03 encountered minor copper sulfides in the upper portions of the drill hole and an extensive zone of fractured carbonate rocks at depth - a highly favourable geological setting for the deposition of copper mineralization
The first 2024 deep diamond drill hole (ST24-01) intersected thick copper sulfides from 311m downhole with grades up to 3.7% copper ("Cu") as reported on September 20, 2024
The large volume of mineralisation in the deeper diamond drilling, particularly in ST24-02, continues to highlight the large lateral and vertical extent of the Storm copper system and the potential for large-scale stratigraphic hosted copper deposits similar to those of the Central African Copperbelt
Additional results from the 2024 campaign to be reported in the coming weeks.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 30, 2024 /Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on diamond drilling activities at the Storm Copper Project ("Storm" or the "Project") on Somerset Island, Nunavut. The exploration program is being conducted by American West Metals Limited ("American West"), the Project operator. Aston Bay and American West have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture with respect to the Storm Project property, with Aston Bay maintaining a free carried interest until a decision to mine is made upon completion of a bankable feasibility study.
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Bay, commented :
"It is encouraging to receive confirmation of our geological model with the drill bit. Drilled to test stratigraphy and structure in a little-explored area, ST24-02 encountered a significant amount of sediment-hosted style copper mineralization. While the mineralization at this location is spread out over a wide interval, it nevertheless highlights the pervasive nature of the mineralizing process at Storm and points to the potential where the copper budget of these pervasive fluids can be concentrated in higher-grade zones as in the near-surface copper deposits currently being defined at Storm.
"Our third deep drill hole remains only partially completed due to drilling difficulties at the end of the season. Drilling in the frozen Arctic ground requires salt to be added to the drilling fluid to prevent freezing. Before reaching the target, the drill intercepted a fractured zone, resulting in the loss of the drilling fluid. Unfortunately, it was too late in the season to resupply the salt and other drilling additives necessary to continue the hole this year.
"The targeted anomaly exhibits characteristics of both fault-hosted "Chinook-style" and stratiform-hosted "Cyclone-style" mineralization, making it a very compelling target. I eagerly look forward to completing this drill hole early next year."
Figure 1: Photo of the diamond drilling rig being prepared at the Storm Project, Nunavut, Canada.
OVERVIEW: DRILLING CONTINUES TO EXPAND THE COPPER SYSTEM
The drill holes for the 2024 deep drilling campaign were designed to test key geological targets at Storm and the potential for new zones of copper mineralization within the ‘Deep Copper Horizon' discovered during 2023 (see August 2, 2023, Aston Bay news release).
Drill hole ST24-02 has intersected thick intervals of low-grade copper sulfide mineralization with multiple thin higher-grade horizons. The entire rock package is variably fractured, with copper sulfides occurring as veins and fracture infill. The large volume of mineralization and brecciation highlight a significant mineralization event, and its location within the centre of the Thunder and Corona graben block supports the potential for further discoveries of economic mineralization at depth.
ST24-03 targeted a large Moving Loop EM (MLEM) anomaly below the Cirrus Deposit and Gap Prospect and encountered a large void/fractured zone on approach to the targeted EM plates, which slowed the drilling and prevented the hole from being completed this season. Given the strong correlation between copper sulfide mineralization and MLEM anomalies at Storm, this EM anomaly remains a high-priority drill target for early 2025.
Figure 2: Plan view of the Storm area showing the geological interpretation, known copper deposit outlines, major faults, and deep diamond drill hole locations. All the deeper drill holes have intersected copper at depth within a prospective area of more than ten square kilometres.
DRILL HOLE ST24-02 DETAILS
Drill hole ST24-02 was drilled to a downhole depth of 455m and intersected a combined total of 98.6m of copper sulfide mineralization (Figure 4). The drill hole was designed to test the stratigraphy and structure in the southern areas of Storm, south of the Southern Graben Fault.
In addition to minor copper mineralization hosted within the upper Allen Bay horizons (at the same depth as the known shallow Storm prospects), three main mineralized zones were identified at depth in ST24-02. The mineralization is hosted within abundant sporadic fracturing, variably infilled by copper sulfides averaging 0.1% copper ("Cu") (see Table 2).
The most significant zone of mineralization, from 292m to 324m downhole, is hosted within a bituminous, vuggy, coral dolopackstone-doloboundstone sequence with blebby to veinlet chalcopyrite, chalcocite and bornite with assays up to 0.53% Cu (from 322.5 - 323.5m downhole). The mineralized textures and lithological associations from this zone are consistent with the ‘Deep Copper Horizon' discovered during 2023 and show the persistence of this horizon across multiple fault blocks on the Storm property.
The large volume of visual mineralization within ST24-02 highlights the scale of the copper system at Storm. The proximity of drill hole ST24-02 to the Thunder Prospect and Chinook and Corona deposits provides further evidence that the Allen Bay Formation within the Southern Graben may host high-grade, stratigraphic- and structurally-hosted copper deposits similar to those of the Central African Copperbelt.
Figure 3: Chalcocite (dark grey) and bornite (metallic blue) fracture fill in drill hole ST24-02 at approximately 313.75m downhole (this piece of core is within an interval of 1m @ 0.33% Cu).
Figure 4: NE-SW geological section through ST24-02 looking southeast.
DRILL HOLE ST24-03 DETAILS
Diamond drill hole ST24-03 was designed to target a 1,300m x 500m flat-lying MLEM anomaly (Figure 5 - EM anomaly A1) bounded by a series of large, mostly steeply dipping EM plates (approx. 350m to top, conductance ~40-60S, moderate ~40-60deg S/SW dip, striking ~WNW-ESE) at its the northern edge. The EM anomalies are located below the Cirrus Deposit and the Gap high-grade copper prospect and are interpreted to be proximal to the Southern Graben Fault.
Figure 5: 400m loop MLEM image (CH20BZ) showing anomalies and modelled plates overlying drilling and the geological and structural interpretation of the Storm area. The MLEM anomaly discussed in this release is labelled A1.
ST24-03 has been drilled to a downhole depth of 414m (planned depth of 600-700m) and intersected several zones of fracturing and sporadic copper sulfides (Figure 6). The presence of voids and fractures at the current depth resulted in reduced circulation and the loss of drilling fluids, including the critical salt additive required to prevent freezing in this area of deep permafrost. The drill hole had to be suspended pending the resupply of salt from the Sealift (now delivered) and will be completed as a high priority in early 2025.
Figure 6: NE-SW geological section view through ST24-03 (looking NW) showing the Cirrus Deposit, interpreted Southern Graben Fault and modelled MLEM conductors. Drilling was suspended at 414m depth; the planned drill hole depth is 650-700m, to be completed in early 2025.
The drill hole has not yet intersected the targeted MLEM anomaly, but the results are encouraging. The hole was drilled entirely into lower Allen Bay Formation, the host of the majority of copper mineralization at Storm, and intersected multiple organic-rich horizons and thick zones of oxidized fracturing. One notable zone includes a laminated organic-rich mudstone with fine disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite veinlets from 178m to 180m depth downhole. Minor copper sulfides were also encountered at 305m downhole as patchy chalcopyrite veinlets and infill to a vuggy shell-fragment dolofloatstone. Organic material and hydrocarbons are critical requirements for the deposition of metals in this mineralizing system, and their presence is encouraging.
Fractures and voids at depth and close to the target area are also positive indicators since permeability and porosity are critical for the open-space filling style of high-grade copper mineralization at Storm.
Also noteworthy is that the orientations of the sub-vertical MLEM plates parallel to and directly below the sub-vertical Southern Graben Fault are suggestive of fault-related mineralization, as seen in the strong EM response at the Chinook and Corona Deposits. The faults may have channelled and focussed the metal-bearing fluids, allowing for more intense mineralization. The sub-horizontal component of the MLEM anomaly A1 may also be suggestive of stratiform mineralization, as seen at Cyclone where an EM anomaly delineates flat-lying bodies of high-grade copper mineralization that are directly adjacent to the Northern Graben Fault (Figure 5).
With such a close fit to the predictive geologic model that has already successfully discovered new zones of copper mineralization combined with the proven robust correlation between MLEM anomalies and high-grade copper mineralization at Storm, the untested portion of this drill hole is a compelling high-priority target for the 2025 drill season.
Hole ID | Prospect | Easting | Northing | RL (m) | Depth (m) | Azimuth | Inclination |
ST24-01 | Graben | 464728 | 8173893 | 289.4 | 385 | 0.3 | -80.1 |
ST24-02 | Expl. | 465600 | 8172675 | 246.2 | 455 | 160 | -75 |
ST24-03 | Expl. | 462772 | 8173627 | 213.7 | 414.11* | 35 | -70 |
Table 1: Details for the 2024 deep diamond drill holes at the Storm Project. Note*, drill hole ST24-03 is pending and will be completed during 2025.
