VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Trilogy Metals
Inc. (TSX: TMQ) (NYSE American: TMQ) ("Trilogy" or the
"Company") is pleased to announce the third set of drilling results
from the 2021 summer field season at the Arctic Project, part of
the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects ("UKMP") located in northwestern
Alaska managed by Ambler Metals
LLC ("Ambler Metals"), the joint venture operating company equally
owned by Trilogy and a wholly owned subsidiary of South32 Limited
(ASX, LSE, JSE: S32; ADR: SOUHY) ("South32").
The 2021 Arctic drill program included 4,131 meters of diamond
drilling, comprising 18 holes, that were designed to convert a
portion of the resources from the Indicated category to the
Measured category, and provide material for metallurgical testing
and geotechnical information. The assay results detailed here are
for the second set of infill/metallurgical drill holes from the
2021 summer field season.
On November 22, 2021, the Company
released the assay results for two geotechnical drill holes
AR21-0173 and AR21-0175 that intersected high-grade mineralization
beyond the currently designed pit at Arctic. Subsequently on
November 29, 2021, the Company
released additional drilling results from two infill holes drilled
early in the 2021 field season. Of note is drill hole AR21-0176
which intersected 19.91 meters of almost 12% copper equivalent. For
more information on these drilling results, please visit the
Company's website at
https://trilogymetals.com/news-and-media/news/.
The results of the remaining 12 holes are expected to be
announced over the next couple of months.
Highlights from the second set (two holes) of
metallurgical/infill drill holes from the 2021 drill
program
Based on a cut-off grade of 0.5% copper equivalent, significant
zones of high-grade copper, zinc, lead, gold, and silver
mineralization were intersected, including:
- Hole AR21-0182 intersected six mineralized intervals, including
27.65 meters of 2.75% copper, 2.65% zinc, 0.46% lead, 0.66 g/t
gold and 42.81 g/t silver for a copper equivalent grade of
4.67% and 10.91 meters of 3.31% copper, 8.22% zinc, 1.78%
lead, 0.81 g/t gold and 70.85 g/t silver for a copper equivalent
grade of 8.07%; and
- Hole AR21-0184 intersected two mineralized intervals, including
14.46 meters of 1.96% copper, 5.57% zinc, 1.71% lead, 0.73 g/t
gold and 51.13 g/t silver for a copper equivalent grade of
5.50%.
All reported intervals are thought to be close to the true width
and therefore represent the actual thickness of mineralization.
Tony Giardini, President and CEO
of Trilogy, commented, "As we keep drilling into the Arctic Project
area, we keep getting more pleasant surprises from the assay lab as
the infill results continue to demonstrate very high polymetallic
grades over very compelling widths. I look forward to seeing the
results from the remaining 12 drill holes from the 2021 field
season and I also look forward to the upcoming 2022 field season
which will begin in the June."
Richard Gosse, Trilogy's Vice
President, Exploration stated, "The exciting results from holes
AR21-0182 and AR21-0184 confirm the high copper and zinc grades
over mineable widths that are to be expected from the infill drill
program at Arctic. Good continuity of grade and thickness, such as
what we are seeing at Arctic, are characteristic of world-class
volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits. We are looking forward to
more results like these that will be used to estimate the first
measured resource at Arctic."
All four infill holes drilled so far during the 2021 program
contain mineralized intervals consistent with previous drilling
conducted within the resource area on the property. Significant
mineralized intervals of high-grade mineralization at a cut-off of
0.5% copper equivalent are reported in Table 1. The
locations of the holes are shown in Figure 1 and Table
2.
Of the 18 holes drilled at Arctic last summer, eight holes were
for the geotechnical program. The 10 remaining drill holes were
part of the infill/metallurgical program, with three of the 10
drill holes also being used for the hydrology program.
Table 1. Drill Intercepts from the 2021 Arctic Infill
Drilling Program
Hole
|
From
(m)
|
To
(m)
|
Length
(m)
|
CuEq
(%)
|
Cu
(%)
|
Zn
(%)
|
Pb
(%)
|
Ag
(g/t)
|
Au
(g/t)
|
Zone
|
AR21-0182
|
119.26
|
146.91
|
27.65
|
4.67
|
2.75
|
2.65
|
0.46
|
42.81
|
0.66
|
4 and 5
|
155.11
|
166.02
|
10.91
|
8.07
|
3.31
|
8.22
|
1.78
|
70.85
|
0.81
|
3
|
170.02
|
178.61
|
8.59
|
1.31
|
1.02
|
0.37
|
0.03
|
9.06
|
0.11
|
3
|
186.17
|
188.63
|
2.46
|
1.85
|
1.16
|
1.32
|
0.08
|
13.73
|
0.09
|
2
|
196.59
|
199.64
|
3.05
|
1.51
|
0.97
|
0.15
|
0.03
|
33.72
|
0.28
|
1
|
203.24
|
213.50
|
10.26
|
2.78
|
1.98
|
0.91
|
0.10
|
26.21
|
0.32
|
1
|
AR21-0184
|
127.64
|
142.10
|
14.46
|
5.50
|
1.96
|
5.57
|
1.71
|
51.13
|
0.73
|
3 and 5
|
152.43
|
156.62
|
4.19
|
5.23
|
1.90
|
5.42
|
1.14
|
49.60
|
0.81
|
1
|
Notes:
|
- Copper equivalent
(CuEq) calculations use metal prices assumptions of US$3.00/lb for
copper, US$1.10/lb for zinc, US$1.00/lb for lead, US$1,300/oz for
gold, and US$18.00/oz for silver.
