Emperor Advances Open-Pit Model at Duquesne West Gold Project
Emperor Advances Open-Pit Model at
Duquesne West Gold Project
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 10, 2024) - Emperor Metals Inc. (CSE: AUOZ)
(OTCQB: EMAUF) (FSE: 9NH) ("
Emperor
") is pleased to announce additional assay results from the
summer 2023 drilling campaign at the Duquesne West Gold Project.
Using Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to
model the deposit and plan our drill program, a total of 14 diamond drillholes have been completed
which represents
8,579
meters
.
Full results for DQ23-02 extension and DQ23-07 have been released from SGS Laboratories (
see
Table 1
intercept highlights). These results indicate the potential for resource expansion within and
outside the open pit concept.
Emperor is targeting a multi-million-ounce resource in a combination of
conceptual open pit and underground mining scenarios.
Highlights
DQ23-07 intersects 15.7 metres (m) of 0.8 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) (including 7.0 m
of 1.08 g/t Au) and 7.2 m of 2.8 g/t Au within the open pit concept (see Figure 1).
Drilling adds incremental ounces outside known high-grade areas in the open pit
scenario.
These intercepts will reduce the stripping ratio; due to gold endowment in
areas that were overlooked and historically unsampled.
DQ23-02 intersected 3.65 m of 6.25 g/t Au (including 1.2 m of 12.2 g/t Au).
Expanded
mineralization in footwall zone.
CEO John Florek commented:
" Emperor is the first company to sample all intervals in our drilling to evaluate the additional potential
for bulk tonnage open-pit mining at Duquesne West. We're excited to see positive assay results for
rocks within a conceptual open-pit domain that were not sampled by previous explorers who lacked an
open-pit strategy on this property and did not examine the additional lower-grade bulk tonnage
opportunity.
Historical sampling focused on the extensive underground potential for high-grade gold, so only 30%
of the core from historical drilling was sampled by previous operators. Our discovery of these lower
grade bulk tonnage ounces within our open-pit conceptual model is very significant for reducing strip
ratio and for improving overall economics in a combination type open-pit and under-ground mining
scenario.
Our vision to develop a multimillion-ounce deposit with multiple mining scenarios on the Duquesne
West property continues to grow. Our use of A.I has enabled us to quickly process extensive historical
data and integrate it with new information to model exploration targets with a high degree of confidence
and success.
The proximity to multiple mills and infrastructure in a Tier 1 mining district makes the
production potential of this project highly valuable within the global junior mining space. The current
price of gold certainly helps promote this vision."
Image 1:
Figure showing DQ23-07 intercept within the conceptual open pit model. Broad scale
mineralization confirming incremental grade outside existing high-grade lenses in areas previously
unsampled by historical workers. These intercepts may add ounces to the deposit.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8461/193768_ff2b77dc9406f97d_001full.jpg
Summary of Drill Results:
DQ23-02 was a step-out hole and originally drilled to test the eastern margin of a mineralized zone, with
an intersection of
10.65 m of 3.97 g/t Au
(
see press release dated September 12, 2023
) that is
expected to extend the footprint of mineralization.
The grades and thickness intersected were as
expected.
However, the hole was extended due to assays identifying a broad thickness of mineralization
at the bottom of the hole;
25.0 m of 1.69 g/t Au
(
see press release dated September 12, 2023
). This
extension of DQ23-02 tested further into the footwall because of indications of mineralization by
Emperor's AI modeling; this extension encountered gold values and expanded the mineralized footprint
of the deposit (
3.65 m of 6.25 g/t Au);
see
Figure 2
DQ23-07 was designed to intersect mineralization in both the near-surface ultimate pit scenario and the
underground mining scenario. Intersection within the open pit scenario contained
15.7 Metres of 0.8 g/t
Au
(including 7.0 m of 1.80 g/t Au) and 7.2 m of 2.8 g/t Au;
additional broad scale mineralization was
seen as well
(21.5 m of 0.40 g/t Au).
Mineralization deeper in the footwall and within the underground
mining scenario intercepted a footwall zone containing
2.0 m of 2.42 g/t Au.
The open pit concept in
Figure 1
shows an ultimate pit with a depth extent of 400 meters; the footprint is
1.8 km by 0.8 km.
Initial exploration in 2024 will strategically focus on the area of the phase 1 pit design.
This will allow us to determine the potential economics as we progress through the phases having the
necessary assay results for resource evaluation and eventually for economic evaluations.
