Equitorial Exploration Discovers New High Grade Tantalum Zone at the Cat Tail Pegmatite in SE Manitoba with Assays up to 0.16% Ta2O5 (1600 ppm Ta2O5)
Vancouver, August 21, 2018 - Equitorial Exploration Corp. (TSX-V: EXX, Frankfurt: EE1, OTCQB: EQTXF) ("Equitorial" or "Company") is excited to announce the drill assay results from drill hole CT-18-03 and CT-18-05 that have been recently received from the Cat Tail Pegmatite in the Cat Lake area of southeast Manitoba. The drill holes are from a program carried out by the company in late spring of 2018. Drill Hole CT-18-03
Drill hole CT-18-03 was collared approximately 75 meters northward of the Cat Tail Pegmatite discovery drill hole, CT-18-02. The discovery drill hole, was originally positioned to intersect a possible projection of the Irgon Pegmatite system, presently being explored by QMC Quantum Minerals to the west of the company's claims. The discovery drill hole CT-18-02 encountered 36.19 meters of a spodumene-bearing pegmatite (true width not determined at this time) at a depth of 126.41 meters downhole or 90 meters below the surface. The hole was collared approximately 222 meters southeast of the last surface exposure of the Irgon Pegmatite. The Cat Tail Pegmatite has no known surface expression. Drill hole
CT-18-03 was collared to intersect the lithium-bearing Cat Tail Pegmatite at its projected up dip position. It however encountered a pegmatite system at the same drill depth as the Cat Tail Pegmatite. This hole extends the lateral extent of the Cat tail Pegmatite discovery 50 meters to the east. Steeply dipping pegmatites were encountered at 83.86 meters downhole
The lithium content of this portion of the Cat Tail Pegmatite system was not as lithium enriched as previous drilled sections (0.07 to 0.30% Li2O) but returned significant tantalum mineralization with individual assays up to 0.16 % Ta2O5 (see Table 1 for weighted averages of the pegmatites intervals in CT-18-03).
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Table 1: Weighted Averages for DDH CT-18-03 at the Cat Tail Pegmatite
According to the 2011 USGS (United States Geological Survey) report on Niobium and Tantalum (see link here), in 2011, tantalum ore grade deposits mined in the world were less than 0.05% Ta2O5 in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. It indicates that the newly discovered tantalum values at the Cat Tail Pegmatite are comparable to mining grades at known tantalum deposits. Further exploration is warranted with regard to the lithium and tantalum potential of the Cat Tail Pegmatite.
The assay results from drill hole CT-18-03 strongly suggest that the Cat Tail Pegmatite system has potential for both high grade lithium and tantalum mineralization zones. Cross section work for the drill hole suggests that the intervals of host rock between the pegmatites encountered in this hole may be rafts of country rock. Further drilling has been planned to examine this section of the Cat Tail Pegmatite in more detail.
CT-18-05
Drill hole CT-18-05 was collared approximately 110 meters to the east of discovery hole CT-18-02. It is suggested that this drill hole over shot the main pegmatite but still encountered a pegmatite swarm but with a low lithium content and not mineralized in other elements (see table 2).
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Table 2: Weighted Averages for Pegmatites Encountered in CT-18-05
Phase One Cat Tail 2018 Drill Program
A total of 1,256 meters was completed in the Phase 1, 7 drill hole program with six drill holes testing for the pegmatite potential of the property and the seventh hole testing a sulphide rich skarn. Numerous pegmatites were encountered in all the holes with a main spodumene bearing pegmatite (Cat tail Pegmatite) encountered in four of the six drill holes. Prior to being drilled, this pegmatite was buried with no surface expression. Hole CT-18-03 appears to represent a high grade tantalum zone of the lithium rich Cat Tail Pegmatite. Assays are pending for the last two holes.
Table 3 is an overview of the drill holes that encountered the Cat Tail Pegmatite.
Table 3: Cat Tail Pegmatite Intersections.
