Rupert Resources Ltd. (TSX:RUP) reports follow-up assay results from the Heinä South satellite target (located 1km from Ikkari, Figure 1) and project drilling at Ikkari. The results from exploration drilling at Heinä South extend the broader mineralised zone to over 250m strike length and 200m vertical extent and include high-grade intercepts such as #124061 which intersected 10.5g/t Au over 24.40m including 112.5g/t Au over 2m (Figure 2). Project drilling at Ikkari continues to provide intercepts of exceptional width and grade continuity, increasing confidence in the ~4Moz Indicated Resource (see press release 28th November 2023).
Highlights
Heinä South
Ikkari
James Withall, CEO of Rupert Resources commented “These exciting results from Heinä South demonstrate the potential for higher-grades within the more continuous mineralisation which we have now traced over a strike length of 250m. Exploration, focussed on Heina South, along with extensional and project drilling at Ikkari, has been the focus of our winter drilling campaign. During the winter season we have followed-up promising intercepts, at shallow depths, to the west of the Heinä South trend which has the potential to become a satellite ore body to the 4Moz Ikkari deposit. Project drilling at Ikkari continues to both increase confidence in the Mineral Resource Model and provide additional material ahead of the next round of metallurgical test work which will feed into future, more advanced engineering studies.”
Heinä South
Drilling at the Heinä South target continues to identify a broader style of mineralisation than was in evidence from drilling undertaken in previous years and #124061 which intersected 24.40m at 10.5g/t Au including 2m at 112.5g/t Au demonstrates the potential for high-grade mineralisation within the broader more continuous trend (Figure 3). Previously intercepts of this nature such as #124019: 25m 16.5g/t Au from 83m including 1m at 363g/t Au (see press release 3rd March 2024) were encountered to the north of this trend.
#124023 and #124027 tested the vertical extent of the mineralisation up-dip and down-dip of #124019 which also intersected 14m at 1.2g/t Au from 201m in the southernmost breccia (see press release 3rd March 2024). #124023 intersected 23m at 1.4g/t Au from 58m and #124027 returned 29.0m at 1.9g/t Au from 231m including 1.0m at 26.7g/t Au with the intercepts from both holes occurring in the continuation of the sulphide rich breccia unit demonstrating continuity of mineralisation over 200m down-dip (Figure 4).
Follow-up drilling has continued at Heinä South with three further holes completed before the spring thaw and work continues to identify the control on the high-grade mineralisation present at the deposit.
Ikkari
A project drilling program was initiated at Ikkari during spring 2024 serving multiple purposes: increasing confidence in the ~4Moz Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate (see press release 28th November 2023); providing additional material for metallurgical test work feeding into future, more advanced engineering studies and providing further geotechnical data for the optimisation of mine planning. Results from the first 5-holes of the program are presented here (Figure 5) and include wide intercepts through the deposit such as #124036 (139.80m at 2.0g/t Au, Figure 6) and #124037 (81.90m at 2.5g/t Au) and holes that targeted the high-grade core of the deposit such as #124038 (24m at 11.4g/t Au including 3m at 37g/t Au). These intercepts, each 20m from the closest drill hole, serve to increase confidence in the resource model at Ikkari and provide substantial material for future metallurgical test work as the project continues to be de-risked. Project engineering and permitting continues with a prefeasibility study now targeted for delivery in the second half of calendar 2024.
Geological interpretation of Heinä South
The Heina South target was reappraised based on results from a new higher resolution geophysical survey flown in later 2023 which identified a south-west extension which had been untested in previous years due to a lack of base of till anomalism. Gold mineralisation in the west of Heinä South is associated with multi-phase sulphide mineralisation consisting of pyrite+-pyrrhotite+-chalcopyrite, principally occurring as the matrix to an earlier brecciated (iron)-carbonate phase. The earlier veins occur primarily within altered carbonaceous sediments folded between more homogenous gabbroic units. Gold mineralisation in the east of Heinä South is hosted within quartz-pyrite and massive pyrite veins and as lenses, as part of a stockwork of quartz-carbonate veins. Zones of massive pyrite contain the highest grades (>10g/t Au) with disseminated sulphide zone containing anomalous (<0.5g/t) gold. Early quartz-carbonate veins are overprinted by extensional veins that include coarse-grained pyrite and form sub-parallel trends, broadly related to lithological contacts between sediments and mafic-intermediate intrusives, although mineralisation also occurs within both lithologies. Further drilling is required to allow a resource to be published for the occurrence.
