Northisle Commences 2024 Phase I Exploration Program; 2023 Drill Results Confirm Thesis at Pemberton Hills
Highlights:
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Northisle 2024 Phase 1 drill program commencing
- Extend near-surface drilling discovery at West Goodspeed through systematic step-out drilling into large, near-surface magnetic anomaly
- Identify causative intrusion at Northwest Expo through targeted step-outs and high leverage infill holes which will also test potential for mineralized porphyry source at depth
- In-fill Northwest Expo resource to upgrade to >90% Indicated Resources within resource estimate shell
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Pemberton Hills 2023 drill results confirm overall thesis and demonstrate progress towards porphyry source of 6 kilometre (km) long by 1.5km thick lithocap - Surface mapping and additional geophysics to continue on high priority targets throughout the property
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![Figure 1: Aerial View Looking East at West Goodspeed and Goodspeed targets (Photo: Business Wire)](https://mms.businesswire.com/media/20240523114719/en/2139750/4/ni1.jpg)
Figure 1: Aerial View Looking East at West Goodspeed and Goodspeed targets (Photo: Business Wire)
A drill is currently being staged to the West Goodspeed target, with a second drill rig to be added to support helicopter-assisted drilling at Northwest Expo within the coming weeks.
Key Catalysts
In 2024, the Company will continue advancing the
- COMPLETED - Geophysics results from Northwest Expo and West Goodspeed
- COMPLETED - Final 2023 Pemberton Hills Drill Results
- COMPLETED - Commencement of 2024 drilling program
- Q2 2024 - Preliminary Project Trade-offs
- Late Q2/Early Q3 2024 - Initial Exploration Results from 2024 Phase 1 drilling program
- Q3 2024 - Commencement of advanced economic and technical studies
- H2 2024 – Full Results from 2024 Phase 1 drilling program
- Ongoing - Continued positive engagement with indigenous rightsholders and local stakeholders
Upcoming Investor Events
During 2024, the Company will continue to be active in investor outreach. Northisle will be attending several external investor events including the following events during Q2/Q3 2024:
- Summer 2024: Broker and Institutional Site Visits
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September 10 – 13, 2024:Precious Metals Summit ,Beaver Creek, CO -
September 15 – 18, 2024: Gold Forum Americas,Colorado Springs, CO -
November 20 – 21, 2024:Swiss Mining Institute ,Zurich, Switzerland
West Goodspeed Exploration
Drilling in 2024 will commence with the West Goodspeed target, the discovery of which was announced by Northisle in
Mineralization in GS23-04 and GS23-05, which starts immediately below 6 metres of overburden and includes 125m grading 0.49% copper equivalent (Cu Eq) in GS23-05 and 78m grading 0.48% Cu Eq. in GS23-04 is associated with quartz-sericite-pyrite (QSP) alteration which suggest the drill holes are proximal to the potential causative intrusion for this porphyry system. The initial follow-up drill program will systematically seek to vector towards the source intrusion with the goal of intercepting the potentially higher grade potassic zone commonly found in similar porphyry systems. At the previously producing Island Copper mine the potassic alteration consisted of biotite-magnetite. GS23-04 and GS23-05 are peripheral to and north of a large northerly trending magnetic anomaly which will be further explored by drilling. GS23-05 ended in mineralization proximal to this anomaly as shown in Figure 3.
The 2024 program at West Goodspeed will include approximately 3,600m of drilling in at least 7 step-out holes to the south and east of the two West Goodspeed discovery drill holes. Additional holes are proposed for a magnetic anomaly southeast of the original Goodspeed surface exposure of stockwork quartz-magnetite veinlets hosting chalcopyrite and bornite.
Figure 1 shows the proposed locations of the 2024 Phase 1 drill holes in the Goodspeed area.
Figure 2 shows 2024 drill targets in the Goodspeed area in the context of integrated 2021 and 2023 geophysical surveys.
Figure 3 shows a section including the 2023 discovery drill holes at West Goodspeed as well as the newly identified deep magnetic target which was not penetrated by 2023 drilling.
Northwest Expo Exploration
After drilling at Goodspeed concludes, Northisle will be systematically testing several targets at Northwest Expo for the source of the gold-enriched mineralization contained in the recently announced Northwest Expo Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”). In addition, the 2024 exploration program includes several in-fill holes designed to convert a significant portion of the inferred resource within the higher-grade southwest portion of the deposit, while also testing the potential for a porphyry source at depth, highlighted by an intercept in NW23-13 which included 130m grading 2.13 grams per tonne (g/t) gold equivalent (Au Eq). (see
Within the deposit footprint, the Company has planned approximately 3,600m of drilling in 8 drill holes.
Three of the drill holes at the south of the resource shell are planned to test for the potential source of the higher-grade mineralization that was observed during 2023 drilling in stockwork covellite, chalcocite, and bornite veinlets in porphyry xenoliths, within a hydrothermal breccia encountered in drill hole NW23-13. This breccia was observed from 320m to 338m and graded 3.5g/t gold (Au) and 1.0% copper over 18 m. In addition, a review of Northisle drill core and from programs carried out by previous operators identified drill core which includes stockworked A and B style quartz veining at depth in drill hole EC-233 200m northwest of NW23-13. The mineralized material contains fluorine bearing topaz, which in upper parts of porphyry systems occurs above the hydrothermal up-flow zone, higher temperature, low pH clays including pyrophyllite and dickite which also occur in adjacent drill holes and suggest proximity to the potassic zone below this area, which is typical of porphyry systems.