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Width | Cu ppm | Zn ppm | Ag g/t |
ST24-02 | 52.00 | 55.00 | 3.00 | 1402 | 10 | 2.0 |
Including | 53.00 | 53.60 | 0.60 | 6100 | 10 | 2.0 |
58.00 | 59.60 | 1.60 | 110 | 10 | 2.0 | |
72.50 | 76.50 | 4.00 | 203 | 10 | 1.1 | |
77.00 | 79.00 | 2.00 | 953 | 10 | 1.8 | |
Including | 78.00 | 78.50 | 0.50 | 3050 | 10 | 2.0 |
81.00 | 84.00 | 3.00 | 140 | 10 | 1.3 | |
85.00 | 86.50 | 1.50 | 253 | 10 | 1.0 | |
104.00 | 106.00 | 2.00 | 420 | 10 | 1.5 | |
107.00 | 112.10 | 5.10 | 176 | 10 | 0.9 | |
114.50 | 115.00 | 0.50 | 640 | 10 | 2.0 | |
130.30 | 131.00 | 0.70 | 230 | 10 | 1.0 | |
132.50 | 133.10 | 0.60 | 270 | 10 | 2.0 | |
170.00 | 172.00 | 2.00 | 195 | 10 | 1.5 | |
193.00 | 194.50 | 1.50 | 240 | 10 | 2.0 | |
195.50 | 196.50 | 1.00 | 2290 | 40 | 1.5 | |
Including | 195.50 | 196.00 | 0.50 | 4330 | 60 | 2.0 |
201.00 | 202.00 | 1.00 | 220 | 30 | 1.0 | |
203.50 | 205.00 | 1.50 | 207 | 10 | 1.3 | |
224.00 | 226.00 | 2.00 | 150 | 10 | 1.0 | |
250.00 | 251.00 | 1.00 | 140 | 10 | 1.0 | |
286.00 | 287.50 | 1.50 | 317 | 17 | 1.3 | |
289.50 | 290.50 | 1.00 | 620 | 10 | 1.3 | |
292.00 | 300.00 | 8.00 | 256 | 10 | 0.8 | |
300.50 | 301.50 | 1.00 | 200 | 10 | 1.0 | |
302.00 | 304.00 | 2.00 | 900 | 15 | 2.0 | |
Including | 303.00 | 303.50 | 0.50 | 2560 | 10 | 2.0 |
305.00 | 308.00 | 3.00 | 745 | 10 | 1.3 | |
Including | 306.50 | 307.00 | 0.50 | 1170 | 10 | 0.5 |
310.00 | 316.00 | 6.00 | 935 | 10 | 1.0 | |
Including | 311.00 | 311.50 | 0.50 | 1140 | 10 | 2.0 |
And | 313.50 | 314.50 | 1.00 | 3270 | 10 | 0.8 |
317.00 | 324.00 | 7.00 | 1628 | 11 | 0.9 | |
Including | 322.50 | 323.50 | 1.00 | 5295 | 15 | 0.8 |
327.50 | 328.00 | 0.50 | 210 | 10 | 1.0 | |
330.00 | 333.00 | 3.00 | 110 | 10 | 1.3 | |
348.00 | 349.00 | 1.00 | 120 | 10 | 2.0 | |
352.00 | 353.00 | 1.00 | 110 | 10 | 1.0 | |
366.00 | 367.00 | 1.00 | 110 | 10 | 3.0 | |
369.00 | 370.00 | 1.00 | 140 | 10 | 1.0 | |
373.00 | 375.00 | 2.00 | 160 | 10 | 1.0 | |
377.00 | 380.00 | 3.00 | 110 | 10 | 1.3 | |
381.00 | 388.00 | 7.00 | 140 | 13 | 1.2 | |
397.00 | 398.00 | 1.00 | 110 | 10 | 1.0 | |
399.00 | 401.00 | 2.00 | 105 | 10 | 0.8 | |
409.60 | 418.00 | 8.40 | 388 | 10 | 1.6 | |
Including | 413.00 | 413.35 | 0.35 | 1640 | 10 | 2.0 |
421.00 | 424.65 | 3.65 | 542 | 10 | 1.8 | |
Including | 422.00 | 423.00 | 1.00 | 1280 | 10 | 2.0 |
ST24-03 | 10.00 | 11.00 | 1.00 | 100 | 20 | 0.5 |
24.00 | 26.00 | 2.00 | 135 | 30 | 1.0 | |
33.00 | 34.00 | 1.00 | 100 | 10 | 0.5 | |
35.00 | 40.00 | 5.00 | 208 | 10 | 0.7 | |
41.00 | 42.00 | 1.00 | 120 | 10 | 1.0 | |
43.00 | 49.00 | 6.00 | 125 | 33 | 1.0 | |
54.00 | 55.00 | 1.00 | 110 | 10 | 0.5 | |
56.00 | 57.00 | 1.00 | 590 | 10 | 1.0 | |
66.00 | 70.00 | 4.00 | 153 | 20 | 0.9 | |
90.00 | 91.00 | 1.00 | 100 | 10 | 0.5 | |
96.00 | 97.00 | 1.00 | 120 | 10 | 0.5 | |
108.00 | 119.00 | 11.00 | 298 | 255 | 0.6 | |
120.00 | 129.07 | 9.07 | 175 | 182 | 0.5 | |
130.90 | 133.00 | 2.10 | 105 | 45 | 0.5 | |
152.00 | 153.98 | 1.98 | 150 | 10 | 0.5 | |
178.70 | 179.00 | 0.30 | 1900 | 80 | 15.0 | |
180.04 | 180.82 | 0.78 | 170 | 10 | 2.0 |
Table 2: Summary of recent significant drilling intersections for drill holes ST24-02 and ST24-03. Given the exploratory nature of the drilling a cut-off of 0.01% Cu is used to highlight the presence of copper sulfides. In the absence of copper sulfide or oxides, the dolomite host rocks at Storm typically contain 10-25ppm copper. Diamond drill intersections are all core length and true width is expected to be 60% to 100% of core length.
Details of the delineation drilling and exploration drill holes for the 2024 program are available at https://astonbayholdings.com/news/2024-storm-drill-hole-details/ .
Qualified Person
Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.
QA/QC Protocols
The analytical work reported on herein was performed by ALS Global ("ALS"), Vancouver Canada. ALS is an ISO-IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 accredited geoanalytical laboratory and is independent of Aston Bay Holdings Ltd., American West Metals Limited, and the QP. Drill core samples were subject to crushing at a minimum of 70% passing 2 mm, followed by pulverizing of a 250-gram split to 85% passing 75 microns. Samples were subject to 33 element geochemistry by four-acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) to determine concentrations of copper, silver, lead, zinc, and other elements (ALS Method ME-ICP61a). Overlimit values for copper (>10%) and were analyzed via four-acid digestion and ICP-AES (ALS Method Cu-OG62).
Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. and American West Metals Limited followed industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the Storm Project, incorporating a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank, duplicate, and standard samples were inserted into the sample sequence and sent to the laboratory for analysis. No significant QA/QC issues were detected during review of the data. Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. and American West Metals Limited are not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.
About the Storm Copper and Seal Zinc-Silver Projects, Nunavut
The Nunavut property consists of 173 contiguous mining claims covering an area of approximately 219,257 hectares on Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada. The Storm Project comprises both the Storm Copper Project, a high-grade sediment-hosted copper discovery (intersections including 110m* @ 2.5% Cu from surface and 56.3* @ 3.1% Cu from 12.2m as well as the Seal Zinc Deposit (intersections including 14.4m* @ 10.6% Zn, 28.7g/t Ag from 51.8m and 22.3m* @ 23.0% Zn, 5.1g/t Ag from 101.5m). Additionally, there are numerous underexplored and undrilled targets within the 120-kilometre strike length of the mineralized trend, including the Tornado copper prospect, where ten grab samples yielded >1% Cu up to 32% Cu in gossans. The Nunavut property is now the subject of an 80/20 unincorporated joint venture with American West (see "Agreement with American West" below for more details).
Storm Discovery and Historical Work
High-grade copper mineralization was discovered at Storm in the mid-1990s by Cominco geologists conducting regional zinc exploration around their then-producing Polaris lead-zinc mine. A massive chalcocite boulder found in a tributary of the Aston River in 1996 was traced to impressive surface exposures of broken chalcocite mineralization for hundreds of metres of surface strike length at what became named the 2750N, 2200N, and 3500N zones. Subsequent seasons of prospecting, geophysics and over 9,000 m of drilling into the early 2000s confirmed a significant amount of copper mineralization below the surface exposures as well as making the blind discovery of the 4100N Zone, a large area of copper mineralization with no surface exposure.
Following the merger of Cominco with Teck in 2001 and the closure of the Polaris Mine, the Storm claims were allowed to lapse in 2007. Commander Resources staked the property in 2008 and flew a helicopter-borne VTEM survey in 2011 but conducted no additional drilling. Aston Bay subsequently entered into an earn-in agreement with Commander and consolidated 100% ownership in 2015. Commander retained a 0.875% Gross Overriding Royalty in the area of the original Storm claims which was purchased by Taurus Mining Royalty Fund L.P. in January 2024.
In 2016 Aston Bay entered into an earn-in agreement with BHP, who conducted a 2,000-station soil sampling program and drilled 1,951m of core in 12 diamond drill holes, yielding up to 16m* @ 3.1% Cu. BHP exited the agreement in 2017 and retains no residual interest in the project. Aston Bay conducted a property-wide airborne gravity gradiometry survey in 2017 and drilled 2,913m in nine core holes in the Storm area in 2018, yielding a best intercept of 1.5m* @ 4.4% Cu and 20.5m* @ 0.6% Cu.
Agreement with American West
On March 9, 2021, Aston Bay entered into an option agreement with American West Metals Limited (American West) and its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Tornado Metals Ltd., pursuant to which American West was granted an option to earn an 80% undivided interest in the Project by spending a minimum of CAD$10 million on qualifying exploration expenditures. The parties amended and restated the Option Agreement as of February 27, 2023, to facilitate American West directly earning an interest in the Project alongside its Canadian subsidiary without any change to the overall commercial agreement between the parties. The expenditures were completed during 2023, and American West exercised the option. American West and Aston Bay have formed an 80/20 unincorporated joint venture.
Under the joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Project will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
Recent Work
American West completed a fixed loop electromagnetic (FLEM) ground geophysical survey in 2021 that yielded several new subsurface conductive anomalies. A total of 1,534m were drilled in 10 diamond drill holes in the 2022 season, yielding several impressive near-surface intercepts, including 41m* @ 4.1% Cu as well as 68m of sulfide mineralization associated with a deeper conductive anomaly.
In April 2022, results of beneficiation studies demonstrated that a mineralized intercept grading 4% Cu from the 4100N area could be upgraded to a 54% Cu direct ship product using standard sorting technology. Further beneficiation and metallurgical studies are ongoing.
In April 2023, American West embarked on a spring delineation drilling program using a helicopter-portable RC drill rig as well as conducting gravity and moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) ground geophysical programs.
The summer 2023 program conducted further delineation drilling of the near-surface high-grade copper zones to advance them toward maiden resource estimates in 2024. Deep diamond drilling during 2023 discovered high-grade copper sulfides up to 2.7% Cu at approximately 300m vertical depth (ST23-02), suggesting the potential for the discovery of large-scale copper targets at depth.
Diamond drilling of new high-priority deep MLEM targets, RC delineation drilling for resource development and additional geophysical surveys are now underway in the 2024 program. Metallurgical studies and environmental baseline studies are ongoing, with bulk sampling for prefeasibility-level processing planned for summer 2024.
*Stated drill hole intersections are all core length and true width is expected to be 60% to 100% of core length.
About Aston Bay Holdings
Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in Nunavut, Canada and Virginia, USA.
The Company is currently exploring the Storm Copper Property and Cu-Ag-Zn-Co Epworth Property in Nunavut, as well as the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia. The Company is also in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade critical metals potential in North America
The Company and its joint venture partners, American West Metals Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tornado Metals Ltd. (collectively, "American West"), have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit. Under the unincorporated joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Storm Project property will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
About American West Metals Limited
AMERICAN WEST METALS LIMITED (ASX: AW1) is an Australian clean energy mining company focused on growth through the discovery and development of major base metal mineral deposits in Tier 1 jurisdictions of North America. The company's strategy is focused on developing mines that have a low-footprint and support the global energy transformation. AW1's portfolio of copper and zinc projects in Utah and Canada include significant existing resource inventories and high-grade mineralization that can generate robust mining proposals. Core to AW1's approach is a commitment to the ethical extraction and processing of minerals and making a meaningful contribution to the communities where its projects are located.
Led by a highly experienced leadership team, AW1's strategic initiatives lay the foundation for a sustainable business which aims to deliver high-multiplier returns on shareholder investment and economic benefits to all stakeholders.
For further information on American West, visit: www.americanwestmetals.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements made in this news release, including those regarding entering into the joint venture and each party's interest in the Project pursuant to the agreement in respect of the joint venture, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For more information contact:
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer
thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com
(416) 456-3516
Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development
sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com
(647) 821-1337
SOURCE: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Thick and high-grade copper intersections from the surface at Chinook
Chinook Deposit delineation drilling:
Drilling at the Chinook Deposit has intersected thick, high-grade, near-surface copper intervals (interpreted as close to true width), including:
Drill hole SR24-068:
42.7m @ 3.1% Cu, 4.0 g/t Ag from the surface, including,
1.5m @ 7.1% Cu, 60 g/t Ag from 25.9m downhole
Drill hole SR24-080:
35.1m @ 2.7% Cu, 5.8 g/t Ag from 22.9m downhole, including,
9.2m @ 7.3% Cu, 15.3 g/t Ag from 27.4m downhole, and,
3.1m @ 3.9% Cu, 5.5 g/t Ag from 38.1m downhole
Drill hole SR24-081:
29m @ 2.6% Cu, 4.3 g/t Ag from the surface, including,
3.1m @ 11.1% Cu, 1.5 g/t Ag from 1.5m downhole, and,
4.6m @ 4.8% Cu, 5.7 g/t Ag from 21.6m downhole
Cyclone Deposit delineation drilling:
Drilling around and within the Cyclone Deposit continues to intersect thick, high-grade copper intervals (interpreted as close to true width), including:
Drill hole SR24-117 has intersected:
16.8m @ 1% Cu, 4.0 g/t Ag from 15.2m downhole, and
33.5m @ 1.5% Cu, 8.5 g/t Ag from 35.1m downhole, including,
3.1m @ 6.9% Cu, 23.0 g/t Ag from 54.9m downhole
Assays for the remaining Cyclone drill holes are expected in the next 2-4 weeks
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 17, 2024 / Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on drilling activities at the Storm Copper Project ("Storm" or the "Project") on Somerset Island, Nunavut. The exploration program is being conducted by American West Metals Limited ("American West"), the Project operator. Aston Bay and American West have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture with respect to the Storm Project property, with Aston Bay maintaining a free carried interest until a decision to mine is made upon completion of a bankable feasibility study.