Geological interpretation of Ikkari
Ikkari was discovered using systematic regional exploration that initially focused on geochemical sampling of the bedrock/till interface through glacial till deposits of 5m to 40m thickness. No outcrop is present, and topography is dominated by low-lying swamp areas.
The Ikkari deposit occurs within rocks that have been regionally mapped as 2.05-2.15 billion years (“Ga”) old Savukoski group greenschist-metamorphosed mafic-ultramafic volcanic rocks, part of the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt. Gold mineralisation is largely confined to the structurally modified unconformity at a significant domain boundary. Younger sedimentary lithologies are complexly interleaved, with intensely altered ultramafic rocks, and the mineralized zone is bounded to the north by a steeply N-dipping cataclastic zone. Within the mineralised zone lithologies, alteration and structure appear to be sub-vertical in contrast to wider Area 1 where lithologies generally dipping at a moderated angle to the north.
The main mineralized zone is strongly altered and characterised by intense veining and foliation that pervasively overprints original textures. An early phase of finely laminated grey ankerite/dolomite veins is overprinted by stockwork-like irregular siderite ± quartz ± chlorite ± sulphide veins. These vein arrays are often deformed with shear-related boudinage and in situ brecciation. Magnetite and/or haematite are common, in association with pyrite. Hydrothermal alteration commonly comprises quartz-dolomite-chlorite-magnetite (±haematite). Gold is hosted by disseminated and vein-related pyrite. Multi-phase breccias are well developed within the mineralised zone, with early silicified cataclastic phases overprinted by late, carbonate- iron-oxide- rich, hydrothermal breccias which display a subvertical control. All breccias frequently host disseminated pyrite, and are often associated with higher gold grades, particularly where magnetite or haematite is prevalent. In the sedimentary lithologies, albite alteration is intense and pervasive, with pyrite-magnetite (± gold) hosted in veinlets in brittle fracture zones.
Figures & tables
Figures and tables featured in the Appendix at end of release include:
Review by Qualified Person, Quality Control and Reports
Craig Hartshorne, a Chartered Geologist and a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, is the Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, responsible for the accuracy of scientific and technical information in this news release.
The majority of samples are prepared by ALS Finland in either Sodankylä or Outokumpu. Fire assays are subsequently completed at ALS Romania whilst multielement analysis is completed in ALS Ireland or Sweden. A minority of samples are prepared by Eurofins Laboratory in Sodankylä and Fire Assay is carried out on site. A pulverised sub-sample is then sent to ALS Ireland for multi-element analysis. All samples are under watch from the drill site to the storage facility. Samples at both laboratories are assayed using 50g fire assay method with aqua regia digest and analysis by AAS for gold. Over limit analysis (>100 ppm Au) are conducted using fire assay and gravimetric finish. For multi-element assays, Ultra Trace Level Method by 4-Acid digest (HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach) and a combination of ICP-MS and ICP-AES are used. The Company’s QA/QC program includes the regular insertion of blanks and standards into the sample shipments, as well as instructions for duplication. Standards, blanks and duplicates are inserted at appropriate intervals. Approximately five percent (5%) of samples have the pulp reject resubmitted for check assaying at a second laboratory.
Results presented for #124027, 124034 and 124061 include results from screen fire assay as indicated in Table 2. Screen fire assays were requested due to the presence of coarse gold in the drill core and were performed by ALS Romania. Screen fire assays involve the screening of 1kg at 106 microns to separate the sample into a coarse fraction (>106μm) and a fine fraction (<106μm). After screening, two 50g sub-samples of the fine fraction are analysed using the normal 50g fire assay method with aqua regia digest and analysis by AAS for gold. The entire coarse fraction is assayed to determine the contribution of the coarse gold using fire assay and gravimetric finish. The “total” gold calculation for the 1kg sample is based on the weighted average of the coarse and fine fractions and is reported for the indicated samples.
Base of till samples are prepared in ALS Sodankylä by dry-sieving method prep-41 and assayed for gold by fire assay with ICP-AES finish. Multi-elements are assayed in ALS laboratories in either of Ireland, Romania or Sweden by aqua regia with ICP-MS finish. Rupert maintains a strict chain of custody procedure to manage the handling of all samples. The Company’s QA/QC program includes the regular insertion of blanks and standards into the sample shipments, as well as instructions for duplication and external check assays.
About Rupert Resources
Rupert Resources is a gold exploration and development company listed on the TSX Exchange under the symbol “RUP.” The Company is focused on making and advancing discoveries of scale and quality with high margin and low environmental impact potential. The Company’s principal focus is Ikkari1, a new high quality gold discovery in Northern Finland. Ikkari is part of the Company’s “Rupert Lapland Project,” which also includes the Pahtavaara gold mine, mill, and exploration permits.
Figure 1. Schematic structural interpretation of Ikkari and surrounding high-priority exploration targets showing the location of the new drilling at Heinä South. Black box shows the location of more detailed plan map, Figure 2 (Graphic: Business Wire)
Figure 2. Plan Map Showing the Location of New Drillholes in Heinä South in the Context of previously released drillholes. Section Line used for Figure 3 is shown for Reference. (Graphic: Business Wire)
Figure 3. Long Section parallel to the Broader Mineralisation on the Southern Margin of the Heinä South Target Showing the New Results in the context of previously released drillholes, looking North (Graphic: Business Wire)
Figure 4. Cross Section through Heinä South showing the New Results from drillholes 124027 and 124023 with previously released drillhole 124019, looking towards 070° (Graphic: Business Wire)
Figure 5. Plan Map Showing the Location of New Drillholes in Ikkari in the Context of November 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate Block Model (Graphic: Business Wire)
Figure 6. Cross Section through the Ikkari deposit along drillhole 124036 showing the intercept achieved in relation to the resource block model and geological model, looking towards 065° (Graphic: Business Wire)
Table 1. Collar locations of new drill holes, Heinä South
Hole ID | Prospect | Easting | Northing | Elevation | Azimuth | Dip | EOH (m) | |||||||
124021 | Heinä South | 452508.2 | 7497414.0 | 226.0 | 154.1 | -50.7 | 226.90 | |||||||
124023 | Heinä South | 452315.023 | 7497228.1 | 226.9 | 153.8 | -50.5 | 253.30 | |||||||
124027 | Heinä South | 452264.401 | 7497336.8 | 226.4 | 154.0 | -50.9 | 292.10 | |||||||
124028 | Heinä South | 452317.999 | 7497316.8 | 226.6 | 153.0 | -49.3 | 250.70 | |||||||
124030 | Heinä South | 452227.808 | 7497320.9 | 226.3 | 152.8 | -50.6 | 251.00 | |||||||
124031 | Heinä South | 452055.359 | 7497223.8 | 226.6 | 158.0 | -51.2 | 153.40 | |||||||
124032 | Heinä South | 452154.69 | 7497288.4 | 226.4 | 155.8 | -49.2 | 242.50 | |||||||
124034 | Heinä South | 452300.433 | 7497354.2 | 226.3 | 157.5 | -49.8 | 299.00 | |||||||
124061 | Heinä South | 452390.6 | 7497239.1 | 227.0 | 178.8 | -45.2 | 200.00 | |||||||
Table 2. New Intercepts from Heinä South
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Grade Au (g/t) | ||||||
124021 | 196.00 | 197.00 | 1.00 | 0.6 | ||||||
124023 | 58.00 | 81.00 | 23.00 | 1.4 | ||||||
including | 67.00 | 68.00 | 1.00 | 8.2 | ||||||
88.60 | 91.00 | 2.40 | 7.8 | |||||||
including | 88.60 | 90.00 | 1.40 | 12.6 | ||||||
124027 | 57.00 | 59.00 | 3.00 | 0.4 | ||||||
75.00 | 76.00 | 1.00 | 1.5 | |||||||
93.00 | 94.00 | 1.00 | 3.4 | |||||||
98.00 | 100.00 | 2.00 | 0.8 | |||||||
109.00 | 110.00 | 1.00 | 0.9 | |||||||
120.00 | 121.00 | 1.00 | 3.3 | |||||||
126.00 | 130.00 | 4.00 | 7.3 | |||||||
including | 126.00 | 127.00 | 1.00 | 26.3 | ||||||
141.00 | 142.00 | 1.00 | 0.7 | |||||||
151.00 | 152.00 | 1.00 | 0.5 | |||||||
161.00 | 173.00 | 12.00 | 1.1 | |||||||
including | 164.00 | 165.00 | 1.00 | 2.4 | ||||||
and | 170.00 | 171.00 | 1.00 | 3.6 | ||||||
219.00 | 224.00 | 5.00 | 0.9 | |||||||
including | 220.00 | 221.00 | 1.00 | 2.0 | ||||||
231.00 | 260.00 | 29.00 | 1.91 | |||||||
including | 251.00 | 252.00 | 1.00 | 26.7 | ||||||
269.00 | 276.00 | 7.00 | 0.9 | |||||||
including | 275.00 | 276.00 | 1.00 | 2.0 | ||||||
124028 | 132.60 | 133.75 | 1.15 | 0.4 | ||||||
135.80 | 137.00 | 1.20 | 0.7 | |||||||
155.00 | 156.00 | 1.00 | 0.6 | |||||||
169.00 | 170.00 | 1.00 | 0.5 | |||||||
203.00 | 225.00 | 22.00 | 0.7 | |||||||
including | 206.40 | 212.00 | 5.60 | 1.2 | ||||||
124030 | 49.00 | 50.00 | 1.00 | 6.3 | ||||||
71.00 | 77.00 | 6.00 | 2.0 | |||||||
including | 74.00 | 75.00 | 1.00 | 9.6 | ||||||
82.00 | 84.00 | 2.00 | 12.2 | |||||||
including | 82.00 | 83.00 | 1.00 | 23.8 | ||||||
100.00 | 101.00 | 1.00 | 0.40 | |||||||
111.00 | 112.80 | 1.80 | 0.51 | |||||||
115.00 | 116.00 | 1.00 | 0.40 | |||||||
158.00 | 159.00 | 1.00 | 0.7 | |||||||
175.00 | 178.00 | 3.00 | 1.3 | |||||||
including | 175.00 | 176.00 | 1.00 | 2.8 | ||||||
205.00 | 206.00 | 1.00 | 1.0 | |||||||
211.00 | 212.00 | 1.00 | 1.1 | |||||||
224.00 | 233.00 | 9.00 | 1.9 | |||||||
including | 228.00 | 229.00 | 1.00 | 12.5 | ||||||
239.00 | 240.35 | 1.35 | 0.5 | |||||||
124031 | 26.00 | 27.00 | 1.00 | 0.8 | ||||||
32.00 | 33.00 | 1.00 | 5.0 | |||||||
41.00 | 42.50 | 1.50 | 2.0 | |||||||
50.00 | 51.00 | 1.00 | 0.5 | |||||||
58.00 | 60.00 | 2.00 | 0.7 | |||||||
124032 | 73.00 | 74.00 | 1.00 | 2.6 | ||||||
84.00 | 103.00 | 19.00 | 1.0 | |||||||
including | 88.00 | 89.00 | 1.00 | 5.7 | ||||||
106.00 | 107.00 | 1.00 | 0.8 | |||||||
124.00 | 125.00 | 1.00 | 0.7 | |||||||
127.00 | 135.00 | 8.00 | 0.9 | |||||||
140.00 | 141.00 | 1.00 | 0.6 | |||||||
124034 | 91.00 | 93.00 | 2.00 | 3.51 | ||||||
101.00 | 106.00 | 5.00 | 1.2 | |||||||
111.00 | 112.00 | 1.00 | 0.4 | |||||||
151.00 | 152.00 | 1.00 | 0.5 | |||||||
172.00 | 173.00 | 1.00 | 0.5 | |||||||
174.00 | 175.00 | 1.00 | 0.4 | |||||||
189.00 | 191.00 | 2.00 | 0.6 | |||||||
236.00 | 246.00 | 10.00 | 0.70 | |||||||
254.00 | 272.00 | 18.00 | 0.50 | |||||||
including | 254.00 | 255.00 | 1.00 | 2.40 | ||||||
276.00 | 277.00 | 1.00 | 0.50 | |||||||
287.00 | 288.00 | 1.00 | 1.30 | |||||||
124061 | 58.00 | 60.00 | 2.00 | 0.75 | ||||||
65.00 | 89.40 | 24.40 | 10.501 | |||||||
including | 68.00 | 69.00 | 1.00 | 6.801 | ||||||
and | 70.00 | 72.00 | 2.00 | 112.501 | ||||||
and | 84.00 | 85.00 | 1.00 | 6.00 |
1Assays include results from Screen Fire Assay, all other results from standard 50g fire assay.
