Alpha Exploration Announces Aburna Gold Prospect Delivers Positive Drill Results in Four Areas Including: 16M @ 14.07 g/t Gold
Calgary, November 24, 2022 - Alpha Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: ALEX) ("Alpha" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from recent drilling campaign at its Aburna gold prospect which consisted of 25 drill holes totalling 3,196 m. Aburna is located in the southwest part of Alpha's large (771 km²), 100% owned, Kerkasha Project.
ABURNA DRILL HOLE HIGHLIGHTS
| Sub Area | Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Average g/t Gold |
| Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 45 | 59 | 14.00 | 1.09 |
| Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 66 | 72 | 6.00 | 6.11 |
| *Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 89 | 109 | 20.00 | 7.70 |
| Hill-52 Area | ABD002 | 60 | 70 | 10.00 | 1.95 |
| Hill-52 Area | ABD002 | 105 | 107 | 2.00 | 15.59 |
| Hill-52 Area | ABR021 | 35 | 49 | 14.00 | 1.40 |
| Northeast Area | ABR037 | 14 | 30 | 16.00 | 14.07 |
| Celebration Hill Area | ABR027 | 129 | 149 | 20.00 | 1.69 |
| Aburna Central Area | ABR031 | 71 | 104 | 33.00 | 0.71 |
| Aburna Central Area | ABR032 | 33 | 38 | 5.00 | 3.80 |
| Aburna Central Area | ABR034 | 101 | 125 | 24.00 | 1.43 |
*First reported on September 14, 2022.
Note: At this early stage of exploration, the true width of the mineralization is uncertain, but it is estimated to be 80% of reported intervals. Intervals were calculated with a start and finish value of no less than 0.5 g/t gold, a minimum width of 2 m and maximum internal dilution of 2 m at >0.2g/t gold.
Michael Hopley, Alpha President & CEO said "We are again, very encouraged about these latest drilling results from Aburna. Given that the Aburna prospect is a huge area - over 6 km long and 2 km wide - as defined by Alpha surface sampling and mapping - and the fact that we have only drilled 43 holes to date - just over 5, 000 m in an area measuring about 2.5 km by 1.5 km and many holes have found strong gold mineralization over significant widths including two holes (ABR-037 and ABD-001) which intersected extraordinary results of 16m averaging 14.07 g/t and 20m averaging 7.70 g/t gold. The results to date suggest to me a major gold discovery by Alpha at Aburna; obviously more drilling is justified."
Aburna Gold Prospect
The Aburna gold prospect is located on the western side of the Company's Kerkasha Exploration License. Gold was mined at Aburna in the 1920s by Italian colonial miners and more recently by local artisanal miners. Earlier soil and rock-chip sampling by Alpha identified gold mineralization over a large area (approximately 6 km x 2 km) northeast of the colonial mine. Gold mineralization at Aburna is orogenic-type associated with three major NE-SW oriented shear zones. Recent work by Alpha has included continuous 1-m long sub-surface channel and trench sampling (See press releases on 4th November 2021 and 10th February 2022). Results from all the above work identified five prospective sub-areas that warranted drill testing namely: Hill 52, Northeast, Celebration Hill, Aburna Central and Saddle Workings.