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Bay,commented:
"Storm continues to deliver impressive results from the delineation drilling program conducted by our partners American West. Long intercepts of high-grade copper mineralization from the surface bode well for potential development at the project. We look forward to more drill results in the coming weeks as we work toward calculating the maiden resource for Storm."
Figure 1: Storm Project team geologists Rachel Borg and Jordan Mathieu review the drill core from metallurgical drill hole SM24-02 (see Table 1 for details).
EXCEPTIONAL COPPER INTERSECTIONS FROM THE SURFACE AT CHINOOK
Assay results from drilling at the Chinook Deposit confirm thick and high-grade intersections of copper from the surface and highlight the near-surface, high-grade potential of the deposit (Figure 2). The drill program was designed to inform an upcoming maiden mineral resource estimate for the Storm Project that is currently being constructed to CIM standards.
The shallow, up-dip drilling has intersected outstanding intervals of copper and has increased the thickness of the known mineralization along several drill sections. Drilling on the margins of Chinook has also highlighted its expansion potential, with the deposit remaining open down dip and along strike.
The thick intervals and high grades of the outcropping and near-surface copper mineralization at Chinook support potential open-pit mining of the deposit, reinforcing the development opportunity that Chinook presents as a potential starter mining pit at Storm. Detailed studies continue on a range of mining and development scenarios for the Storm project.
Figure 2: Plan view of the Chinook Deposit showing the interpreted copper mineralized zone and historical and recent drilling, overlying regional geology.
Figure 3: Photo of the Chinook copper deposit area looking north, across the gully from the Lightning Ridge Prospect. The extensive rust-coloured staining indicates an outcropping of copper sulfide. Also visible in the photo are a diamond drilling rig (left, middle) and several white bulk bags used for transporting drill samples.
DRILL HOLE SR24-068 DETAILS
SR24-068 was drilled in the up-dip portion of the Chinook Deposit to a downhole depth of 79.2m (Figure 4), intersecting 43m of intense chalcocite and bornite mineralization from the surface (Table 1). The interval is consistently mineralized with several discrete zones of more intense mineralization grading up to 7.1% Cu (from 25.9m downhole).
The mineralization within the Chinook Deposit is steeply dipping and hosted within the Allen Bay Formation. The geometry and fractured nature of the mineralization within the deposit suggest that it is fault-related. With the immediate Chinook area only being explored to approximately 120m vertical depth, there is outstanding potential to extend the deposit at depth and along strike.
The Chinook Deposit represents one of seven discoveries in the Southern Graben area to date, and there is strong potential for further discoveries within the extensive fault network that delineates the graben.
Figure 4: N-S geological schematic section view through SR24-068 showing the recent drill hole locations, recently received assays and the previous interpretation of the copper mineralized zone (to be updated).
THICK INTERVALS OF COPPER CONTINUE AT CYCLONE
The potential of the Cyclone Deposit is highlighted by the thick and high-grade nature of copper mineralization in these new results, both within and outside the interpreted copper mineralized zone (Figure 5).
Within the mineralized zone, these new drill results from the southeast of the deposit demonstrate the intense copper mineralization that is typically found close to the Northern Graben Fault, a critical structural control on mineralization.
Recent drilling has also hit significant copper mineralization outside of the interpreted zone of copper mineralization at Cyclone. Previous geological interpretations truncated the zone along the Northern Graben Fault (Figure 5). Recent drilling to the southwest of the deposit (see September 27, 2024, Aston Bay news release) confirms that the Cyclone mineralization continues across this structure and is located at depth within the down-faulted stratigraphy of the Central Graben, outside of the previously interpreted mineralized body. With only minimal drilling in this newly identified zone to the southeast, this area remains a highly prospective target for future growth (Figure 6).
Figure 5: Plan view of the Cyclone Deposit showing the interpreted copper mineralized zone and historical and recent drilling overlying regional geology.
DRILL HOLE SR24-117 DETAILS
SR24-117 was drilled in the southeast portion of the Cyclone Deposit to a downhole depth of 100.7m (Table 4) proximal to the Northern Graben Fault.
The mineralization in SR24-117 contains two main zones (16.8m @ 1% Cu, 4.0 g/t Ag from 15.2m and 33.5m @ 1.5% Cu, 8.5 g/t Ag from 35.1m) of intense vein- and fracture-style copper sulfide mineralization, dominantly chalcocite, hosted within fractured dolomite of the Allen Bay Formation.
Copper-rich chalcocite mineralization is usually characterized by significant lateral continuity within Cyclone. Given the proximity to the Northern Graben Fault, it is interpreted that the mineralization is highly likely to continue to the south across the fault, where the extension to the Cyclone mineralization could be located slightly deeper within the Central Graben (Figure 6).
Figure 6: Geological section view at 465,400E showing the interpreted mineralized intervals (>0.2% Cu) for drill hole SR24-117, and the previous interpretation of the copper mineralized zone (to be updated).
PLANNED PROGRAM
On-site drilling activities have concluded for 2024 with substantial news flow expected to continue, including the laboratory assays for the remaining drill holes over the next month and the results of several ongoing studies throughout Q4 2024 and early 2025.
A maiden mineral resource estimate for the Storm Project is currently being constructed to CIM standards for anticipated Q4 2024 release.
ESG, mining, engineering, metallurgical, and economic studies are continuing with Ausenco and Sacre-Davey Engineering.
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Width | Cu % | Zn % | Ag g/t |
SM24-01 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 4.84 | 0.1 | 13.1 |
Including | 3 | 5.38 | 2.38 | 13.41 | 0.4 | 22.8 |
38 | 43 | 5 | 0.50 | 0.0 | 1.7 | |
44 | 59 | 15 | 2.78 | 0.0 | 9.0 | |
Including | 46.5 | 55 | 8.5 | 4.54 | 0.0 | 13.8 |
60 | 64.5 | 4.5 | 1.34 | 0.0 | 2.1 | |
Including | 62 | 63.8 | 1.8 | 2.45 | 0.0 | 3.2 |
74.24 | 75.05 | 0.81 | 0.36 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
77.5 | 79 | 1.5 | 0.59 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SM24-02 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 0.61 | 0.0 | 3.8 |
11.9 | 26 | 14.1 | 4.90 | 0.0 | 7.0 | |
Including | 18.4 | 26 | 7.6 | 8.15 | 0.0 | 5.9 |
27 | 29 | 2 | 1.08 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
30.35 | 32.5 | 2.15 | 1.18 | 0.0 | 1.8 | |
33 | 35 | 2 | 3.88 | 0.0 | 4.0 | |
Including | 33 | 34 | 1 | 6.86 | 0.0 | 6.0 |
37 | 40 | 3 | 8.81 | 0.0 | 12.2 | |
Including | 37 | 38 | 1 | 24.40 | 0.0 | 32.0 |
41.5 | 44 | 2.5 | 3.12 | 0.0 | 4.0 | |
Including | 41.5 | 42.5 | 1 | 6.30 | 0.0 | 7.0 |
51 | 55 | 4 | 3.24 | 0.0 | 3.7 | |
Including | 51.85 | 54 | 2.15 | 5.64 | 0.0 | 5.8 |
56 | 65 | 9 | 3.76 | 0.0 | 3.1 | |
Including | 58 | 59.9 | 1.9 | 10.54 | 0.0 | 6.9 |
and | 63 | 64 | 1 | 2.06 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
66 | 69 | 3 | 0.30 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
71 | 73 | 2 | 0.43 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
74 | 76 | 2 | 0.49 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
80 | 81.5 | 1.5 | 1.12 | 0.0 | 0.8 | |
85.3 | 86 | 0.7 | 2.35 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
92.5 | 93 | 0.5 | 1.75 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-068 | 0 | 42.67 | 42.67 | 3.10 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
Including | 25.91 | 27.43 | 1.52 | 7.14 | 0.0 | 6.0 |
SR24-080 | 0 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 0.21 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
4.57 | 7.62 | 3.05 | 0.41 | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
9.14 | 21.34 | 12.2 | 0.93 | 0.0 | 1.6 | |
Including | 10.67 | 13.72 | 3.05 | 1.76 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
and | 15.24 | 18.29 | 3.05 | 1.12 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
22.86 | 57.91 | 35.05 | 2.72 | 0.1 | 5.8 | |
Including | 27.43 | 36.58 | 9.15 | 7.28 | 0.5 | 15.3 |
and | 38.1 | 41.15 | 3.05 | 3.90 | 0.0 | 5.5 |
62.48 | 68.58 | 6.1 | 0.53 | 0.0 | 1.1 | |
Including | 65.53 | 67.06 | 1.53 | 1.04 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
SR24-081 | 0 | 28.96 | 28.96 | 2.56 | 0.1 | 4.3 |
Including | 1.52 | 4.57 | 3.05 | 11.11 | 0.1 | 1.5 |
and | 7.62 | 10.67 | 3.05 | 2.24 | 0.1 | 5.5 |
and | 21.34 | 25.91 | 4.57 | 4.77 | 0.1 | 5.7 |
39.62 | 50.29 | 10.67 | 0.56 | 0.0 | 1.4 | |
Including | 48.77 | 50.29 | 1.52 | 1.03 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
57.91 | 59.44 | 1.53 | 0.31 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
62.48 | 64.01 | 1.53 | 0.26 | 0.0 | 7.0 | |
SR24-082 | 0 | 7.62 | 7.62 | 0.61 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
Including | 1.52 | 3.05 | 1.53 | 1.11 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
10.67 | 13.72 | 3.05 | 0.45 | 0.0 | 2.5 | |
19.81 | 28.96 | 9.15 | 2.73 | 0.0 | 2.2 | |
32 | 35.05 | 3.05 | 0.66 | 0.0 | 24.0 | |
SR24-083 | 0 | 18.29 | 18.29 | 2.48 | 0.0 | 16.0 |
Including | 4.57 | 10.67 | 6.1 | 5.37 | 0.0 | 2.8 |
22.86 | 27.43 | 4.57 | 0.35 | 0.0 | 3.3 | |
39.62 | 41.15 | 1.53 | 0.52 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-084 | 3.05 | 4.57 | 1.52 | 0.60 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
7.62 | 9.14 | 1.52 | 0.34 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
12.19 | 16.76 | 4.57 | 0.78 | 0.0 | 1.3 | |
Including | 12.19 | 13.72 | 1.53 | 1.82 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
25.91 | 32 | 6.09 | 1.04 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
Including | 27.43 | 28.96 | 1.53 | 3.45 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
45.72 | 47.24 | 1.52 | 0.21 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-085 | 7.62 | 9.14 | 1.52 | 0.43 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
10.67 | 12.19 | 1.52 | 0.87 | 0.3 | 1.0 | |
13.72 | 18.29 | 4.57 | 0.74 | 0.1 | 4.7 | |
Including | 16.76 | 18.29 | 1.53 | 1.42 | 0.0 | 10.0 |
SR24-086 | 10.67 | 16.76 | 6.09 | 0.93 | 0.0 | 53.4 |
Including | 10.67 | 13.72 | 3.05 | 1.39 | 0.0 | 83.1 |
22.86 | 25.91 | 3.05 | 0.52 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
38.1 | 39.62 | 1.52 | 0.21 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
SR24-088 | 54.86 | 56.39 | 1.53 | 0.24 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
SR24-090 | 0 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 0.29 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
9.14 | 12.19 | 3.05 | 0.48 | 0.0 | 3.5 | |
16.76 | 25.91 | 9.15 | 1.05 | 0.0 | 1.3 | |
Including | 18.29 | 21.34 | 3.05 | 1.77 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
27.43 | 32 | 4.57 | 0.71 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
Including | 28.96 | 30.48 | 1.52 | 1.48 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
33.53 | 38.1 | 4.57 | 0.44 | 0.0 | 0.8 | |
SR24-092 | 53.34 | 60.96 | 7.62 | 0.41 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
64.01 | 65.53 | 1.52 | 0.28 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
Table 1: Summary of recent significant drilling intersections at the Chinook Deposit (>0.2% Cu). The Reverse Circulation ("RC") intersections (SR24* holes) are expressed as downhole widths and are interpreted to be close to true widths. Diamond drill intersections (SM* holes) are all core length and true width is expected to be 60% to 100% of core length.
