Azimut and SOQUEM Sign Final Strategic Alliance Agreement Symbol: AZM.TSX Venture
Azimut and SOQUEM Sign Final
Strategic Alliance Agreement
Symbol: AZM.TSX Venture
LONGUEUIL, QC and VAL-D'OR, QC, May 15, 2019 /CNW Telbec/
- Azimut Exploration Inc. ("Azimut" or the "Company")
(TSXV: AZM) and SOQUEM Inc. ("SOQUEM"), a subsidiary of
Ressources Québec, are pleased to announce the signing of the final
agreement of their expanded Strategic Alliance (the "Alliance"),
following the execution of a letter agreement previously announced on
February 25, 2019.
The Alliance comprises nine (9) gold and copper-gold major
properties totalling 7,149 claims with a surface area of 3,277 square
kilometres. The properties are located in the prospective Eeyou
Istchee James Bay ("James Bay") and Nunavik regions of Quebec.
These regions are part of the Plan Nord strategy implemented by the
Government of Quebec.
The Alliance represents a major change in the activity level of both
companies and will combine their strengths, specifically Azimut's big
data analytics expertise in mineral exploration and SOQUEM's mining
exploration and development expertise. A key component of the
Alliance will be the continued development of close ties with local
communities in the Nunavik and James Bay regions. The Alliance
builds on the technical success of the original James Bay strategic
agreement in 2016.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRANSACTION (see Figure 1)
1. NUNAVIK: The agreement covers three major copper-gold
properties (Rex-Duquet, Rex South and Nantais). The objective
is to unlock the potential of known district-scale polymetallic
targets.
• First Option ($16 million for 50%): SOQUEM will have
the option to earn an initial 50% interest in the Rex-Duquet,
Rex South and Nantais properties by investing $16 million
in exploration work over a period of four (4) years, the first
two (2) years being a firm commitment of $4 million each
year.
• Second Option ($8 million and a PEA per designated
property for an additional 10%): SOQUEM will have the
option to earn an additional 10% interest in each
designated property (for a total 60% interest in each such
property) by investing $8 million per designated property
over a period of two (2) years and delivering a preliminary
economic assessment ("PEA").
• Azimut will be the operator of the Alliance.
2. JAMES BAY: Amendments to the existing agreement relate to
six gold properties explored under the Alliance since 2016.
• Azimut has a back-in option to regain a 50% interest in four
(4) properties (Munischiwan, Pikwa, Pontois and
Desceliers) by conducting a total investment of
$3.31 million in exploration work over a period of three (3)
years, representing the same amount initially invested by
SOQUEM.
• Azimut remains operator during this earn-in option period,
which will be transferred to SOQUEM thereafter.
• Azimut and SOQUEM each retain a 50% interest in the
Galinée and Dalmas properties. Azimut will remain
operator on these projects.
• SOQUEM relinquishes its exclusive rights to acquire an
interest in other properties wholly owned by Azimut
(Duxbury, Kukamas East, Corvet and Synclinal).
3. The agreement also sets out the conditions for additional
predictive modelling elsewhere in Quebec.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROPERTIES (see Figures 2 to 6)
1. REX-DUQUET (Au, Ag, Cu, REE), Nunavik
• 1,869 claims covering 798 square kilometres
• Three main claim blocks with a total strike length of 81
kilometres
• Target types: Iron Oxide Copper Gold systems ("IOCG");
shear zones; gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulphides
("VMS")
• Key results:
o Discovery of two outcropping kilometre-scale IOCG
systems: RBL and CM zones
o Discovery of a 30-kilometre sheared corridor with
numerous outcropping high-grade prospects (up to
580 g/t Au, 552.9 g/t Ag, 10.4 % Cu from grab
samples)
• Planned 2019 program: 3,500 line-kilometre heliborne
electromagnetic-magnetic survey; focused prospecting; till
sampling; drill target ranking
2. REX SOUTH (Au, Ag, Cu, Te, W, Sn, Ni), Nunavik
• 2,361 claims covering 1,028 square kilometres
• Two blocks of claims with a total strike length of 70
kilometres
• Target types: IOCG; intrusion-related; sediment-hosted;
shear zones; magmatic Ni-Cu
• Key results:
o Discovery of three outcropping IOCG systems:
Jemima, Impact and Sombrero zones
o Discovery of a 15 kilometre by 5 kilometre intrusion-
related gold-polymetallic system hosting several
kilometre-scale outcropping zones (Copperton,
Augossan, Anorthosite, Pegor, Ferrus, Le Breuil
and Dragon)
o Best grades include 23.3 g/t Au, 124 g/t Ag, 9.28%
Cu, 102.5 g/t Te, 4.62% W and 2.58% Sn from grab
samples
o The cumulative length for the identified targets is 60
kilometres
• Planned 2019 program: 4,600 line-kilometre heliborne
electromagnetic-magnetic survey; focused prospecting; till
sampling; drill target ranking
3. NANTAIS (Au, Ag, Cu, Zn), Nunavik
• 541 claims covering 226 square kilometres
• Property covers 31 kilometres of an underexplored
greenstone belt
