ATEX Phase II Valeriano Drilling Returns 1,160 Metres of 0.78% CuEq Including 550 Metres of 1.03% CuEq
ATEX Resources Inc., 25 Adelaide Street East, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3A1
ATEX Phase II Valeriano Drilling Returns 1,160 Metres of 0.78% CuEq
Including 550 Metres of 1.03% CuEq
TORONTO, ONTARIO, June 13, 2022 - ATEX Resources Inc. (TSXV:ATX) ("ATEX") is pleased
to announce drill results from the recently completed Phase II exploration program at its Valeriano
Copper Gold Porphyry Project (“Valeriano” or the “Project”) located in Atacama Region, Chile
(Figure 1, attached).
Highlights include:
• 1,160 metres grading 0.78% copper equivalent (“CuEq”) (0.53% Cu, 0.28 g/t Au
and 70 ppm Mo) from ATXD-17 including 550 metres of 1.03% CuEq (0.69% Cu,
0.39 g/t Au and 70 ppm Mo). See figures 2 & 3, attached.
• ATXD-17, located 200 metres southwest of VALDD-14 (1,194m @ 0.73% CuEq), is
the first hole drilled by ATEX to test copper gold porphyry mineralization.
• Confirmed presence and continuity of a high grade, +1.0% CuEq , core over 200
metres from ATXD-17 to VALDD-14 (272 metres of 1.00% CuEq).
• Drill results represent a m ajor expansion of the porphyry mineralization to the
northeast and southwest outlining an 850 by 800 metre envelope of copper gold
mineralization which remains open.
• ATXD-19, lost short of its target, returned 647 metres of 0.65% CuEq (0.50% Cu,
0.15 g/t Au & 60 ppm Mo) ending in strong porphyry mineralization.
• Confirmed +0.4% CuEq porphyry mineralization with a vertical extent of over 1
kilometer in multiple drill holes.
“Hole ATXD-17 is the most impressive hole drilled to date at Valeriano. These results represent
a giant leap forward in the progression of the Vale riano Project,” stated Raymond Jannas
President and CEO of ATEX. “The results clearly establish that a very large Andean mineralized
porphyry system exists at Valeranio and affirms our belief that the Project has potential to host
the next major Chilean porphyry deposit. Further, hole ATXD-17, apart from returning the best
intersection drilled on the Project to date, confirmed the presence of a significant high-grade core
to the Valeriano deposit with the intersection of 550 metres of 1.03% CuEq. We are very much
looking forward to commencing a larger Phase III drill program that will evaluate the extension of
the high-grade core zone as well as continue to define Valeriano’s size potential.”
ATEX Resources Inc., 25 Adelaide Street East, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3A1
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Summary of Phase II Drill Assay Results1
Hole ID From To Interval2 Cu Au Mo CuEq. Hole Length
(metres) (metres) (metres) (%) (g/t) (ppm) (%) (metres)
ATXD-17 802 1,962 1,160 0.53 0.28 70 0.78 2,057
including 1,280 1,830 550 0.69 0.39 70 1.03
ATXD-193 662 1,309 647 0.50 0.15 60 0.65 1,309
1 For consistency with the previous reporting of historical drill holes, the copper equivalent grade was calculated using a copper
price of $2.60/lbs, gold price of $1,450/oz and molybdenum price of $11.00/lbs (all prices in US$). Metal recoveries were no t
considered. The formula for calculated the c opper equivalent is: CuEq% = ((Cu%/100 * Cu $/tonne) + (Au g/t * Au $/gr.) +
(Mo%/100 * Mo $/tonne)) / Cu $/tonne.
2 Unless otherwise indicated, intervals are composited at a 0.40% CuEq cut-off and a 10 m width internal dilution. All intervals
are reported as core lengths as the true lengths of the intervals are unknown at this time.