Map 1
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Map 2
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Cross Section A
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Cross Section B
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Map 3
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Map 4
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Map 5
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Table 1: Summary of significant gold results from the latest Aburna drill program
| Prospect | Sub Area | Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Average Au |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 17 | 24 | 7.00 | 0.52 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 30 | 33 | 3.00 | 0.79 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 38 | 40 | 2.00 | 0.58 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 45 | 59 | 14.00 | 1.09 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 66 | 72 | 6.00 | 6.11 |
| *Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 89 | 109 | 20.00 | 7.70 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD001 | 122 | 125 | 3.00 | 1.62 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD002 | 31 | 34 | 3.00 | 0.93 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD002 | 60 | 70 | 10.00 | 1.95 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD002 | 80 | 81 | 1.00 | 12.85 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD002 | 90 | 96 | 6.00 | 0.87 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD002 | 105 | 107 | 2.00 | 15.59 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD003 | 164 | 165 | 1.00 | 4.27 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD004 | 111 | 112 | 1.00 | 6.31 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD004 | 143 | 147 | 4.00 | 2.46 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD005 | 82 | 83 | 1.00 | 1.88 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD005 | 118 | 119 | 1.00 | 4.36 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD005 | 140 | 144 | 4.00 | 1.21 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABD005 | 155 | 160 | 5.00 | 1.23 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR020 | 62 | 63 | 1.00 | 1.50 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR021 | 35 | 49 | 14.00 | 1.40 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR021 | 62 | 65 | 3.00 | 0.80 |
| Prospect | Sub Area | Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Average Au |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR022 | 39 | 40 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR022 | 65 | 66 | 1.00 | 2.35 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR022 | 77 | 87 | 10.00 | 0.30 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR022 | 93 | 94 | 1.00 | 1.30 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR022 | 97 | 104 | 7.00 | 0.59 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR023 | 54 | 65 | 11.00 | 0.85 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR023 | 72 | 80 | 8.00 | 1.50 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR024 | 1 | 8 | 7.00 | 1.72 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR024 | 11 | 12 | 1.00 | 2.71 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR024 | 70 | 72 | 2.00 | 3.36 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR024 | 84 | 85 | 1.00 | 3.78 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR029 | 7 | 10 | 3.00 | 1.33 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR029 | 80 | 86 | 6.00 | 0.44 |
| Aburna | Hill-52 Area | ABR030 | 34 | 36 | 2.00 | 0.84 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR035 | 4 | 5 | 1.00 | 1.23 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR036 | 27 | 28 | 1.00 | 4.58 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR036 | 49 | 66 | 17.00 | 0.50 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR036 | 72 | 74 | 2.00 | 0.55 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR036 | 83 | 89 | 6.00 | 0.97 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR037 | 3 | 6 | 3.00 | 0.78 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR037 | 14 | 30 | 16.00 | 14.07 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR038 | 72 | 74 | 2.00 | 2.10 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR038 | 79 | 84 | 5.00 | 1.10 |
| Aburna | Northeast Area | ABR038 | 93 | 96 | 3.00 | 1.74 |
| Aburna | Celebration Hill Area | ABR025 | 84 | 88 | 4.00 | 0.55 |
| Aburna | Celebration Hill Area | ABR025 | 110 | 111 | 1.00 | 1.37 |
| Aburna | Celebration Hill Area | ABR025 | 152 | 155 | 3.00 | 1.18 |
| Aburna | Celebration Hill Area | ABR026 | 56 | 57 | 1.00 | 4.63 |
| Aburna | Celebration Hill Area | ABR026 | 69 | 70 | 1.00 | 1.26 |
| Aburna | Celebration Hill Area | ABR026 | 99 | 103 | 4.00 | 0.46 |
| Aburna | Celebration Hill Area | ABR027 | 129 | 149 | 20.00 | 1.69 |
| Aburna | Celebration Hill Area | ABR028 | 85 | 86 | 1.00 | 9.33 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR015 | 118 | 121 | 3.00 | 1.15 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR031 | 16 | 18 | 2.00 | 3.39 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR031 | 39 | 43 | 4.00 | 0.93 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR031 | 48 | 57 | 9.00 | 0.55 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR031 | 71 | 104 | 33.00 | 0.71 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR031 | 107 | 108 | 1.00 | 1.16 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR032 | 33 | 38 | 5.00 | 3.80 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR032 | 53 | 57 | 4.00 | 3.14 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR032 | 95 | 105 | 10.00 | 0.65 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR034 | 67 | 68 | 1.00 | 2.11 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR034 | 95 | 96 | 1.00 | 1.13 |
| Aburna | Aburna Central Area | ABR034 | 101 | 125 | 24.00 | 1.43 |
* First reported on September 14, 2022
Note: ABR designated drill holes were drilled using the reverse-circulation method and ABD designated drill holes were drilled using the diamond-drilling method. Intervals were calculated with a minimum start and finish value of 0.5 g/t gold, a minimum width of 2m and maximum internal dilution of 2 m at >0.2g/t gold. Any single meter interval >1g/t gold is also reported.
Anagulu gold-copper porphyry prospect
As announced on July 7, 2022, Alpha tested a deep (~200-500 m) chargeability anomaly in the southwest of the Anagulu prospect with one diamond tail hole (311.2 m) off existing RC hole ANR045 (240 m). This strong chargeability anomaly is coincident with elevated copper, gold, and molybdenum in previous drillholes in this area and was interpreted to be a potential source of the copper and gold mineralisation identified at surface over a 2-km strike length in soil and rock-chip samples, trenching and drillholes. The drillhole was completed last month to the target depth of 551.2m.
