Red Chris Production and Exploration Update
imperialmetals.com
News Release
Red Chris Production and Exploration Update
Vancouver | July 20, 2022 | Imperial Metals Corporation (the “Company”) (TSX:III) reports Red Chris metal production (100%)
for the second quarter of 2022 was 22.0 million pounds copper and 19,540 ounces gold, up 65% and 62% respectively from
the 13.3 million pounds copper and 12,088 ounces gold produced during the first quarter of 2022.
The improved production was a result of h igher throughput (2.6 million tonnes versus 2.0 million tonnes) , higher head
grades (0.48% copper and 0.39 g/t gold compared to 0.41% copper and 0.36g/t gold ) and higher recoveries (80.5% copper
and 60.6% gold versus 72.6% copper and 51.9% gold) in the first quarter.
Imperial’s 30% portion of the second quarter production was 6.6 million pounds copper and 5,862 ounces gold.
Exploration Update
Exploration drilling at the East Ridge zone continues to define and expand the high grade mineraliz ation which remains
open to the east and depth. An additional 32 holes were completed during the quarter for a total of 30,482 metres . All
exploration holes intersected mineralization. Five dedicated geotechnical holes were also drilled. The East Ridge mineralized
corridor (>0.4% copper and >0.4 g/t gold) extends over 900 metres long, up to 1,000 metres high and 125 metres wide, with
higher grade (>0.8% copper and >0.8 g/t gold) in several smaller pods over an area 500 metres high, 400 metres long and
100 metres wide.
An Exploration Target has been defined for Ea st Ridge . The Exploration T arget ranges from a lower tonnage of
approximately 170 million tonnes at 0.5% copper and 0.5 g/t gold containing 2.0 billion pounds copper and 2.8 million
ounces gold to an upper tonnage of approximately 300 million tonnes at 0.4% copper and 0.4 g/t gold containing 2.9 billion
pounds copper and 4.3 million ounces gold. The grades and tonnages are estimates based on continuity of mineralization
defined by exploration diamond drilling results (previously reported including relevant sections and plans) with the lower
range estimate in the area having a nominal drill hole spacing of 100 metres by 100 metres and the upper range estimate
extended into the area with a nominal drill hole spacing of 100 metres by 200 metres.
The East Ridge Exploration Target is outside of the current Mineral Resource estimate. The potential tonnage and grade of
the Exploration Target for East Ridge is conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral
Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource .
Progress toward block cave mining is continuing with the d evelopment of the e xploration decline having reached 1,703
metres as of July 13, 2022. The Feasibility Study is expected to be released in the first half of 2023.
Underground drilling of the East Ridge zone from the exploration decline has been initiated. This drilling will focus on
extending the East Ridge mineralization to depth and to the east. Drilling from underground will significantly reduce the
meterage required to further test the East Ridge and the surface disturbance required to construct drill pads and roads.
Drilling results from the second quarter include hole RC786 which returned 482 metres of 0.43% copper and 0.26 g/t gold
from 712 metres including 32 metres of 0.80% copper and 0.88 g/t gold from 948 metres. This hole is 100 meters above
previously reported hole RC773, testing the upward extent of the East Ridge on this section, and confirms the mineralization
remains open up -dip on this se ction. Hole RC789W was drilled on the same section and returned 154 metres from 1242
metres of 0.47% copper and 0.46 g/t gold including 16 metres of 1.2% copper and 1.5 g/t gold from 1370 metres and 10
metres of 1.5% copper and 2.0 g/t gold also from 1370 metres. Hole RC789W is located 100 metres below hole RC773 and
100 metres above hole RC779, both of which have been previously reported (See Figure 311).
Hole RC795 returned 92 metres of 0.55% copper and 0.41 g/t gold from 1324 metres including 16 metres from 1390 metres
of 0.97% copper and 0.59 g/t gold. Hole RC795 is 100 meters above previously reported RC785 (see Figure 321).
Hole RC797 returned 152 metres at 0.41% copper and 0.12 g/t gold from 1,288 metres and demonstrates the system is
present and remains open to the east (see Figure 341).
imperialmetals.com
Approximately 50,000 metres of growth-related drilling targeting mineralization definition and continuity is planned for the
second half of 2022 with eight drill rigs.
Significant results since last release:
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Copper (%) Gold (g/t)
RC786 712 1194 482 0.43 0.26
Including 948 980 32 0.80 0.88
RC789W 1242 1396 154 0.47 0.46
including 1370 1386 16 1.2 1.5
including 1370 1380 10 1.5 2.0
RC795 1324 1416 92 0.55 0.41
including 1390 1406 16 0.97 0.59
RC797 1288 1440 152 0.41 0.12
Greg Gillstrom, P.Eng. , Senior Geological Engineer with Imperial Metals , is the designated Qualified Person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101 for the Red Chris exploration program and has reviewed this news release. Red Chris samples
for the 2022 drilling reported were analysed at Bureau Veritas M ineral 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.
1 Cross section, plan view maps and drill hole data are available on imperialmetals.com.
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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%). Imperial also holds a portfolio of 23
greenfield exploration properties in British Columbia.
Company Contacts
Brian Kynoch | President | 604.669.8959
Darb Dhillon | Chief Financial Officer | 604.488.2658
Jim Miller-Tait | Vice President Exploration | 604.488.2676
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 manageme nt’s
expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s
expectations with respect to the current and planned drilling programs at Red Chris, including plans to define the extent and
continuity of the mineralization in the East Ridge zone; the potential tonnage and grade of the Exploration Target, including the
uncertainty for a Mineral Resource estimate; and the expected timing of the Feasibility Study.
In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect",
"is expected", "outlook", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or
"believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would",
"might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. By their very
nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other 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.
imperialmetals.com
In making the forward-looking statements in this 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 an d 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 whic h are filed and available
for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause
actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward -looking statements, the re may be other
factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, many of which are beyond the
Company’s ability to control or predict. There can be no assurance that forward -looking statements will prove to be accurate, as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, 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 . Such information is given only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not assume any
obligation to update its forward -looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, e xcept as
required by law.