3 ATXD-19 composite includes a 24 m interval grading 0.35% CuEq from 762 to 786 m.
Summary of Historic Drill Assay Results1
Hole ID From To Interval2 Cu Au Mo CuEq. Hole Length
(metres) (metres) (metres) (%) (g/t) (ppm) (%) (metres)
VALDD-09 898 1,750 852 0.47 0.16 89 0.64 1,878
VALDD-14 614 1,808 1,194 0.52 0.24 36 0.73 1,845
including 1,420 1,692 272 0.72 0.28 21 1.00
VALDD-16 576 1,621 1,045 0.39 0.17 54 0.54 1,621
1 The copper equivalent grade was calculated using a copper price of $2.60/lbs, gold price of $1,450/oz and molybdenum price
of $11.00/lbs (all prices in US$). Metal recoveries were not considered. The formula for calculated the copper equivalent is:
CuEq% = ((Cu%/100 * Cu $/tonne) + (Au g/t * Au $/gr.) + (Mo%/100 * Mo $/tonne)) / Cu $/tonne.
2 Intervals are composited at a 0.40% CuEq cut-off and a 10 m width internal dilution. All intervals are reported as core lengths
as the true lengths of the intervals are unknown at this time.
The Valeriano Project hosts a large multi-phase granodioritic porphyry system which has intruded
into and altered a sequence of rhyolitic tuffs, flows and breccias. The mineralization associate d
with the system gradually strengthens to depth, in association with increasing potassic alteration.
Copper mineralization within and immediately overlying the porphyry is dominated by
chalcopyrite, with lesser bornite, disseminated throughout and hosted within veins and veinlets.
A significant halo of lower grade copper gold mineralization, up to 250 metres thick, immediately
overlies the +0.4 CuEq porphyry mineralization. Currently, the mineralization has been traced
over a plan area of 850 by 800 metres and the boundaries have not yet been found.
Drill Hole ATXD-17
Diamond drill hole ATXD-17, which returned 1,1 60 metres grading 0.7 8% CuEq, successfully
extended the copper gold porphyry mineralization by 200 metres southwest of historical drill hole
VALDD-14 ( 0.73% CuEq over 1,194 m). Significantly, ATXD-17 confirmed the presence and
continuity of a high-grade core to the porphyry , initially intersected in VALDD-14 (1.00% CuEq
over 272 m ), and extended it 200 metres to the southwest. The interval of high-grade
mineralization was significantly longer in hole ATXD-17, compared to VALDD-14, returning 1.03%
CuEq over 550 metres. ATXD-17 remained in mineralization through to its final depth of 2,057
metres.
ATEX Resources Inc., 25 Adelaide Street East, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3A1
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Immediately above the reported 1,160 metre interval grading 0.78% CuEq, lies a mineralized low
grade halo which includes 168 metres grading 0.36% CuEq. The porphyry mineralization
encountered in ATXD -17 remains open to the southwest as well as to the northwest and
southeast.
Drill hole ATXD-17 was collared into a sequence of altered tuffs and breccias with continuous
high-sulphidation mineralization starting at 540 metres before transitioning into porphyry
mineralization at a depth of approximately 900 metres. The copper mineralization observed in the
drill hole dominantly consists of chalcopyrite with lesser bornite. Covellite, replacing pyrite, is
common above the main porphyry mineralization. For further information on the geology
encountered in ATXD-17, see the ATEX press release dated April 11, 2022, and May 11, 2022.
ATXD-17 was drilled at an azimuth of 300 degrees and a dip angle of -80 degrees.
Drill Hole ATXD-19
Diamond drill hole ATXD-19 was lost at a depth of 1,309 metres due to operational issues. The
hole was collared 200 metres northeast of VALDD-14 and, despite not reaching the target depth,
returned 647 metres grading 0.65% CuEq (0.50% Cu, 0.15 g/t Au and 60 ppm Mo) establishing
the continuity of copper gold mineralization a further 200 metres to the northeast. It is of note that
the top 650 metres of the +0.4% CuEq interval reported in VALDD-14 graded 0.63% CuEq 0.45%
Cu, 0.20 g/t Au and 45 ppm Mo), comparable to the grade returned in ATXD-19.
