QuestEx Gold & Copper Announces Drill Results from their 100% owned Sofia Property
VANCOUVER, Nov. 30, 2021 - QuestEx Gold & Copper Ltd. (TSXV: QEX) (OTCQX: CLASF) ("QuestEx" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that drilling conducted on their 100% owned Sofia property, located in British Columbia's ("BC") prolific Toodoggone mining district, has confirmed along-strike potential of the Quartz Lake gold ("Au") -silver ("Ag") epithermal vein system and expanded the footprint of the Sofia porphyry copper ("Cu")-Au system.
QuestEx's 2021 exploration program on its 93 square kilometre ("km") Sofia property included 1,611 metres ("m") of diamond drilling, which targeted the Quartz Lake, low-sulphidation, epithermal vein system (five drill holes, 776 m), and related porphyry copper-gold systems (two drill holes, 835 m), as well as follow-up and infill soil sampling (406 samples). Highlights from the program include:
- Expansion of the 300 m long Quartz Lake Au-Ag vein system by an additional 55 m to the northwest, demonstrating multiple mineralized veins with down-dip continuity (Table 1; Figures 1,2).
- Recognition of porphyry Cu-Au style mineralization at the Tranquillo target indicating an expansion to the footprint of the nearby Sofia porphyry target (Figure 3, Table 2).
- New identification of a 1,000 by 800 m multi-element (Au-Cu-molybdenum ("Mo")) soil anomaly (Figure 3).
Table 1 Highlighted Results** from 2021 Drill Program - Quartz Lake
| B-Vein Intersections | ||||||
| Drill Hole | From | To | Length | Au | Ag | AuEq* |
| SF21-05 | 54.00 | 58.00 | 4.00 | 2.93 | 13.0 | 3.10 |
| SF21-06 | 113.00 | 124.00 | 11.00 | 1.13 | 7.9 | 1.23 |
| Including | 114.00 | 115.00 | 1.00 | 5.28 | 59.5 | 6.06 |
| A-Vein Intersections | ||||||
| SF21-05 | 104.00 | 109.00 | 5.00 | 0.80 | 3.1 | 0.84 |
| 111.00 | 113.00 | 2.00 | 0.99 | 5.1 | 1.05 | |
| SF21-06 | 158.00 | 169.00 | 11.00 | 1.74 | 10.8 | 1.88 |
| Including | 159.00 | 161.00 | 2.00 | 4.88 | 26.7 | 5.24 |
| Other Significant Veins | ||||||
| SF21-05 | 76.00 | 77.00 | 1.00 | 1.29 | 11.1 | 1.44 |
| 129.00 | 130.00 | 1.00 | 1.03 | 8.7 | 1.15 | |
| SF21-06 | 62.00 | 63.00 | 1.00 | 1.02 | 8.8 | 1.13 |
| 83.00 | 84.00 | 1.00 | 2.09 | 38.3 | 2.59 | |
Tony Barresi, QuestEx's President comments: "Results from QuestEx's 2021 exploration program at Sofia demonstrate considerable potential to expand the footprint of both epithermal gold and porphyry copper-gold systems on this large and underexplored property in the Toodoggone district. Drilling conducted by QuestEx this year significantly expanded the strike extent of the Quartz Lake epithermal gold system, intersecting grades and widths of mineralization that are comparable to those reported from other more advanced projects within the district."
Dr. Barresi comments further: "We are eagerly anticipating results from exploration on our 100% owned KSP property in the heart of BC's prolific Golden Triangle, where the majority of our 2021 exploration efforts were directed. Results from our drill program at the Inel Gold prospect, an induced polarization ("IP") geophysical survey at Sericite Ridge, and a property-wide prospecting campaign are all pending and following their release we expect to announce an inaugural mineral resource estimate for the Inel gold project before the end of Q1, 2022."
