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Foran Announces Assay Results from Tesla Expansion Drilling and Newly Identified Gold Zone

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Foran Announces Assay Results from Tesla Expansion Drilling and Newly Identified Gold Zone

 

 

 

 

 

Highlight intersection 22m at 5.6% CuEq

 

New Gold and Silver-Rich Zone Identified at Tesla, Potentially Strengthening at Depth

 

Tesla Zone now Measures 1,200m Along Strike and up to 700m Down Dip and Remains Open in All Directions

 

Summer Drill Campaign Ongoing, Testing High Priority Regional Targets and Further Definition at Tesla

 

Foran Mining Corporation (TSX: FOM) (OTCQX: FMCXF) is pleased to announce assay results from new step-out holes drilled to expand the Tesla Zone, part of Foran’s 100%-owned McIlvenna Bay Property in Saskatchewan. Several holes intersected wide zones of high-grade mineralization and confirm the extensions of the Tesla Zone down-dip, which was interpreted from borehole EM modelling. In addition, several assay results also contain significant gold-rich intersections adjacent to the lower sulphide lenses, which may represent a previously unrecognized mineralization style at Tesla. Following our release of the Tesla Exploration Target on July 15, 2024, these new intersections suggest that the Tesla Zone remains open for potential expansion with further drilling.

 

Key Highlights:

  • Hole TS-24-24w1, drilled as a 200m step out from previous drilling into the Tesla Zone, intersected multiple massive to semi-massive lenses, highlighted by:
    • 11.7m grading 0.30% Cu, 21.97% Zn, 21.1 g/t Ag and 0.09 g/t Au (7.00% CuEq), including 6.4m grading 0.18% Cu, 28.60% Zn, 16.8 g/t Ag and 0.08 g/t Au (8.85% CuEq); and
    • 13.8m grading 0.16% Cu, 9.11% Zn, 82.2 g/t Ag and 0.30 g/t Au (3.41% CuEq), including 3.4m grading 0.32% Cu, 14.60% Zn, 47.9 g/t Ag and 0.59 g/t Au (5.17% CuEq).
  • Hole TS-24-24w4, drilled as a wedged hole from TS-24-24w1 that intersected mineralization approximately 100m along strike to the north and a further 100m up dip, also returned multiple massive to semi-massive sulphide zones, highlighted by:
    • 29.8m grading 0.67% Cu, 10.53% Zn, 16.4 g/t Ag and 0.22 g/t Au (3.96% CuEq), including 22.4m grading 1.13% Cu, 14.30% Zn, 25.8 g/t Ag and 0.35 g/t Au (5.63% CuEq).
  • A newly identified zone of gold and silver-bearing veining has been identified above the lower Tesla lenses. This zone appears to connect with a gold intersection in previously released hole HG-23-01 and may be strengthening with depth. Recent intersections include:
    • 9.4m grading 1.82 g/t Au and 142.0 g/t Ag, including 4.7m grading 2.61 g/t Au and 197.9 g/t Ag in hole TS-24-24w1; and
    • 2.0m grading 2.06 g/t Au and 88.9 g/t Ag in hole TS-24-24w4.
  • Hole TS-24-20w1, drilled in the downdip central portion of the Tesla Zone as a wedged hole from TS-24-20 for metallurgical sampling. The hole intersected multiple massive, semi-massive and stringer sulphide zones of similar high tenor to its parent hole, highlighted by:
    • 29.0m grading 1.10% Cu, 6.98% Zn, 34.8 g/t Ag and 0.08 g/t Au (3.30% CuEq), including 9.0m grading 1.84% Cu, 8.15% Zn, 53.3 g/t Ag and 0.24 g/t Au (4.50% CuEq); and
    • 11.2m grading 0.22% Cu, 11.23% Zn, 29.5 g/t Ag and 0.05 g/t Au (3.72% CuEq), including 5.3m grading 0.25% Cu, 16.99% Zn, 36.6 g/t Ag and 0.06 g/t Au (5.51% CuEq).
  • Tesla drilling continues with three land-based rigs now completing navigation drilling infill holes from the Tesla footwall to tighten drill spacings in the central part of the zone.

