Battery Mineral Resources Ontario Cobalt Exploration Update
BATTERY MINERAL RESOURCES ONTARIO COBALT EXPLORATION
UPDATE
Vancouver, British Columbia – (May 5, 2021) – Battery Mineral Resources Corp.
(TSXV: BMR) ("Battery" or “BMR” or the "Company") is pleased to announce that
drilling intercepted 4 main cobalt mineralized structures on the recently completed
and initial diamond drill program at the White Reserve Project located about 120
kilometres northeast of Sudbury and 30 kilometers southwest of town of Elk Lake.
Highlights:
• 17 drillholes completed for 1,838 meters (“m”);
• Targets identified from recent three-dimensional model of historic
underground mine workings and results of a recent geophysical model;
• Samples have been dispatched for assay and results are pending.
About the White Reserve program
The White Reserve property comprises 616 mining claims totaling 12,984 hectares
of contiguous mining claims located in Banks, Barber, Speight, Van Nostrand and
Whitson townships (Figure 1). Much of the White Reserve property was burnt by a
devasting forest fire during the summer of 2018 (Photo 1). The 2018 fires severely
limited access to the property with only a limited number of reconnaissance
prospecting, geological mapping and rock sampling traverses completed.
In 2019 a grid-based geophysical three-dimensional distributed induced polarization
(“3D IP”) survey was conducted by Canadian Exploration Services. Limited rock grab
sampling of rock dumps and surface outcrops yielded anomalous cobalt values
ranging from 0.02% to 3.90% cobalt and 0.26g/t to 5.90g/t silver.
BMR compiled a 3D geological model of the historic workings and main vein structures
to identify targets and design the drill program (17 drillholes / 1,838m). The drilling
targeted both strike and vertical extensions of the main veins and two high
chargeability induced polarization geophysical targets.
The four main east-west striking quartz-carbonate-silver-cobalt vein structures were
drill tested. Several of the holes were also planned to test a north -south high
chargeability 3D IP geophysical anomaly located just west of the old mine workings
in the Nipissing diabase (Figure 2 and Table 1). Targeting was as follows:
• Holes WRS20-001 - 004: Tested the #21 Vein
• Holes WRS20-005 - 006: Tested the #14 Vein
• Holes WRS20-007 - 008: Tested the #10 Vein
• Hole WRS20-009: Tested IP Chargeability Anomaly & #7 Vein
• Hole WRS20-010: Tested IP Chargeability
• Hole WRS20-011: Tested the #7, #8 & #9 Veins
• Hole WRS20-012: Tested the #10 Vein
• Holes WRS20-013 - 014: Tested the #14 Vein
• Holes WRS20-015 - 016: Tested the #7 Vein
Detailed core logging and sampling has been completed. Samples have been
dispatched for assay. Results are pending.
Battery CEO Martin Kostuik states; “We are encouraged that the 4 main mineralized
vein structures targeted by this initial drill test were intercepted as -planned. This
drilling targeted the historic mine area which includes 5 production shafts operating
until approximately 1940. There remains an additional six known cobalt occurrences
at White Reserve to be explored. We look forward to receiving the assay results and
continuing this exciting portion of our Northern Ontario cobalt exploration program.”
Background
The White Reserve project comprises a 15 km long, north-trending belt of Proterozoic
Nipissing diabase that host s seven cobalt-silver occurrences including the historic
workings known as the White Reserve mine (Figure 3 and Figure 4). The minesite is
nestled in a north-south trending valley bounded by high ridges of diabase.
The White Reserve mine was operated from 1909 – about 1940. Early mine
development included sinking of a shaft to 45m with two levels at 21m and 43m.
Four additional shafts and a total of 1105m of lateral underground workings were
developed. Historically, 24 vein zones were located on the eastern and western rims
of the diabase- enclosed valley. The more productive veins, #7, #10, #14, and #21
were explored with shafts and open cuts, the 3 former veins developed on the west
side, and the latter, on the east. White Reserve mine “reported historic” production
amounted to 19,775 ounces of silver & 452 pounds of cobalt from the #21 Vein.
