Aston Bay and American West Metals Announce Additional Copper Intercepts and Commencement of Summer Drilling Program at the Storm Copper Project, Canada
Aston Bay and American West Metals Announce Additional Copper
Intercepts and Commencement of Summer Drilling Program at the
Storm Copper Project, Canada
• Assays confirm further thick and high-grade near-surface copper intervals at the
4100N Zone
• Drill hole SR23-17 has intersected:
o 15.3m @ 1.6% Cu from 59.4m, including,
▪ 7.6m @ 2.9% Cu from 64m, including,
▪ 3.1m @ 4.8% Cu from 64m
• Drill hole SR23-10 has intersected:
o 9.1m @ 1.1% Cu from 62.5m, including,
▪ 1.5m @ 2.8% Cu from 62.5m, and,
▪ 1.5m @ 2.1% Cu from 65.5m
o 3.1m @ 1.4% Cu from 76.2m, including,
▪ 1.6m @ 2.1% Cu from 77.7m
• Drill hole SR23-12 has intersected:
o 7.6m @ 1.1% Cu from 106.7m, including,
▪ 3.1m @ 2.1% Cu from 109.7m
• Drill hole SR23-18 has intersected:
o 7.7m @ 1% Cu from 59.4m, including,
▪ 4.6m @ 1.4% Cu from 62.5m, including,
▪ 1.5m @ 2.6% Cu from 64m
• Drill results continue to expand the footprint of copper mineralization at the 4100N
Zone, which remains open laterally in all directions
• Reverse circulation (RC) delineation drilling has recommenced at the 4100N Zone
• Diamond drilling will commence shortly to test the large gravity anomalies located
below the high-grade near-surface deposits
• American West has been granted funding by the Nunavut Government to support
exploration and drilling at Storm
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 5, 2023 / Aston Bay Holdings Ltd.
(TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") reports significant new drill
results from the spring reverse circulation (RC) drilling program and recommencement of
drilling activities at the Storm Copper Project ("Storm" or the "Project") on Somerset Island,
Nunavut, Canada. The program was conducted this April and May by American West Metals
Limited ("American West"), who are the project operator since entering an option agreement
with Aston Bay in March 2021.
"Further impressive results from the spring RC program continue to expand the footprint of near-
surface copper mineralization at Storm," stated Thomas Ullrich, CEO of Aston Bay. "The
program conducted by our partners America West has outlined a significant system over 1.3
kilometres long and 300 metres wide at the 4100N Zone alone. More drilling on the zone is now
underway and further delineation drilling at other zones is planned for later this summer.
"Diamond drilling of the large geophysical targets below the 4100N Zone will also begin soon.
Geological and geophysical modeling point to a sediment hosted copper system, the type of
mineralization responsible for the very large and high-grade copper deposits of central Africa.
The potential for discovery is enormous here, making this one of the most exciting drill programs
of the summer."
Figure 1: Plan view of the 4100N Zone showing interpreted copper mineralization footprint
(defined by drilling, MLEM and VTEM), historical and recent drilling details, overlaying
regional geology. Stated drill hole intersections are all core length, and true width is expected to
be 60% to 95% of stated length.
COPPER MINERALIZATION OPEN LATERALLY IN ALL DIRECTIONS
The data validation and interpretation have been completed on drill holes SR23-10, SR23-11,
SR23-12, SR23-16, SR23-17, and SR23-18. Most of the drill holes are extensional to the known
mineralization, significantly increasing the surface footprint of the 4100N Zone and, importantly,
demonstrating that the mineralization is open laterally in all directions.
The drilling results continue to demonstrate consistent copper grades and excellent lateral
continuity of the known copper mineralization. The mineralization is defined by broad intervals
of vein and fracture-style chalcocite, bornite and lesser chalcopyrite hosted within distinct,
horizontally extensive dolomite layers.
The potential for further expansion of the high-grade, near-surface mineralization at the 4100N
Zone is supported by strong Moving Loop Electromagnetic (MLEM) and Vertical Time domain
Electromagnetic (VTEM) anomalism in areas outside of the current drilling (Figure 1).