• Target types: Gold-rich VMS; shear zones
• Key results:
o Discovery of a 3 kilometre by 200 metre outcropping
mineralized corridor
o Definition of robust targets with a cumulative length of
18 kilometres following a heliborne electromagnetic-
magnetic survey in 2014 and a remote sensing study
in 2018
• Planned 2019 program: Focused prospecting; till sampling;
drill target ranking
4. MUNISCHIWAN (Au, Ag, Cu), James Bay
• 167 claims covering 87 square kilometres
• Target types: Intrusion-related; shear zones
• Key results:
o Discovery of the InSight Prospect: 600 metre by 150
metre mineralized zone with grades up to 100.5 g/t
Au, 435 g/t Ag, 105 g/t Te and 1.67% Cu from grab
samples
o Potential kilometre-scale extensions and other nearby
targets based on induced polarization anomalies
(spring 2019 survey)
• Planned 2019 program: Focused prospecting; core drilling
(at least 1,200 metres)
5. PIKWA (Au, Cu), James Bay
• 703 claims covering 360 square kilometres
• Target types: Intrusion-related; shear zones
• Key results:
o Discovery of the Hyperion Prospect (up to 7.17 g/t
Au in grab samples from outcrops) within a well
defined 10.5-kilometre-long electromagnetic,
magnetic and geochemical footprint
o Discovery of the Copperfield Prospect (up to 2.95%
Cu in grab samples from angular boulders) located
within a well-defined 20-kilometre-long magnetic,
electromagnetic and geochemical footprint on strike
with the adjacent Mythril discovery (Midland
Exploration Inc.)
• Planned 2019 program: Focused prospecting; stripping;
ground geophysics and/or soil geochemistry; core drilling
6. PONTOIS (Au), James Bay
• 399 claims covering 203 square kilometres
• Target type: Shear zones
• Key results:
o Discovery of the Black Hole Prospect (up to 6.02 g/t
Au in grab samples from outcrops)
• Planned 2019 program: Focused prospecting
7. DESCELIERS (Au, Cu, REE, Ni), James Bay
• 363 claims covering 188 square kilometres
• Target types: IOCG; magmatic Ni-Cu
• Key results:
o Definition of robust targets following an in-fill lake
bottom sediment survey in 2016 and a heliborne
magnetic-electromagnetic survey in 2018
• Planned 2019 program: Focused prospecting
8. GALINÉE (Au), James Bay
• 658 claims covering 339 square kilometres
• Target types: Shear zones; intrusion-related
• Key results:
o Discovery of a 130 metre by 30 metre outcropping
gold-bearing zone (up to 2.17 g/t Au from grabs), and
a gold-bearing trend in till with the best sample
yielding 52 delicate gold grains
• Planned 2019 program: Focused prospecting; stripping;
soil geochemistry; till sampling
9. DALMAS (Au), James Bay
• 88 claims covering 45 square kilometres
• Target type: Shear zones
• Key results:
o 3-kilometre trend of anomalous gold, arsenic and
copper in grab samples
• Planned 2019 program: Prospecting; till sampling
Azimut has previously disclosed the above property highlights in press
releases. Grab samples are selective by nature and unlikely to
represent average grades.
The Alliance transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals by
the TSX Venture Exchange.
This press release was prepared by Dr. Jean-Marc Lulin, P.Geo.,
acting as Azimut's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.
About SOQUEM
SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Ressources Québec, has a mission to
encourage the exploration, discovery and development of mining
properties in Quebec. SOQUEM also contributes to maintaining strong
local economies. Proud partner and ambassador for the development
of Quebec's mineral wealth, SOQUEM relies on innovation, research
and strategic minerals to be well positioned for the future.
About Azimut
Azimut is a mineral exploration company whose core business is
centred on target generation and partnership development. The
Company uses a proprietary pioneering approach to big data
analytics (the AZtechMineTM expert system) enhanced by extensive
exploration know-how. Azimut maintains rigorous financial discipline
and has 53.3 million shares outstanding.
Azimut holds the largest mineral exploration portfolio in Quebec.
Azimut's edge against exploration risk is founded on systematic
regional-scale data analysis and multiple concurrently active projects.
Other key properties include:
• Elmer (Au, Ag, Cu, Zn): 100% Azimut
• Duxbury (Au): 100% Azimut
• Kaanaayaa (Au, Cu): 100% Azimut
• Eleonore South (Au): Azimut–Newmont Goldcorp–Eastmain
• Wabamisk (Au): Azimut–Newmont Goldcorp
• Opinaca B (Au): Azimut–Hecla Mining–Everton
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider
(as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Azimut Exploration Inc.
View original content:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2019/15/c5781.html
%SEDAR: 00003284E
For further information: Azimut Exploration Inc., Jean-Marc Lulin,
P.Geo., President and CEO, Tel.: (450) 646-3015, info@azimut-
exploration.com, www.azimut-exploration.com; SOQUEM Inc., Michel
Gilbert, P.Eng., Acting President and General Manager, Tel.: (819)
874-3773, [email protected]
CO: Azimut Exploration Inc.
CNW 07:00e 15-MAY-19