 

Erin Carswell, Foran’s Vice President, Exploration, commented: “The Tesla Zone continues to surprise us, with the latest down-plunge expansion drillholes to the north displaying intense, thick intersections of high-grade mineralization and a parallel zone of gold-bearing veins that we are only beginning to understand. Using TruScan XRF scanning data we have been able to trace pathfinder elements from this gold zone into the gabbroic host rocks of neighbouring holes, which we will now sample for laboratory assays with the hope of delineating a larger zone of precious metals mineralization. Having now concluded this season’s Tesla expansion drilling, navigational drilling of the central Tesla Zone has commenced to tighten our intersection spacing, while at the same time our regional targeting program is underway with one helicopter-supported drill rig testing select summer-accessible targets from our large pipeline of high-priority prospects. We look forward to continuing to extrapolate our learnings from Tesla to the district scale as we pursue our goal to make further new discoveries in Saskatchewan.”

 

Tesla Zone

 

Since its discovery in 2022, the Tesla Zone has now been intersected by 39 drill holes and wedges. Using borehole electromagnetic data as a primary targeting tool, multiple lenses of mineralization are now confirmed over 1,200m in strike length and 500-700m in dip extent. This release contains the results of seven new Tesla drill holes (see Figure 1 for collar locations), including six land-based Tesla step-out holes that targeted northward, down-plunge expansion of the zone and one ice-based hole that was drilled to duplicate results of TS-24-20 for metallurgical purposes.

 

The new results presented here continue to demonstrate the continuity of mineralization across the Tesla Zone and build on the success of the winter 2024 program, which grew the Tesla footprint and allowed the development of an Exploration Target range of 28-45 million tonnes grading 2.2-3.2% CuEq (Table 1 below). Please also see Table 2 for a complete list of new assay composites.

 

Table 1 – 2024 Tesla Exploration Target**

 

**The potential quantity and grade of this Exploration Target is conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource in this area and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource.

 

Notes:

1. Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) definitions for mineral resources were followed; Cu = copper, Zn = zinc, Ag = silver; Au = gold, CuEq = copper equivalent
2. Exploration Target is based on the results from 32 drill holes using a Cu cut-off grade of 0.3% Cu for the copper-dominated lenses and a Zn cut-off grade of 1.0% Zn for the zinc-dominated lenses to define the wire frames for the mineralized zones; Assays within these lenses were composited into 1m composites, with Zn capped at 20% and Cu capped at 7%
3. CuEq grades were derived using provisions for metallurgical recovery based on life of mine (LOM) metallurgical recovery rates derived from test work on blended ores for the McIlvenna Bay Deposit completed as part of the 2022 Feasibility Study: 91.1% Cu, 79.8% Zn, 88.6% Au and 62.3% Ag. Metal prices used are US$4.00/lb. Cu, US$1.50/lb. Zn, US$1,800/oz. Au, and US$20.00/oz.
4. A specific gravity of 3.59 g/cm3 was applied to massive sulphide lenses, and 3.00 g/cm3 was applied to stockwork lenses in the Exploration Target volume based on the results of 85 density measurements of mineralized drill core

 

 

Robust Mineralization Continues Down Plunge

 

The results of five new drill holes (TS-24-24w1, -24w2, -24w4, -25 and -25w1) confirm that robust mineralization continues to expand the Tesla Zone down-plunge and northward beyond the previous northernmost drill hole (HG-23-01).

 

TS-24-24w1 intersected the prospective stratigraphy approximately 250m down plunge from HG-23-01, with TS-24-24w2 drilled as a proximal wedge to obtain additional material for metallurgical testing. Both holes intersected multiple wide, massive to semi-massive sulphide zones over approximately 160m of core length in each hole. These dominantly consisted of strong red-brown sphalerite mineralization with pyrite and local galena that returned high grade zinc composites, including 11.7m grading 21.97% Zn (7.00% CuEq) and 13.8m grading 9.11% Zn (3.41% CuEq) in TS-24-24w1 and 11.9m grading 21.41% Zn (6.91% CuEq) and 10.2m grading 15.57% Zn (5.34% CuEq) in TS-24-24w2. In the intervening areas between the massive sulphide lenses, these holes also cut several intervals consisting of moderate to strong quartz-carbonate-albite alteration and veining hosted in gabbro and lesser felsic volcanic rocks that returned significant gold and silver assays, including 9.4m grading 1.82 g/t Au and 142.0 g/t Ag in TS-24-24w1 and 12.45m grading 1.14 g/t Au and 101.1 g/t Ag in TS-24-24w2.