Hole
ID
Prospec
t
Eastin
g
Northin
g
Dept
h (m)
Azimut
h
Inclinatio
n
Thickness
Sulfide
Mineralizatio
n (m)
SR23
-01 4100N 464991 8174285 137.2 180 -65 28.9
SR23
-02 4100N 464990 8174157 140.2 180 -59 21
SR23
-03 4100N 465041 8174251 151 178 -65 52.5
SR23
-04 4100N 465045 8174166 152.4 179 -69 25.9
SR23
-05 4100N 464899 8174146 131.1 180 -66 21.3
SR23
-06 4100N 464899 8174261 166.1 180 -69 13.7
SR23
-07 4100N 464805 8174203 137.2 180 -71 7.7
SR23
-08 4100N 464726 8174286 118.9 180 -69 6.1
SR23
-09 4100N 464726 8174206 164.6 180 -69 13.8
SR23
-10 4100N 464638 8174315 125 180 -70 12.2
SR23
-11 4100N 464667 8174223 140.2 180 -70 18.2
SR23
-12 4100N 465115 8174317 149.4 179 -73 10.6
SR23
-13 4100N 465051 8174321 175.3 180 -65 29
SR23
-14 4100N 464948 8174227 160 180 -65 25.9
SR23
-15 4100N 464853 8174167 121.9 180 -65 10.7
SR23
-16 4100N 465138 8174247 132.6 180 -70 -
SR23
-17 4100N 465139 8174173 129.5 180 -66 19.8
SR23
-18 4100N 465186 8174280 182.9 180 -65 9.2
Table 1: 2023 program drill hole details.
DRILL HOLE SR23-10 DETAILS
SR23-10 was drilled to a downhole depth of 125m and is the westernmost drill hole of the 2023
program to date.
The drill hole is located west of historical drill hole ST00-62 (25.5m core length @ 1.9% Cu)
and was planned to test for extensions of the copper mineralization into a zone of strong MLEM
anomalism (Figure 1).
SR23-10 intersected two horizontal zones of strong vein and fracture-style copper sulfide
mineralization hosted within fractured dolomite (Figure 2). The grade and mineralogy are
identical to that of the nearby historical drill holes and confirm the excellent lateral continuity of
the mineralization in the western part of the deposit.
Figure 2: Geological section view at 464,64E showing the interpreted mineralization envelopes
(>0.5% & >1% Cu), MLEM conductor (off section to west of drill hole) and recent drill hole
assays. Stated drill hole intersection is downhole width, and true width is expected to be 90%-
100% of stated length.
The upper zone of strong mineralization is located at the same stratigraphic depth as the modeled
MLEM anomalies, which suggests these plates are likely to be associated with the higher grade
(>2.5% Cu) intervals. The MLEM conductors are located to the west of drill hole SR23-10 and
indicate that the high-grade mineralization is likely to continue at least 100m to the west. MLEM
has not yet been completed to the west of the known conductors, which offers a significant
opportunity for expansion of the orebody in this direction.
Table 2 through Table 6 below summarise the significant intersections in drilling. Intersections
are expressed as downhole widths and are interpreted to be approximately 90-100% of true
width. A cut-off grade of 0.5% copper is used to define a significant intersection and is based on
ore mineralogy, mineralization habit and expected beneficiation performance.
Hole ID From
(m)
To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag
g/t
SR23-10 62.5 71.6 9.1 1.1 - 5
Including 62.5 64 1.5 2.8 - 11
And 65.5 67 1.5 2.1 - 8
76.2 79.3 3.1 1.4 - 5.5
Including 77.7 79.3 1.6 2.1 - 8
Table 2: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-10 (>0.5% Cu)
DRILL HOLE SR23-11 DETAILS
SR23-11 was drilled to a downhole depth of 140.2m and is located to the east and south of drill
hole SR23-10 (Figure 1).
SR23-11 intersected a very thick, 42m zone of copper sulfide mineralization. The broad interval
contains three narrower zones of strong mineralization, supporting the lateral continuity in this
location. The lower overall grade of the interval is due to a lower volume of sulfide veining.
The mineralogy is identical to that of the 4100N Zone and consists of mostly chalcocite, with
lesser amounts of bornite and chalcopyrite, hosted within fractured dolomite.
Hole ID From
(m)
To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag
g/t
SR23-11 41.2 47.2 6 0.5 - 2
Including 42.7 44.2 1.5 1.1 - 5
57.9 59.4 1.5 0.6 - 2
62.5 73.2 10.7 0.6 - 1.6
Including 65.5 67.1 1.6 1.4 - 3
And 70.1 71.6 1.5 1.5 - 2
Table 3: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-11 (>0.5% Cu)
DRILL HOLE SR23-12 DETAILS
SR23-12 was drilled to a downhole depth of 149.3m and is located in the north-central area of
the 4100N Zone.