Above the 647 metre interval, the ever-present low grade copper gold halo includes 96 metres of
0.38% CuEq. The m ineralization encountered in ATXD -19 remains open to the northwest,
northeast and southeast and remains open to depth.
ATXD-19 was collared into a sequence of altered tuffs and breccias with high -sulphidation
mineralization beginning at 416 metres before transitioning into the porphyry interface at 710
metres. The hole ended in potassic altered and mineralized porphyry. For further details on the
geology encountered in ATXD-19, see the ATEX press release dated April 11, 2022 and May 11,
2022.
ATXD-19 was drilled at an azimuth of 300 degrees and a dip of -80 degrees.
Outlook
With all the drill hole assays in hand, ATEX is completing further detailed geological and
geotechnical logging of the holes as well as modeling of the porphyry system in preparation for a
significantly larger Phase III drill program. This program is anticipated to commence during the
fourth quarter of 2022. The primary objectives contemplated for the Phase III drill program are:
• determination of the extent of the copper-gold mineralization in all directions
• delineation of the size and orientation of the high grade (+1.0% CuEq) core intersected in
holes VALDD-14 and ATXD-17
• infill drilling of known mineralization in anticipation of an update to the resource estimate
• collection of samples for metallurgical test work
ATEX Resources Inc., 25 Adelaide Street East, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3A1
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• detailed geotechnical logging of the core
Work has already commenced on preparing for the 2022/2023 Phase III drill program.
Quality Control
All drill holes were collared with a PQ drill bit, reduced to HQ and, sequentially, to NQ as the drill
holes progressed deeper. Drill core produced by the drill rigs was extracted from the core tubes
by the drill contractor under the supervision of an ATEX employee, marked for consistent
orientation and placed in core boxes with appropriate depth markers added. Full core boxes were
then sealed before being transported by ATEX personnel to the Valeriano field camp.
Core at the field camp is processed, quick logged , checked for recovery , photographed and
marked for specific gravity and geotechnical studies (10 to20 centimetre samples) and for assay
sampling every two-metres before being transferred to the secure core-cutting facility in Vallenar,
operated by IMG, a third party consultant. Here, the core trays are weighed and core re-marked
for orientation before being cut, using a diamond saw longitudinally along the orientation line ,
under ATEX personnel oversight. Whole-core samples for specific gravity measurements and
geotechnical studies are cut transversally prior to longitudinally cutting for sampling.
The cut core is then transferred to ATEX’s secure storage and logging facility in Vallenar. ATEX
geologists working at this facility double-check the selected two-metre sample intervals, placing
the samples in seal bags and ensuring that the same side of the core is consistently sampled.
Reference numbers are assigned to each sample and each sample is weighed. The core trays
with the remaining half-core are weighed and photographed. Additionally, core logs are updated
and the specific gravity and geotechnical samples are collected. The remaining core is stored in
racks.
QA/QC sample materials including OREAS and INTEM certified reference materials as well as
blanks and field duplicates are included prior to each batch of samples being shipped to the ALS
Global laboratory located in Coquimbo, Chile. Each 75 sample batch shipped includes 65 core
samples and 10 control samples.
At the Coquimbo laboratory, individual samples are logged into ALS’s tracking system, dried in
ovens and crushed to 70% passing 2 millimetres (coarse sample). A 1 kilogram sample is split
from the 2 millimeter material and pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns (fine sample). From this
fine material, 250 grams is split and sent to either an ALS Global laboratory in Santiago, Chile or
in Lima, Peru for assaying. The assay methods used for gold is 50 gram fire assa y with atomic
absorption finish (ALS sample code: AA -24) and for multi -element, including copper, four acid
digestion follow by induced coupled plasma massive spectrometry (ALS code: ICP ME -MS 61).
In addition to ATEX’s control samples, ALS inserts its ow n control samples into each batch of
samples. The coarse and fine sample material is returned to , and securely stored at , ATEX’s
core facility in Vallenar.
