Hercules Intersects 338 Meters of 0.47% Cu with Mineralization Increasing at Depth and to the North
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Hercules Intersects 338 Meters of 0.47% Cu with
Mineralization Increasing at Depth and to the North
Toronto, Ontario / November 19, 2024 – Hercules Metals Corp. (“Hercules Metals” or
the “Company”) (TSX-V: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) (FWB: 8Q7) is pleased to announce
new drill intercepts from its Hercules Property in western Idaho (“ Hercules” or the
“Property”). HER-24-12 has intersected 338m of 0.47% Cu, with the final 154m ending in
0.51% Cu and 104 ppm Mo, marking the first recorded increase in mineralization at depth
on the Property. Final assay results reveal the 315m step- out from HER-24-08 ended in
strong mineralization, with alteration increasing from phyllic to outer potassic in the latter
half. Furthermore, a north- south cross- section (Fig 2) now demonstrates copper and
potassic alteration are increasing towards the Grade Creek Zone, where a large untested
chargeability and magnetic anomaly presents one of the most compelling targets for a
vertically extensive early porphyry center.
Highlights
• Strongest primary mineralization below the enrichment blanket to date.
• The headline drill hole, HER -24-12, is a 315m step-out, northeast from HER-24-
08, which recently intersected 480m of 0.47% Cu, 82 ppm Mo, including 55 m of
1.5% Cu (See news release dated Oct 10, 2024).
• A new trend of increasing copper and potassic alteration toward a large untested
chargeability and magnetic anomaly at the Grade Creek Zone (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5).
• Trend is intersected progressively closer to surface to the north (Fig. 2).
• Modelling now constrains the geometry of a late porphyry intrusion (Fig. 2 ),
allowing drilling to focus on the significantly better grades in all directions.
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• Click here to view a summary of today’s new release delivered by the Company’s
CEO, Chris Paul.
Chris Paul, CEO and Director of the Company, noted: “Seeing primary copper grades now
increasing below the secondary enrichment blanket is certainly an exciting new
development for the project. The increas ing grade as well as alteration temperatures to
the north has significant implications for the large geophysical anomalies underlying the
Grade Creek Zone (Figs. 4, 5). Review of core photos also shows early “A” and “B” veins
intensifying down hole, both of which are known to increase toward the center of porphyry
systems. Associated with the A and B veins is a transition from phyllic to biotite (outer
potassic) alteration, potentially signaling proximity to a porphyry center.”
HER-24-12 CORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT:
https://www.herculesmetals.com/hercules/core-photos/
Table 1: Significant Intercepts
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Mo (ppm)
HER-24-12 306.48 644.35 337.87 0.47 1.55 71
including 325.68 365.61 39.93 0.79 0.97 65
including 306.48 451.71 145.23 0.53 2.24 49
including 490.73 644.35 153.62 0.51 1.12 104
HER-24-11 236.22 516.94 280.72 0.31 0.47 32
including 310.59 364.85 54.26 0.70 0.73 40
HER-24-13 159.65 229.5 69.85 0.70 1.21 22
including 159.65 197.54 37.89 1.14 1.64 30
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Figure 1: Drill Plan with grade bars for copper (orange) and molybdenum (blue) for holes with
assays received. Approximate surface projection of enrichment blanket (secondary) and early
biotite alteration (primary). Cross-section locations shown for Figures 2 and 3.
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Figure 2: Cross-section B - B’ showing the orientation of the late porphyry intrusion and the strong
contrast that copper grade has in the surrounding rock. Outside of the late porphyry, biotite altered
wallrock is well mineralized, and increasing in intensity to the north. 24-12 has intersected the
strongest primary hypogene grades outside of the enrichment blanket thus far.
Geological Summary
Two types of mineralization occur within the Leviathan system. Primary hypogene
mineralization, which formed during initial emplacement of the porphyry system, as well as
a secondary blanket of enrichment which formed during a younger hydrothermal pulse.
The primary mineralization is the main target, as it will often extend vertically for many
hundreds of meters down the center of porphyry systems.
The enrichment blanket forms an attractive layer of high- grade bornite and chalcocite
mineralization closest to surface, while the primary mineralization represents a larger
target, with potential for yet its own high-grade core.
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HER-24-12 encountered bornite and chalcocite mineralization, typical of the secondary
enrichment blanket, which then transitions downward into the primary hypogene system .
The primary system begins with phyllic alteration at the top, intensifying downward to a
higher temperature biotite alteration with stronger chalcopyrite-pyrite mineralization. This
represents the first hole in which the primary hypogene system strengthens with depth,
indicating it may be the closest drilled to the hypogene core of the system.
Figure 2 presents a cross-section of HER-24-12, relative to a late porphyry that is lower
grade than the surrounding volcanic rocks . However, as new drilling was completed, the
late porphyry was modelled in 3D, which has significantly enhanced the Company’s
targeting of the higher-grade volcanic host rocks . Figure 2 provides an example of the
strong increase in grade outside of the late porphyry. It should be noted that the causative
early porphyry intrusion at Leviathan remains to be identified. Early porphyry intrusions
can often contribute upwards of 90% of the copper to porphyry systems and are frequently
higher in grade than the surrounding volcanic wall rocks. The large Grade Creek Zone and
its prospective geophysical anomalies present a compelling area to begin testing for such
a target.
Figure 2 illustrates the volcanics underneath the late porphyry are increasing in both grade
and alteration, at progressively shallower depths to the north. Grades increase from 0.30%
in 23-21 to 0.51% in 24-12 and are open toward a large area of anomalous chargeability
and magnetics in the Grade Creek Zone (Fig. 4, 5).
HER-24-11 drilled into the upper edge of the late porphyry but exited into phyllic altered
volcanics at the end of hole, with a significant increase in grade. The geological model
presented here suggests that extending 24- 11 would have strong potential for
encountering potassic alteration with increasing grades.
HER-24-13 intersected strong enrichment blanket mineralization grading 1.14% Cu over
38 meters. The hole only cut the now modelled late porphyry, which is clear evidence that
the strong grades introduced by the secondary enrichment blanket are younger, and were
deposited after emplacement of the entire porphyry system.
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Figure 3: Long-section A - A’ showing increase in primary hypogene grade below enrichment
blanket in HER-24-12.
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Figure 4: Depth slice through 3D magnetic inversion at level of porphyry system, showing untested
magnetic anomalies relative to early biotite (outer potassic) alteration and increasing grade.
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Figure 5: Chargeability depth slice at 400 meters below surface. Drilling has largely been
constrained within a broad zone of high chargeability and low magnetic intensity, characteristic of
phyllic alteration. The Grade Creek Zone however is host to a large region of moderate
chargeability (13-17 mV/V) and higher magnetic intensity, prospective for potential potassic
alteration.