 

TS-24-24w4 was drilled as a second wedge hole from the TS-24-24w1 pilot hole, designed as a step out to test the large area between TS-24-24w1, HG-23-01 and TS-24-25 (described below). TS-24-24w4 successfully intersected the Tesla Zone approximately 100m to the north of HG-23-01 and 100m up dip from the pilot hole where it returned multiple sulphide zones, including a wide composite interval consisting of a stringer sulphide zone directly overlaying a massive sulphide lens that graded 10.53% Zn, 0.67% Cu and 0.22 g/t Au or 3.96% CuEq over 29.8m. This interval was followed downhole by several narrower sulphide lenses, including 2.3m grading 6.54% Zn, 82.2 g/t Ag and 1.22 g/t Au (3.38% CuEq), and two intervening zones of moderate to strong quartz-carbonate-albite alteration and veining, highlighted by a 2.0m zone grading 2.06 g/t Au and 88 g/t Ag.

 

Drill hole TS-24-25 was drilled as a further 250m step-out hole along strike from TS-24-24w1 where it appears to have clipped the lower edge of the plunge of the Tesla zone. The hole intersected an upper zone of strong quartz-carbonate-albite alteration and veining, returning a 4.46m interval grading 1.35 g/t Au and 145.5 g/t Ag (1.67% CuEq), followed by a lower massive sulphide zone consisting of strong sphalerite mineralization which returned 8.22% Zn, 103.2 g/t Ag and 0.48 g/t Au over 2.33m. Subsequently, TS-24-25w1 was drilled as a wedge from TS-24-25 which intersected the Tesla Zone approximately 170m up dip and a further 50m along strike from TS-24-25. TS-24-25w1 appears to have successfully intersected a more central portion of the Tesla Zone returning multiple zones of massive to semi-massive sulphide zones generally consisting of strong red-brown sphalerite and pyrite and associated stringer zones, as highlighted by 2.3m grading 13.11% Zn (4.36% CuEq), 5.8m grading 5.24% Zn (2.13% CuEq) and 7.1m grading 9.49% Zn, 172.7 g/t Ag and 0.43 g/t Au (3.98% CuEq).

 

Significance of Newly Identified Gold & Silver-Bearing Vein Zone

 

The recognition that the quartz-carbonate-albite vein zones described above seem to be consistently present in the northernmost drillholes has raised questions about where else they may occur at Tesla and McIlvenna Bay, and what might control the thicker intersections and higher grades of precious metals. Due to their dominantly sulphide-poor and wispy nature (Figure 3), it is possible that such zones are present in other holes and may have not been sampled for laboratory assays. To test this theory, TruScan XRF data is being reviewed to assess the potential presence of lead anomalism, which could serve as a pathfinder for the vein system. To date, three drillholes have been identified as demonstrating this anomalism and requiring follow-up sampling, including hole TS-23-13w1 which lies up-dip of the currently modelled gold zone as shown in the cross section in Figure 4.

 

Table 2 – 2024 Assay Results (this release only)
*Denotes intersection from previously released drillhole

 

