Fireweed Drills Wide Zones at Tom East and Tom North
VANCOUVER, Sept. 10, 2019 - Fireweed Zinc Ltd. (“Fireweed” or the “Company”) (TSXV: FWZ) is pleased to announce assays from additional drill holes at the Macmillan Pass Project in Yukon, Canada.
Highlights
- Tom North hole TS19‑008 intersected 5.38% Zinc and 0.64% Lead over a true width of 10.9 metres improving on historic grades as a result of superior core recovery over the 1952 hole it twinned, again indicating that Tom North has potential to be mined in an open‑pit and improve current PEA economics.
- Tom East hole TS19-007 deviated from its planned course and ran down-dip intersecting long high-grade intervals within the known zone and did not hit the intended target
- Assays from additional holes on other targets are pending.
Table 1: New drill results from Tom East and Tom North
| Drill Hole1 | Zone | From (metres) | To (metres) | Interval (metres) | Estimated True Width (metres) | Zinc (%) | Lead (%) | Silver (g/t) |
| TS19-007 | Tom East | 53.06 | 113.25 | 60.19* | 10-20 | 6.68 | 3.83 | 29.33 |
| And | 137.10 | 203.04 | 65.94* | 10-20 | 7.86 | 3.58 | 45.68 | |
| And | 218.50 | 222.55 | 4.05 | Undetermined | 9.21 | 3.56 | 65.66 | |
| And | 230.45 | 245.10 | 14.65 | Undetermined | 7.25 | 10.75 | 119.44 | |
| TS19-008 | Tom North | 34.40 | 46.14 | 11.74 | 10.9 | 5.38 | 0.64 | 1.81 |
| TS19-009 | Tom North | 11.17 | 24.00 | 12.83 | 11.9 | 4.57 | 0.97 | 1.41 |
| Including | 11.17 | 23.20 | 5.20 | 4.5 | 6.22 | 1.09 | 1.60 | |
*Drill hole TS19-007 deviated from its planned course and drilled down dip in the Tom East Zone resulting in multiple intersections as the drill bit cut in and out of the zone. Estimated true widths in Table 1 are based on the projection of the zone contacts, oriented core bedding measurements, and other nearby drill intersections that intersect the zone at higher angles. Hole locations are shown in Figure 1.
CEO Statement
Brandon Macdonald, CEO, stated, “2019 drill results continue to impress. Tom East contributed another hole with high grades over a wide zone despite the hole going off course. Tom North returned more potential open-pit results that could improve current PEA economics. We next look forward to the release of drill results from other zones tested this summer including Boundary Zone that have potential to expand on our current resources, which are already among the largest undeveloped zinc resources in the world.”
Tom East
Tom East is the highest grade zone discovered to date on the property. In 2018, drilling extended the zone to depth with the deepest hole intersecting 16.4 m grading 21.14% Zinc, 13.55% Lead and 243 g/t Silver (Figure 2; see Fireweed news release dated September 20, 2018 for details). 2019 drill hole TS19-007 was planned to test the potential extension of the zone but the hole deviated from its planned course and drilled multiple down-dip intersections passing in and out of mineralization at a very low angle to the zone. These high-grade infill results provide geological information that will inform geological modelling for resource expansion and exploration in the structurally complex Tom East zone (see Figure 2). The potential extension of the high-grade mineralization discovered in 2018 remains untested and Tom East is open at depth.
Tom North
Historic trenching and very shallow, low-recovery drilling in 1952 indicated the presence of near-surface mineralization at Tom North. The 2019 drilling at Tom North confirms that mineralization extends to depth, and the results define a near-surface zone of zinc-lead mineralization that is potentially amenable to open‑pit mining. The Tom North target has mineralization demonstrated over a strike length of at least 500 metres, and a true thickness between 6 and 23 metres (average of 12 metres). The down-dip extent has been tested to 190 metres and remains open to depth (Figures 3 & 4). The mineralization is stratiform and comprises laminated fine-grained sphalerite-galena-pyrite-barite. Tom North is a distinct zone separated from the Tom West zone by faulting (Figure 3).
No mineral resource has been estimated for Tom North yet and the zone is not included in the current mineral resource estimate for the property (described in Fireweed news release dated January 10, 2018). Tom North represents potential for a significant expansion to the Tom mineral resources, for extension of open-pit and underground mine life, and improvement of project economics described in the current Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) (see Fireweed news release dated May 23, 2018). The current PEA includes a three-year open-pit mine life at Tom West over the course of an overall 18-year mine life.
