Mr. Tom Meyer reports
ARCHER EXPLORATION COMMENCES 2024 WINTER DRILLING CAMPAIGN AT GRASSET NICKEL PROJECT
Archer Exploration Corp. has begun drilling for the 2024 winter exploration program at the 100-per-cent-owned Grasset nickel project in the Abitibi greenstone belt of Quebec, Canada.
Highlights
The first drill hole of the 2024 Winter Program will test the newly identified N9 electromagnetic ("EM") conductor approximately 2 kilometres northeast of the Grasset Deposit
While drilling the N9 target, downhole EM ("DHEM") surveys on Holes GR23-07 and GR 23-08 will be conducted, providing a higher resolution of the underground conductive anomalies and refining current exploration targets
In 2023, three drill holes defined a high-grade extension of the H1 Horizon, up to a depth of 450 metres below surface
GR23-03 : 1.55% Ni, 0.18% Cu, 1.2 g/t Pt-Pd over 5.80 metres
GR23-07 : 2.97% Ni, 0.10% Cu, 4.1 g/t Pt-Pd over 0.44 metres
GR23-08 : 1.06% Ni, 0.14% Cu, 0.7 g/t Pt-Pd over 5.60 metres
"We are thrilled to kick off winter drilling at our Grasset Nickel Project and are eager to test for extensions of the H1 Discovery Zone and the highly prospective N9 electromagnetic anomaly identified last year. The presence of geophysical anomalies such as N9, which exhibits a more conductive EM response than the H1 Horizon at the Grasset Deposit less than 2 kilometres away, in a similar geological environment, underscores the immediate and untapped potential of the Grasset Ultramafic Complex. Our exploration has only just begun at Grasset, and we maintain confidence that we are uncovering a much larger mineralized system than what has been discovered thus far," stated Tom Meyer, Archer's President and Chief Executive Officer.
Winter 2024 Drill Program
The 2024 Winter Program will consist of three to four diamond drill holes and up to 2,000 metres of drilling. The primary objectives of the Winter 2024 Exploration Program are to test the new geophysical anomaly, N9, approximately two kilometres northeast of the Grasset Deposit and further exploration of the high-grade H1 Discovery Zone.
N9 Target Drilling
The N9 EM conductive plate (Figure 1) was interpreted from a high-power, large loop InfiniTEM-XL surface survey conducted in 2023 and presents very similar characteristics to the S6 plate (Figure 1) that overlays the H1 Discovery Zone. The N9 plate ranges from a depth of 300 to 700 metres and occupies an area of approximately 400 by 400 metres. Notably, the N9 plate generated a higher conductive response than the S6 geophysical plate.
The N9 electromagnetic anomaly is located at the northern contact of an interpreted (from magnetic surveys) ultramafic sequence similar in nature to the H1 Discovery Zone. The geophysical characteristics and geological environment of the N9 anomaly make it a high priority drill target that will be tested with hole GR24-09 (Figures 1 and 2).
H1 Discovery Zone Drilling
To facilitate further exploration of the H1 Discovery Zone, time-domain large-loop down-hole surveys will be conducted in holes GR23-07 and GR23-08. The technique is a very useful tool in determining the presence and directionality of highly conductive nickel sulphides. Holes GR23-07 and GR23-08, drilled in December 2023, confirmed the extension of mineralization in the H1 Horizon to a depth of approximately 430 metres, over 100 metres below hole GR23-03, which intersected 1.55% Ni, 0.18% Cu, 1.17 g/t Pt-Pd over 5.80 metres, including 5.75% Ni, 0.24% Cu, 5.53 g/t Pt-Pd over 0.60 metres of massive sulphides, at a depth of 330 metres.
The H1 Discovery Zone demonstrates the presence of a strong mineralizing system that is still open in all directions below 250 metres in the southeast portion of the H1 Horizon (Figure 3). Grades and textures observed indicated the potential for recent intersections to be at the fringe of a new high-grade-hosting ultramafic conduit. All three drill holes in the H1 Discovery Zone intersected nickel grades higher than the Indicated Resources average grade of the H1 Horizon (Table 1).
