Imperial Drilling Intersects 162.5 Metres Grading 0.33% Copper and 1.64 g/t Silver at Whiting Creek
Imperial Drilling Intersects 162.5 Metres Grading 0.33% Copper and 1.64 g/t Silver at Whiting Creek
Vancouver | November 1, 2023 | Imperial Metals Corporation (“Imperial” or the “Company”) (TSX:III) reports
drill results of the final four holes of the 2,031 metres diamond drilling program at Whiting Creek. The drill
results include an intercept of 162.5 metres grading 0. 33% copper and 1.64 g/t silver in hole CW-23-3B.
Ongoing surface exploration and this year’s results have extended the Creek Zone mineralization 450 metres
to the west . The mineralization remains open and there is clearly potential for further discovery in this
underexplored area and throughout the Whiting Creek intrusive complex and adjacent volcanics.
Brian Kynoch, President of Imperial, stated, “Ongoing exploration at Whiting Creek continues to expand the
potential of the various mineralized zones located less than 10 kilometres from the Huckleberry milling
facilities. The results of the drilling in the Creek Zone West, in volcanic rocks , is important as the highest
grades and the majority of production at the Huckleberry mine came from altered volcanic rocks.”
The Whiting Creek prospect forms part of the Huckleberry property and is located approximately 8.5 km north
of the Huckleberry mill . The target is a calc -alkalic porphyry mineralization associated with the Bulkley
plutonic suite, like the Huckleberry deposit. Veining and strong hydrothermal alteration are prevalent
throughout the area, along with a pyritic halo approximately 6 km by 3 km in plan dimension. The dominant
intrusive is the Whiting Creek Stock, which is a body of biotite rich quartz diorite to granodiorite,
approximately 3 km by 4 km in surface dimension.
Over the past two years , Imperial has conducted a program of geological mapping, geochemical surveys,
whole rock trace element studies, and airborne and surface geophysical surveys over the Whiting Creek area.
From these recent surveys n umerous drill targets were identified and in July to August of 2023, Imperial
completed 2,031metres of diamond drilling in five holes on the Whiting Creek prospect.
Hole CW-23-03B was drilled at 225° azimuth and a dip of -50° to a final depth of 438 metres and was collared
approximately 75 metres north northwest from previously reported drillhole CW-23-01 (September 18, 2023).
The first 165 metres of the hole were Whiting Creek Stock intrusive rocks. The hole then passed through the
intrusive to volcanic contact and intersected veined and altered andesite volcanic rocks to the bottom of the
hole. Copper grades increased as the hole passed into the volcanics below the intrusive rocks, and the highest
concentration of copper and silver mineralization was hosted in the veined volcanic rocks. Numerous mafic
to intermediate post mineral dykes crosscut all lithologies in a northwest to southeast trend following a
prominent structural trend on the property.
Copper, molybdenum, and silver mineralization occurs in all the holes reported in this news release. The first
four holes CW-23-01, CW-23-02, CW-23-03B, and CW-23-04 tested Creek Zone West located about 450 metres
west of Creek Zone . Drilling at Creek Zone West targeted overlapping geophysical and geochemical
anomalies, and the northwestern covered contact between the Whiting Creek Stock and the surrounding
Telkwa Formation volcanics. The fifth hole, CW -23-05, was drilled about 75 metres west of the Creek Zone
drill hole WC2016-02 and intersected Whiting Creek intrusive for the entire length of the hole.
While historic drill holes in the Creek Zone intersected copper and molybdenum within the Whiting Creek
Stock, intercepts from 2023 drilling confirm that the surrounding altered volcanics can host significant copper,
molybdenum and silver mineralization.
News Release
Significant intervals include:
Hole From To Width Cu% Mo% Ag g/t CuEq%
CW-23-02 68.4 341.4 273.0 0.14 0.011 0.48 0.22
CW-23-03B 167.5 330.0 162.5 0.33 0.009 1.64 0.41
CW-23-04 126.8 237.5 110.7 0.17 0.018 0.63 0.30
includes 147.5 166.3 18.8 0.27 0.034 1.14 0.51
CW-23-05 107.5 387.5 280.0 0.19 0.012 1.00 0.28
includes 107.5 213.8 106.3 0.27 0.006 1.51 0.33
CuEq% =Cu% +( 6.84*Mo%)+(0.01*Ag g/t ) based on insitu rock value, recoveries not included (Cu at
US$3.80/lb, Mo at US$26.00/lb, Ag at US$23.00/oz)
Jim Miller-Tait, P .Geo., Imperial’s VP Exploration, has reviewed this news release as the designated Qualified
Person as defined by National Instrument 43 -101 for the Whiting Creek exploration program. Samples
reported were analysed at Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories in Vancouver. A full QA/QC program using
blanks, standards and duplicates was completed for all diamond drilling samples submitted to the labs.
Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient geological information is available
to confirm the geological model and true width of significant assay intervals.
Cross section and plan view maps are available on https://imperialmetals.com/our-operations/huckleberry-
mine/maps.
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About Imperial
Imperial is a Vancouver based exploration, mine development and operating company with holdings that include the Mount
Polley mine (100%), the Huckleberry mine (100%), and the Red Chris mine (30%). In addition, Imperial has a portfolio of 23
greenfield exploration properties located mainly in British Columbia. Imperial also holds royalty interests in another 13
properties. Management continues to evaluate various opportunities to advance many of these properties.
Company Contacts
Brian Kynoch | President | 604.669.8959
Jim Miller-Tait | VP Exploration | [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this news release are not statements of historical fact and are “forward-looking” statements.
Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Company management’s expectations
or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s expectations with
respect to current and planned exploration drilling programs at Huckleberry, including the Whiting Creek prospect; the
potential for surrounding altered volcanics to host mineralization; the extension of mineralization and exploration potential at
the Company’s properties, including at Whiting Creek.
In certain cases, forward -looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not
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factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that
are based on information currently available to the Company as well as the Company’s current beliefs and assumptions. These
factors and assumptions and beliefs and assumptions include, the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s
interim and annual financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis of those statements, all of which are filed
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that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there
may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, many of which are
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readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and all forward-looking statements in this news release
are qualified by these cautionary statements.