2019 Drilling
The 2019 drill program is complete. A total of 16 diamond drill holes were drilled for a total of 2,357 metres. Targets tested were Tom North, Tom East, Tom West, Jason North, Target A, Target G, Target R, and Boundary Zone (Tables 2 & 3 and Figure 5). Assays are pending for additional holes. Summary descriptions of field results and observations are provided in Table 3.
Notes on sampling and assaying:
The drill core logging and sampling program is carried out under a rigorous quality assurance / quality control program using industry best practices. Drill intersections in this release are all HQ3 (split tube) size core (61.1mm / 2.4-inch diameter) with recoveries typically above 85%. After drilling, core is logged for geology, structure and characteristics, marked for sampling, and photographed on site. The cores for analyses are marked for sampling based on geological intervals with individual samples 1.5 metres or less in length. Drill core is cut lengthwise in half with a core saw; half-core is sent for assay, the other half is stored on site for reference. A total of 5% assay standards or blanks and 5% core duplicates are included in the sample stream as a quality control measure and reviewed, after analyses are received. Standards and blanks in 2019 drill results to date have been approved as acceptable. Duplicate data add to the long-term estimates of precision for assay data on the project and precision is deemed to be within acceptable levels. Samples are sent to the Bureau Veritas (formerly Acme Labs) preparation laboratory in Whitehorse, Yukon, where the samples are crushed and a 500 g split is pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh size pulps. Clean crush material is passed through the crusher and clean silica is pulverized between each sample. The pulps are then sent to the Bureau Veritas laboratory in Vancouver, B.C. and analyzed by 1:1:1 Aqua Regia digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-ES/ICP-MS) multi-element analyses (BV Code AQ270). All samples are also analyzed for multiple elements by lithium borate fusion and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) finish (BV Code LF725). Over-limit Pb (>25.0%) and Zn (>24.0%) were analyzed by lithium borate fusion with XRF finish (BV Code LF726). Silver is reported in this news release by method AQ270, and zinc and lead are reported by LF725 or LF726. Bureau Veritas (Vancouver) is an independent, international ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited laboratory.
Technical information in this news release has been approved by Gilles Dessureau, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration and a ‘Qualified Person’ as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43‑101.
About Fireweed Zinc Ltd. (TSXV: FWZ): Fireweed Zinc is a public mineral exploration company focused on zinc and managed by a veteran team of mining industry professionals. The Company is advancing its district-scale 544 km2 Macmillan Pass Project in Yukon, Canada, which is host to the 100% owned Tom and Jason zinc-lead-silver deposits with current Mineral Resources and a PEA economic study (see Fireweed news releases dated January 10, 2018, and May 23, 2018, respectively, and reports filed on www.sedar.com for details) as well as the Tom North Zone, Boundary Zone and End Zone which have significant zinc-lead-silver mineralization drilled but not yet classified as mineral resources. The project also includes option agreements on large blocks of adjacent claims (MAC, MC, MP, Jerry, BR and NS) which cover exploration targets in the district where previous and recent work identified zinc, lead and silver prospects, and geophysical and geochemical anomalies in prospective host geology.
Additional information about Fireweed Zinc and its Macmillan Pass Zinc Project including maps and drill sections can be found on the Company’s website at www.FireweedZinc.com and at www.sedar.com.
ON BEHALF OF Fireweed Zinc Ltd.
“Brandon Macdonald”
CEO & Director
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.
Cautionary Statements
This news release may contain “forward-looking” statements and information relating to the Company and the Macmillan Pass Project that are based on the beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including but not limited to, without limitations, exploration and development risks, expenditure and financing requirements, general economic conditions, changes in financial markets, the ability to properly and efficiently staff the Company’s operations, the sufficiency of working capital and funding for continued operations, title matters, First Nations relations, operating hazards, political and economic factors, competitive factors, metal prices, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulations and oversight, permitting, seasonality and weather, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events. Additional risks are set out in the Company’s prospectus dated May 9, 2017, and filed under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should any one or more risks or uncertainties materialize or change, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and forward-looking statements may vary materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update forward‐looking statements or forward‐looking information, except as required by law.
Footnotes:
- The average bulk density of the mineralized rock in TS19-007 is 3.14 t/m3. The average bulk density of the mineralized rock in TS19-008 and TS19-009 is 2.91 t/m3.
