Almaden Provides Update on Prospect Drilling at Ixtaca
NEWS RELEASE
October 7 th , 2021
Trading Symbols:
TSX: AMM; NYSE American: AAU
www.almadenminerals.com
Almaden Provides Update on Prospect Drilling at Ixtaca
Vancouver, B.C. Almaden Minerals Ltd. (“Almaden” or “the Company”; TSX: AMM; NYSE
American: AAU) is pleased to report initial results from the first hole drilled in 2021 in the Southeast
Alteration Zone (“SE Alteration Zone”) of the Ixtaca property in Puebla State, Mexico. Drilling at Ixtaca
has been planned to take a phased approach and will initially focus on targets established at the SE
Alteration Zone which is located approximately one kilometre from the Ixtaca deposit area (See Figure
1).
After the first hole was abandoned in altered volcanic at 75.59m depth, the second hole of the program,
TU-21-552 was drilled to a depth of 785.77 m. This hole encountered a highly altered volcanic unit
overlying basement shaley carbonate sedimentary rocks, the transition to which is marked by a basal
conglomerate breccia. This geologic succession is also seen in the Ixtaca deposit area. Anomalous
pathfinder elements as well as some short intervals of elevated gold values were returned from the
highly altered volcanic rocks. Immediately beneath the volcanic unit several dykes were intersected
crossing the shale. These dykes are altered, veined and pyritised and are interpreted to be similar to
the altered dykes seen in the Ixtaca deposit area. Highly altered and pyritised dykes were also
intersected near the end of the hole. Hole TU-21-552 is interpreted to have cut the upper reaches of a
large high level epithermal alteration zone. Further drilling is planned and ongoing elsewhere in the SE
alteration as exploration continues for new as yet undiscovered vein systems. An interpreted section
for hole TU-21-552 is provided in the news release along with a plan showing the SE Alteration Zone
and drillhole locations. Additional more detailed sampling is being planned on as yet unsampled
intervals from hole TU-21-552.
About the SE Alteration Zone
Work over the past several months at the SE Alteration Zone has included geophysics and geological
mapping. As reported in the Fall of 2020, this area measures about 1.5 kilometres (km) east-west by 1
km north-south and is centred approximately 1 km southeast of the Ixtaca deposit.
The SE Alteration Zone comprises argillic (clay-altered) volcanics including clusters of anomalies
identified from a hyperspectral survey that include the spectral signatures of important epithermal
alteration minerals such as kaolinite, alunite and buddingtonite.
In November, 2020, the Company announced the discovery of several areas of veining cropping out
within the SE Alteration Zone, and seventeen samples of the veining were collected and submitted for
analysis to ALS Global in Zacatecas, Mexico. All but one sample returned below detection gold and
silver, with the exception returning a value of 62 ppb gold. However, even though the outcrops are
leached and weathered, many of the samples also returned elevated values of epithermal pathfinder
elements which are commonly found in the higher parts of epithermal alteration zones. The presence
of pathfinder elements in these samples is very encouraging as it corroborates the Company view that
the SE Alteration Zone could represent the higher levels of a potential underlying epithermal system. It
is quite typical that the higher parts of these systems contain negligible precious metals values.
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The SE Alteration Zone lies outside of the current Ixtaca deposit resource area, which was the focus of
a Feasibility Study (results of which were announced by the Company in December, 2018). A report
titled “Ixtaca Gold-Silver Project, Puebla State, Mexico NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Feasibility
Study”, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, is available under the Company’s profile on
SEDAR and on the Company’s website.
J. Duane Poliquin, Chairman of Almaden, stated, “This first hole has confirmed the large scale of the
alteration in the SE Alteration and provided targeting for follow-up work which was the objective. The
original Ixtaca discovery was made through clever geologic assembly of published information and on-
the-ground observation of field data. This has resulted in the discovery of an economic gold-silver
deposit as outlined in the Feasibility Study, with evidence (geologic, geochemical, geophysical) for the
possibility of a similar deposit, as well as the possibility of deeper precious/base metal deposit(s). It is
very exciting to return to prospect drilling of some of the blue sky targets that have been identified on
this property.”
All work conducted as part of this program is being conducted in strict accordance with COVID-19 safety
protocols, and employs local people wherever possible.
Norm Dircks, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and
has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.
About Almaden
Almaden Minerals Ltd. owns 100% of the Ixtaca project in Puebla State, Mexico, subject to a 2.0%
NSR royalty held by Almadex Minerals Ltd. The Ixtaca deposit hosts a proven and probable reserve
containing 1.38 million ounces of gold and 85.1 million ounces of silver (73.1 million tonnes grading
0.59 g/t Au and 36.3 g/t Ag). A report titled “Ixtaca Gold-Silver Project, Puebla State, Mexico NI 43-
101 Technical Report on the Feasibility Study”, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, is
available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR and on the Company’s website. The Ixtaca Gold-
Silver Deposit was discovered by Almaden in 2010.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
“J. Duane Poliquin”
J. Duane Poliquin, P. Eng
Chairman
Almaden Minerals Ltd.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial
securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking
statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: the outcome or nature of any exploration programs at Ixtaca, and
the ability of the Company to comply with COVID-19 related health protocols.
These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based
upon a number of assumptions, including assumptions in respect of both Almaden’s and the applicable Mexican Authorities’ legal positions,
that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant legal, regulatory, business, operational and economic
uncertainties and contingencies, and such uncertainty generally increases with longer-term forecasts and outlook. These assumptions include:
stability and predictability in Mexico’s mineral tenure, mining, environmental and agrarian laws and regulations, as well as their application
and judicial decisions thereon; continued respect for the rule of law in Mexico; prices for gold, silver and base metals remaining as estimated;
currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds; capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates; mineral reserve
and resource estimates; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour-related
disruptions; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals being received in a timely manner; the ability to secure and maintain title
and ownership to properties and the surface rights necessary for operations; community support in the Ixtaca Project; and the ability to comply
with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
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factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements
or information contained in this news release. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to: political risk in Mexico;
crime and violence in Mexico; corruption; environmental risks, including environmental matters under Mexican laws and regulations; impact
of environmental impact assessment requirements on the Company’s planned exploration and development activities on the Ixtaca Project;
certainty of mineral title and the outcome of litigation; community relations; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary
licences and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects
in title; changes in mining, environmental or agrarian laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing
laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; as well as those factors discussed the section
entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information Form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company
and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information, there
may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that our
forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements or information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to on
forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect
the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contact Information:
Almaden Minerals Ltd.
Tel. 604.689.7644
Email: [email protected]
http://www.almadenminerals.com/
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