
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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Vancouver, British Columbia, July 3rd, 2025 TheNewswire - Prismo Metals Inc. (the " Company ") (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) is pleased to announce that it has signed option agreements to acquire 100% interest in two historic high-grade precious and base metal mines — the Silver King and Ripsey mines — both located in Arizona's prolific Copper Belt near its flagship Hot Breccia project.
Additional information on the Silver King and Ripsey mines as well as Prismo's other projects (Hot Breccia and Palos Verdes) is available on Prismo's Youtube channel at:
Exceptional Grades and Untapped Potential
Discovered in 1875, the Silver King mine is one of Arizona's most important historic producers, yielding nearly 6 million ounces of silver at grades of up to 61 oz/t. Remarkably, selected samples from small-scale production in the late 1990s returned grades as high as 644 oz/t silver (18,250 g/t) and 0.53 oz/t gold (15 g/t), indicating that high-grade mineralization remains. Additionally, the presence of freibergite (AgCuSbS) suggests a potential for antimony, a critical mineral with growing strategic demand.
The Ripsey mine, located 20 km west of Hot Breccia, is also an historic gold-silver-copper producer with significant upside. Historic sampling has returned up to 15.85 g/t gold and 276 g/t silver, yet no modern exploration has been conducted.
Strategic Location — World-Class Neighbors
The Silver King mine sits only 3 km from the main shaft of the Resolution Copper project — a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP and one of the world's largest unmined copper deposits with an estimated copper resource of 1.787 billion metric tonnes at an average grade of 1.5% copper (1) . This unique land position is fully surrounded by Resolution Copper's claim block, offering strategic upside.
"The Silver King and Ripsey mine projects are exciting additions to our Arizona portfolio. We see an opportunity to create near term value through immediate exploration on a historic high-grade silver producer with antimony potential that has seen limited modern exploration by drilling both laterally and at depth into a prospective source formation, said Gordon Aldcorn, President of Prismo. "We look forward to getting our exploration team back in the field, advancing our exciting projects and revitalizing investor interest in the Company."
The Silver King mine was discovered in 1875 and produced ore with as much as 10,000 ounces per ton silver in near surface workings (2) . Underground production through 1889 is estimated at almost 6 million ounces of silver at grades of between 61 and 21 ounces per ton. During a second period of production from 1918 to 1928, 230,000 ounces were produced at a grade of 18.7 ounces per ton. No significant production has occurred after 1928.
The orebody at Silver King is a steeply west-dipping pipelike stockwork and breccia zone that was mined on eight levels to about 300 meters depth below a glory hole at the surface. The pipe is described as a dense stockwork with local breccia zones and a quartz core (3) . Records indicate that due to variations in mineralogy, much of the upper portion of the body was evidently not mined. The current owners (the " Optionor ") rehabilitated the main shaft in the late 1990s, opened the upper levels of the mine and produced a small tonnage. Assay certificates from this period show selected samples with 400 to 600 ounces per ton silver with 0.2-0.5 oz/t gold and some base metals. Virtually no modern exploration has been carried out at the mine providing significant exploration upside and multiple drill targets.
The Ripsey mine is a historic gold-silver-copper producer located about 20 km west of the Hot Breccia project. Historic mine workings consisting of tunnels and shafts on several levels were developed along a vein over about 400 meters of strike length and 160 meters vertically. A small tonnage of mineral was produced by the Optionor in the late 1990's. Sampling by Dr. Craig Gibson from the mine workings has yielded 15.9 g/t gold and 275 g/t silver over 0.75 meters and 8.7 g/t gold, 181 g/t silver, 3% copper and 9% zinc over 1 meter. No modern exploration has been carried out at the project, providing significant exploration upside and multiple drill targets.
The Company plans to conduct a detailed mapping and sampling program at both projects at surface exposures and in accessible workings. A drill program is planned for Silver King, with about 1,000 meters initially. The Silver King drill program is designed to test the mineralized body at four elevations as well as lateral to the pipelike body. De-watering of the Silver King shaft to gain access to the upper levels may also be undertaken as submersible pumps are in place.