The drill hole was completed to test the extent of the copper mineralization along the northern
part of the known mineralized footprint (Figure 1), and in an area with strong EM anomalism.
SR23-12 intersected one main zone of strong vein and fracture-style copper sulfide
mineralization hosted within a much broader interval (37m) of intermittent sulfide veins within
fractured dolomite.
All drill holes along the northern extent of the known 4100N Zone (including SR23-12) have
intervals of strong copper mineralization and are open to the north where MLEM data supports
potential extensions to the mineralization in this direction.
Hole ID From
(m)
To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag
g/t
SR23-12 105.2 115.8 10.6 0.8 - 1.9
Including 106.7 114.3 7.6 1.1 - 2.2
Including 109.7 112.8 3.1 2.1 - 4
Table 4: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-12 (>0.5% Cu)
DRILL HOLE SR23-16 and SR23-17 DETAILS
SR23-16 and SR23-17 were drilled to test the continuity of the 4100N Zone in an area of an
interpreted fault/break in the mineralization (Figure 1). The holes were drilled to a downhole
depth of 132.6m and 129.5m respectively.
The drill holes have successfully confirmed the presence of a large fault as well as further
outstanding thicknesses of high-grade copper mineralization (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Geological section view at 465,140E showing the interpreted mineralization envelopes
(>0.5% & >1% Cu) and recent drill hole assays. Stated drill hole intersection is downhole
width, and true width is expected to be 90%-100% of stated length.
Drill hole SR23-16 has intersected the very top of the mineralized horizon which is abruptly cut-
off by a thick interval of clay. The thickness of the clay zone and discrete lateral nature of the
known faults in the area suggest the drill hole intersected the fault at a high angle. It is
interpreted that the faults are brittle, have sharp contacts and do not significantly offset the
mineralization.
Drill hole SR23-17 was drilled to the south of SR23-16 and was designed to test the continuity of
the known ore zone south of the interpreted fault. The drill hole intersected two zones of strong
mineralization. The upper zone contains copper grades up to 5.3% Cu and is characterized by a
thick and coherent high-grade copper core including 3.1m @ 4.8% Cu.
The lower mineralization horizon is narrower and related to other, lower sequence horizons in
the area, demonstrating outstanding lateral continuity of the mineralized horizons.
Hole ID From
(m)
To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag
g/t
SR23-17 59.4 74.7 15.3 1.6 - 2.1
Including 64 71.6 7.6 2.9 - 2.8
Including 64 67.1 3.1 4.8 - 4
86.9 89.9 3 0.8 - 1.5
Including 88.4 89.9 1.5 1.2 - 2
96 97.5 1.5 0.6 - 0.5
Table 5: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-17 (>0.5% Cu)
DRILL HOLE SR23-18 DETAILS
SR23-18 was drilled to a downhole depth of 182.9m in the central east of the 4100N Zone
(Figure 1).
SR23-18 intersected one main zone of strong vein and fracture-style copper sulfide
mineralization hosted within a much broader interval (27m) of intermittent sulfide veins within
fractured dolomite.
The grade and mineralogy of the upper, strong zone of mineralization are identical to that of the
other drill holes in this area. Importantly, the nearest drill holes to the east of SR23-18 are
located over 200m away and contain exceptional intervals of >2% Cu mineralization (ST99-53
contains 4.8m core length @ 3.7% Cu from 20.3m downhole and 4.4m core length @ 4.6%
Cu from 38.6m downhole)
Hole ID From
(m)
To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag
g/t
SR23-18 59.4 67.1 7.7 1 - 1.6
Including 62.5 67.1 4.6 1.4 - 2.2
Including 64 65.5 1.5 2.6 - 4
74.7 76.2 1.5 0.8 - 6
Table 6: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-18 (>0.5% Cu)
DELINEATION DRILLING PROGRAM RECOMMENCES
After a pause to allow for the spring melt, the RC delineation program is once again underway at
the 4100N Zone. Further delineation drilling is planned this summer at the 2750N and 2200N
Zones.
DIAMOND DRILLING OF LARGE COPPER TARGETS
Diamond drilling is set to commence targeting the outstanding copper targets that have been
defined beneath the near-surface mineralization at Storm (see June 9, 2023 news release).