|
- Results are core
intervals and not true thickness; true widths have not been
determined for the above intercepts but are believed to be
representative of actual drill thicknesses.
|
- Significant
interval defined as a minimum of 1.0-meter copper interval with
average grade >0.5% CuEq.
|
- Cut-off grade of
0.5% CuEq.
|
- Internal dilution
up to three meters of <0.5% CuEq.
|
- Intervals of
<1.0 meter not reported.
|
- Core recovery
averaged 96%.
|
- Minimum sample
length was 0.17m, average sample length was 2.4m overall and 1.7m
within mineralized zones.
|
- Some rounding
errors may occur.
|
The reported intervals are based on a copper-equivalent grade of
0.5% using metal prices from Trilogy's 2020 Arctic feasibility
study (US$3.00/lb copper,
US$1.10/lb zinc, US$1.00/lb lead, US$1,300/oz gold, and US$18.00/oz silver) and a maximum of 3-meters
internal dilution. All drill hole intercepts are close to true
width.
Table 2. Drill Hole Locations at the Arctic Project
Hole
|
East
(m)
|
North
(m)
|
Elevation
(m)
|
Azimuth
|
Dip
|
Length
(m)
|
AR21-0182
|
613309
|
7453166
|
918
|
035
|
-57
|
228.6
|
AR21-0184
|
613130
|
7453213
|
870
|
035
|
-75
|
191.1
|
Coordinates are in
UTM Zone 4N (meters) coordinate system, NAD83 Datum.
|
Hole AR21-0182 which is sized PQ3 (83 mm diameter), seen in
Figure 2, was designed to provide metallurgical test
material as well as to upgrade confidence in the resource model.
The hole was collared in the center of the Arctic deposit and
intercepts multiple mineralized zones.
Hole AR21-0184 which is sized HQ3 (61 mm diameter), was also
designed to provide metallurgical test material, upgrade confidence
in the resource model and allow for hydrology monitoring
instruments to be installed down hole. The hole was collared in the
center of the Arctic deposit and intercepts multiple mineralized
zones.
Mineralization within the highest-grade portions of Zones 5 and
4 of drill hole AR21-0182 consists of 30-55% chalcopyrite, 10-15%
sphalerite and 5-30% pyrite. Whereas within the highest-grade
portions of Zone 3, mineralization consists of 30-55% chalcopyrite,
20-30% sphalerite and 10-20% pyrite. Mineralization within the
high-grade portions of Zone 1 consists of 5-25% chalcopyrite, 2-5%
sphalerite and 5-15% pyrite.
Mineralization within the highest-grade portions of Zones 3 and
5 of drill hole AR21-0184 consists of 3-10% chalcopyrite, 5-35%
sphalerite and 5-30% pyrite. Whereas mineralization within the
highest-grade portions of Zone 1 consists of 1-10% chalcopyrite,
10-20% sphalerite, 3% galena and 12-30% pyrite.
All percentages of sulphide mineralization are based off the
visual estimations in the core.
Within the Arctic deposit, mineralization occurs as stratiform
semi-massive sulphide to massive sulphide beds within primarily
chlorite schists and fine-grained quartz schists. The sulphide beds
average 4 meters in thickness but vary from less than 1 meter up to
as much as 20 meters in thickness.
QA/QC Program
The drilling program, sampling and assaying protocol, and data
verification were managed by qualified persons (QPs) employed by
Ambler Metals. The diamond drill holes were completed using PQ3 or
HQ3 diameter core, and recoveries averaged 95%. Drill core was cut
lengthwise into halves using a diamond saw, one-half was used to
construct composites for metallurgical testing and one-half was cut
lengthwise to provide quarter core for sampling. The remainder of
the core was retained in core trays and archived at site.