About the Valeriano Copper Gold Deposit
The Valeriano Project is located within the emerging copper gold porphyry mineral belt linking the
prolific El Indio High-Sulphidation Belt to the south with the Maricunga Gold Porphyry Belt to the
north. This emerging belt is referred informally as the Link Belt. The Link Belt hosts a number of
copper gol d porphyry deposits at various stages of development including: Filo del Sol (Filo
ATEX Resources Inc., 25 Adelaide Street East, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3A1
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Mining), Josemaria (Lundin Mining), Los Helados (NGEX Minerals/JX Nippon), La Fortuna (Teck
Resources/Newmont) and El Encierro (Antofagasta/Barrick Gold).
The Valeriano Project hosts two preliminary inferred resource estimates: a copper gold porphyry
resource and a gold oxide resource.
The copper gold porphyry inferred resource contains 297.3 million tonnes grading 0.59% copper,
0.193 grams per tonne gold and 0.90 grams per tonne silver (0.77% copper equivalent) at a cut-
off grade of 0.50% copper. Contained metals total 1.77 million tonnes copper, 1.84 million ounces
gold and 8.62 million ounces silver for 2.30 million tonnes copper equivalent.
The gold oxide inferred resource contains 34.4 million tonnes grading 0.528 grams per tonne gold
and 2.40 grams per tonne silver (0.561 grams per tonne gold equivalent) at a 0.275 grams per
tonne gold cut-off grade. Contained metal totals 584,684 ounces gold and 2,653,895 ounces silver
for 621,539 gold equivalent ounces. The gold oxide resource measures approximately 650 metres
by 500 metres in plan extending to an average depth of 100 metres.
For further information on the inferred resource estimate, see the Technical Repor t titled
“VALERIANO PROJECT INFERRED RESOURCE ESTIMATES Atacama Region, Chile” dated
November 13, 2020 and filed at www.sedar.com.
Qualified Person
Mr. Ben Pullinger, P.Geo. registered with the Professional Geoscientists Ontario, is the Qualified
Person, as defined by Canadian Securities National Instrument 43-101 Standards for Disclosure
for Mineral Projects, for the Valeriano Copper Gold Porphyry Project. Mr. Pullinger is the Senior
Vice President Exploration and Business Development of ATEX. He has reviewed and approved
the disclosure of the scientific and technical information contained in this press release.
For further information, please contact:
Raymond Jannas,
President and CEO
Email: [email protected]
Ben Pullinger,
Senior Vice President of Exploration and Business Development
Email: [email protected]
or visit ATEX’s website at www.atexresources.com
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This news release contains forward -looking statements, including predictions, projections and forecasts. Forward -
looking statements include, but are not limited to: plans for the evaluation of exploration properties i ncluding the
Valeriano Copper Gold Project; the success of evaluation plans; the success of exploration activities; mine development
prospects; and, potential for future metals production. Often, but not always, forward -looking statements can be
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "planning", "expects" or "does not expect", "continues", "scheduled",
"estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "potential", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", or describes a "goal", or variation o f
ATEX Resources Inc., 25 Adelaide Street East, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3A1
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such words and phrase s or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be
taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results,
prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Such forward -looking statements include, among others: changes in economic parameters and assumptions; all
aspects related to the timing and extent of exploration activities including the Phase III drill program contemplated in
this press release; timing of receipt of exploration resu lts; the interpretation and actual results of current exploration
activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the results of regulatory and permitting
processes; future metals price; possible variations in grade or recovery r ates; failure of equipment or processes to
operate as anticipated; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; the results of economic and technical
studies; delays in obtaining governmental and local approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration; as well
as those factors disclosed in ATEX’s publicly filed documents.
Although ATEX has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ
materially from those described in forward -looking statements, 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 forward -looking statements
will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.
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ATEX Resources Inc., 25 Adelaide Street East, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5C 3A1
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