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Width | Cu % | Zn % | Ag g/t |
SR24-077 | 118.87 | 120.4 | 1.53 | 0.45 | 0.06 | 2 |
SR24-113 | 96.01 | 97.54 | 1.53 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
SR24-114 | 44.2 | 45.72 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
62.48 | 64.01 | 1.53 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 4.0 | |
70.1 | 73.15 | 3.05 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 3.5 | |
Including | 71.63 | 73.15 | 1.52 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
77.72 | 80.77 | 3.05 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
100.58 | 102.11 | 1.53 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
SR24-115 | 21.34 | 24.38 | 3.04 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
33.53 | 36.58 | 3.05 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.5 | |
47.24 | 48.77 | 1.53 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
62.48 | 64.01 | 1.53 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
73.15 | 74.68 | 1.53 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
77.72 | 79.25 | 1.53 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-116 | 30.48 | 32 | 1.52 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
38.1 | 39.62 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
50.29 | 56.39 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 6.0 | |
Including | 53.34 | 56.39 | 3.05 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 9.5 |
60.96 | 65.53 | 4.57 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.8 | |
71.63 | 73.15 | 1.52 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
74.68 | 76.2 | 1.52 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
77.72 | 83.82 | 6.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3.5 | |
Including | 77.72 | 79.25 | 1.53 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 8.0 |
SR24-117 | 10.67 | 12.19 | 1.52 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
15.24 | 32 | 16.76 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | |
35.05 | 68.58 | 33.53 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 8.5 | |
Including | 53.34 | 64.01 | 10.67 | 2.8 | 0.1 | 10.3 |
Including | 54.86 | 57.91 | 3.05 | 6.93 | 0.1 | 23 |
77.72 | 83.82 | 6.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 4.3 | |
SR24-118 | 19.81 | 21.34 | 1.53 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
35.05 | 38.1 | 3.05 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | |
42.67 | 44.2 | 1.53 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
68.58 | 74.68 | 6.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-121 | 89.92 | 91.44 | 1.52 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
SR24-122 | 16.76 | 18.29 | 1.53 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
39.62 | 41.15 | 1.53 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
47.24 | 48.77 | 1.53 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
51.82 | 53.34 | 1.52 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
76.2 | 79.25 | 3.05 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.5 | |
SR24-124 | 106.68 | 108.2 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.0 |
112.78 | 114.3 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-125 | 114.3 | 115.82 | 1.52 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
117.35 | 118.87 | 1.52 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
123.44 | 126.49 | 3.05 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1.5 | |
SR24-127 | 85.34 | 100.58 | 15.24 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 3.5 |
Including | 86.87 | 94.49 | 7.62 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 3.6 |
102.11 | 103.63 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
105.16 | 109.73 | 4.57 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5.7 | |
SR24-128 | 67.06 | 70.1 | 3.04 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 4.5 |
71.63 | 74.68 | 3.05 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3.5 | |
80.77 | 82.3 | 1.53 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 6.0 | |
99.06 | 102.11 | 3.05 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
106.68 | 108.2 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
Table 2: Summary of recent significant drilling intersections at the Cyclone Deposit (>0.2% Cu). The Reverse Circulation ("RC") intersections (SR24* holes) are expressed as downhole widths and are interpreted to be close to true widths.
Details of the delineation drilling and exploration drill holes for the 2024 program are available at https://astonbayholdings.com/news/2024-storm-drill-hole-details/.
Qualified Person
Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.
About the Storm Copper and Seal Zinc-Silver Projects, Nunavut
The Nunavut property consists of 173 contiguous mining claims covering an area of approximately 219,257 hectares on Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada. The Storm Project comprises both the Storm Copper Project, a high-grade sediment-hosted copper discovery (intersections including 110m* @ 2.5% Cu from surface and 56.3* @ 3.1% Cu from 12.2m as well as the Seal Zinc Deposit (intersections including 14.4m* @ 10.6% Zn, 28.7g/t Ag from 51.8m and 22.3m* @ 23.0% Zn, 5.1g/t Ag from 101.5m). Additionally, there are numerous underexplored and undrilled targets within the 120-kilometre strike length of the mineralized trend, including the Tornado copper prospect, where ten grab samples yielded >1% Cu up to 32% Cu in gossans. The Nunavut property is now the subject of an 80/20 unincorporated joint venture with American West (see "Agreement with American West" below for more details).
Storm Discovery and Historical Work
High-grade copper mineralization was discovered at Storm in the mid-1990s by Cominco geologists conducting regional zinc exploration around their then-producing Polaris lead-zinc mine. A massive chalcocite boulder found in a tributary of the Aston River in 1996 was traced to impressive surface exposures of broken chalcocite mineralization for hundreds of metres of surface strike length at what became named the 2750N, 2200N, and 3500N zones. Subsequent seasons of prospecting, geophysics and over 9,000 m of drilling into the early 2000s confirmed a significant amount of copper mineralization below the surface exposures as well as making the blind discovery of the 4100N Zone, a large area of copper mineralization with no surface exposure.
Following the merger of Cominco with Teck in 2001 and the closure of the Polaris Mine, the Storm claims were allowed to lapse in 2007. Commander Resources staked the property in 2008 and flew a helicopter-borne VTEM survey in 2011 but conducted no additional drilling. Aston Bay subsequently entered into an earn-in agreement with Commander and consolidated 100% ownership in 2015. Commander retained a 0.875% Gross Overriding Royalty in the area of the original Storm claims which was purchased by Taurus Mining Royalty Fund L.P. in January 2024.
In 2016 Aston Bay entered into an earn-in agreement with BHP, who conducted a 2,000-station soil sampling program and drilled 1,951m of core in 12 diamond drill holes, yielding up to 16m* @ 3.1% Cu. BHP exited the agreement in 2017 and retains no residual interest in the project. Aston Bay conducted a property-wide airborne gravity gradiometry survey in 2017 and drilled 2,913m in nine core holes in the Storm area in 2018, yielding a best intercept of 1.5m* @ 4.4% Cu and 20.5m* @ 0.6% Cu.
Agreement with American West
On March 9, 2021, Aston Bay entered into an option agreement with American West Metals Limited (American West) and its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Tornado Metals Ltd., pursuant to which American West was granted an option to earn an 80% undivided interest in the Project by spending a minimum of CAD$10 million on qualifying exploration expenditures. The parties amended and restated the Option Agreement as of February 27, 2023, to facilitate American West directly earning an interest in the Project alongside its Canadian subsidiary without any change to the overall commercial agreement between the parties. The expenditures were completed during 2023, and American West exercised the option. American West and Aston Bay have formed an 80/20 unincorporated joint venture.
Under the joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Project will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
Recent Work
American West completed a fixed loop electromagnetic (FLEM) ground geophysical survey in 2021 that yielded several new subsurface conductive anomalies. A total of 1,534m were drilled in 10 diamond drill holes in the 2022 season, yielding several impressive near-surface intercepts, including 41m* @ 4.1% Cu as well as 68m of sulfide mineralization associated with a deeper conductive anomaly.
In April 2022, results of beneficiation studies demonstrated that a mineralized intercept grading 4% Cu from the 4100N area could be upgraded to a 54% Cu direct ship product using standard sorting technology. Further beneficiation and metallurgical studies are ongoing.
In April 2023, American West embarked on a spring delineation drilling program using a helicopter-portable RC drill rig as well as conducting gravity and moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) ground geophysical programs.
The summer 2023 program conducted further delineation drilling of the near-surface high-grade copper zones to advance them toward maiden resource estimates in 2024. Deep diamond drilling during 2023 discovered high-grade copper sulfides up to 2.7% Cu at approximately 300m vertical depth (ST23-02), suggesting the potential for the discovery of large-scale copper targets at depth.
Diamond drilling of new high-priority deep MLEM targets, RC delineation drilling for resource development and additional geophysical surveys are now underway in the 2024 program. Metallurgical studies and environmental baseline studies are ongoing, with bulk sampling for prefeasibility-level processing planned for summer 2024.
*Stated drill hole intersections are all core length and true width is expected to be 60% to 100% of core length.
About Aston Bay Holdings
Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in Nunavut, Canada and Virginia, USA.
The Company is currently exploring the Storm Copper Property and Cu-Ag-Zn-Co Epworth Property in Nunavut, as well as the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia. The Company is also in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade critical metals potential in North America
The Company and its joint venture partners, American West Metals Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tornado Metals Ltd. (collectively, "American West") have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit. Under the unincorporated joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Storm Project property will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
About American West Metals Limited
AMERICAN WEST METALS LIMITED (ASX:AW1) is an Australian clean energy mining company focused on growth through the discovery and development of major base metal mineral deposits in Tier 1 jurisdictions of North America. The company's strategy is focused on developing mines that have a low-footprint and support the global energy transformation. AW1's portfolio of copper and zinc projects in Utah and Canada include significant existing resource inventories and high-grade mineralization that can generate robust mining proposals. Core to AW1's approach is a commitment to the ethical extraction and processing of minerals and making a meaningful contribution to the communities where its projects are located.
Led by a highly experienced leadership team, AW1's strategic initiatives lay the foundation for a sustainable business which aims to deliver high-multiplier returns on shareholder investment and economic benefits to all stakeholders.