Quartz Lake
The Quartz Lake low-sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag system comprises several up to 10-metre-thick quartz-carbonate veins contained within a broader zone of altered volcanic rock that is outlined by a 400 by 400 m gold in soil anomaly. Stealth Minerals tested the vein system in 2004 with 1,139 m of drilling in 11 drill holes. They defined at least two thick and variably well mineralized veins and numerous lower grade narrow veins and stockwork zones over a strike length of 300 m and to a vertical depth of approximately 110 m. Historical intersections include 3.48 g/t Au and 32.6 g/t Ag over 11.6 m in drill hole SG04-04 (18.00 - 29.60m; Figure 1). Drilling by QuestEx in 2021 was designed to test for an extension of the known mineralization along strike to the northwest, and to vertical depths greater than 100 m. Drill holes SF21-05 and SF21-06 successfully delineated an extension of the Quartz Lake veins along strike, 55 m to the northwest of historical drilling. These drill holes intersected numerous gold and silver mineralized veins, including the A and B veins (Table 1; Figures 1, 2) previously defined by Stealth Minerals. Drill holes SF21-03 and SF21-04 tested down dip extensions of the A and B veins at vertical depths greater than 100 m. In these holes the veins were intersected but resulted in lower-grade intersection (e.g., 1.11 g/t Au and 0.5 g/t Ag over 1 m from 169-170 m and 0.93 g/t Au and 2.1 g/t Ag over 1 m from 222-223 m in drill hole SF21-03). SF21-07 was designed to test for a shallow down-dip extension of a historical intersection made near surface in SG04-04 (noted above); however, the drill hole did not reach target depth due to safety issues related to drill pad instability.
Porphyry Targets
Drill hole SF21-01 tested the Tranquillo porphyry Cu-Au target. The drill hole intersected strong evidence of a robust porphyry system in the form of quartz-magnetite, quartz-pyrite, pyrite-sericite, and gypsum veins that cross-cut moderately to strongly phyllic altered porphyritic intrusions and volcanic rock. Persistent low-grade copper mineralization over approximately 343 m (Table 2) is a positive indication of the metal endowment of the porphyry system, however, SF21-01 failed to intersect the (potassic altered) core of the system, which is typically host to higher-grade mineralization. The Tranquillo target is therefore interpreted as a southern extension of the broader Sofia porphyry system, the majority of which lies to the north. The core of the Sofia porphyry system has only been peripherally tested by one historical drill hole (BCG07-01) which bottomed in 0.13% Cu over 47 m. The 0.5 by 1.5 km area between Tranquillo and drill hole BCG07-01 has a classic porphyry geophysical signature with a magnetic high coring a chargeability high (Figure 3) and remains untested by drilling.
Drill hole SF21-02 tested the Alexandra porphyry Cu-Au target. Prior to drilling SF21-02, drill core from the only historical drill hole to test the Alexandra target (BCG07-03) was relogged. BCG07-03 bottomed at 261 m in significant copper and gold mineralization (0.42 g/t Au and 0.08% Cu over 21.15 m). Relogging determined that this mineralized domain was associated with porphyry related B-veins and potassic alteration, representing increased proximity to the core of a porphyry system. SF21-02 was collared 165 m to the southwest of BCG07-03 (Figure 3) and drilled at a different azimuth in order to test beneath a different portion of the broader Cu-Au-Mo soil anomaly associated with the prospect. The top 118 m of the drill hole intersected strongly to intensely quartz-sericite-pyrite altered porphyritic intrusive rock with trace supergene copper mineralization. A late, unmineralized, blind intrusion was intersected at 193 m before the more prospective lower portion of the porphyry system could be tested. The mineralized potassic zone intersected in BCG07-03 remains a priority target for potential future drill programs.