Samples were collected through mineralized zones using a
0.3 m minimum length and 2.5 m maximum length; average sample length is
1.62 m. Weights of the drill core
samples range from 0.81 to 17.31 kg, depending on the size of core,
rock type, and recovery.
Each core sample was placed into a bag with a numbered tag and
quality control samples were inserted between core samples using
the same numbering sequence. Then, samples were grouped into
batches for shipping and laboratory submissions. Each batch of 20
samples contains three quality control (QC) samples that comprise
one certified reference material (CRM), one core blank (BLK), and
one core or crushed duplicate (DUP). Chain-of-custody records are
maintained for sample shipments and the custody is transferred from
Ambler Metals' expeditor to the laboratory upon delivery.
Samples were shipped to ALS Minerals' laboratory in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, for sample
preparation. ALS Minerals Fairbanks is a satellite sample
preparation facility accredited under ALS Minerals. After
preparation at ALS Minerals Fairbanks, split pulp samples were
shipped to ALS Minerals in North
Vancouver, B.C., Canada,
for assaying. ALS Minerals North Vancouver is an independent
laboratory certified under ISO 9001:2008 and accredited under
ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by the Standards Council of Canada. ALS Minerals includes its own internal
quality control samples comprising certified reference materials,
blanks, and pulp duplicates.
Drill core samples were weighed (WEI-21), dried if excessively
wet (DRY-21), coarse jaw crushed to 70% passing 6 mm (CRU-21), fine
jaw crushed to 70% passing 2 mm (CRU-31), riffle split to 250 g
subsamples (SPL-21) and pulverized to 85% passing 75 μm (PUL-31).
Crushed duplicates were created by riffle splitting crushed samples
into two parts.
Gold analyses were completed using a 30 g lead fire assay and
AAS finish (Au-AA23). Multi-element analyses for 48 elements were
completed using a geochemical four-acid digestion and ICP-ES/MS
finish (ME-MS61). Over-range assays for silver, copper, zinc and
sulfur were completed using an ore grade four-acid digestion and
ICP-ES finish (ME-OG62). Additional analyses were completed for
barium and mercury.
Gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc assays for QC samples were
reviewed to ensure that CRMs are within tolerance limits specified
on supplier certificates, BLKs are below acceptable thresholds, and
DUPs display statistical patterns normally expected for sample
types, methods, and elements. CRMs that returned assays outside of
tolerance limits and BLKs with assays above thresholds were deemed
to have failed. Sample batches containing failed QC samples were
re-assayed to ensure that the QC samples returned acceptable
results before release. All QC monitoring data are reviewed and
signed off by an independent QA/QC geologist.
There is no known relationship between core sample recoveries
and assay grades. Ambler Metals will submit 5% of the assay
intervals from prospective lithologies to a laboratory independent
of ALS Minerals for check assaying.
Qualified Person
Richard Gosse, P.Geo., Vice
President, Exploration for Trilogy, is a Qualified Person as
defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Gosse has reviewed the
scientific and technical information in this news release and
approves the disclosure contained herein.
About Trilogy Metals
Trilogy Metals Inc. is a metal exploration and development
company which holds a 50 percent interest in Ambler Metals LLC
which has a 100 percent interest in the Upper Kobuk Mineral
Projects ("UKMP") in Northwestern
Alaska. On December 19, 2019,
South32, a globally diversified mining and metals company,
exercised its option to form a 50/50 joint venture with Trilogy.
The UKMP is located within the Ambler Mining District which is one
of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts
located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the
world. It hosts world-class polymetallic volcanogenic massive
sulphide ("VMS") deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and
silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to
host high-grade copper and cobalt mineralization. Exploration
efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler Mining
District – the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate
replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within a land
package that spans approximately 181,387 hectares. Ambler Metals
has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., an Alaska
Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration
and potential development of the Ambler Mining District in
cooperation with local communities. Trilogy's vision is to develop
the Ambler Mining District into a premier North American copper
producer.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release includes certain "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively
"forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable
Canadian and United States
securities legislation including the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other
than statements of historical fact, included herein, including,
without limitation, statements relating to interpretation of drill
results; the Company's beliefs regarding the potential of the
Arctic Project; and expectations regarding future drill results;
are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects",
"anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential",
"possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events,
conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or
be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and
uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will
prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the Company's expectations include the
uncertainties involving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; success of
exploration activities, permitting timelines, requirements for
additional capital, government regulation of mining operations,
environmental risks, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials,
supplies and services, uncertainties involved in the interpretation
of drilling results and geological tests, unexpected cost increases
and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2020 filed with Canadian securities
regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission and in other Company reports and documents
filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time
to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the
beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are
made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the
forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or
other factors, should they change, except as required by
law.
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SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc.