Sun Metals Extends 421 Zone To Over 160 Metres At Stardust Project: Reports Six New Drill Holes Containing High Grade Copper Gold Mineralization. New Drill Intercept Highlights Include 24.85 Metres Grading 3.13% Copper, 4.8 G/T Gold And 93.45 G/T Silver
Press Release
Vancouver, B.C. – Sun Metals Corp. (“Sun Metals” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SUNM) reports multiple intercepts from drilling in the 421 zone at its 100% owned Stardust project in northcentral British Columbia. New drill results from these six holes extend the known plunge length of the 421 zone to over 160 metres and indicates the zone continues to be open in both directions. High-grade copper-gold mineralization has been intercepted in several holes as highlighted below. Drilling continues at Stardust and preparatory work for the winter program is well underway.
Step-out drilling along the projected strike and plunge of the 421 zone continues to show the lateral continuity of the 421 zone mineralized system, which the Company believes was generated from a buried multiphase porphyry copper style intrusive to the north. A pervasive skarn alteration envelope surrounds the copper-gold mineralization, indicating that current drilling is on the correct trajectory to find the more proximal part of the system. New drill result highlights include:
- Hole DDH19-SD-436D intersected 45.55 metres(1) grading 1.44% copper, 1.18 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 27.0 g/t silver for 2.44% copper equivalent (CuEq)(2)
- Hole DDH19-SD-436D intersected 24.85 metres(1) grading 3.13% copper, 4.85 g/t gold and 93.5 g/t silver for 7.12% CuEq(2)
- Hole DDH19-SD-440M intersected 15.90 metres(1) grading 2.38% copper, 2.68 g/t gold and 66.6 g/t silver for 4.71% CuEq(2)
Ian Neill, Sun Metals Vice President Exploration said, “The alteration encountered in 2019 drilling to date confirms our belief that we are still distant from the heart of the system, which indicates to us there is significant, highly prospective exploration ground to the north with the opportunity to discover more of the high-grade copper-gold mineralization that we are seeing in the 421 zone. We also expect to see increased consistency in grades from hole to hole as we track the mineralizing fluids to their source.”
The 421 zone is an extensive skarn alteration package, within which lies the high-grade copper-gold mineralization. Steve Robertson, President & CEO states, “Our ongoing exploration program continues to define the shape of the 421 zone as an ovoid cylinder plunging to the north northwest. It is currently observed to extend more than 160 metres along plunge and is open to both the north and south. One of the most promising things about working toward the mineralization source is that we expect the sulphide replacement of the skarn alteration to be more complete closer to the high energy heat source, theoretically resulting in even higher grade material. This is what drives us to continue our focus on the trend to the north. We are excited that our team will continue exploration over the coming winter months as we learn more about this impressive high-grade system.”
Table 1: New Significant Intervals
| Drill Hole Name |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Length (m)(1) |
Copper (%) |
Gold (g/t) Silver (g/t) |
Zinc (%) Copper |
Gold |
||
|
DDH19-SD-436D |
502.60 |
548.15 |
45.55 |
1.44 |
1.18 |
27.0 |
0.04 |
2.44 |
3.86 |
|
incl. |
542.30 |
548.15 |
5.85 |
5.13 |
3.78 |
91.0 |
0.18 |
8.39 |
13.27 |
|
DDH19-SD-436D |
598.40 |
623.25 |
24.85 |
3.13 |
4.85 |
93.5 |
0.28 |
7.12 |
11.27 |
|
incl. |
609.20 |
618.20 |
9.00 |
6.04 |
9.13 |
183.7 |
0.60 |
13.67 |
21.62 |
|
DDH19-SD-438D |
564.40 |
572.90 |
8.50 |
3.09 |
3.47 |
72.0 |
0.08 |
5.95 |
9.41 |
|
DDH19-SD-438D |
594.00 |
597.05 |
3.05 |
1.08 |
1.26 |
21.8 |
0.02 |
2.07 |
3.28 |
|
DDH19-SD-439D |
637.00 |
657.50 |
20.50 |
1.17 |
0.96 |
20.4 |
0.01 |
1.96 |
3.11 |
|
DDH19-SD-439D |
714.50 |
724.45 |
9.95 |
0.78 |
0.70 |
97.1 |
0.03 |
2.19 |
3.47 |
|
DDH19-SD-440M |
582.00 |
591.00 |
9.00 |
1.26 |
1.91 |
32.8 |
0.01 |
2.76 |
4.37 |
|
DDH19-SD-440M |
708.90 |
724.80 |
15.90 |
2.38 |
2.68 |
66.6 |
0.01 |
4.71 |
7.45 |
|
DDH19-SD-441M |
609.25 |
650.80 |
41.55 |
1.20 |
1.37 |
24.0 |
0.03 |
2.29 |
3.62 |
|
incl. |
609.25 |
620.30 |
11.05 |
3.35 |
3.88 |
60.7 |
0.14 |
6.39 |
10.11 |
|
incl. |
639.50 |
650.80 |
11.30 |
3.94 |
4.58 |
79.2 |
0.11 |
7.58 |
11.98 |
|
DDH19-SD-442D |
669.75 |
720.7 |
50.95 |
0.64 |
0.67 |
10.6 |
0.01 |
1.16 |
1.83 |
|
incl. |
669.75 |
693.2 |
23.45 |
0.92 |
0.92 |
14.4 |
0.01 |
1.63 |
2.58 |
(1) True widths of the reported mineralized intervals have not been determined
(2) Assumptions used in USD for the copper equivalent calculation were metal prices of $3.00/lb. Copper, $1,300/oz Gold, $18/oz Silver, $1.25/lb. Zinc and recovery is assumed to be 100% as no metallurgical test data is available. The following equation was used to calculate copper equivalence: CuEq = Copper (%) + (Gold (g/t) x 0.6319) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0087) + (Zinc (%) x 0.4167). The following equation was used to calculate gold equivalence: AuEq = (Copper (%) x 1.5824 + Gold (g/t) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.01385) + (Zinc (%) x 0.6593).
Diamond drilling at Stardust was initiated with two drills in late May. To date in 2019, the company has completed 8,860 metres in 19 drill holes. Drill holes DDH19-SD-448 and DDH19-SD-449 are in progress. The primary focus of the program continues to be exploration and exposing the extent of the mineralized zone identified in discovery drill hole DDH18-SD-421 (see press release dated November 14, 2018 at https://sunmetals.ca/news/2018/) which returned a 100.00 metre interval of 2.51% copper, 3.03 g/t gold, and 52.5 g/t silver for a 5.05% CuEq or a 8.00 g/t AuEq(1,2).
The Company announced in September plans to add a third drill to the program and an all-season camp to facilitate continuation of the exploration program through the winter months. With current drill holes expected to have a final depth of over 900 metres, some of the drill holes can take up to three weeks to complete. The addition of a third drill this month will allow the Company to accelerate exploration drilling, including testing the continuation of the 421 zone up plunge to the south.
Directional diamond drilling has been used in all the 2019 drill holes at Stardust which has increased the accuracy of drilling step-outs. The directional drilling incorporates the use of pilot holes which has resulted in a 34% reduction in metres drilled to this point in the program. Drill core is also retrieved using an oriented core system which aids in gathering of structural information critical to the interpretation of the genesis of the 421 zone.
Graphics & Table
Updated graphics including a plan map of the 2019 drill program (Figure 1), cross sections 2075N, 2100N, 2125N, 2150N, 2200N and a 421 zone vertical section (Figures 2-7), and a full table of reported results to date from the 2019 drill program (Drill Results Table) are available on the Company website:
Figure 1: https://sunmetals.ca/site/assets/files/3743/sunm_planmap_2019drilling.pdf
Figure 2: https://sunmetals.ca/site/assets/files/3743/sunm_cs_2075n_oct2019.pdf
Figure 3: https://sunmetals.ca/site/assets/files/3743/sunm_cs_2100n_oct2019.pdf
Figure 4: https://sunmetals.ca/site/assets/files/3743/sunm_cs_2125n_oct2019.pdf
Figure 5: https://sunmetals.ca/site/assets/files/3743/sunm_cs_2150n_oct2019.pdf
Figure 6: https://sunmetals.ca/site/assets/files/3743/sunm_cs_2200n_oct2019.pdf
Figure 7: https://sunmetals.ca/site/assets/files/3743/sunm_421_zone_vertical_section_oct2019.pdf
Drill Results Table: https://sunmetals.ca/site/assets/files/3739/master_drill_results_table.pdf
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Drilling completed on the project in 2019 was supervised by on-site Sun Metals personnel who collected and tracked samples and implemented a full QA/QC program using blanks, standards and duplicates to monitor analytical accuracy and precision. The samples were sealed on site and shipped to Bureau Veritas in Vancouver BC for analysis. BV’s quality control system complies with global certifications for Quality ISO9001:2008. Core samples were analyzed using a combination of BV’s AQ270 process for low level concentrations (ICP-ES/MS aqua regia) and the MA270 process for higher level concentrations (ICPES/MS 4 acid digestion). Gold assaying was completed with FA330, a 30-gram fire assay with ICP-ES finish. Base metal overlimits were finalized with titration and a silica wash was used between high grade samples to ensure no sample carry over.
Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed, verified and approved by Ian Neill P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of Sun Metals, who is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101– Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
For more information, please contact Susie Bell, Investor Relations for Sun Metals at sbell@sunmetals.ca, 604-697-4953, or Steve Robertson, President and CEO of Sun Metals, at srobertson@sunmetals.ca, (604) 697-4952.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of
SUN METALS CORP.
Steve Robertson
Chief Executive Officer
IBF4