Soil Sampling
Four-hundred-and-six follow-up and infill soil samples were collected during the 2021 field program. In addition to bringing better resolution to the overall 6.5 by 4 km soil anomaly that defines the property-scale mineral system, the program also defined a new 1,000 by 800 m multi-element (Au-Cu-Mo) anomaly at Griz Bowl (Figure 3), where there is also a coincident magnetic high, indicating a new porphyry Cu-Au target. Detailed grid sampling over the Quartz-Lake area now infers a 400 by 400 m area prospective for gold mineralization.
Table 2 Results** from 2021 Drill Program - Sofia Property
| Porphyry Copper Exploration Drill Holes | ||||||
| Drill | From | To (m) | Length | Cu (%) | ||
| SF-21-01 | 36.00 | 379.00 | 343.00 | 0.043 | ||
| Including | 36.00 | 186.00 | 150.00 | 0.053 | ||
| Including | 36.00 | 80.00 | 44.00 | 0.075 | ||
| Including | 52.00 | 62.00 | 10.00 | 0.121 | ||
| SF21-02 | no significant results | |||||
| Gold-Silver Vein Exploration Drill Holes | ||||||
| Drill | From (m) | To (m) | Length | Au (g/t) | Ag (g/t) | AuEq* |
| SF-21-03 | 43.00 | 44.00 | 1.00 | 0.58 | 4.9 | 0.65 |
| 63.00 | 64.00 | 1.00 | 0.81 | 6.9 | 0.90 | |
| 124.00 | 125.00 | 1.00 | 0.89 | 3.3 | 0.93 | |
| 157.00 | 158.00 | 1.00 | 0.81 | 3.8 | 0.86 | |
| 164.00 | 173.00 | 9.00 | 0.35 | 0.8 | 0.36 | |
| Including | 169.00 | 170.00 | 1.00 | 1.11 | 0.5 | 1.12 |
| 222.00 | 223.00 | 1.00 | 0.93 | 2.1 | 0.96 | |
| SF-21-04 | no significant results | |||||
| SF21-05 | 54.00 | 58.00 | 4.00 | 2.93 | 13 | 3.10 |
| 76.00 | 77.00 | 1.00 | 1.29 | 11.1 | 1.44 | |
| 89.00 | 90.00 | 1.00 | 1.31 | 13.3 | 1.49 | |
| 104.00 | 109.00 | 5.00 | 0.80 | 3.1 | 0.84 | |
| 111.00 | 113.00 | 2.00 | 0.99 | 5.1 | 1.05 | |
| 129.00 | 130.00 | 1.00 | 1.03 | 8.7 | 1.15 | |
| SF21-06 | 62.00 | 63.00 | 1.00 | 1.02 | 8.8 | 1.13 |
| 83.00 | 84.00 | 1.00 | 2.09 | 38.3 | 2.59 | |
| 113.00 | 124.00 | 11.00 | 1.13 | 7.9 | 1.23 | |
| Including | 114.00 | 115.00 | 1.00 | 5.28 | 59.5 | 6.06 |
| 158.00 | 169.00 | 11.00 | 1.74 | 10.8 | 1.88 | |
| Including | 159.00 | 161.00 | 2.00 | 4.88 | 26.7 | 5.24 |
| SF21-07 | hole lost before target depth | |||||
Table 3 2021 Drill Hole Locations - Sofia Property; NAD83 UTM Zone 9 Datum
| Drill Hole | Easting | Northing | Elevation | Azimuth | Dip | Depth (m) |
| SF-21-01 | 634285 | 6358575 | 1230 | 231.0 | -49.1 | 435.89 |
| SF-21-02 | 633786 | 6357319 | 1542 | 65.5 | -55.6 | 399.30 |
| SF-21-03 | 631985 | 6358063 | 1686 | 245.4 | -64.4 | 266.00 |
| SF-21-04 | 631985 | 6358063 | 1686 | 247.2 | -79.9 | 139.50 |
| SF-21-05 | 631779 | 6358244 | 1600 | 240.0 | -50.0 | 134.50 |
| SF-21-06 | 631779 | 6358244 | 1600 | 247.8 | -88.6 | 202.20 |
| SF-21-07 | 631871 | 6357989 | 1649 | 245.0 | -50.3 | 33.88 |
QA/QC
Drill core and soil samples for the Sofia 2021 exploration program followed chain of custody between collection and delivery to a Bureau Veritas ("BV") laboratory in Vancouver, BC. The samples were packed in zip tied polyurethane bags and then in security-sealed rice-bags before being delivered directly from northern BC to the laboratory via Bandstra Transportation Systems. Drill core samples ranged between 1 and 2 m length and were cut at QuestEx's core logging facility at Black Lake Lodge near the Sofia Property. Drill core samples were prepared for analysis according to BV method PRP-70-250: each sample was crushed to greater than 70% passing a 2mm sieve and a 250 gram split was pulverized to greater than 85% passing a 75 micron sieve. Gold was tested by fire assay with atomic absorption finish on a 30g nominal sample (method FA430-Au). An additional 45 elements were tested by ICP-ES/MS