Hole Zone From_m To_m Interval_m Cu % Zn % Ag g/t Au g/t CuEq %
HG-23-01* QV 1583.0 1588.6 5.6 0.03 0.15 33.0 0.61 0.58
MB-24-293 CS 846.4 849.5 3.2 0.64 0.70 10.5 0.11 0.91
MB-24-293 CS 897.0 900.4 3.4 1.07 0.04 6.3 0.01 1.02
MS-24-293 MS 985.0 985.9 0.9 4.46 0.19 24.2 0.18 4.34
MS-24-293 MS 1040.9 1041.5 0.6 1.25 4.45 3.4 0.01 2.49
TS-24-16w1* QV 1508.9 1511.7 2.8 0.01 0.02 49.7 0.97 0.87
TS-24-16w2 MS 1476.9 1481.2 4.3 0.13 3.05 8.5 0.02 1.08
TS-24-16w2 MS 1606.9 1611.5 4.6 0.22 4.13 26.3 0.08 1.60
Including MS 1609.4 1611.5 2.1 0.32 6.59 27.0 0.08 2.44
TS-24-16w2 MS 1659.6 1668.9 9.3 0.42 2.39 37.2 0.60 2.39
Including MS 1666.4 1668.9 2.5 0.50 8.45 31.1 1.08 3.75
TS-24-19 MS 1261.3 1263.7 2.4 0.03 5.68 76.1 0.46 2.35
TS-24-19 MS 1501.3 1501.7 0.4 0.15 10.90 18.3 0.09 3.53
TS-24-20w1 MS 1326.5 1329.1 2.6 0.71 5.40 27.9 0.04 2.41
TS-24-20w1 MS 1347.8 1356.5 8.7 0.69 5.50 28.1 0.36 2.61
Including MS 1347.8 1350.9 3.1 0.23 13.12 40.3 0.23 4.46
TS-24-20w1 MS/CS 1398.5 1427.5 29.0 1.10 6.98 34.8 0.08 3.30
Including MS 1399.5 1408.5 9.0 1.84 8.15 53.3 0.24 4.50
And MS 1413.6 1418.5 4.9 0.73 13.87 32.5 0.02 4.98
TS-24-20w1 MS 1459.2 1470.4 11.2 0.22 11.23 29.5 0.05 3.72
Including MS 1459.2 1464.5 5.3 0.25 16.99 36.6 0.06 5.51
TS-24-22 MS 1442.8 1443.5 0.7 0.16 12.20 125.0 0.15 4.46
TS-24-22 QV 1474.9 1476.0 1.1 0.10 0.02 237.5 2.21 2.48
TS-24-23 CS 790.6 793.5 2.9 0.96 0.23 7.8 0.10 1.04
TS-24-23 CS 798.3 799.3 1.0 0.56 0.30 5.9 0.02 0.63
TS-24-24w1 MS 1611.5 1623.2 11.7 0.30 21.97 21.1 0.09 7.00
Including MS 1612.5 1618.9 6.4 0.18 28.60 16.8 0.08 8.85
TS-24-24w1 QV 1739.3 1748.7 9.4 0.13 0.03 142.0 1.82 1.84
Including QV 1740.3 1745.0 4.7 0.14 0.04 197.9 2.61 2.57
TS-24-24w1 MS 1759.2 1773.1 13.8 0.16 9.11 82.2 0.30 3.41
Including MS 1759.2 1762.6 3.4 0.32 14.60 47.9 0.59 5.17
TS-24-24w2 MS 1608.6 1620.5 11.9 0.27 21.41 43.0 0.11 6.91
Including MS 1610.7 1617.9 7.2 0.19 25.77 57.1 0.11 8.22
TS-24-24w2 QV 1732.3 1744.7 12.5 0.08 0.03 101.1 1.14 1.21
Including QV 1734.8 1737.6 2.8 0.14 0.02 185.7 2.24 2.30
TS-24-24w2 MS 1751.7 1761.8 10.2 0.20 15.57 72.1 0.30 5.34
Including MS 1758.2 1760.9 2.7 0.15 21.91 139.2 0.38 7.56
TS-24-24w2 MS 1772.9 1775.5 2.6 0.44 8.38 86.1 0.45 3.56

Table 2 – Continued

Hole Zone From_m To_m Interval_m Cu % Zn % Ag g/t Au g/t CuEq %
TS-24-24w4 MS 1477.4 1480.9 3.4 0.59 4.59 10.7 0.27 2.12
TS-24-24w4 MS/CS 1513.2 1543.0 29.8 0.67 10.53 16.4 0.22 3.96
Including CS 1513.2 1520.6 7.4 1.09 1.18 18.7 0.28 1.60
And MS 1520.6 1543.0 22.4 1.13 14.30 25.8 0.35 5.63
TS-24-24w4 QV 1661.2 1663.2 2.0 0.11 0.03 88.9 2.06 1.72
TS-24-24w4 MS 1663.2 1665.4 2.3 0.37 6.54 82.2 1.22 3.38
TS-24-24w4 QV 1668.4 1671.0 2.6 0.47 0.82 46.2 0.80 1.35
TS-24-24w4 MS 1707.7 1708.5 0.8 0.56 11.00 66.9 0.30 4.28
TS-24-25 QV 1674.0 1678.4 4.5 0.07 0.50 145.2 1.35 1.67
TS-24-25 MS 1709.5 1711.8 2.3 0.05 8.22 103.2 0.48 3.26
TS-24-25w1 MS 1512.8 1516.4 3.7 0.35 4.65 13.6 0.05 1.80
TS-24-25w1 MS 1520.1 1522.4 2.3 0.31 13.11 17.4 0.12 4.36
TS-24-25w1 MS 1631.8 1637.1 5.3 0.06 3.52 40.3 0.52 1.60
TS-24-25w1 MS 1639.8 1645.6 5.8 0.24 5.24 38.0 0.29 2.13
TS-24-25w1 MS 1670.0 1677.1 7.1 0.10 9.49 172.7 0.43 3.98
Including MS 1671.6 1675.0 3.4 0.09 14.78 171.9 0.35 5.50
Note 1: Composite widths are presented as core lengths. Additional drilling will be required to confirm the geometry of the mineralized zones, but generally true widths are thought to be 80-85% of core length. Intervals generally composited using a 0.5% Cu cut-off grade in stringer zones, except MB-24-290 from 1050.8-1098.3m that used a 0.3% Cu cut-off grade. Copper Equivalent values calculated using metal prices of $4.00/lb Cu, $1.50/lb Zn, $20.00/ounce Ag and $1,800/ounce Au and LOM metallurgical recovery rates derived from test work on blended ores for the McIlvenna Bay Deposit completed as part of our April 2022 Feasibility Study: 91.1% Cu, 79.8% Zn, 88.6% Au and 62.3% Ag (MS – massive / semi-massive sulphide, CS – Copper Stockwork/Stringer, QV – quartz-carbonate-albite alteration/veining). To date no metallurgical test work has been completed on the Tesla Zone or Bridge Zone mineralization.