For further information on American West, visit: www.americanwestmetals.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements made in this news release, including those regarding entering into the joint venture and each party's interest in the Project pursuant to the agreement in respect of the joint venture, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For more information contact:
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer
thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com
(416) 456-3516
Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development
sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com
(647) 821-1337
SOURCE: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Drill results outside of known mineralization confirm the expansion potential
Cyclone resource upgrade and expansion:
Assays confirm that the resource drilling around and within the Cyclone Deposit has intersected further thick high-grade copper intervals including:
Drill hole SR24-093 was drilled 75m southof the current known area of mineralization and has intersected:
53.3m @ 3.9% copper (Cu), 12.6 grams per tonne (g/t) silver (Ag) from 86.9m downhole, including,
22.9m @ 8.5% Cu, 17.8g/t Ag from 86.9m downhole, including,
9.1m @ 14.4% Cu, 21.3g/t Ag from 93m downhole
Drill hole SR24-070 has intersected:
45.7m @ 1.9% Cu, 9.4g/t Ag from 35.1m downhole, including,
27.4m @ 3.1% Cu, 14.6g/t Ag from 35.1m downhole, including,
15.2m @ 4.2% Cu, 16.2g/t Ag from 35.1m downhole
Drill hole SR24-045 has intersected:
57.9m @ 1% Cu, 4.3g/t Ag from 32m downhole, including,
10.7m @ 3.2% Cu, 16.0g/t Ag from 65.5m downhole
Sealift and 2025 program preparation:
NEAS cargo ship MV Mitiq has successfully completed the 2024 sealift operation at Storm
The sealift has delivered large quantities of supplies directly on Somerset Island for the 2025 exploration, resource expansion, and development programs, which is expected to save an estimated $4 Million on the 2025 budget
Bulk samples containing copper were also transported offsite via the cargo ship, demonstrating the complete logistics chain for the potential direct shipping product mining operation
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2024 /Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on drilling activities at the Storm Copper Project ("Storm" or the "Project") on Somerset Island, Nunavut. The exploration program is being conducted by American West Metals Limited ("American West"), who is the operator of the Project. Aston Bay and American West have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, with Aston Bay maintaining a free carried interest until a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study.
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Bay, commented:
"It is exciting to hit such a long interval of high-grade copper outside of the previously known zone of mineralization as we work toward calculation of a maiden resource estimate this fall. This suggests there is more to be found, and it bodes well for additional discoveries and expansion of the known existing mineralization with next year's campaign.
"We congratulate NEAS on the arrival of their cargo ship MV Mitiq into Aston Bay. This sealift is a first for the project that will significantly reduce the cost for both the delineation drilling and exploration diamond drilling programs next year. The successful operation demonstrates that bulk cargo and equipment can be economically transported to the project and that potential products could be delivered to market on the return journey. This will play an important part in future programs and development plans at Storm."
Figure 1: NEAS cargo ship MV Mitiq at anchor in Aston Bay for the Storm Project sealift.
EXCEPTIONAL COPPER INTERSECTIONS CONTINUE AT CYCLONE
Assay results from the latest batch of drill holes have been received and continue to highlight the expansion and upgrade potential of the Cyclone Deposit (Figure 2).
The latest assays have confirmed very thick and high-grade intersections of copper within and outside of the current known mineralization envelope, particularly at the west end and to the south of the deposit. The west end of Cyclone hosts the shallowest and highest-grade copper mineralization within the deposit, considered very favourable for a potential open-pit mining operation in future. The infill drilling also continues to confirm the excellent lateral continuity of the mineralization.
Assays for the remainder of the outstanding drill holes are expected in batches over the coming weeks.
Figure 2: Plan view of the Cyclone Deposit showing the copper mineralized zone outlines and historical and recent drilling, overlain on regional geology.
DRILL HOLE SR24-093 DETAILS
SR24-093 was drilled to the southwest of the Cyclone Deposit and to a downhole depth of 150.9m (Figure 3). The drill hole was designed to follow up other strong copper intersections outside of the known mineralization in the southern area including SR24-009 which intersected 15.2m @ 1.4% Cu, including 1.5m @ 6.4% Cu from 109.7m downhole (See August 15, 2024, Aston Bay news release.
Drill hole SR24-093 intersected 53m of strong chalcocite mineralization (53.3m @ 3.9% Cu) from 86.9m downhole with an intensely mineralized zone and semi-massive sulfide zone between 86.9m and 109.7m downhole averaging 8.5% Cu over 22.9m (Table 1).
The mineralized Allen Bay host rock in SR24-093 is displaced downward relative to the Cyclone Deposit south of the large fault that forms the northern boundary of the Central Graben. The faults that define this large block of down-dropped prospective rock within the Central Graben either host or are spatially associated with the majority of the copper mineralization at Storm. The graben block itself, with the prospective Allen Bay stratigraphic horizon covered by the barren overlying Douro formation at the surface, is little explored. These new intercepts highlight the potential for the Central Graben to host significant copper mineralization concealed at depth.
The large 75m step-out from the previous drilling, thickness, and grade of the copper mineralization are promising for the discovery of additional mineralization to the southwest of the Cyclone Deposit and elsewhere in the large but underexplored Central Graben.
Figure 3: N-S geological schematic section view through SR24-093 and SR24-073 showing the recent drill hole locations, recent assays, and the interpreted zones of copper mineralization..
DRILL HOLE SR24-045 and SR24-070 DETAILS
SR24-045 and SR24-070 are located on the same drill section and have intersected intense copper sulfide mineralization on the margins of the known zones of mineralization at Cyclone (Figure 2).
Mineralization in both drill holes consists of zones of intense vein- and fracture-style copper sulfide mineralization with thick intervals over 3% Cu hosted within fractured dolomite of the Allen Bay Formation.
The dominant copper sulfide mineral observed within the drill holes is chalcocite, with minor bornite and chalcopyrite on the margins of the mineralized intervals and within veins. The mineralogy and intensity of copper mineralization is typically characterized by significant lateral continuity within Cyclone.
Figure 4: Geological section view at 464,850E showing the mineralized intervals (>0.2% Cu) for drill holes SR24-011, SR24-15 and SR24-023, and the interpreted zones of copper mineralization.
SEALIFT - DEMONSTRATION OF COMPLETE LOGISTICS CHAIN
The NEAS cargo ship MV Mitiq has recently completed a sealift operation at the Storm Project. The ship anchored in Aston Bay and has delivered large quantities of aviation and diesel fuel, salt for diamond drilling, lumber, heavy machinery, and other supplies in preparation for the 2025 exploration and delineation drilling program.
The sealift is carried out using large, tugboat-guided barges maneuvered onto a suitable beach (Figure 5), and then off-loaded using large wheeled loaders. Materials are hoisted from the ship to the barges (and vice versa) using large cranes. This system eliminates the need for wharves or other port infrastructure to load and unload cargo (Figures 6 & 7).
The sealift has also demonstrated the loading operations and sent bulk samples of RC chips off-site. The mineralized samples will be used for metallurgical purposes and the process has demonstrated the complete logistics chain for a potential mining operation at the Storm Project: it is envisaged that potential copper direct shipping product would be transported to market in sea containers via sealift on empty ships returning to port on the east coast of Canada.
Whereas the sealift has incurred expenses on the 2024 program, the exercise is expected to save approximately $4m on the 2025 program budget.
Figure 5: Photo of the sealift tug and barging operation underway on Aston Bay, Nunavut.
Figure 6: Offloading of cargo at the Storm Project Marine Loading Area (MLA), on the coast of Aston Bay, Nunavut.
Figure 7: Photo of the Storm Project Marine Loading Area (MLA), on the coast of Aston Bay, Nunavut.
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Width | Cu % | Zn % | Ag g/t |
SR24-043 | 91.44 | 99.06 | 7.62 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
100.58 | 102.11 | 1.53 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
105.16 | 106.68 | 1.52 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
SR24-045 | 32.00 | 89.92 | 57.91 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 4.3 |
Including | 65.53 | 76.20 | 10.67 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 9.0 |
SR24-049 | 27.43 | 44.20 | 16.76 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 |
Including | 27.43 | 35.05 | 7.62 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
48.77 | 68.58 | 19.81 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.3 | |
Including | 65.53 | 67.06 | 1.52 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
SR24-053 | 83.82 | 86.87 | 3.05 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
SR24-061 | 48.77 | 51.82 | 3.05 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
Including | 42.67 | 45.72 | 3.05 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
and | 50.29 | 51.82 | 1.52 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
92.96 | 94.49 | 1.52 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
111.25 | 117.35 | 6.10 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-063 | 22.86 | 36.58 | 13.72 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
Including | 27.43 | 32.00 | 4.57 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 8.7 |
42.67 | 45.72 | 3.05 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 3.0 | |
50.29 | 51.82 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
59.44 | 60.96 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
65.53 | 71.63 | 6.10 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.5 | |
SR24-067 | 12.19 | 21.34 | 9.14 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
30.48 | 35.05 | 4.57 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
Including | 30.48 | 32.00 | 1.52 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 2.0 |
44.20 | 45.72 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 3.0 | |
50.29 | 62.48 | 12.19 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 4.6 | |
Including | 50.29 | 51.82 | 1.52 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 |
and | 57.91 | 62.48 | 4.57 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 8.7 |
59.44 | 68.58 | 9.14 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
73.15 | 74.68 | 1.52 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
SR24-070 | 27.43 | 28.96 | 1.52 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
35.05 | 80.77 | 45.72 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 9.4 | |
Including | 35.05 | 62.48 | 27.43 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 14.6 |
Including | 35.05 | 50.92 | 15.24 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 16.2 |
SR24-071 | 33.53 | 35.05 | 1.52 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 9.0 |
65.53 | 82.30 | 16.76 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 3.7 | |
Including | 67.06 | 68.58 | 1.52 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 7.0 |
and | 79.25 | 80.77 | 1.52 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 15.0 |
SR24-072 | 59.44 | 67.06 | 7.62 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 |
Including | 59.44 | 64.01 | 4.57 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 4.7 |
71.63 | 74.68 | 3.05 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
79.25 | 80.77 | 1.52 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
SR24-073 | 45.72 | 54.86 | 9.14 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.7 |
65.53 | 82.30 | 16.76 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3.2 | |
Including | 73.15 | 74.68 | 1.52 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 6.0 |
86.87 | 88.39 | 1.52 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 4.0 | |
SR24-075 | 97.54 | 105.16 | 7.62 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 4.4 |
Including | 97.54 | 99.06 | 1.52 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 7.0 |
SR24-076 | 106.68 | 120.40 | 13.72 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 2.4 |
Including | 109.73 | 112.78 | 3.05 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 5.5 |
128.02 | 129.54 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-087 | 25.91 | 30.48 | 4.57 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.7 |
48.77 | 57.91 | 9.14 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.8 | |
Including | 50.29 | 56.39 | 6.10 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 3.8 |
76.20 | 88.39 | 12.19 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 2.5 | |
Including | 76.20 | 79.25 | 3.05 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
SR24-089 | 9.14 | 10.67 | 1.52 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
21.34 | 25.91 | 4.57 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.7 | |
38.10 | 53.34 | 15.24 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.5 | |
Including | 42.67 | 44.20 | 1.52 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
57.91 | 59.44 | 1.52 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
65.53 | 68.58 | 3.05 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.5 | |
88.39 | 89.92 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
SR24-091 | 16.76 | 24.38 | 7.62 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.6 |
32.00 | 35.05 | 3.05 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | |
53.34 | 62.48 | 9.14 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.5 | |
70.10 | 77.72 | 7.62 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.2 | |
SR24-093 | 86.87 | 140.21 | 53.34 | 3.9 | 0.3 | 12.6 |
Including | 86.87 | 109.73 | 22.86 | 8.5 | 0.3 | 17.8 |
Including | 92.96 | 102.11 | 9.14 | 14.4 | 0.0 | 21.3 |
Including | 99.06 | 102.11 | 3.05 | 27.7 | 0.0 | 39.0 |
SR24-095 | 39.62 | 41.15 | 1.52 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
SR24-097 | 57.91 | 60.96 | 3.05 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.5 |
71.63 | 74.68 | 3.05 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
85.34 | 86.87 | 1.52 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-099 | 62.48 | 73.15 | 10.67 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.7 |
83.82 | 86.87 | 3.05 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.5 | |
SR24-101 | 67.06 | 70.10 | 3.05 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
86.87 | 89.92 | 3.05 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.5 | |
92.96 | 94.49 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
126.49 | 128.02 | 1.52 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 3.0 | |
140.21 | 141.73 | 1.52 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
SR24-103 | 65.53 | 71.63 | 6.10 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
94.49 | 108.20 | 13.72 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.9 | |
Including | 102.11 | 103.63 | 1.52 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
SR24-105 | 96.01 | 106.68 | 10.67 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.1 |
112.78 | 114.30 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | |
SR24-107 | 60.96 | 64.01 | 3.05 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
100.58 | 103.63 | 3.05 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | |
SR24-109 | 118.87 | 120.40 | 1.52 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
SR24-111 | 67.06 | 68.58 | 1.52 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
97.54 | 99.06 | 1.52 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
SR24-112 | 51.82 | 53.34 | 1.52 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
76.20 | 99.06 | 22.86 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3.4 | |
Including | 76.20 | 85.34 | 9.14 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
Table 1: Summary of recent significant drilling intersections at the Cyclone Deposit (>0.2% Cu). The intersections are expressed as downhole widths and are interpreted to be close to true widths.