using a four-acid digestion (method MA200). Soil samples were prepared for analysis according to BV method SS80: each sample was dried and sieved to depletion using a 180 micron mesh. Gold and 36 additional elements were tested by ICP-ES/MS using an Aqua-Regia digestion on a 30 gram nominal sample (method FA430). Quality assurance and control ("QAQC") is maintained at the lab through rigorous use of internal standards, blanks and duplicates. An additional QAQC program was administered by QuestEx through blind insertion of blanks and certified reference standards into sample batches. If a QAQC sample returns an unacceptable value an investigation into the results is triggered and when deemed necessary, the samples that were tested in the batch with the failed QAQC sample are re-tested.
Qualified Person
Tony Barresi, Ph.D., P.Geo., QuestEx's President, a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument ("NI") 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.
Notes
| * | Gold equivalent ("AuEq"), is used for illustrative purposes, to express the combined value of gold and silver as a percentage of gold. No allowances have been made for recovery losses that would occur in a mining scenario. AuEq is calculated on the basis of US$1,780 per troy ounce of gold and US$23.50 per troy ounce of silver. |
| ** | Reported assays are uncut weighted averages and represent drilled core lengths. The estimated true width of reported mineralization is estimated to range between 60% and 100% of reported intervals for drill holes SF21-03 - SF21-06 and are unknown for SF21-01. |
We seek safe harbour.
About QuestEx
QuestEx Gold & Copper Ltd. is exploring for gold and copper with a focus on the Golden Triangle and Toodoggone areas of British Columbia, Canada. It has 100% ownership of one of the largest portfolios of mineral tenures in British Columbia's metal-rich Golden Triangle. The portfolio includes the 312 square km KSP property, which is surrounded by some of the most important past and current mining and development projects in British Columbia (e.g. Eskay Creek, Snip, Brucejack, KSM, Johnny Mountain); QuestEx intends to release a NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for the Inel gold system, located on the KSP property, in 2022. In the northern corner of the Golden Triangle in the Red Chris mining district QuestEx's portfolio includes the Castle property, a porphyry copper-gold project located adjacent to Newmont's Tatogga property, and along trend of the Saddle North porphyry copper-gold deposit (>10 million ounces gold, in all categories). Other properties include North ROK, Coyote, and Kingpin in the Golden Triangle, Sofia in the Toodoggone district, and Heart Peaks and Hit in other strategic districts within British Columbia. These assets are being advanced by a newly assembled technical and management team with experience in exploration, permitting and discovery.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF QuestEx Gold & Copper Ltd.
"Joseph Mullin"
Joseph Mullin
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
NR 21-20
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators as well as the risk that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may have on the Company's business. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from QuestEx expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. QuestEx does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/questex-gold--copper-announces-drill-results-from-their-100-owned-sofia-property-301433827.html
SOURCE QuestEx Gold & Copper Ltd.
Contact
T: (250) 768-1511, W: www.questex.ca