- Historic drill results for Tom North reported in this news release are taken from historic reports prepared by previous operators. Neither the Company or the Qualified Person has done sufficient work to verify these results and therefore these results should not be relied upon. The Company is including them for information purposes only to explain the basis for the exploration target and reasons for drilling.
| TABLE 2: 2019 DRILL HOLE COLLAR DATA | |||||||
| Drill Hole | Length (m) | Target | Easting | Northing | Elevation (m) | Dip (°) | Grid Azimuth (°) |
| TS19-001 | 110.0 | Tom North | 441686 | 7004448 | 1442 | -51 | 077 |
| TS19-002 | 119.0 | Tom North | 441716 | 7004332 | 1466 | -51 | 075 |
| TS19-003 | 125.0 | Tom North | 441628 | 7004602 | 1417 | -52 | 059 |
| TS19-004 | 234.0 | Tom West | 442043 | 7003582 | 1583 | -77 | 092 |
| TS19-005 | 45.0 | Tom North | 441804 | 7004295 | 1519 | -50 | 077 |
| TS19-006 | 54.0 | Tom North | 441803 | 7004295 | 1519 | -60 | 077 |
| TS19-007 | 330.0 | Tom East | 442002 | 7004363 | 1638 | -64 | 073 |
| TS19-008 | 84.0 | Tom North | 441747 | 7004541 | 1474 | -50 | 065 |
| TS19-009 | 45.0 | Tom North | 441770 | 7004426 | 1487 | -50 | 065 |
| TS19-010 | 184.8 | Target R | 440256 | 7005943 | 1211 | -50 | 318 |
| JS19-001 | 108.0 | Jason North | 436216 | 7002989 | 1311 | -50 | 011 |
| JS19-002 | 100.2 | Jason North | 436166 | 7002950 | 1300 | -50 | 011 |
| MP19-001 | 89.0 | Target A | 429812 | 7005980 | 1225 | -50 | 207 |
| MP19-002 | 63.2 | Target G | 417543 | 7017670 | 1750 | -49 | 211 |
| NB19-001 | 308.8 | Boundary Zone | 422379 | 7010432 | 1170 | -50 | 216 |
| NB19-002 | 357.0 | Boundary Zone | 422379 | 7010432 | 1170 | -65 | 216 |
| UTM Zone 9 NAD83 | |||||||
| TABLE 3: 2019 DRILL HOLE RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS | |||
| Drill Hole | Zone | Drill Target | Results and Observations |
| TS19-001 | Tom North | Step out hole at depth in Tom North | Assays reported in August 20 news release. |
| TS19-002 | Tom North | Step out hole at depth in Tom North | Assays reported in August 20 news release. |
| TS19-003 | Tom North | Step out hole at depth in Tom North | Assays reported in August 20 news release. |
| TS19-004 | Tom West | Step out hole at south end of Tom West Zone | Assays reported in August 20 news release. |
| TS19-005 | Tom North | Twin hole to confirm 1952 drill results | Assays reported in August 20 news release. |
| TS19-006 | Tom North | Drilled below TS19-005 for better core recoveries | Assays reported in August 20 news release. |
| TS19-007 | Tom East | Step out hole down dip in Tom East | Assays reported in this news release. |
| TS19-008 | Tom North | Twin hole to confirm 1952 drill results | Assays reported in this news release. |
| TS19-009 | Tom North | Twin hole to confirm 1952 drill results | Assays reported in this news release. |
| TS19-010 | Target R | Geophysical anomaly | No significant intersection. Anomaly explained by pyrite and dense sedimentary rock unit. |
| JS19-001 | Jason North | Coincident geological-geophysical-geochemical anomaly | Minor mineralization intersected. Target will be re-evaluated this winter. |
| JS19-002 | Jason North | Coincident geological-geophysical-geochemical anomaly | Minor mineralization intersected. Target will be re-evaluated this winter. |
| MP19-001 | Target A | Geophysical anomaly | No significant intersection. Anomaly explained by dense sedimentary rock unit. |
| MP19-002 | Target G | Drilling below zinc-lead mineralization found on surface | Narrow zone intersected. Assays pending. |
| NB19-001 | Boundary Zone | Infill hole to confirm historic drill results and collect large sample for metallurgical-ore sorting test work. | Wide zone intersected. Assays pending. |
| NB19-002 | Boundary Zone | Infill hole to confirm historic drill results and collect large sample for metallurgical-ore sorting test work. | Wide zone intersected. Assays pending. |
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2fb9c4ea-7e0f-457e-acc6-494f19586b33
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8763367b-2472-43ac-bbf3-7b2612795015
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f41b02d8-51a7-4b2a-95f0-073af935c141
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/834873f4-776e-416c-bf52-d4c2a0586a9c
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5dd0aae-a31e-47c0-87c0-e65501c2edd9