"This is a fabulous opportunity for the Company. Both projects are high-grade and are easily accessible and may be associated with porphyry copper mineralization. We also look forward to evaluating the potential for antimony at Silver King. We're excited to begin exploration immediately to test the Silver King's pipelike mineralized body at multiple depths and laterally," said Dr. Craig Gibson , Chief Exploration Officer. "This region is world-class for porphyry systems and base and precious metals, and we believe these mines have significant untapped potential."
Location of the Company's projects withing the Arizona Copper Belt
Land map of the Silver King mine.
Drone view of the Silver King mine.
The Silver King mine in the late 1800's.
Click Image To View Full Size
Click Image To View Full Size
Small scale mining in the upper levels of the Silver King mine in the late 1990's.
Deal description
Prismo has the option to acquire a 100% interest in both the Silver King and Ripsey mines. Prismo can earn a 100% interest in the Ripsey mine by issuing one million shares to the Optionor, paying the Optionor US $10,000 within six months of the signing of the option agreement (the " Effective Date "), US $10,000 on each anniversary of the Effective Date and US $1 million to the Optionor within five years of the Effective Date. Prismo does not have minimum work commitments as part of the Ripsey option agreement.
Regarding the Silver King mine, Prismo can acquire a 100% interest in three stages. Prismo must issue one million shares to the Optionor, pay the Optionor US $10,000 within six months of the Effective Date, and US $10,000 on each anniversary of the Effective Date. To earn a first 50% interest, Prismo must incur no less than US $500,000 in expenditures on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date, incur no less than an additional US $2.5 million expenditures on or before the third anniversary of the Effective Date and issue to the Optionor two million shares. Prismo can acquire an additional 30% interest by incurring no less than an additional US $3 million in expenditures, paying the Optionor US $1 million and issuing to the Optionor two million shares before the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date. Prismo can elect to form a joint venture at anytime after earning it initial 50% interest. The option agreement and joint venture agreement terms and conditions contain standard buyout and dilution terms regarding the final 20% interest.
Prismo is also pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the " Private Placement ") of five million units of the Company (" Units ") at an issue price of $0.05 per Unit for minimum gross proceeds of $250,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a " Share ") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a " Warrant "). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Share for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issue at an exercise price of $0.10.
The Private Placement will also be made available to existing shareholders of the Company who, as of the close of business on July 1st, 2025, held Shares (and who continue to hold such Shares as of the closing date of the Private Placement), pursuant to the existing securityholder exemption set out in BC Instrument 45-534 – Exemption From Prospectus Requirement for Certain Trades to Existing Security Holders (the " Existing Securityholder Exemption "). The Existing Securityholder Exemption limits a shareholder to a maximum investment of CAD$15,000 in a 12-month period unless the shareholder has obtained advice regarding the suitability of the investment and, if the shareholder is resident in a jurisdiction of Canada, that advice has been obtained from a person that is registered as an investment dealer in the jurisdiction. If the Company receives subscriptions from investors relying on the Existing Securityholder Exemption exceeding the maximum amount of the Private Placement, the Company intends to adjust the subscriptions received on a pro-rata basis.
The Units issued pursuant to the Private Placement and the Existing Securityholder Exemption will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date of the Private Placement under applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for general corporate purposes. The Company may pay finder's fees to eligible finders in connection with the Private Placement, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and Canadian Securities Exchange policies.
The securities being offered have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons or persons in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Debt Settlements
Prismo also announces that it has entered into debt settlement agreements (the " Settlement Agreements ") with certain creditors of the Company (the " Creditors ") pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue to the Creditors, and the Creditors agreed to accept, an aggregate of 160,000 shares of the Company (each, a " Share ") in full and final settlement of accrued and outstanding indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $11,000 (the " Debt Settlement "). All securities issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Share and Warrants Issuance
A private company dealing at arms' length with Prismo, its officers and directors, had certain rights into the Silver King and Ripsey mines (" PrivateCo "). In consideration for PrivateCo relinquishing its rights in the Silver King and Ripsey mines in favor of the Company, Prismo has agreed, subject to regulatory approval, to issue PrivateCo five million units (the " Units "). Each Unit is comprised of one common share (a " Share ") and one share purchase warrant (a " Warrant "). The Shares will become free trading as to 25% every six months from the Effective Date. Two million of the Warrants will be exercisable at $0.10 (" First Tranche ") and three million Warrants will be exercisable at $0.15 (" Second Tranche "), all for a period of three years. The shares from the exercise of the Warrants will become free trading as to 25% every six months from the Effective Date. In addition, the exercise of the First Tranche is conditional on Prismo having raised $1.5 million from parties introduced to Prismo by the principals of PrivateCo and the exercise of the Second Tranche is conditional on Prismo having raised $3.0 million from parties introduced to Prismo by the principals of PrivateCo.