Assay results for gold, copper and molybdenum have now been received from the "diamond tail" of ABRD045 and show broad zones of low-level copper mineralisation and elevated molybdenum near the end of the hole as follows:
Table 2: Summary of significant copper and molybdenum intervals in ANRD045
| Hole | Sample Type | From (m) | To (m) | Interval | Gold (ppm) | Copper (ppm) | Molybdenum (ppm) |
| ANRD045 | Drill Core - Diamond Tail | 270 | 321 | 51 | 0.09 | 1,309 | 11 |
| ANRD045 | Drill Core - Diamond Tail | 340 | 349 | 9 | 0.06 | 890 | 15 |
| ANRD045 | Drill Core - Diamond Tail | 384 | 398 | 14 | 0.04 | 870 | 5 |
| ANRD045 | Drill Core - Diamond Tail | 436 | 443 | 7 | 0.04 | 898 | 11 |
| ANRD045 | Drill Core - Diamond Tail | 513 | 549 | 36 | 0.04 | 674 | 53 |
Note: No cut-off parameters were used in the interval calculations for gold, copper and molybdenum in table 2 above. The assay grade given is the sum of the individual meter assays, divided by the interval length.
At ~300 m, the potassic alteration encountered higher up the hole was replaced with phyllic alteration hosted in a quartz diorite that appeared to be largely unmineralized. At ~500 m the potassic alteration returned and persisted to the end of the hole. The potassic alteration near the end of the hole and increasing molybdenum content may indicate a return of mineralisation at greater depths.
Alpha believes that this drill hole has not, as hoped, found the source of the broad zones of copper and gold mineralization identified over a 2 km strike length at Anagulu at surface and in previous drilling. Further detailed analysis of the core from ANRD045, and surrounding area is warranted, to plan further work at Anagulu.
Sampling, Sub-sampling and Analysis
Geological consultants from RSC were responsible for the design of a strict QA/QC program consistent with industry best practice. Drilling of the reported intervals was by both reverse-circulation (RC) and diamond drilling. RC samples were split at the rig using a Metzke splitter, before being transported to a secure location for logging. Diamond drill core was cut in half longitudinally at site using a diamond saw and half of the core (in 1-meter intervals) was transported to a secure location for logging.
All samples were submitted to Nabro Laboratories Limited (Nabro), Asmara, Eritrea, for sample preparation. Samples were crushed (to 90% passing 2.8 mm) and pulverised (to 85% passing 75 µm). Two scoop samples were taken from the pulveriser bowl: approximately 120 g for laboratory analysis and approximately 100 g for portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis. The coarse and pulp rejects were stored at a warehouse in Asmara. The Company inserted certified reference material from OREAS (www.ore.com.au) into the sample stream, while Nabro inserted barren granodiorite material into the sample stream as a blank. Drill samples were shipped to ALS Geochemistry (ALS), Loughrea, Ireland, for analysis. ALS analysed all drill samples for gold by method Au-AA26 (50 g charge fire assay, AAS finish). ALS is independent of the Company and its quality management systems framework is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005or certified to ISO 9001:2015standards.