 

2024 Summer Drill Program

 

A large summer exploration program is underway at site with four drill rigs scheduled to continue drilling at Tesla and other regional targets through to November 2024. The drills will be split between testing high priority regional targets, continued definition / infill drilling of the upper parts of the Tesla Zone and expansion drilling focused on the potential down plunge extension of the Zone. Of the planned summer drilling, approximately 7,500m is planned to test regional geological and electromagnetic target areas located within trucking distance of the McIlvenna Bay Project, while a further 8,000m of drilling has been allocated to Tesla, with at least two drills completing holes from the southern footwall side of the mineralized zone where dry land is available. Directional drilling technology is being employed to ensure that the drillholes intersect the Tesla Zone at the proper angle and a series of wedged holes will be completed from each pilot hole drilled to achieve multiple intersections into the mineralization from each fence. This drilling is expected to achieve additional intersections between the current wide spaced drill holes and provide the increased drilling density and definition of the zones necessary as we work toward a future resource estimate.

 

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

 

Drilling was completed using NQ size diamond drill core and core was logged by employees of the Company. During the logging process, mineralized intersections were marked for sampling and given unique sample numbers. Sampled intervals were sawn in half using a diamond blade saw. One half of the sawn core was placed in a plastic bag with the sample tag and sealed, while the second half was returned to the core box for storage on site. Sample assays are performed by the Saskatchewan Research Council (“SRC”) Geoanalytical Laboratory in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. SRC is a Canadian accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) and independent of Foran. Analysis for Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn is performed using ICP-OES after total multi-acid digestion. Au analysis is completed by fire assay with ICP-OES finish and any samples which return results greater than 1.0 g/t Au are re-run using gravimetric finish. A complete suite of QA/QC reference materials (standards, blanks, and duplicates) are included in each batch of samples processed by the laboratory. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data.

 

Qualified Person

 

Mr. Roger March, P. Geo., Principal Geoscientist for Foran, is the Qualified Person for all technical information herein and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.

 

About Foran Mining

 

Foran Mining is a copper-zinc-gold-silver exploration and development company, committed to supporting a greener future, empowering communities and creating circular economies which create value for all our stakeholders, while also safeguarding the environment. The McIlvenna Bay Project is located entirely within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, comprises the infrastructure and works related to development and advanced exploration activities of the Company, and hosts the McIlvenna Bay Deposit and Tesla Zone. The Company also owns the Bigstone Deposit, a resource-development stage deposit located 25km southwest of the McIlvenna Bay Property.

 

The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. The McIlvenna Bay Property sits just 65km West of Flin Flon, Manitoba and is part of the world class Flin Flon Greenstone Belt that extends from Snow Lake, Manitoba, through Flin Flon to Foran’s ground in eastern Saskatchewan, a distance of over 225km.

 

The McIlvenna Bay Deposit is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company announced the results from its NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report on the Feasibility Study for the McIlvenna Bay Deposit (the “McIlvenna Feasibility Study“) on February 28, 2022, outlining that current mineral reserves would potentially support an 18-year mine life producing an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually. The Company filed the McIlvenna Feasibility Study on April 14, 2022, with an effective date of February 28, 2022. The Company also filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bigstone Deposit resource estimate on January 21, 2021, as amended on February 1, 2022. Investors are encouraged to consult the full text of these technical reports which may be found on the Company’s profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

 

 


Figure 1 – Plan View of the Tesla Zone and Bridge Zone (CNW Group/Foran Mining Corporation)

 

 

 


Figure 2 – Long Section through McIlvenna Bay and Tesla showing Zinc lens (blue) and Copper lens (orange) pierce points (CNW Group/Foran Mining Corporation)

 

 

 


Figure 3 – Example of gold and silver-rich veining from hole TS-24-24w1 (CNW Group/Foran Mining Corporation)

 

 

 


Figure 4 – Geological cross section through the northern Tesla Zone including interpreted mineralization lens geometries (CNW Group/Foran Mining Corporation)

 

Posted September 4, 2024

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