Lion One Drills 1986.23 g/t Gold and 866.25 g/t Gold at Tuvatu, Grants Options Bonanza Grade Gold Intersected Outside Current Mine Plan
Lion One Drills 1986.23 g/t Gold and 866.25 g/t
Gold at Tuvatu, Grants Options
Bonanza Grade Gold Intersected Outside Current Mine Plan
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 13, 2023) -
Lion One Metals Limited
(TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) (ASX: LLO)
("Lion One" or the "Company")
is pleased to report
significant new high-grade gold results from ongoing infill and grade control drilling at its 100% owned
Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji.
Assay results are presented here for infill and grade control drilling completed in the Zone 5 area of
Tuvatu and include multiple bonanza grade gold results such as 1,986.23 g/t, 866.25 g/t, 135.60 g/t,
115.86 g/t, and many more. These exceptional drill intercepts are all located in the near surface portion
of Tuvatu and are scheduled for mining in 2024 and 2025. Most of the drill holes included in this news
release targeted areas outside the current mine plan and are being brought into an updated mine plan
for 2024. These results therefore represent an expansion of the current near-term mine plan.
Lion One Chairman and CEO Walter Berukoff commented: "We're very pleased with the results from our
Zone 5 infill and grade control drill program. These incredible results add to the growing list of
exceptional drill results returned from Tuvatu and provide strong support for our ongoing mining efforts in
Zone 5. We're excited to expand our near-term mine plan in Zone 5 and look forward to mining these
areas in 2024 and 2025."
Highlights of results (3.0 g/t cutoff):
1986.23 g/t Au over 0.6 m
(TUDDH-696, from 206.1 m depth)
198.75 g/t Au over 1.5 m
(including 866.25 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0116, from 109.9 m depth)
83.32 g/t Au over 0.9 m
(TGC-0114, from 69.0 m depth)
26.67 g/t Au over 2.4 m
(including 135.60 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TUDDH-688, from 247.7 m depth)
93.56 g/t Au over 0.6 m
(TUDDH-681, from 138.0 m depth)
26.38 g/t Au over 1.8 m
(including 61.48 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0114, from 125.7 m depth)
7.79 g/t Au over 4.5 m
(including 20.55 g/t Au over 0.9 m) (TGC-0114, from 82.2 m depth)
52.36 g/t Au over 0.6 m
(TUDDH-696, from 192.9 m depth)
25.46 g/t Au over 1.2 m
(TUDDH-696, from 203.4 m depth)
25.90 g/t Au over 0.9 m
(TUDDH-692, from 226.0 m depth)
Previous results from Zone 5 are available in the news releases dated
November 2, 2023
,
August 10,
2023
, and
June 14, 2023
.
Figure 1. Location of Zone 5 Infill and Grade Control Drillholes.
Left image: Plan view of Tuvatu
showing Zone 5 infill and grade control drillholes in relation to the mineralized lodes at Tuvatu. Drillholes
are shown in black, mineralized lodes in pale grey, and underground developments in red. The yellow
dashed square represents the area illustrated in the image on the right. Right image: Oblique view of
Zone 5 infill and grade control drilling looking approximately northeast. Infill drilling was conducted from
surface whereas grade control drilling was conducted from underground.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/190840_40cd8283d425d910_001full.jpg
Figure 2. Location of Zone 5 Infill and Grade Control Drilling in Relation to the Current 5-Year
Mine Plan.
The grade control drillholes and the northern infill drillholes reported in this news release are
targeting areas outside the current 5-year mine plan. The current 5-year mine plan is shown in green,
current underground developments in red, and drillholes are shown in yellow for visibility.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/190840_40cd8283d425d910_002full.jpg
Table 1. Highlights of composited grade control and infill drill results in the Zone 5 area
.
Composites are calculated using a 3 g/t Au cutoff with maximum internal dilution intervals of 1 m at <3 g/t
Au. For full results see Table 2 in the appendix.