QA/QC Protocol
All core samples have been sent to the Activation Laboratories facility, in Ancaster, Ontario for analysis. Samples were prepared, using the lab's Code RX1 procedure. Samples are crushed, up to 95% passing through a 10 mesh, riffle split, and then pulverized, with mild steel, to 95%, passing 105 ?m. Analyses were completed, using the lab's Ultratrace 7 Package; a Sodium Peroxide Fusion which allows for total metal recovery and is effective for analysis of Sulphides and refractory minerals. Assay analyses are carried out, using ICP-OES and ICP-MS instrumentation. Equitorial Exploration implemented a QA/QC program for the drill program with the injection of blanks, duplicates and commercial standards at intervals throughout the sample sequence. Activation Laboratories has their own internal QA/QC procedures that it carries out for all sample batches.
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Future Exploration Plans
The company has applied for a drill work permit with the Province of Manitoba and is awaiting approval. The drill program has been designed to further drill test the Cat Tail Pegmatite along strike and at depth. A fall field exploration program of mapping and bio-geochemical sampling has also been planned. The field work will aid in a better understanding of the Cat Tail Pegmatite system as the discovery hole was a blind target.
Qualified Person
The drill program was supervised Carey Galeschuk. P. Geo, a consulting geologist with extensive experience in rare metal and lithium-bearing pegmatites. He also serves as Qualified Person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.
Cat Lake Lithium Property Highlights
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- Property situated directly east and along strike of Quantum Minerals' Cat Lake Mineral Project (previously Irgon Lithium Mine). During 1956-1957, the Irgon Mine was an underground mining operation for spodumene (one of the hard rock sources for Li). The pegmatite had an historic estimate of 1.25 million tons of ore grading 1.51% Li20 (Mineral Inventory File No. 221).
- The Equitorial Exploration claim block is located 150 m from south end of Irgon Lithium Mine shaft and approximately 93 meter east of the last exposed outcrop of the Irgon Pegmatite
- 48 feet (14.63 m) of spodumene bearing pegmatite were reported drilled in 1948 on the company's present claims but not followed up at the time (Manitoba Assessment File 98073 - not 43-101 compliant)
- Property approximately 180 km northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Excellent infrastructure - Provincial Highway 314 in southeast Manitoba cuts through the property
Please click for maps of the claims: http://equitorialexploration.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Cat-Lake-Claims-Maps-3.pdf
Geologically, the property lies within the east-trending Mayville-Cat-Euclid Greenstone Belt ("MCEGB") located along the northern contact of the Maskwa Lake Batholith. This northern greenstone belt has a similar structural geological setting as the Bird River Greenstone Belt ("BRGB") which is located along the southern contact of the same batholith, and is parallel to and approximately 18km to the south of the MCEGB. The property is located 20 kilometers north of the Tanco Mine Property. The BRGB hosts the world-class Tanco rare metal-bearing pegmatite as well as numerous other lithium-bearing pegmatites. The Tanco Mine went into production in 1969 and produced tantalum, cesium and spodumene (lithium). It was previously North America's largest and sole producer of spodumene (Li), tantalum (Ta) and pollucite (Cs).
About Equitorial Exploration Corp
Equitorial is aggressively developing four 100%-owned, high-potential, lithium projects in North America. The Little Nahanni Pegmatite Group (LNPG) is a 43-101 compliant, hard rock, lithium property in the NWT. The Cat Lake Lithium Property in Manitoba, Canada is directly adjacent to the Cat Lake Mineral Project, a highly prospective Lithium property. The Tule and Gerlach Lithium Brine Projects are located in lithium-rich Utah and Nevada within easy reach of the Tesla Gigafactory #1. All four projects have demonstrated highly encouraging grades.
For more information please visit: http://equitorialexploration.com/
On behalf of the Board of Directors
_____________________
Jack Bal, CEO and Director
For further information, please contact Jack Bal at 604-306-5285
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the Cat Lake, Tule, Gerlach and Little Nahanni Pegmatite Projects: statements pertaining to the ability of Equitorial Exploration Corp.("EXX"); the potential to develop resources and then further develop reserves; the anticipated economic potential of the property; the availability of capital and finance for EXX to execute its strategy going forward. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by EXX in light of its experience and perception of current and expected future developments, as well as other factors that EXX believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause EXX's results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements, including: discrepancies between actual and estimated results from exploration and development and operating risks, dependence on early exploration stage concessions; uninsurable risks; competition; regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; currency fluctuations; defective title to mineral claims or property and dependence on key employees. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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