Currently,
Emperor is also sampling near-surface core from the historical core library that was not assayed by
previous explorers.
Up to 70% of this core has not been assayed.
So far, over 3,000 meters have been
sampled and will be sent to the laboratory for analysis.
In General, mineralization is within and proximal to a fertile, gold endowed, quartz-feldspar porphyry
intrusion (QFP), which appears to enrich the greenstone belt along this structural corridor that hosts the
Duquesne West Gold Deposit.
Apophyses of this intrusion are more endowed and are close to the most
highly replacement type mineralization.
Competency contrasts between rock types within this
mineralized corridor are good sites for additional mineralization.
High and low-grade mineralization are important in Open Pit Mining:
1
.
Highest grade intercepts are within mafic (+/- ultramafic) breccia zone carapaces mantling the
QFPs or highly deformed replacement style structural zones (in the mafic volcanics) that are highly
strained and completely replaced by ankerite, sericite, and quartz.
2
.
The broadest low-grade zones are located within the QFPs.
3
.
Some lower-grade broad zones mantle higher-grade intercepts in the mafic volcanics.
This usually
occurs at the margin between mafic volcanics and QFP (low grade in both units surrounding a
high-grade intercept.)
This mineralizing system is significantly large in length, width and depth. These broad zones will aid in
lowering strip ratios when Emperor has enough data to support a new resource estimate for both open
pit and underground conceptual mining scenarios.
Approximately 75% of the assays have been returned from the laboratory, Emperor is awaiting
additional assays results.
Samples were sent to SGS Laboratories in Lakefield, ON.
Image 2:
DQ23-02 intercept of 3.65 m of 6.25 g/t Au. Intercept expands footprint of the minable stope
model in footwall zone; potential adding ounces to the deposit.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8461/193768_ff2b77dc9406f97d_002full.jpg
Quality Assurance and Control
The Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) was conducted by Technominex, a geological
contractor hired by Emperor Metals, which adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines for exploration
related activities conducted at its facility in Rouyn Noranda, Quebec. The QA/QC procedures are
overseen by a Qualified Person on site.
Emperor Metals QA/QC protocols are maintained through the insertion of certified reference material
(standards), blanks and lab duplicates within the sample stream totaling approximately one QA/QC
sample per 7 samples. Drill core is cut in-half with a diamond saw, with one-half placed in sealed bags
with appropriate tags and shipped to the SGS Lakefield laboratory and the other half retained on site in
the original core box.
A dispatch list consists of 88 or 176 samples along with their corresponding
QA/QC samples for a single batch. This allows complete batches (88 samples) for fire assay. A file for
sample tracking records tags used and weights of sample bags shipped to the SGS Lakefield.
Shipment is done by Manitoulin Transport and coordination by Technominex staff in Rouyn-Noranda.
The third-party laboratory, SGS prep laboratory in Lakefield Ontario, processes the shipment of samples
using standard sample preparation (code PRP91) and produces pulps from the specified samples. The
pulps are then sent off to SGS Burnaby for analysis. Chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the
submittal into the laboratory preparation facility all the way to analysis at the SGS Burnaby B.C.
laboratory.
Analytical testing is performed by SGS laboratories in Burnaby, British Columbia. The entire sample is
crushed to 75% passing 2mm, with a split of 500g pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns. Samples are
then analyzed using Au - ore grade 50g Fire Assay, ICP-AES with reporting limits of 0.01 -100 part per
million (ppm). High grade gold analysis based on the presence of visible gold or a fire assay result
exceeding 100 ppm, are analyzed by Au - metallic screening, 1kg screened to 106μm, 50g fire assay,
gravimetric, AAS or ICP-AES of entire plus fraction and duplicate analysis of minus fraction. Reporting
limit 0.01ppm.
About the Duquesne West Gold Project
The Duquesne West Gold Property is located 32 km northwest of the city of Rouyn-Noranda and 10 km
east of the town of Duparquet. The property lies within the historic Duparquet gold mining camp in the
southern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in the Superior Province.
Under an Option Agreement, Emperor agreed to acquire a one hundred percent (100%) interest in a
mineral claim package comprising 38 claims covering approximately 1,389 ha, located in the Duparquet
Township of Quebec (the "Duquesne West Property") from Duparquet Assets Ltd., a 50% owned
subsidiary of Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. (GMX-TSX). For further information on the Duquesne West
Property and Option Agreement, see Emperor's press release dated October 12, 2022, available on
SEDAR.