Hole ID
From
To
Interval (m)
Au (g/t)
TUDDH-696
206.1
206.7
0.6
1986.23
TGC-0116
109.9
111.4
1.5
198.75
including
110.8
111.4
0.6
491.06
which includes
110.8
111.1
0.3
866.25
and
111.1
111.4
0.3
115.86
TGC-0114
69
69.9
0.9
83.32
TUDDH-688
247.7
250.1
2.4
26.67
including
247.7
248.6
0.9
22.56
which includes
248.0
248.6
0.6
31.95
and also including
249.2
250.1
0.9
48.33
which includes
249.8
250.1
0.3
135.60
TUDDH-681
138.0
138.6
0.6
93.56
TGC-0114
125.7
127.5
1.8
26.38
including
125.7
126.0
0.3
9.97
and
126.0
126.3
0.3
35.56
and
126.3
126.6
0.3
61.48
and
126.6
126.9
0.3
25.52
and
126.9
127.5
0.6
12.89
TGC-0114
82.2
86.7
4.5
7.79
including
82.2
83.1
0.9
20.55
and
84.0
84.9
0.9
11.46
TUDDH-696
192.9
193.5
0.6
52.36
TUDDH-696
203.4
204.6
1.2
25.46
TUDDH-692
226.0
226.9
0.9
25.90
TUDDH-688
230.6
233.0
2.4
9.11
including
230.6
231.5
0.9
17.70
which includes
230.9
231.5
0.6
23.24
and also including
232.7
233.0
0.3
12.23
TUDDH-695
149.6
150.5
0.9
16.72
including
149.9
150.2
0.3
20.89
and
150.2
150.5
0.3
20.56
TUDDH-692
154.0
154.6
0.6
25.05
TUDDH-690
163.9
165.1
1.2
12.05
including
163.9
164.5
0.6
13.50
and
164.5
165.1
0.6
10.60
TUDDH-681
198.6
200.1
1.5
9.59
including
199.5
200.1
0.6
15.37
Zone 5
The Zone 5 area of Tuvatu is located along the main decline and includes the principal north-south
oriented lodes at Tuvatu (UR1, UR2, UR3), the principal northeast-southwest oriented lodes (UR4 to
UR8), and several smaller lodes to the west of the main decline (URW2, URW2A, URW3). The lodes in
Zone 5 are all steeply dipping structures. Zone 5 represents the upward extension of the Zone 500
feeder zone, which consists of a wide zone of very high-grade mineralization containing intercepts such
as 20.86 g/t Au over 75.9 m (TUG-141) and 17.52 g/t Au over 23.7 m (TUDDH-608).
A total of 4 grade control and 8 infill drillholes are included in this news release. The grade control and
infill drillholes reported here represent a continuation of the Zone 5 drill program reported in the
November 2, 2023
news release.
Figure 3. Main Zone at Tuvatu.
Left image: Plan view of Tuvatu identifying the lodes referenced in this
report. Right image: Section view looking northeast, showing the location of Zone 5 and Zone 500
relative to the lodes. Drillholes reported in this news release are shown in yellow for visibility.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/190840_40cd8283d425d910_003full.jpg
Grade Control Drilling
The purpose of the Zone 5 grade control drill program is to provide a detailed understanding of the
mineralization and geometry of the UR1, UR2, and URW3 lodes both above and below the main decline.
The grade control drillholes reported in this news release were designed to target an area down-dip of
the current underground developments, as well as to test the northern extension of the UR1 lode proximal
to the main decline. The grade control drillholes reported here were drilled on 20 m centers and will be
followed up with additional drilling to increase drill density to 10 m centers in advance of mining. The
area targeted by these grade control drillholes is outside the current PEA mine plan but is being brought
into the mine plan for 2024. This includes the bonanza grade intersect of 866.25 g/t gold, which occurs
within a 1.5 m interval of 198.75 g/t gold.
Figure 4. Location of High-Grade Gold Intercepts from Zone 5 Grade Control Drilling, 3.0 g/t
cutoff.
High-grade gold intervals from Zone 5 grade control drillholes reported in this news release. The
grade control drilling targeted sections of the UR1, UR2, and URW3 lodes below current underground
developments, shown in red. Select high-grade intervals are identified. View is looking north.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/190840_40cd8283d425d910_004full.jpg
Figure 5. Location of Zone 5 Grade Control Intercepts in Relation to the Current Mine Plan.
The
grade control drilling reported here is targeting an area approximately 90m north of the current mine
plan, shown in green. These high-grade intercepts represent an extension to the mine plan. View is to
the west.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/190840_40cd8283d425d910_005full.jpg
Infill Drilling
The purpose of the Zone 5 infill drill program is to increase knowledge and grade continuity in the
portions of the UR1 to UR7 lodes located between the surface and the underground developments and
to further de-risk this portion of the deposit. The infill drillholes reported in this news release consist of a
northern group and a southern group. The northern group of infill drillholes were designed to infill the up-
dip portions of the UR1, UR2, and URW3 lodes and to test the northern extension of the UR1 lode. These
drillholes targeted areas outside the current mine plan. The southern group of infill drillholes were
designed to infill the up-dip portions of the UR1 to UR5 lodes in the southern part of the deposit, and to
test the northern extension of the UR6 lode. The areas targeted by infill drilling are scheduled for mining
in 2024 and 2025.