No upper cut-off grade has been applied. 0.4g/t Au lower cut-off applied, a maximum of 5m internal dilution has been allowed when calculating intercepts unless otherwise stated. All intervals over the cut-off grade are presented here. Italic intervals indicate intercepts included within the wider intercept. Unless specified, true widths cannot be accurately determined from the information available. Bold intervals referred to in text of release. Refer to https://rupertresources.com/news/ for details of previously released drilling intercepts. EOH– End of Hole. NSI – No significant intercept
Table 3. Collar locations of new drill holes, Ikkari
Hole ID | Prospect | Easting | Northing | Elevation | Azimuth | Dip | EOH (m) | |||||||
124033 | Ikkari | 453846.766 | 7496726.1 | 223.0 | 331.5 | -51.2 | 120.00 | |||||||
124035 | Ikkari | 454282.306 | 7496832.0 | 224.2 | 332.8 | -53.2 | 200.20 | |||||||
124036 | Ikkari | 453891.859 | 7496913.9 | 223.5 | 159.2 | -51.6 | 221.60 | |||||||
124037 | Ikkari | 453884.613 | 7496831.4 | 223.6 | 155.0 | -60.9 | 182.50 | |||||||
124038 | Ikkari | 453978.419 | 7496916.7 | 223.1 | 155.4 | -50.6 | 181.10 |
Table 4. New Intercepts from Ikkari
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Grade Au (g/t) | ||||||
124033 | 20.90 | 122.00 | 91.10 | 1.5 | ||||||
Including | 20.90 | 35.00 | 14.10 | 2.9 | ||||||
and | 53.00 | 54.00 | 1.00 | 5.4 | ||||||
and | 80.00 | 83.00 | 3.00 | 6.0 | ||||||
124035 | 63.00 | 73.00 | 10.00 | 3.4 | ||||||
Including | 64.00 | 65.00 | 1.00 | 24.9 | ||||||
and | 70.85 | 71.30 | 0.45 | 12.4 | ||||||
85.00 | 86.00 | 1.00 | 6.1 | |||||||
97.00 | 107.00 | 10.00 | 1.2 | |||||||
Including | 105.00 | 106.00 | 1.00 | 3.1 | ||||||
148.00 | 160.00 | 12.00 | 1.5 | |||||||
Including | 149.00 | 150.00 | 1.00 | 4.4 | ||||||
and | 159.00 | 160.00 | 1.00 | 6.9 | ||||||
124036 | 61.20 | 201.00 | 139.80 | 2.0 | ||||||
Including | 125.00 | 138.00 | 13.00 | 5.6 | ||||||
also includes | 135.00 | 136.00 | 1.00 | 27.0 | ||||||
and | 153.00 | 156.00 | 3.00 | 8.2 | ||||||
and | 170.00 | 175.00 | 5.00 | 8.5 | ||||||
124037 | 12.10 | 94.00 | 81.90 | 2.5 | ||||||
Including | 19.00 | 23.00 | 4.00 | 4.8 | ||||||
and | 41.00 | 42.00 | 1.00 | 7.5 | ||||||
and | 45.00 | 46.00 | 1.00 | 5.2 | ||||||
and | 75.00 | 80.00 | 5.00 | 8.4 | ||||||
and | 85.00 | 86.00 | 1.00 | 8.9 | ||||||
120.00 | 146.00 | 26.00 | 2.8 | |||||||
Including | 123.00 | 124.00 | 1.00 | 7.3 | ||||||
and | 135.00 | 136.00 | 1.00 | 28.7 | ||||||
and | 138.00 | 139.00 | 1.00 | 8.0 | ||||||
152.00 | 162.00 | 10.00 | 2.1 | |||||||
Including | 158.00 | 159.00 | 1.00 | 12.3 | ||||||
124038 | 65.00 | 66.00 | 1.00 | 1.0 | ||||||
75.00 | 78.00 | 3.00 | 0.7 | |||||||
84.00 | 97.80 | 13.00 | 0.5 | |||||||
105.00 | 125.00 | 20.00 | 1.1 | |||||||
Including | 107.00 | 109.00 | 2.00 | 4.8 | ||||||
and | 123.00 | 124.00 | 1.00 | 2.6 | ||||||
138.00 | 162.00 | 24.00 | 11.4 | |||||||
Including | 157.00 | 160.00 | 3.00 | 37.0 | ||||||
No upper cut-off grade has been applied. 0.4g/t Au lower cut-off applied, a maximum of 5m internal dilution has been allowed when calculating intercepts unless otherwise stated. All intervals over the cut-off grade and greater than 1gram-meter are presented here. Italic intervals indicate intercepts included within the wider intercept. Unless specified, true widths cannot be accurately determined from the information available. Bold intervals referred to in text of release. Refer to https://rupertresources.com/news/ for details of previously released drilling intercepts. EOH– End of Hole. NSI – No significant intercept
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