Details of the delineation drilling and exploration drill holes for the 2024 program are available at https://astonbayholdings.com/news/2024-storm-drill-hole-details/.
Qualified Person
Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.
About the Storm Copper and Seal Zinc-Silver Projects, Nunavut
The Nunavut property consists of 173 contiguous mining claims covering an area of approximately 219,257 hectares on Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada. The Storm Project comprises both the Storm Copper Project, a high-grade sediment-hosted copper discovery (intersections including 110m* @ 2.5% Cu from surface and 56.3* @ 3.1% Cu from 12.2m as well as the Seal Zinc Deposit (intersections including 14.4m* @ 10.6% Zn, 28.7g/t Ag from 51.8m and 22.3m* @ 23.0% Zn, 5.1g/t Ag from 101.5m). Additionally, there are numerous underexplored and undrilled targets within the 120-kilometre strike length of the mineralized trend, including the Tornado copper prospect where 10 grab samples yielded >1% Cu up to 32% Cu in gossans. The Nunavut property is now the subject of an 80/20 unincorporated joint venture with American West (see "Agreement with American West" below for more details).
Storm Discovery and Historical Work
High-grade copper mineralization was discovered at Storm in the mid-1990s by Cominco geologists conducting regional zinc exploration around their then-producing Polaris lead-zinc mine. A massive chalcocite boulder found in a tributary of the Aston River in 1996 was traced to impressive surface exposures of broken chalcocite mineralization for hundreds of metres of surface strike length at what became named the 2750N, 2200N, and 3500N zones. Subsequent seasons of prospecting, geophysics and over 9,000 m of drilling into the early 2000s confirmed a significant amount of copper mineralization below the surface exposures as well as making the blind discovery of the 4100N Zone, a large area of copper mineralization with no surface exposure.
Following the merger of Cominco with Teck in 2001 and the closure of the Polaris Mine, the Storm claims were allowed to lapse in 2007. Commander Resources staked the property in 2008 and flew a helicopter-borne VTEM survey in 2011 but conducted no additional drilling. Aston Bay subsequently entered into an earn-in agreement with Commander and consolidated 100% ownership in 2015. Commander retained a 0.875% Gross Overriding Royalty in the area of the original Storm claims which was purchased by Taurus Mining Royalty Fund L.P. in January 2024.
In 2016 Aston Bay entered into an earn-in agreement with BHP, who conducted a 2,000-station soil sampling program and drilled 1,951m of core in 12 diamond drill holes, yielding up to 16m* @ 3.1% Cu. BHP exited the agreement in 2017 and retains no residual interest in the project. Aston Bay conducted a property-wide airborne gravity gradiometry survey in 2017 and drilled 2,913m in nine core holes in the Storm area in 2018 yielding a best intercept of 1.5m* @ 4.4% Cu and 20.5m* @ 0.6% Cu.
Agreement with American West
On March 9, 2021, Aston Bay entered into an option agreement with American West Metals Limited (American West), and its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Tornado Metals Ltd., pursuant to which American West was granted an option to earn an 80% undivided interest in the Project by spending a minimum of CAD$10 million on qualifying exploration expenditures. The parties amended and restated the Option Agreement as of February 27, 2023, to facilitate American West directly earning an interest in the Project alongside its Canadian subsidiary without any change to the overall commercial agreement between the parties. The expenditures were completed during 2023, and American West exercised the option. American West and Aston Bay have formed an 80/20 unincorporated joint venture.
Under the joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Project will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
Recent Work
American West completed a fixed loop electromagnetic (FLEM) ground geophysical survey in 2021 that yielded several new subsurface conductive anomalies. A total of 1,534m were drilled in 10 diamond drill holes in the 2022 season, yielding several impressive near-surface intercepts including 41m* @ 4.1% Cu as well as 68m of sulfide mineralization associated with a deeper conductive anomaly.
In April 2022, results of beneficiation studies demonstrated that a mineralized intercept grading 4% Cu from the 4100N area could be upgraded to a 54% Cu direct ship product using standard sorting technology. Further beneficiation and metallurgical studies are ongoing.
In April 2023, American West embarked on a spring delineation drilling program using a helicopter-portable RC drill rig as well as conducting gravity and moving loop electromagnetic (MLEM) ground geophysical programs.
The summer 2023 program conducted further delineation drilling of the near-surface high-grade copper zones to advance them toward maiden resource estimates in 2024. Deep diamond drilling during 2023 discovered high-grade copper sulfides up to 2.7% Cu at approximately 300m vertical depth (ST23-02), suggesting the potential for discovery of large-scale copper targets at depth.
Diamond drilling of new high-priority deep MLEM targets, RC delineation drilling for resource development and additional geophysical surveys are now underway in the 2024 program. Metallurgical studies and environmental baseline studies are ongoing, with bulk sampling for prefeasibility-level processing planned for summer 2024.
*Stated drill hole intersections are all core length, and true width is expected to be 60% to 100% of core length.
About Aston Bay Holdings
Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in Nunavut, Canada and Virginia, USA.
The Company is currently exploring the Storm Copper Property and Cu-Ag-Zn-Co Epworth Property in Nunavut, and the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia. The company is also in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade critical metals potential in North America
The Company and its joint venture partners, American West Metals Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tornado Metals Ltd. (collectively, "American West") have formed a 20/80 unincorporated joint venture in respect of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit. Under the unincorporated joint venture, Aston Bay shall have a free carried interest until American West has made a decision to mine upon completion of a bankable feasibility study, meaning American West will be solely responsible for funding the joint venture until such decision is made. After such decision is made, Aston Bay will be diluted in the event it does not elect to contribute its proportionate share and its interest in the Storm Project property will be converted into a 2% net smelter returns royalty if its interest is diluted to below 10%.
About American West Metals Limited
AMERICAN WEST METALS LIMITED (ASX: AW1) is an Australian clean energy mining company focused on growth through the discovery and development of major base metal mineral deposits in Tier 1 jurisdictions of North America. The company's strategy is focused on developing mines that have a low-footprint and support the global energy transformation. AW1's portfolio of copper and zinc projects in Utah and Canada include significant existing resource inventories and high-grade mineralization that can generate robust mining proposals. Core to AW1's approach is a commitment to the ethical extraction and processing of minerals and making a meaningful contribution to the communities where its projects are located.
Led by a highly experienced leadership team, AW1's strategic initiatives lay the foundation for a sustainable business which aims to deliver high-multiplier returns on shareholder investment and economic benefits to all stakeholders.
For further information on American West, visit: www.americanwestmetals.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements made in this news release, including those regarding entering into the joint venture and each party's interest in the Project pursuant to the agreement in respect of the joint venture, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For more information contact:
Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer
thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com
(416) 456-3516
Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development
sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com
(647) 821-1337
SOURCE:Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.
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Most Significant Massive Nickel Mineralization Intercepted in Tamarack History in a Second New Zone Below the Tamarack Resource Area
Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) (OTC Pink: TLOFF) (together with its subsidiaries, "Talon" or the "Company"), the majority owner and operator of the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project ("Tamarack Nickel Copper Project") in central Minnesota, is pleased to announce a historic massive sulphide ("MSU") intercept measuring a cumulative 34.9 meters at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project.
Figure 1: Photo of drill core from drill hole 25TK0563 at 762.34 meters depth showing a cumulative 34.9 meters of massive nickel mineralization
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Highlights:
Drill hole 25TK0563 intercepted a cumulative length of 34.9 meters of massive nickel mineralization starting at 762.34 meters (over a total length of 47.33 meters).
The drill hole was targeting a series of Borehole Electromagnetic ("BHEM") anomalies identified from previous drill holes 25TK0562 and 16TK0250.
The previous record drilling thickness of MSU at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project was 23.44 meters from drill hole 21TK0380 (see press release dated September 22, 2022).
The MSU in drill hole 25TK0563 appears to be very similar to the MSU in drill hole 16TK0250 extension suggesting grades may be similar (see Table 2).
Disseminated and vein mineralization above the MSU in drill hole 25TK0563 shows chalcocite and bornite suggesting high copper content similar to drill hole 16TK0250.
Drill hole 25TK0563 represents an approximate 68 meter step-out to the east from the intercept in drill hole 16TK0250.
BHEM surveys are currently being conducted on drill hole 25TK0563.
"In my 19 years working on the Tamarack Project, I've never seen anything like this. This 34.9-meter intercept of high-grade massive sulphide isn't just the longest ever recorded at Tamarack - it's a defining moment. It confirms what we've believed all along: that Tamarack is a truly world-class system. This project is essential to America's critical mineral independence, offering a domestic source of nickel and copper at a time when the United States needs it most," said Brian Goldner, Talon's Chief Exploration and Operations Officer.
Background
Since Talon's press release dated February 3, 2025, Talon's in-house exploration team has been 'Infilling' and 'Outfilling' the Tamarack Resource Area for purposes of completing a feasibility study at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project. This work is in support of Talon's Proposed Action (a highly detailed project description) in its Environmental Assessment Worksheet to support the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.
Historic drill hole 16TK0250 was re-examined and extended from 649 meters depth in order to evaluate a subtle BHEM response observed in the data.
The drill hole encountered significant mineralization at a depth of 707.75 meters, intersection 8.25 meters grading 12.62% Ni, 13.88% Cu, 17.95g/t PGEs+Au (23.28% NiEq or 48.87% CuEq) (see the Company's press release dated May 1, 2025).
BHEM surveys of drill holes 16TK0250 and 25TK0562 identified multiple stacked BHEM anomalies which were targeted with drill hole 25TK0563.
Drill hole 25TK0563 intersected the BHEM anomaly and intercepted 20.39 meters of Mixed and Massive Sulphide mineralization starting at 762.34 meters and 14.51 meters of Massive Sulphide mineralization starting at 795.16 meters for a cumulative intercept of 34.9 meters (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Tamarack Resource Area showing location of the new 34.9 meters intercept in relation to the mineralized domains
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QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALIFIED PERSONS
Please see the technical report entitled "November 2022 National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report of the Tamarack North Project - Tamarack, Minnesota" with an effective date of November 2, 2022 ("November 2022 Technical Report") prepared by independent "Qualified Persons" (as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101")) Brian Thomas (P. Geo), Roger Jackson (P. Geo), Oliver Peters (P. Eng) and Christine Pint (P.G) for information on the QA/QC, data verification, analytical and testing procedures at the Tamarack Nickel Copper Project. Copies are available on the Company's website (www.talonmetals.com) or on SEDAR at (www.sedar.com). The laboratory used is ALS Minerals who is independent of the Company.
Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be consistently calculated for comparison purposes between holes because of the irregular shapes of the mineralized zones. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Talon. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Talon. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company. The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate.