Qualified Person
Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations and Chief Exploration Officer and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release. Other than the sampling conducted by Dr. Craig Gibson as indicated herein, the data presented in this press release was obtained from public sources, should be considered incomplete and is not qualified under NI 43-101, but is believed to be accurate. The Company has not verified the historical data presented and it cannot be relied upon, and it is being used solely to aid in exploration plans.
1) https://resolutioncopper.com/about-us/
2) Galbraith, F, 1935, Geology of the Silver King area, Superior, Arizona, Univ. of Arizona thesis, 153p plus plates.
3) Blake, W.P., 1883, Description of the Silver King Mine, Arizona, New Haven, 48p plus plates.
About Prismo Metals Inc.
Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is a mining exploration company focused on advancing its Hot Breccia copper project in Arizona and its Palos Verdes silver project in Mexico.
Please follow @PrismoMetals on , , , Instagram , and
Prismo Metals Inc. , 1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6
Contact:
Alain Lambert, Chief Executive Officer alain.lambert@prismometals.com
Gordon Aldcorn, President gordon.aldcorn@prismometals.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward‐looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the timing, costs and results of drilling at Hot Breccia.
These forward‐looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: delays in obtaining or failure to obtain appropriate funding to finance the exploration program at Silver King and Ripsey. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that: the ability to raise capital to fund exploration and the timing of such exploration.
Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward- looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.
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Bold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: BOL) (the "Company" or "Bold") is pleased to provide an update on the progress of field work at its Burchell Gold and Copper Property, located approximately 100 km west of Thunder Bay.
Prospecting, outcrop mapping and soil sampling were carried out during the months of May and June on a 1 km by 800 m flagged grid centered on the recently discovered 111 Zone, where grab samples returned between 10 ppb gold and 68 g/t gold last December (see news releases dated December 12, 2024 and January 9, 2025). More than 600 rock and soil samples have been submitted for analysis from this first phase of field work, with final results pending.
Prospecting has also been carried out along strike to the southwest of the 111 Zone grid, towards the boundary between the Burchell Project and the Moss Project of Goldshore Resources Inc. (GSHR), where an Inferred Resource of 4.92 Moz gold at 1.09 g/t and an Indicated Resource of 1.23 Moz gold at 1.22 g/t have been outlined at the Moss Gold Deposit, less than 5 km west of the Burchell Project (see GSHR website).
The Company also announces the recent staking of 8 single cell claims adjoining its Traxxin Gold Property, located approximately 130 km west-northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and the staking of 12 single cell claims adjoining its Farwell Property, located approximately 60 km northwest of Wawa, Ontario.
The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Coleman Robertson, B.Sc., P. Geo., the Company's V.P. Exploration and a qualified person (QP) for the purposes of NI 43-101.
Bold Ventures management believes our suite of Battery, Critical and Precious Metals exploration projects are an ideal combination of exploration potential meeting future demand. Our target commodities are comprised of: Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd) and Chromium (Cr). The Critical Metals list and a description of the Provincial and Federal electrification plans are posted on the Bold website here.
About Bold Ventures Inc.
The Company explores for Precious, Battery and Critical Metals in Canada. Bold is exploring properties located in active gold and battery metals camps in the Thunder Bay and Wawa regions of Ontario. Bold also holds significant assets located within and around the emerging multi-metals district dubbed the Ring of Fire region, located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario.