The Property hosts a historical inferred mineral resource estimate of 727,000 ounces of gold at a grade
of 5.42 g/t Au.
1,2
The mineral resource estimate predates modern CIM guidelines and a Qualified
Person on behalf of Emperor has not reviewed or verified the mineral resource estimate, therefore it is
considered historical in nature and is reported solely to provide an indication of the magnitude of
mineralization that could be present on the property. The gold system remains open for resource
identification and expansion.
Reinterpretation of the existing geological model was created using Artificial Intelligence (A.I) and
Machine Learning. This model shows the opportunity for additional discovery of ounces by revealing gold
trends unknown to previous workers and the potential to expand the resource along significant gold-
endowed structural zones.
Multiple scenarios exist to expand additional resources which include:
1
.
Underground High-Grade Gold
2
.
Open Pit Bulk Tonnage Gold
3
.
Underground Bulk Tonnage Gold.
1
Watts, Griffis, and McOuat Consulting Geologists and Engineers, Oct 20, 2011, Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the
Duquesne-Ottoman Property, Quebec, Canada for XMet Inc.
2
Power-Fardy and Breede, 2011. The Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) constructed in 2011 is considered historical in nature as it was constructed
prior to the most recent Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (CIM) standards (2014) and guidelines (2019) for mineral resources. In addition,
the economic factors used to demonstrate reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction for the MRE have changed since 2011. A qualified
person has not done sufficient work to consider the MRE as a current MRE. Emperor is not treating the historical MRE as a current mineral resource.
The reader is cautioned not to treat it, or any part of it, as a current mineral resource.
Table of Significant Drilling Intercepts
Hole No.
From (m)
To (m)
Interval (m)
Au (g/t Au)
1
DQ23-02
909.35
910.5
1.15
12.17
910.5
913
2.5
3.52
Wt. Avg.
3.65
6.25
Including:
1.15
12.17
1
DQ23-07
54
55
1
0.76
55
56
1
0.17
56
57
1
0.02
57
58
1
0.87
58.0
58.8
0.75
0.35
58.75
59.3
0.55
0.84
59.3
60
0.7
1.23
60
61
1
0.75
61
62
1
1.17
62
63
1
0.48
63
64
1
2.16
64
65
1
0.57
65
66
1
1.09
66
67
1
1.05
67
68
1
1.01
68
69
1
0.55
69
69.7
0.7
1.00
Wt. Avg.
15.7
0.82
Including:
7
1.08
228.1
229.1
1
3.33
229.1
230.1
1
6.33
230.1
231.2
1.1
5.70
231.2
232.4
1.2
2.74
232.4
233.85
1.45
0.26
233.85
235.3
1.45
0.38
Wt. Avg.
7.2
2.80
Including:
4.3
4.47
Including:
2.1
6.00
343.5
344.5
1
0.78
344.5
346
1.5
0.5
346
347
1
0.78
347
348
1
0.18
348
349
1
0.13
349
350
1
0.39
350
351
1
0.47
351
352
1
0.36
352
353
1
0.19
353
354
1
0.02
354
355
1
0.23
355
356
1
0.32
356
357
1
0.09
357
358
1
0.01
358
359
1
0.03
359
360
1
0.13
360
361
1
0.05
361
362
1
0.04
362
363
1
2.93
363
364
1
0.005
364
365
1
0.77
Wt. Avg.
21.5
0.40
563.6
564.6
1
3.35
564.6
565.6
1
1.48
Wt. Avg.
2
2.42
1
Host Structures are interpreted to be steeply dipping and true widths are generally estimated to 90%.
QP Disclosure
The technical content for the Duquesne West Project in this news release has been reviewed and
approved by John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol., a Qualified Person pursuant to CIM guidelines.
About Emperor Metals Inc.
Emperor Metals Inc. is an innovative Canadian mineral exploration company focused on developing
high-quality gold properties situated in the Canadian Shield. For more information, please refer to
SEDAR (
www.sedarplus.ca
), under the Company's profile.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
s/ "John Florek"
John Florek
, M.Sc., P.Geol
President, CEO and Director
Emperor Metals Inc.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Alex Horsley, Director
Phone:
778-323-3058
Email:
Website:
www.emperormetals.com
THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE
CONTENT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE
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