All lengths are downhole lengths and true widths are expected to be greater than or equal to 50-70% of downhole lengths.Figure 3: H1 Horizon Metal Factor Vertical Longitudinal SectionTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10057/196315_d41f617894256a2b_003full.jpg
The Grasset Project
The Grasset Deposit, discovered in 2012 and located at the southern end of the Grasset Ultramafic Complex, comprises two subparallel, and sub-vertically dipping zones (H1 and H3 horizons) of disseminated to locally semi-massive sulphides mineralization. The H1 and H3 horizons each remain open at depth and along strike to the northwest.
In 2021, an updated mineral resource estimate, using a 2016 drilling cutoff, was completed with an Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate of 5.5 Mt grading 1.53% nickel equivalent ("NiEq") and an Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 217,000 tonnes grading 1.01% NiEq. For additional information regarding Archer's Grasset Project please refer to the Technical Report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Grasset Property, Quebec, Canada" dated effective September 2, 2022, prepared by Carl Pelletier, P.Geo., available under Archer's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.
The vast majority of the Grasset Ultramafic Complex is underexplored and limited exploration prior to 2016 resulted in the discovery of several significant nickel sulphides showings along the entire 23-kilometre-long belt. Most notable is the GUC Central discovery, 7 kilometres northwest of the Grasset Deposit, which hosts a 950-metre-thick ultramafic sequence with several mineralized horizons of nickel sulphides and a best mineralized intercept of 4.14% Ni over 0.65 metres, within 7.58 metres of 1.05% Ni.
The Grasset Deposit is one of the largest nickel sulphides deposits in Canada's Abitibi region and the only North American nickel sulphides deposit, with an Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate of more than 50,000 contained tonnes of nickel and an average NiEq grade of over 1.5%, not controlled by a major mining company.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Archer implements high-quality industry-standard quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures for its diamond drill programs. Archer's geologists insert alternating blanks and standards approximately one per every 10 samples collected. Moreover, a blank is added after logged, potentially high-grade mineralized zones with standards additionally inserted within such mineralized zones. Overall, blanks and standards account for approximately 12% of the samples submitted to the lab.
All samples are being assayed at ALS's Val d'Or laboratory where duplicates are inserted in the sample sequence at a rate of 1 in 40 samples sequence alternating with standards and blanks to result in a QA/QC insertion rate of about 1 in 10 samples. All drill core samples are analyzed using a 4-Acid digestion followed by 33 element ICP-AES analyses (ALS's Code ME-ICP61). Over limit Ni results are further analyzed by 4-Acid ore grade elements ICP-AES process (Code ICP-81 or ME-OG62). Analyses for Au, Pd and Pt are done using the ore grade ICP-AES procedure (Code PGM-ICP23). Gold only assays are performed with Au-ICP21 or AU-GRA21 if any visible gold. ALS is an accredited laboratory (SCC - CAN-P-1579 and CAN-P-4E ISO/IEC 17025) and is independent of the Company.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Jacquelin Gauthier, P.Geo, Vice President, Exploration, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Gauthier is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information disclosed in this news release.
About Archer
Archer Exploration is a Canadian Ni-Cu-Co-PGE focused exploration and development company with an extensive portfolio of assets in Quebec and Ontario, Canada. The Company's flagship asset is the Grasset Project, located within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, with an Indicated Resource of 5.5 Mt @ 1.53% NiEq. In addition, the Company holds a portfolio of 37 properties and over 300 km2 in the world-class mining district of Sudbury, Ontario.
The Company's growth strategy is focused on the exploration and development of its nickel sulphide properties within its portfolio. Archer's vision is to be a responsible nickel sulphide project developer in stable pro-mining jurisdictions. Archer is committed to socially responsible exploration and development, working safely, ethically, and with integrity. For more information, please visit www.archerexploration.com.
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