Figure 4 shows the proposed location of drill holes within the Northwest Expo deposit as well as the location of identified porphyry-style veining relative to the existing resource model and the target area for potential causative intrusions at depth.
In addition, step-out drilling is planned, subject to receipt of all relevant approvals, to test several additional potential porphyry occurrences in the area between Northwest Expo and Goodspeed which is part of the larger trend on the northwest end of the
Pemberton Hills Results and Exploration
2023 drilling at
Drill hole PH23-12 was drilled proximal to the lithocap and was oriented to pierce magnetic and induced polarization (IP) anomalies adjacent to a QSP altered quartz-diorite. The hole showed significant QSP alteration and minor chalcopyrite bearing quartz stockwork veining, which indicates progression towards the source of the system but did not contain economically significant mineralization. PH23-13 was drilled further from the lithocap to the northeast and targeted in the direction of a large magnetic anomaly. The drill hole intercepted QSP alteration which again indicates proximity to potassic alteration. Examining the drill results in association with magnetic survey data and historic surface sampling, which included copper and gold values within at least 200m long narrow quartz veins, the current interpretation is that the possible source occurs south of the 2023 drill holes and north of the historic surface samples. This interpretation is shown in Figure 6 in the context of surface geology and alteration.
The 2024 surface exploration at
Hushamu Exploration
At Hushamu, the Company has reviewed drill core, logging, and surface exploration over the last several years, as well as results of drilling from other targets on the property. There are now multiple indicators that the Hushamu deposit, like Northwest Expo, is lithocap hosted. In addition, the orientation of the overall porphyry system has been reinterpreted which indicates that the causative intrusion may be to the south of the Hushamu resource, rather than to the north. Evidence for this reinterpretation includes:
- the presence of zunyite, a fluorine bearing mineral like topaz occurring in the upflow zone of porphyry deposits
- the discovery in a recent bulldozed area of sheeted and stockwork quartz veining over 600m, plus leached stockwork quartz veining with residual jarosite, goethite and hematite grading 0.1% to 0.5% copper on the south side of the Hushamu deposit; and
- the observation of gusano texture, which commonly occurs in lithocaps above hydrothermal upflow zones of porphyry deposits in adjacent drill holes to the north
Northisle will be conducting a mapping program similar to that at
Figure 9 shows a cross-section of the Hushamu deposit with the new interpreted potential porphyry source target.
Additional Technical Details
Logging, Sampling and Assaying Procedures and QA/QC
The diamond drill core logging and sampling program was carried out under a rigorous quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC) program using industry best practices. Drill intersections in this release are typically HQ to 100 m and NQ thereafter to the end of holes. After drilling, core was logged for geology, structure, and geotechnical characteristics utilizing Geospark© core logging software, then marked for sampling and photographed on site. The cores for analyses were marked for sampling based on geological intervals with individual samples 3 m or less in length. Drill core was cut lengthwise in half with a core saw. Half-core was sent for assays reported in this news release. Prior to cutting core for assay bulk density was also determined on site by taking 15 to 20 centimetres (cm) lengths of whole core of each lithology at 10 m intervals. The ends of these were then cut at right angle to the core axis, retaining all pieces to be returned to the core box for later sample cutting and analysis. The diameter of each core sampled for bulk density was measured at each end with digital calipers to 3 decimal places and recorded. The length of the core was measured on four sides at 90 degrees to each other, to 2 decimal places and recorded. The software averaged the lengths and diameters. The mass of the dry core was measured twice on an Ohaus© balance to 2 decimal places. If no discrepancy occurred the measurement was recorded. If there was a discrepancy the measuring was repeated until no discrepancy between 2 measurements occurred. The density was calculated using the formula Bulk Density = π times r² times h (where r is radius of core and h is length of core). Certified standard masses are used to calibrate the scale balance used for bulk density determinations. The balance in the core logging area was levelled on a large concrete block to avoid vibration, was leveled, and surrounded by a wooden partition to avoid wind affecting the balance. The measurements were recorded in Geospark© logging software and Bulk Density calculated to 2 decimal places.
A total of 5% assay standards or blanks and 5% core duplicates are included in the sample stream as a quality control measure and are reviewed after analyses are received. Standards were obtained from WCM Minerals,
Pulps and rejects of holes with significant assay intervals are stored at Western Mineral Storage. The remaining split core is indexed and stored at Northisle logging and office facility in
Drill Results in this news release are length weighted averages.
Qualified Persons and Data Verification
About Northisle
For more information on Northisle please visit the Company’s website at www.northisle.ca.
Cautionary Note Concerning Inferred Resources
Unless otherwise indicated, all technical information included in this news release, including references to inferred mineral resources, has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the
Cautionary Note Regarding Adjacent and Historical Property Disclosure
This news release contains information regarding adjacent and historical properties and deposits. Investors are cautioned that adjacent mineral deposits or systems, or past-performance of historical mines, do not necessarily indicate and certainly do not prove the existence, nature or extent of mineral deposits on the
Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities law. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the MRE; plans and expectations regarding the 2024 exploration program; plans and expectations regarding future project development; timing of key catalysts; planned activities, including further drilling, at the
Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the expectations of management of Northisle as of the date of this news release, and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Northisle does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.
Neither the
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On behalf of
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (778) 655-9582
Email: info@northisle.ca
www.northisle.ca
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