Dr. Etienne Dinel, Vice President, Geology of Talon, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Dr. Dinel is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, and he has reviewed, approved and verified the technical information disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information.
Where used in this news release:
NiEq% = Ni% + Cu% x $4.00/$8.00 x Cu Recovery/Ni Recovery + Co% x $20.00/$8.00 x Co Recovery/Ni Recovery + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$8.00/22.04 x Pt Recovery/Ni Recovery + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$8.00/22.04 x Pd Recovery/Ni Recovery + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $2,000/$8.00/22.04 x Au Recovery/Ni Recovery + Ag [g/t]/31.103 x $20.00/$8.00/22.04 x Ag Recovery/Ni Recovery
CuEq% = Cu%+ Ni% x $8.00/$4.00 + Co% x $20.00/$4.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$4.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $1,000/$4.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $2,000/$4.00/22.04 + Ag [g/t]/31.103 x $20.00/$4.00/22.04
For Ni and Cu recoveries, please refer to the formulae in the November 2022 Technical Report. Recovery of Ni to the Cu concentrate was excluded from the NiEq calculation. The following recoveries were used for the other metals: 64.1% for Co, 82.5% for Pt, 69.3% for Pd and 72.6% for Au and Ag.
ABOUT TALON
Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in central Minnesota. Talon's shares are also traded in the US over the OTC market under the symbol TLOFF. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with additional high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon has an earn-in right to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Nickel Project and currently owns 51%. Talon is focused on (i) expanding and infilling its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 to shape a mine plan for submission to Minnesota regulators, and (ii) following up on additional high-grade nickel mineralization in the Tamarack Intrusive Complex. Talon has a neutrality and workforce development agreement in place with the United Steelworkers union. Talon's Battery Mineral Processing Facility in Mercer County was selected by the US Department of Energy for US$114.8 million funding grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the US Department of Defense awarded Talon a grant of US$20.6 million to support and accelerate Talon's exploration efforts in both Minnesota and Michigan. Talon has well-qualified experienced exploration, mine development, external affairs and mine permitting teams.
For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com or contact:
 | Media Contact:  Jessica Johnson (218) 460-9345 johnson@talonmetals.com | Investor Contact:  Mike Kicis 1 (647) 968-0060 kicis@talonmetals.com |
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to future exploration work, including future drill results and assays as well as geological interpretations. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
Table 1: Collar Location of Drill Hole 25TK0563
Drill Hole (#) | Easting (m) | Northing (m) | Elevation (masl) | Azm | Dip | End Depth (m) |
25TK0563 | 491049.16 | 5168344.40 | 388.00 | 170.66 | -84.56 | 867.77 |
Collar coordinates are UTM Zone 15N, NAD83. Azimuths and dips are taken from the survey record at collar unless otherwise noted. |
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Table 2: Quick Lithology Log for Drill Hole 25TK0563
Drill Hole (#) | From (m) | To (m) | Length (m) | Quick Log | % Sulphides |
25TK0563 | 0 | 33.02 | OB | ||
33.02 | 418.05 | FGO/MZNO | Traces | ||
418.05 | 524.25 | 106.2 | FGO/MZNO | 5-10% | |
524.25 | 538.65 | CGO | 1-2% | ||
538.65 | 539.14 | 0.49 | MSU | 95% | |
539.14 | 762.26 | CGO | Tr-3% | ||
762.26 | 762.34 | SED | Tr | ||
762.34 | 782.73 | 20.39 | MMS/MSU | 80% | |
782.73 | 783.26 | SED | |||
783.26 | 795.16 | CGO | |||
795.16 | 809.67 | 14.51 | MSU | 95% | |
809.65 | 826.01 | SED | |||
826.01 | 867.77 | CGO | Tr-3% | ||
Quick lithology log of drill holes: Overburden (OB); Meta-sedimentary rocks (SED); Fine-grained Orthocumulate/Mixed Zone (FGO/MZNO); Coarse-grained Orthocumulate (CGO); Mixed and Massive sulphide (MMS/MSU). |
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Coverage area includes recently announced gold till anomaly plus two more historic gold occurrences on Matagami property largely subject to base metals exploration
Nuvau Minerals Inc. (TSXV: NMC) has just completed a key step on its journey to unlocking the gold potential of the Matagami Property in the Abitibi region of Québec. It has flown a detailed high resolution drone magnetic ("MAG") survey over an area north of where a 2023 sonic drilling program discovered a significant gold grain anomaly. Hole PD-23-030s had more than 2,000 gold grains per 10 kg of material, supported by a near-contiguous sample with 295 gold grains.
The MAG survey included areas where two other gold anomalies have been previously identified in Québec's SIGEOM/EXAMINE database (see Figure 1):
"These showings add to our thesis that the Matagami camp has the potential to produce gold," said Peter Van Alphen, Nuvau's President and CEO. "The data from this MAG survey will help us develop our eventual diamond drill program related to the gold grain anomaly we recently identified, which is scheduled to start in the second half of 2025. We have just begun to uncover the gold potential of this 1,300 square kilometre land package, where exploration to date has been limited to base metals even though it is in a region known for hosting gold mineralization, including the Detour Gold and Casa Berardi gold mines."
The detailed high resolution drone MAG survey was flown over the area surrounding PD-23-030s, extending north and northeast of the anomaly (see Figure 1). The western limit of the survey is approximately 3 kilometres away from the Caber Complex and the Renaissance discovery, the undeveloped massive sulfide cluster with near-term production potential. This high resolution MAG survey will provide valuable geophysical data to support Nuvau's continuing base metal exploration of the underexplored northern part of the property.
The MAG survey was flown along 25-metre spaced lines oriented at N020° for total line kilometers of 5,066 kilometres. The data was captured at low altitude, approximately 20 metres above ground and will provide a global image of the extended area. Overall, a total area of 128 square kilometres was covered.
The quality and resolution of the survey will enable interpretation of the contrasting geological units as well as structural interpretation, which is key to both the future exploration of region for both gold and base metals. Although this area was previously covered by a mosaic of lower resolution surveys, the data was of much lower definition than what current technology can deliver.
Figure 1 - High resolution Drone Mag survey outline on Matagami Camp property with detail MAG data (Source SIGEOM) and gold showing (Source EXAMINE, GM 60332 and GM 44892).
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Figure 2 - Matagami Property Location relative to the gold producers and explorers in the region. Results from adjacent property(ies) are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on Nuvau's property.
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Qualified Person and Quality Assurance
Gilles Roy, P. Geo. (Qc), Director of Exploration of Nuvau and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release, and otherwise reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.
For further information, please contact:
Peter van Alphen
President and CEO
Telephone: 416-525-6063
Email: pvanalphen@nuvauminerals.com
About Nuvau Minerals Inc.
Nuvau is a Canadian mining company focused on the Abitibi Region of mine-friendly Québec. Nuvau's principal asset is the Matagami Property, which is host to existing processing infrastructure and multiple mineral deposits and is being acquired from Glencore.
Cautionary Statements
Readers are cautioned that geophysical surveys are not definitive; the results contained in this news release are still at an early stage of interpretation, with no guarantee of a mineral discovery.
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning drill results relating to the Matagami Property, the results of the PEA, the potential of the Matagami Property, the timing and commencement of any production, the restart of the Bracemac-McLeod Mine, the completion of the earn-in of the Matagami Property and the timing and completion of any technical studies, feasibility studies or economic analyses.
Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including expectations and assumptions concerning the Company and the Matagami Property. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, neither the Company nor Nuvau undertakes any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
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Falco Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: FPC) (" Falco " or the " Corporation ") is pleased to announce that it has responded to all questions and comments requested by the Direction de l'évaluation environnementale (" DEE ") des projets industriels et miniers on February 27, 2025 (the " Correspondence "), as more fully described in Falco's press release dated March 3, 2025.
The responses, commitments, and explanatory letter submitted (the " Responses ") follow the meetings and clarifications obtained from representatives of the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (the " Ministry ") and other ministries, regarding the principal issues raised by the Horne 5 project (the " Project "), in the Correspondence. The Responses will allow the Ministry to complete its analysis in accordance with the standard evaluation process.
Advancement of Certain Issues
Regarding the Ministry's interpretation of section 197 of the Clean Air Regulations (" CAR "), the Ministry representatives are continuing their analysis, and Falco is confident that the Ministry's position on this issue will be known in the coming weeks. For more information, refer to the Corporation's press release dated March 3, 2025, by clicking on the following link .
Regarding the potential impacts of the Project on the Centre de radio-oncologie régional de Rouyn-Noranda (Rouyn-Noranda Regional Radiation Oncology Centre), la Direction de santé publique de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue (the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Public Health Department) confirmed that it has selected its seismologist expert to form part of its technical committee of experts who will work to assess the risks posed by the Project on the equipment, structures, and activities of the Centre intégré de la santé et de services sociaux de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue (the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Integrated Health and Social Services Centre) and to identify mitigation measures to ensure the safety and proper operation of the facilities and activities. A first meeting of the technical committee will be held in the coming weeks.
Luc Lessard, President and CEO of Falco, commented: " I would like to thank our employees and experts for the work they have done to enable the submission of responses to the Ministry, which brings us closer to a conclusion regarding the environmental authorization process for our Horne 5 Project. Falco believes that the Ministry has all the relevant information to complete its analysis and make its recommendation to the Members of Cabinet. "
As previously disclosed, the results of the independent survey recently conducted by Léger demonstrate strong majority support for the Project in Rouyn-Noranda and Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
About Falco
Falco Resources is one of the largest holders of mining titles in the province of Québec, with a large portfolio of properties in the Abitibi greenstone belt. Falco holds rights to approximately 67,000 hectares of land in the Noranda Mining Camp, representing 67% of the entire camp and including 13 former gold and base metals mining sites. Falco's principal asset is the Horne 5 project located beneath the former Horne mine, which was operated by Noranda from 1927 to 1976 and produced 11.6 million ounces of gold and 2.5 billion pounds of copper. Osisko Development Corp. is Falco's largest shareholder with a 16.0% interest in the Corporation.
For further information, please contact:
Luc Lessard
President and Chief Executive Officer
514 261-3336
info@falcores.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, " forward-looking statements ") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements include references to the social acceptability of the Project, the Ministry's interpretation of section 197 of the CAR, the issues identified in the course of the BAPE process and noted by the Ministry, the development of the Horne 5 Project and the granting of environmental authorizations. These statements are based on information currently available to the Corporation and the Corporation provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. The occurrence of such events or the realization of such statements is subject to a number of risk factors, including, without limitation, the risk factors identified in Falco's annual management's discussion and analysis and in other continuous disclosure documents available at www.sedarplus.com .
Although Falco believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this press release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. As mentioned by Falco in its public disclosure and in its previous press releases, certain major issues have been raised by the Ministry in the context of the development of the project and in the BAPE process, including the compliance of the Project with section 197 of the CAR. There is no certainty or guarantee that the Ministry will change its position regarding the application of section 197 of the CAR to the Project, that Falco will be able to respond to the numerous additional requests from the Ministry in a timely manner or that Falco will be able to raise the necessary funds to continue the additional studies requested by the Ministry, which could significantly delay or prevent the granting of the required authorizations and therefore have an adverse impact on the development of the Project and on Falco's financial situation. Except as required by applicable law, Falco disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information.
