Concludes Winter Diamond Drill Program, Expands VMS Mineralization (Copper-Zinc-Silver-Lead-Gold) at BMK Deposit
April 29th, 2024 (Burlington, Ontario): Murchison Minerals Ltd. (“Murchison” or the “Company”) (TSXV: MUR | OTCQB: MURMF) is pleased to announce that it has concluded the 2024 Winter Exploration Program (the “Program”) at its 100%-owned Cu-Zn-Ag-Pb-Au Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) BMK Project in Saskatchewan.
The Program was designed to provide a first pass reconnaissance for the discovery of a potential copper stockwork zone associated with the formation of the BMK Deposit. In total, 2,712 m were completed, comprising four diamond drill holes, which tested four high-priority target areas (one hole at each target area). Three target areas: BMK Deep, North and South followed up on previous drilling at the BMK Deposit, where high-grade copper has been intersected. The fourth target, CST, tested a geophysical anomaly 400 m along strike to the southwest of the BMK Deposit. The three drill holes at the BMK Extension Targets successfully expanded the footprint of VMS mineralization at the BMK Deposit, demonstrating that the Deposit remains open and prospective for further expansion and discovery of an associated copper stockwork zone. Significantly, at BMK North, drill hole BMK24-003 intersected a zone of VMS mineralisation with a high copper to zinc ratio. Similar high copper to zinc ratios have been intersected during previous drill campaigns which targeted the northern extent of the BMK Deposit. The Company is encouraged by these intersections, indicating the potential for a nearby copper stockwork zone proximal to the northern extent of the BMK Deposit. At the CST Target area, drilling intersected a significant interval of VMS type alteration which correlates with an off-hole borehole electromagnetic conductor, indicating the drill hole may have narrowly missed a zone of VMS mineralization. The 2024 Program demonstrates the BMK Deposit remains open for further expansion of VMS mineralization. Additionally, the results from this first pass testing are encouraging for the discovery of an associated copper stockwork zone during future drill campaigns.
Highlights
- The 2024 Winter Diamond Drill Program successfully expanded VMS mineralization at the BMK Deposit, demonstrating the Deposit remains open and highly prospective for further expansion and discovery of an associated copper stockwork zone
- The Program comprised four diamond drill holes totaling 2,712 metres
- Four target areas, designed as a first pass across BMK Deposit and proximal anomalies were tested:
- BMK Extension (three targets): one hole each at BMK North and South designed to test along strike from the BMK Deposit, and one hole at BMK Deep which tested below the known extents of the BMK Deposit
- CST, a HeliSAM target, which lies 400 m along strike to the southwest of the BMK Deposit
- BMK North and South Extension Targets – drilling expanded the footprint of mineralization along strike from BMK, highlighted by:
- BMK24-002 intersected mineralization 100 m to the northwest of the Deposit’s current footprint, intersecting grades up to 1.96% copper, with a higher copper to zinc ratio indicative of copper stockwork mineralization.
- BMK Deep Extension Target – drilling successfully intersected mineralization at depth below the known extents of the BMK Deposit, highlighted by:
- BMK24-003 intersecting 2.78 m of 1.04% CuEq. 110 m below the known extents of the BMK Deposit.
- CST Target – drilling intersected strong VMS alteration, which was later correlated to an off-hole geophysical anomaly identified during a Borehole EM (BHEM) Survey. The alteration associated with the anomaly indicates the CST area remains prospective. Additionally, drilling intersected high-grade rare earth elements (REEs), highlighted by:
- CST24-001 which intersected 7.76% TREO over 0.5 metre, this is the first drill hole on the BMK Project to intersect high-grade REEs and the Company will undertake a review of historic drill holes for possible resampling.
Figure 1: Plan Map View of BMK Deposit and CST target with 2024 drill holes highlighted.
Figure 2: Long Section View of BMK Deposit.
Table 1: 2024 BMK Program Highlight Results
* Reported as core length, intervals 90 to 100% true thickness. **Copper Equivalent (Cu Eq.) & Zinc Equivalent (Zn Eq.) values were calculated using the following USD metal prices from April 21, 2024: $4.4883/lb Copper, $1.2828/lb Zinc, $0.9825/lb Lead, $2330.46/Oz Gold, and $27.208/Oz Silver. The following recovery factors were applied to the equivalent values based on preliminary metallurgical work completed in 2021 factoring in optimization: 95% Zn, 85% Cu, 80% Pb, 65% Au, 60% Ag. Please note that copper equivalent is in substitution for zinc equivalent and not in addition to.
Table 2: 2024 CST Rare Earth Element Highlight Result
*Reported as core length, true thickness unknown. **TREO calculated as Ce2O3 (%) + Dy2O3 (%) + Gd2O3 (%) + La2O3 (%) + Nd2O3 (%) + Pr2O3 (%) + Sm2O3 (%) + Tb2O3 (%) + Y2O3 (%) = TREO (%).