For additional information about Bold Ventures and our projects please visit boldventuresinc.com or contact us at 416-864-1456 or email us at info@boldventuresinc.com.
"Bruce A MacLachlan" Bruce MacLachlan President and COO | "David B Graham" David Graham CEO |
Direct line: (705) 266-0847
Email: bruce@boldventuresinc.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 that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to such risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
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Vancouver, British Columbia July 3 rd 2025 TheNewswire - Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: JUGR) (OTCQB: JUGRF) (FSE: 4JE) (the "Company" or "Juggernaut"), is pleased to announce a $1,000,000 hard dollar financing from one strategic investor, further confirming the support and excitement of the newly discovered 11 km Highway of Gold surrounding the Eldorado porphyry system on the Big One property. The discovery is in an area of glacial and snowpack abatement next door to the gold-rich porphyry systems at Newmont Mining's Galore Creek. The Big One Property is a discovery previously announced Jan 20 th (Click Link) with assays up to 79.01 gt gold (2.54 ozt gold) and 3157.89 gt silver (101.5 ozt silver) from over 200 gold-silver-copper rich polymetallic veins up to 8 m wide and striking for up to 500 m that all remain open at surface. The Big One Project covers 33,693 hectares in a globally ranked tier 1 jurisdiction with tremendous additional discovery potential in the heart of the Golden Triangle, British Columbia.
View Juggernaut videos by Clicking Here .
Subject to approval from the TSXV Exchange, the Company will issue 1,562,500 hard dollar units priced at $0.64 each for gross proceeds of $1,000,000. Each hard dollar unit will consist of one common share plus one warrant at $0.84 for a sixty-month period, with a forced accelerated conversion after 10 consecutive trading days at or above $1.84, callable at management's discretion. The fully subscribed placement is scheduled to close on July 14th, 2025. The proceeds will be used for general working capital.
Mr. Dan Stuart, Director, President, and CEO of Juggernaut, states:
This investment, coupled with the ongoing support and interest from other globally recognized Institutions and senior miners, is a strong endorsement that clearly demonstrates the significant near-term discovery potential of our 100% controlled properties. Since May of this year, the Company has raised ~ $12,500,000, and post-financing, Juggernaut will have an extremely tight capital structure of just 30,985,170 shares, no debt, and a strong cash position. As such, we are well-positioned to move forward with our plans of drilling The Big One Discovery. With much anticipation, we look forward to executing the inaugural exploration program and reporting results."
All shares issued pursuant to this offering and any shares issued pursuant to the exercise of warrants will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date.
About Juggernaut Exploration Ltd.
Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. is an explorer and generator of precious metals projects in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia. Its projects are in world-class geological settings and geopolitical safe jurisdictions amenable to Tier 1 mining in Canada. Juggernaut is a member and active supporter of CASERM, an organization representing a collaborative venture between the Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech. Juggernaut's key strategic cornerstone shareholder is Crescat Capital.
For more information, please contact
Dan Stuart
President, Director, and Chief Executive Officer
604-559-8028
info@juggernautexploration.com
Qualified Person
Rein Turna P. Geo is the independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, for Juggernaut Exploration projects, and supervised the preparation of, and has reviewed and approved, the technical information in this release.
Grab samples are selected samples and may not represent true underlying mineralization.
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 RELEASE.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT
Certain disclosures in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernaut's operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN IT.
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Anteros Metals Inc. (CSE: ANT) ("Anteros" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from six grab samples collected at the Main Mineralized Zone ("MMZ") of its wholly-owned, road-accessible Havens Steady VMS Property ("Havens Steady" or the "Property") in central Newfoundland. These samples confirm high-grade lead-zinc-silver mineralization at surface and show associated gold and copper enrichment consistent with a polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") system.
The grab samples were collected during a recent field visit, focused on confirming the tenor and extent of exposed mineralization within the MMZ. All samples were collected from bedrock outcroppings of gossanous surface material. Surface grab sample highlights are given in Table 1, below.