News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia
All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Adds Strategic Interest in Tier-One Juanicipio Silver Mine and Significantly Strengthens its Silver Portfolio
Pan American Silver Corp. (NYSE: PAAS) (TSX: PAAS) (" Pan American ") and MAG Silver Corp. (NYSEAM:MAG) (TSX:MAG) (" MAG ") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Pan American will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of MAG pursuant to a plan of arrangement (the " Transaction "). MAG is a tier-one primary silver mining company through its 44% joint venture interest in the large-scale, high-grade Juanicipio mine, operated by Fresnillo plc (" Fresnillo "), who holds the remaining 56% interest in the Juanicipio joint venture.
Under the terms of the Transaction, MAG shareholders will receive total consideration of approximately $2.1 billion representing $20.54 per MAG share, based on the closing price of Pan American's common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (" NYSE ") on May 9, 2025. Consideration will be comprised of a mix of cash totaling $500 million and 0.755 Pan American shares per MAG share, subject to proration as detailed below. The consideration represents premiums of approximately 21% and 27%, respectively, on a prorated basis to the closing price and the 20-day volume weighted average price (" VWAP ") of MAG's common shares on the NYSE American (" NYSEAM ") ending May 9, 2025. Following completion of the Transaction, existing MAG shareholders will own approximately 14% of Pan American shares on a fully diluted basis, benefiting from participation in a larger, diversified, and growth-oriented silver and gold producer.
Michael Steinmann, President and CEO of Pan American, commented: " Our acquisition of MAG brings into Pan American's portfolio one of the best silver mines in the world. Juanicipio is a large-scale, high-grade, low-cost silver mine that will meaningfully increase Pan American's exposure to high margin silver ounces. Furthermore, we see future growth opportunities through the significant exploration potential at Juanicipio as well as MAG's Deer Trail and Larder properties. This strategic acquisition further solidifies Pan American as a leading Americas-focused silver producer. We would like to thank the Fresnillo and the Juanicipio management teams for the constructive interactions and impressive site visit. Together, we bring many decades of operator experience in Mexico and Latin America to the Joint Venture and we are looking forward to a collaborative future and value generation for all shareholders involved."
George Paspalas, President and CEO of MAG, commented, "This transaction represents a compelling opportunity for our shareholders, providing an immediate premium and meaningful exposure to Pan American's world-class assets and proven growth strategy. We are proud of what we've accomplished at MAG, particularly our partnership with Fresnillo which has created extraordinary value at the exceptional Juanicipio mine. Through the acquisition of our interest by Pan American - a respected leader in the global precious metals industry - our shareholders will participate in an exciting future defined by operational excellence, substantial exploration potential, and strong financial stewardship with significant portfolio exposure."
BENEFITS TO MAG SHAREHOLDERS
The Transaction creates significant value and delivers multiple benefits to MAG's shareholders:
STRATEGIC RATIONALE AND BENEFITS TO PAN AMERICAN SHAREHOLDERS
The Transaction creates significant value and delivers multiple benefits to Pan American's shareholders:
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
Under the terms of the Transaction, MAG shareholders will be able to elect to receive the consideration as either (i) $20.54 in cash per MAG share or (ii) 0.755 common shares of Pan American per MAG share, or a combination of cash and shares, subject to proration such that the aggregate consideration paid to all MAG shareholders consists of $500 million in cash and the remaining consideration paid in Pan American Shares.
At closing, Pan American expects to issue an aggregate of approximately 60 million common shares to MAG shareholders, and following completion of the Transaction, existing MAG shareholders will own approximately 14% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Pan American on a fully diluted basis.
The Transaction will be carried out by way of a court-approved Plan of Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and will require approval by 66 2/3% of the votes cast by MAG shareholders at a special meeting expected to be held in July 2025.
All directors and executive officers of MAG have entered into voting support agreements with Pan American pursuant to which they have agreed, subject to the terms of such agreements, to vote their MAG shares in favour of the Transaction.
The Transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including clearance under Mexican anti-trust laws, and approval of the listing of the Pan American common shares to be issued under the Transaction on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE.
Full details of the Transaction will be included in the management information circular of MAG, expected to be mailed to its shareholders in June 2025.
None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Transaction have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and any securities issuable in the Transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE
The definitive agreement and the Transaction have been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each of Pan American and MAG, and in the case of MAG, on the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of independent directors of MAG. MAG's board of directors unanimously recommends that MAG shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction.
BMO Capital Markets and GenCap Mining Advisory Ltd. have each provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of MAG and Raymond James Ltd. has provided a fairness opinion to the MAG Special Committee, each stating that, as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated in such opinion, that the consideration to be received by MAG shareholders pursuant to the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to MAG shareholders.
ADVISORS AND COUNSEL
National Bank Financial acted as exclusive financial advisor to Pan American. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) acted as Canadian legal advisors to Pan American.
BMO Capital Markets and GenCap Mining Advisory Ltd. acted as co-financial advisors to MAG. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP acted as MAG's Canadian legal advisors and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP acted as MAG's U.S. legal advisors. Raymond James Ltd. provided an independent fairness opinion to the MAG Special Committee and the MAG Board of Directors.
CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
Pan American and MAG will host a joint conference call and webcast to discuss the Transaction.
Date: May 12, 2025
Time: 10:00 am ET (7:00 am PT)
Webcast: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=3WdFtqqi
Conference Call: Participants can register for the conference call at:
https://dpregister.com/sreg/10199780/ff21be11a0
Upon registration, you will receive the dial-in details and a unique PIN to access the call. This process will bypass the live operator and avoid the queue. Registration will remain open until the end of the live conference call.
Those without internet access or who prefer to speak with an operator may dial:
Canada & USA Toll-Free: 1-833-752-3507 (toll-free in Canada and the U.S.)
Canada & USA Toll-Free: 1-647-846-7282 (International Participants)
Participants should dial-in at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call and request to join the Pan American Silver call.
A live webcast of the call will be accessible at: https://panamericansilver.com/invest/events-and-presentations/ and on MAG's website at www.magsilver.com. A webcast archive will be available approximately one hour after the end of the event and will be accessible for three months through the same link as the live event.
The telephone audio replay will be available for seven days following the end of the event.
Qualified Person: All scientific or technical information related to MAG Silver in this press release is based upon information prepared by or under the supervision of, or has been approved by Gary Methven, P.Eng., who is a "Qualified Person" for purposes of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("National Instrument 43-101" or "NI 43-101"). Mr. Methven is not independent as he is Vice President, Technical Services of MAG.
About Pan American
Pan American is a leading producer of silver and gold in the Americas, operating mines in Canada, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. We also own the Escobal mine in Guatemala that is currently not operating, and we hold interests in exploration and development projects. We have been operating in the Americas for over three decades, earning an industry-leading reputation for sustainability performance, operational excellence and prudent financial management. We are headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. and our shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "PAAS".
Learn more at panamericansilver.com
Follow us on LinkedIn
For more information contact:
Siren Fisekci
VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Ph: 604-806-3191
Email: ir@panamericansilver.com
About MAG
MAG is a growth-oriented Canadian mining and exploration company focused on advancing high-grade, district scale precious metals projects in the Americas. MAG is a top-tier primary silver mining company through its (44%) joint venture interest in the 4,000 tonnes per day Juanicipio Mine, operated by Fresnillo (56%). The mine is located in the Fresnillo Silver Trend in Mexico, the world's premier silver mining camp, where in addition to mining and processing operations, an expanded exploration program is in place targeting multiple highly prospective targets. MAG is also executing multi-phase exploration programs at the 100% earn-in Deer Trail Project in Utah and the 100% owned Larder Project, located in the historically prolific Abitibi region of Canada.
For more information contact:
Fausto Di Trapani
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: 604-630-1399
Email: info@magsilver.com
Juanicipio Silver Mineral Reserve and Resource Details as at June 30, 2024 (100% basis)
Juanicipio Silver Mineral Reserves 1,2 | Juanicipio Silver Mineral Resources 2,3 | |||||||
Classification | Tonnes (M) | Ag (g/t) | Contained Ag (koz) | Classification | Tonnes (M) | Ag (g/t) | Contained Ag (koz) | |
Proven | 1.5 | 450 | 22,375 | Inferred | 12.4 | 200 | 80,081 | |
Probable | 17.0 | 201 | 109,571 | Measured | 2.0 | 662 | 43,387 | |
Indicated | 16.8 | 242 | 130,991 | |||||
Proven + Probable | 18.5 | 221 | 131,946 | Measured + Indicated | 18.9 | 288 | 174,379 |
Notes:
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information
Certain of the statements and information in this news release, including any information relating to Pan American's future oriented financial information, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: future financial or operational performance, including our estimated production of silver, gold and other metals forecasted for 2025, future returns of capital to shareholders, forecasted ranges for cash costs and all-in sustaining costs, and our sustaining and project capital expenditures in 2025; availability of Navidad as an undeveloped silver deposit; our ability to complete or advance the optimization study for Jacobina, the development of the La Colorada Skarn, or the consultation process for Escobal, and any anticipated benefits to shareholder value or financial or operational performance that may be derived therefrom; expectations regarding the ILO 169 consultation process with respect to Escobal; and Pan American's plans and expectations for its properties and operations; the timing, satisfaction of closing conditions, consummation and terms of the Transaction, including the consideration thereunder and benefits derived therefrom; and the timing and occurrence of a joint conference call discussing the Transaction; the operation of the Juanicipio mine and exploration of its surrounding regions, the Juanicipio mine's generation of free cash flow, and any anticipated benefits to shareholder value or financial or operational performance that may be derived therefrom. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlook are presented in this release for the purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding certain key elements of the Pan American's financial results and business plan, as well as the objectives, strategic priorities and business outlook of Pan American, and in obtaining a better understanding of Pan American's anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such future-oriented financial information or financial outlook may not be appropriate for other purposes.
These forward-looking statements and information reflect Pan American's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Pan American, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: the impact of inflation and disruptions to the global, regional and local supply chains; tonnage of ore to be mined and processed; future anticipated prices for gold, silver and other metals and assumed foreign exchange rates; the timing and impact of planned capital expenditure projects, including anticipated sustaining, project, and exploration expenditures; the ongoing impact and timing of the court-mandated ILO 169 consultation process in Guatemala; ore grades and recoveries; capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates; our mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour-related disruptions at any of our operations; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for our operations are received in a timely manner; our ability to secure and maintain title and ownership to mineral properties and the surface rights necessary for our operations; whether Pan American is able to maintain a strong financial condition and have sufficient capital, or have access to capital through our corporate Credit Facility or otherwise, to sustain our business and operations; and our ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
Pan American cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and Pan American has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the duration and effect of local and world-wide inflationary pressures and the potential for economic recessions; fluctuations in silver, gold and base metal prices; fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); fluctuations in currency markets (such as the PEN, MXN, ARS, BOB, GTQ, CAD, CLP and BRL versus the USD); operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); risks relating to the credit worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other parties with whom Pan American does business; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; employee relations; relationships with, and claims by, local communities and indigenous populations; our ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner; changes in laws, regulations and government practices in the jurisdictions where we operate, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and political, legal or economic developments in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Guatemala, Chile, Brazil or other countries where Pan American may carry on business, including legal restrictions relating to mining, risks relating to expropriation and risks relating to the constitutional court-mandated ILO 169 consultation process in Guatemala; unanticipated or excessive tax assessments or reassessments in our operating jurisdictions; diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves as properties are mined; increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel; and those factors identified under the caption "Risks Related to Pan American's Business" in Pan American's most recent form 40-F and Annual Information Form filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities, respectively.
Although the Company 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, described or intended. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty or reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are designed to help readers understand management's current views of our near- and longer-term prospects and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation, to update or revise forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia
Tempest Minerals (TEM:AU) has announced Yalgoo Update - Excellent First Remorse Metallurgy Result
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