Table 3: Drillhole Information
*UTM Projected Coordinate System NAD83 UTM Zone 13N
2024 Winter Drilling:
- CST24-001 was drilled to test the CST geophysical target 400 m southwest of the BMK Deposit. Due to ground conditions, the drill hole shallowed out, deviating significantly from the targeted pierce point intersecting the geophysical anomaly approximately 150 m from its center. A significant zone (over 6 m in length) of garnet-anthophyllite-cordierite-biotite gneiss consistent with alteration observed at the BMK Deposit was intersected at 410 m depth. A subsequent borehole electromagnetic survey was completed on the hole and indicates an off-hole conductive anomaly appears to be associated with the alteration. Multiple graphitic conductors were intersected at depths of 438 m , 463 m and 733 m which partially explain the HeliSAM geophysical response. Additionally, a 0.5 metre spot sample was submitted for REEs analysis associated with a pegmatite (Figure 3) which returned very significant grades of REEs yielding 7.76% TREO (Table 2). The Company considers the presence of such high-grade REEs encouraging and will complete a property wide review of previous drill, grab and outcrop samples for additional occurrences.
- BMK24-001 was drilled to test the BMK South Extension, the hole intersected a narrow interval of mineralization (Table 1) confirming the presence of VMS mineralization south of the Deposit.
- BMK24-002 was drilled to test the BMK North Extension, the hole successfully intersected mineralization 100 m to the northwest of BMK’s current footprint, intersecting grades of up to 1.96% copper with mineralization having a high copper to zinc ratio which is indicative of copper stockwork mineralization. These results are considered encouraging, and the Company will focus additional exploration to the north of the Deposit.
- BMK24-003 was drilled to test the extent of the BMK Deposit and the potential for a copper stockwork zone. The hole successfully intersected mineralization 110 m down-dip from the current footprint of the BMK Deposit (Table 1).
Figure 3: CST drill core displaying close-up of high-grade rare earth element mineralization.
QA/QC
Murchison has implemented and is adhering to a strict Quality Assurance/Quality Control program. NQ-size core was drilled, and mineralized intervals were marked by geologists during core description. The marked intervals were sampled using a core saw, one-half is kept as a witness sample at core facility in Brabant Lake, Saskatchewan and the other assigned a unique number and placed within a plastic bag. The specific gravity of every sample was measured using the mass-in-air / mass-in-water method. Samples were shipped directly to SRC Geoanalytical Labs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The samples were ground and prepared for analysis by the lab using total digestion. Analyzes were performed using ICP-OES for copper, zinc, lead and silver. Gold was analyzed by fire assay. Every 25th sample sent to the lab was a field duplicate (quarter core), blanks and certified reference material were also submitted approximately every 25th sample.
Qualifying Statement
The foregoing scientific and technical disclosures on the BMK Project have been reviewed by John Shmyr, P.Geo., VP Exploration, a registered member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. Mr. Shmyr is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The Qualified Person has verified the data disclosed in this release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information contained in this release. Mr. Shmyr consents to the inclusion in the announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
Some data disclosed in this News Release relating to sampling and drilling results is historical in nature. Neither the Company nor a qualified person has yet verified this data and therefore investors should not place undue reliance on such data. In some cases, the data may be unverifiable due to lack of drill core. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby and/or geologically similar properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company’s properties.
About The BMK Project
The BMK Project is located 175 kilometres northeast of La Ronge, Saskatchewan and approximately three kilometres from the community of Brabant Lake. The area is accessed year-round via provincial Highway 102 and is serviced by grid power. The Project hosts the BMK VMS Deposit, and the mineral claims total 664 square kilometres, that cover approximately 37 kilometres of strike length of the favourable BMK trend. The Project contains multiple known mineralized showings such as the Main Lake and Betty Showings and with many identified geophysical conductors that have yet to be drill tested.
Figure 4: Location map of BMK Project.
Mineral Resource Summary for BMK VMS Deposit
Table 4: 2018 BMK Deposit Resources
The above mineral resource estimate for the Brabant-McKenzie VMS Deposit was prepared by an independent qualified person (“QP”) Finley Bakker, P. Geo., and has an effective date of September 4, 2018. The NI 43-101 Technical Report named Technical Report on the Resource Estimate Update for the Brabant-McKenzie Property, Brabant Lake, Saskatchewan is available on the Company’s website and on SEDAR. The Mineral Resource of the Brabant-McKenzie VMS Deposit was estimated based on metal prices of USD $1.20/lb Zn, $2.50/lb Cu, $1.00/lb Pb, $16.00/Oz. Ag, and $1,200/Oz. Au, and a USD exchange rate of $1.25. A Net Smelter Return (NSR) cut-off of $90/tonne and a 3.5% zinc equivalent based on above metal prices and an average recovery of 75% for all metals.
About Murchison Minerals Ltd.
(TSXV: MUR, OTCQB: MURMF)
Murchison is a Canadian‐based exploration Company focused on development of the 100% – owned BMK zinc‐copper‐silver Project in north‐central Saskatchewan and the nickel-copper-cobalt exploration at the 100% – owned HPM Project in Quebec.
Murchison Minerals