Table 3: Drill collar data from the latest Aburna and Anagulu drill program
| Prospect | Hole | Easting (UTM) | Northing (UTM) | RL (m) | Hole Type | Pre-Collar (m) | Total Depth | Dip | Azimuth | Start Date | End Date |
| Aburna | ABR015 | 341571 | 1651533 | 936 | RC | 114 | 154 | -50 | 315 | 14/09/2022 | 21/09/2022 |
| Aburna | ABR020 | 340850 | 1651234 | 950 | RC | 90 | -50 | 135 | 19/08/2022 | 20/08/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR021 | 340878 | 1651330 | 930 | RC | 108 | -50 | 135 | 20/08/2022 | 21/08/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR022 | 340908 | 1651421 | 940 | RC | 108 | -50 | 315 | 22/08/2022 | 24/08/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR023 | 340910 | 1651421 | 944 | RC | 108 | -50 | 135 | 25/08/2022 | 25/08/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR024 | 340861 | 1651468 | 944 | RC | 118 | -50 | 315 | 26/08/2022 | 27/08/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR025 | 341658 | 1650600 | 925 | RC | 180 | -50 | 315 | 27/08/2022 | 29/08/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR026 | 341574 | 1650697 | 944 | RC | 150 | -50 | 135 | 29/08/2022 | 30/08/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR027 | 341708 | 1650677 | 925 | RC | 175 | -50 | 315 | 31/08/2022 | 2/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR028 | 341582 | 1650574 | 955 | RC | 175 | -50 | 315 | 3/09/2022 | 4/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR029 | 340929 | 1651329 | 946 | RC | 108 | -50 | 315 | 5/09/2022 | 5/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR030 | 340931 | 1651331 | 950 | RC | 78 | -50 | 135 | 7/09/2022 | 7/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR031 | 341536 | 1651533 | 941 | RC | 108 | -50 | 315 | 8/09/2022 | 8/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR032 | 341557 | 1651492 | 932 | RC | 106 | -50 | 315 | 9/09/2022 | 9/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR033 | 341587 | 1651597 | 932 | RC | 105 | -50 | 315 | 10/09/2022 | 11/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR034 | 341604 | 1651549 | 932 | RC | 126 | -50 | 315 | 12/09/2022 | 13/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR035 | 342064 | 1652779 | 952 | RC | 105 | -50 | 315 | 16/09/2022 | 16/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR036 | 342077 | 1652716 | 953 | RC | 112 | -50 | 315 | 17/09/2022 | 18/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR037 | 342039 | 1652748 | 958 | RC | 110 | -50 | 315 | 19/09/2022 | 19/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABR038 | 342110 | 1652770 | 962 | RC | 105 | -50 | 315 | 20/09/2022 | 20/09/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABD001 | 340908 | 1651242 | 965 | DD | 182 | -60 | 315 | 24/07/2022 | 28/07/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABD002 | 340937 | 1651275 | 949 | DD | 162 | -60 | 315 | 28/09/2022 | 4/10/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABD003 | 340901 | 1651192 | 955 | DD | 177 | -60 | 315 | 5/10/2022 | 9/10/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABD004 | 340876 | 1651164 | 952 | DD | 160 | -60 | 315 | 9/10/2022 | 12/10/2022 | |
| Aburna | ABD005 | 341002 | 1651323 | 965 | DD | 200 | -60 | 315 | 13/10/2022 | 17/10/2022 | |
| Anagulu | ANDRO45 | 341309 | 1644278 | 875 | RC-DD | 240 | 551.2 | -55 | 315 | 15/08/2022 | 11/09/2022 |
About Alpha
Alpha is an exploration company listed on the TSX-V exchange under the symbol ALEX that has made three important discoveries in two years at it's Kerkasha Project in Eritrea:
- Aburna orogenic gold
- Anagulu porphyry gold-copper
- Tolegimja volcanogenic-massive-sulphide (VMS)
The company is managed by a group of highly experienced and successful professionals with many years of experience carrying out exploration and resource development programs in Eritrea and Sudan and is focused on the discovery of world class economic gold and base metals deposits in the highly prospective Arabian-Nubian shield, on either side of the Red Sea. Alpha currently holds a 100% interest in the large (771 km2) Kerkasha Exploration License in southwest Eritrea, located 135 km west-southwest of the capital city of Asmara. Since acquiring the property in January 2018, the company has spent ~CAD$13 million on exploration and identified 20 prospects of which six have been drilled to date.
For further information go to the Alpha webpage at www.alpha-exploration.com or contact:
Michael Hopley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Alpha Exploration Ltd.
Email: mhopley@alpha-exploration.com
Tel: +44 207129 1148
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical information in this press release, including the results of the Aburna drill program and how these results relate to the ongoing exploration at the Kerkasha Project has been reviewed, verified, and approved by Michael Hopley, President, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha and a "qualified person" for the purposes of national Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Cautionary Notes
This press release is intended for distribution in Canada only and is not intended for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States.
Forward‐Looking Statements
Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: future dataset interpretations, sampling, plans for its projects (including the Anagulu prospect), surveys related to Alpha's assets, and the Company's drilling program. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, Alpha has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions and the price of gold and other minerals. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
Although management of Alpha believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to Alpha's financing efforts; risks associated with the business of Alpha given its limited operating history; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); risks related to the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, the ability to obtain financing as required, and causing potential delays to exploration activities; those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Final Prospectus; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time. Alpha does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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