Table 1: Outcrop grab sample1 highlights
Sample ID | Pb (%) | Zn (%) | Cu (%) | Ag (g/t) | Au (g/t) |
HS-25-004 | 1.56 | 9.60 | 0.15 | 45.0 | 0.366 |
HS-25-003 | 0.46 | 1.66 | 0.22 | 38.4 | 0.513 |
HS-25-006 | 0.06 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 26.1 | 0.568 |
HS-25-005 | 0.30 | 0.85 | 0.11 | 19.0 | 0.238 |
HS-25-001 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 5.5 | 0.043 |
1 Grab samples are selected samples and may not represent true underlying mineralization
"These samples support the surface expression of MMZ, which we model as a laterally extensive high-grade zone," stated Trumbull Fisher, CEO of Anteros Metals. "The enrichment in base and precious metals positions the MMZ as a high-priority target for trenching and drill targeting later this season."
GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
The MMZ lies within a strongly prospective segment of the Exploits Subzone, an established host to VMS-style deposits in central Newfoundland. The Property area is characterized by felsic to intermediate volcaniclastics that are variably silicified and gossanous at surface. Historical drilling within the Property has documented high-grade VMS-style mineralization, and recent data compilation has revealed copper and gold enriched zones within the MMZ (see May 1, 2025 news release).
These results build on recent prospecting at Havens Steady, where sampling revealed angular float boulders with multi-percent copper grades along-strike from the MMZ (see June 16, 2025 news release), reinforcing the zones potential for further exploration (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Interpreted Property Geology with MMZ and Outcrop Grab Sample Locations
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NEXT STEPS
The Company plans to commence a targeted trenching program at the MMZ in the coming weeks, with the aim of exposing and mapping the mineralized zone in detail. Results from trenching will guide a potential Phase I drill program planned for fall 2025, designed to test the down-dip and along-strike extent of mineralization.
QA/QC AND ANALYTICAL METHODS
Samples were collected by Anteros personnel and submitted to Eastern Analytical Ltd. ("EAL"), an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory located in Springdale, Newfoundland. EAL regularly inserts certified blanks, reference standards, and sample duplicates into sample sequences to maintain accuracy and precision of results. Multi-element geochemistry was estimated using a 200mg subsample, dissolved in a four-acid solution, and analyzed with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy ("ICP-OES"). Overlimit assays, including lead, zinc, and silver, were completed using multi-acid digestion and atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS"). Gold was estimated through fire assay and AAS of a 30g subsample.
ABOUT THE PROPERTY
Located approximately 40 kilometres southeast of Buchans, the Havens Steady Property hosts a laterally extensive polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") system within the Storm Brook Formation of the Red Cross Group in the Exploits Subzone of the Dunnage Zone, a prolific metallogenic belt in central Newfoundland. The Property benefits from existing road infrastructure and proximity to hydroelectric power. The region hosts active exploration and world class VMS deposits including the past-producing Duck Pond Mine. The Company cautions that mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Property.
Since acquiring the Property in January 2024, Anteros has compiled an extensive historical dataset that includes airborne electromagnetic surveys, geochemical surveys, and over 15,000 metres of historical drilling. Documented mineralization includes sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, and bornite in high-grade polymetallic zones. The known system has a strike length of over a kilometre and remains open at depth. Learn more: www.anterosmetals.com/havens-steady.
QUALIFIED PERSON
The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jesse R. Halle, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
ABOUT Anteros Metals Inc.
Anteros is a multimineral junior mining company applying data science and geological expertise to identify and advance critical mineral opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Company is currently focused on advancing four key projects across diverse commodities and development horizons. Immediate plans for their flagship Knob Lake Property include bringing the historical Fe-Mn Mineral Resource Estimate into current status as well as commencing baseline environmental and feasibility studies.
For further information please contact or visit:
Email: info@anterosmetals.com | Phone: +1-709-769-1151
Web: www.anterosmetals.com | Social: @anterosmetals
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Chris Morrison
Director
Email: chris@anterosmetals.com | Phone: +1-709-725-6520 | Web: www.anterosmetals.com/contact
16 Forest Road, Suite 200
St. John's, NL, Canada A1X 2B9
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements herein include but are not limited to statements relating to the prospects for development of the Company's mineral properties, and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
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