The White Reserve project is dominated by a north-south striking Nipissing diabase
sill, which intrudes quartzites and sandstones of the Lorraine formation, part of the
Huronian Supergroup of the Cobalt Embayment. The diabase occurs mainly in the
centre of the claim block. Regional north-south and northeast-trending faults transect
the area.
Cobalt - silver mineralization is generally confined to the diabase in veins that parallel
the numerous faults and structures. Cobalt - silver mineralization occurs as vein-filled
fractures, ranging from hairline fractures to a maximum width of 0.08m. Vein
selvages consist of epidote-hematite-altered zones. The dominant sulphide minerals
are niccolite and smaltite, with minor amounts of native bismuth and silver.
Disseminated cobalt sulphides are hosted in a granophyric phase of the Nipissing
diabase. Additionally, disseminated cobalt-silver mineralization was noted up to 1.5
meters on either side of vein fractures.
Figure1: White Reserve property location map
Note: *All coordinates are NAD83 UTM Zone 17N
W R S2 0 - 0 0 1 554 3 9 2 .9 9 52 54 2 77.1 3 4 4 .2 8 N 0 51
o
E - 4 6
o 8 1.0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 0 2 554 3 9 2 .9 9 52 54 2 77.1 3 4 4 .2 8 N 0 54 o E - 6 0 o 111.0 0 m
W R S2 1-
003A 554 3 9 2 .9 9 52 54 2 77.1 3 4 4 .2 8 N 3 50 o E - 4 5o 17.0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 0 3 554 3 9 2 .9 9 52 54 2 77.1 3 4 4 .2 8 N 3 59 o E - 4 5o 8 1.0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 0 4 554 3 9 2 .9 9 52 54 2 77.1 3 4 4 .2 8 N 3 50 o E - 4 6 o 14 1.0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 0 5 554 2 3 2 .2 1 52 54 0 0 9 .1 3 4 6 .9 6 N 0 0 5
o
E - 4 4
o 9 0 .0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 0 6 554 2 3 4 .3 6 52 54 0 0 8 .3 3 4 6 .8 8 N 0 3 7o E - 4 5o 72 .0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 0 7 554 2 75.58 52 54 16 2 .8 3 4 1.55 N 3 4 8o E - 4 4 o 8 1.0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 0 8 554 2 79 .2 7 52 54 16 2 .5 3 4 1.2 8 N 0 3 7
o
E - 50
o 72 .0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 0 9 554 2 0 3 .6 2 52 54 3 0 8 .9 3 3 7.17 N 0 51o E - 4 3 o 2 0 1.0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 10 554 14 0 52 54 118 .8 3 3 5.6 8 N 0 4 6o E - 4 6 o 2 14 .0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 11 554 2 3 6 .76 52 54 2 2 0 .3 3 4 9 .76 N 0 4 7o E - 51o 110 .0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 12 554 2 3 2 .4 3 52 54 176 .3 3 50 .4 9 N 0 3 4o E - 4 5o 9 3 .0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 13 554 18 4 .8 52 54 0 3 6 .3 3 52 .8 6 N 0 4 9o E - 4 5o 9 0 .0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 14 554 171.6 5 52 53 9 9 5.6 3 59 .6 4 N 0 4 6o E - 4 6 o 150 .0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 15 554 2 0 3 .6 2 52 54 3 0 8 .9 3 3 7.17 N 0 54
o
E - 6 1
o 10 2 .0 0 m
W R S2 1- 0 16 554 2 0 3 .6 2 52 54 3 0 8 .9 3 3 7.17 N 0 70 o E - 4 7o 13 2 .0 0 m
T OT A LS 17 HOLES 1,8 3 8 .0 0 m
Table 1: White Reserve 2021 Drilling Summary
HOLE ID
UTM
North
(m)
Altitude
(MSL) AZIMUTH DIP DEPTH
(Metres)
UTM
East (m)
Figure 2: White Reserve 2021 drill collar location plan on LiDAR topography
Figure 3: White Reserve geology map with cobalt-silver occurrences
Figure 4: 2018 White Reserve residual magnetic intensity (RMI) plot with cobalt-silver occurrences
Photo 1: 1909 Minesite boiler after the 2018 forest fire
Quality Control
Sample preparation, analysis and security procedures applied on the BMR
exploration projects is aligned with industry best practice. BMR has implemented
protocols and procedures to insure high quality collection and management of
samples resulting in reliable exploration assay data. BMR has implemented formal
analytical quality control monitoring for all of its field sampling and drilling programs by inserting
blanks and certified reference materials into every sample sequence dispatched.