Figure 6. Location of High-Grade Gold Intercepts from Zone 5 Infill Drilling, 3.0 g/t cutoff.
High-
grade gold intervals from Zone 5 infill drillholes reported in this news release. Select high-grade intervals
are identified. View is looking approximately NNE.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/190840_40cd8283d425d910_006full.jpg
Figure 7. Location of Select Zone 5 High-Grade Infill Intercepts in Relation to the Current Mine
Plan.
The 1983.23 g/t gold intercept is located approximately 20 m outside the current mine plan and is
scheduled to be mined in 2024. View is looking approximately south-southeast.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/190840_40cd8283d425d910_007full.jpg
Figure 8. Example Mineralization from Zone 5 Infill and Grade Control Drilling.
Left: Chalcedonic
quartz vein with pyrite, sphalerite and coarse-grained gold up to 1 cm in size, within potassically altered
monzonite. Visible gold identified in circles (TUDDH-696, 206.4 m). Middle left: Same interval as left
image, with close-up view of cut core revealing extensive visible gold within the quartz vein (TUDDH-696,
206.4 m). Middle right: Coarse pyrite and honey sphalerite within moderately vuggy quartz vein (TGC-
0116, 111.0 m). Right: Coarse pyrite and honey sphalerite within vuggy quartz vein (TUDDH-695, 150.1
m). The examples of mineralization shown here are from the sample area reported in this release with full
assay results included in Appendix 1. Width of core is 4.76 cm in each photo.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/190840_40cd8283d425d910_008full.jpg
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
Visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory
analyses where metal concentrations or grades are the factors of principal economic interest. At Tuvatu,
coarse visible gold generally correlates well to high-grade mineralization. However, the actual grades
can only be determined by systematic sampling and assaying, results of which are included in Appendix
1.
Awards under the Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
The Board has approved a grant of an aggregate of 6,630,000 options to various employees,
consultants, officers, and directors of the Company. The objective of the Omnibus Equity Plan is to
create an incentive compensation program that is aligned with the Company's long-term objectives.
Stock options are granted in accordance with Policy 4.4 - Security Based Compensation of the TSX
Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and the terms and conditions of the 2022 Omnibus Equity Incentive
Plan. The options were granted at a price of $1.00 for a 5-year term in accordance with the following
vesting schedule: 1/3 of the stock options vesting on the date of the grant; 1/3 of the stock options
vesting one year following the grant date; and the remaining 1/3 of the options vesting 2 years following
the grant date.
Qualified Person
In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-
101"), Sergio Cattalani, P.Geo, Senior Vice President Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the
Company and has reviewed and is responsible for the technical and scientific content of this news
release.
QAQC Procedures
Lion One adheres to rigorous QAQC procedures above and beyond basic regulatory guidelines in
conducting its drilling, sampling, testing, and analyses. The Company operates its own geochemical
assay laboratory and its own fleet of 7 diamond drill rigs using PQ, HQ and NQ sized drill rods.
Diamond drill core samples are logged and split by Lion One personnel on site and delivered to the Lion
One Laboratory for preparation and analysis. All samples are pulverized at the Lion One lab to 85%
passing through 75 microns and gold analysis is carried out using fire assay with an AA finish. Samples
that return grades greater than 0.50 g/t Au are re-assayed three times to get two assays within 10% of
each other. Samples that return grades greater than 10.00 g/t Au are re-analyzed by gravimetric method,
which is considered more accurate for very high-grade samples.
Duplicates of all samples with grades above 0.5 g/t Au are also delivered to ALS Global Laboratories in
Australia for check assay determinations using the same methods (Au-AA26 and Au-GRA22 where
applicable). ALS also analyses 33 pathfinder elements by HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach
and ICP-AES (method ME-ICP61). The Lion One lab can test a range of up to 71 elements through
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), but currently focuses on a suite
of 9 important pathfinder elements.
The Lion One lab has implemented the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to automate
workflows, integrate instruments, and effectively manage samples and associated data across all
analyses conducted in the lab.
About Lion One Metals Limited
Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC,
focused on advancing its flagship 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. Gold production at
Tuvatu was established in late 2023 following construction of the Company's 300 TPD pilot plant. The
Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the
Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the
entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration
targets. Lion One Metals is operated by a team of mining professionals with extensive international