Sample preparation was performed by ALS Minerals Laboratories (ALS) in Sudbury,
Ontario and sample analyses by ALS in North Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS
analytical facilities are commercial laboratories and are independent from BMR. All
BMR samples were bagge d by BMR staff and delivered Upon receipt at the ALS
Laboratory in Sudbury, samples were logged in a sophisticated laboratory information
management system (LIMS) for sample tracking, scheduling, quality control, and
electronic reporting. Samples were drie d in special drying ovens prior to crushing.
The samples were crushed to 70% < -2 mm and a riffle split of 250 grams was then
pulverized to 85% of the material achieving a size of <75 microns . These prepared
samples were then shipped to the ALS Laboratory in North Vancouver for analyses
by the following methods:
• ME-MS61: A high precision, multi -acid digest including Hydrofluoric, Nitric,
Perchloric and Hydrochloric acids. Analysed by ICP (inductively coupled
plasma) mass spectrometry that produced results for 48 elements.
• ME-OG62: Aqua -Regia digest: Analysed by ICP - AES (Atomic Emission
Spectrometry) or sometimes called optical emission spectrometry (ICP -OES)
for high levels of Co, Cu, Ni and Ag.
• Ag-GRA21: Silver by fire assay and gravimetric finish; 30 -gram charge.
Weight. Used when samples contain > 1500 ppm silver.
• Au-AA25: Gold was analysed by a 30-gram fire assay method, followed by AAS
(atomic absorption spectroscopy).
Note that 48 element ICP trace element data was also collected and reported by the
laboratory. Certified international standards were inserted into sample batches by
ALS. Blanks and duplicates are inserted within each analytical run. The blank is
inserted at the beginning, internationally certified standards are inserted at random
intervals, and duplicates are analysed at the end of the batch.
Qualified Persons
P. J. Doyle, FAusIMM (#208850), Battery Mineral Resources Corp. - Vice President
Exploration - Canada, supervised the preparation of and approved the scientific and
technical infor mation in this press release pertaining to the Canada Exploration
Program.
Technical reports filed by the Company under the Company’s profile at
www.sedar.com: “Technical Report on Cobalt Exploration Assets in Canada” dated as
of May 26, 2020 with an eff ective date of March 31, 2020, prepared by SRK
Consulting – G Cole PGeo (APGO#1416).
About Battery Mineral Resources Corp
Battery is a multi-commodity resource company. Battery is engaged in the discovery,
acquisition, and development of battery metals (cobalt, lithium, graphite, nickel &
copper), in North America and South Korea. Battery is the largest mineral claim
holder in the historic Gowganda Cobalt-Silver Camp, Canada, with various high-grade
primary cobalt silver-nickel-copper targets located in the Cobalt Belt of Ontario and
Quebec. In addition, Battery owns approximately 89.2% of ESI Energy Services, Inc.,
a pipeline equipment rental and sales company with operations in Leduc, Alberta and
Phoenix, Arizona. Finally, Battery is currently pursuing a concurrent financing and
acquisition to acquire the Punitaqui Mining Complex, a copper -gold mine located in
the Coquimbo region of Chile.
For further information, please contact Battery Mineral Resources Corp.:
Martin Kostuik
Phone: +1 (604) 229 3830
Email: [email protected]
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward -looking information” within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities laws, which may relate to the Company’s future
outlook and anticipated events or results. In some cases, but not necessarily all
cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward -looking
terminology such as “plans”, “targets”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “an
opportunity exists”, “is positioned”, “estimates”, “intends”, “assumes”, “anticipates”
or “does not anticipate” o r “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or
state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will”
or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. In addition, any statements that refer to
expectations, predictions, indications, projections or other characterizations of future