RIO Tinto IN Partnership with Midland Begins First Drilling Program ON New Targets ON the Tête Nord Ni-Cu Project
RIO TINTO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDLAND BEGINS FIRST DRILLING PROGRAM
ON NEW TARGETS ON THE TÊTE NORD NI-CU PROJECT
Montreal, November 15, 2022. Midland Exploration Inc. (“Midland”) (TSX-V: MD) is pleased to
announce the start of a maiden drilling program by Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. (“RTEC”) on
the Tête Nord nickel -copper (“Ni-Cu”) property. This property, located near the town of La Tuque,
Quebec, is currently wholly owned by Midland but is under option by RTEC since December 2021.
Highlights:
• Commencement of a drilling program totalling 3,750 metres on 10 new VTEM targets
including extensions of several known showings.
• Five (5) areas of interest: Bonhomme, Savane, Rochette, Cabouron, and Tête Sud.
• Rochette Ni-Cu showings grading up to 0.84% Ni and 0.16% Cu (grab sample)
• Whole-rock geochemistry from most Lac Matte samples and some samples from Savane,
Rochette, and Flamengo (a prospect found 4km south of Bonhomme) plot in opx-cumulate
ultramafic field favourable for dynamic conduits.
• Samples from most showings show evidence of base metal enrichment.
• Rochette shows both base metal and Pt enrichment.
Following the helicopter-borne VTEM-type electromagnetic survey totalling 6,635 line kilometres that
was completed in 2022, a drilling campaign totalling 3,750 metres is set to begin in early December to
test 10 new targets, mainly consisting of new VTEM conductors . These conductors are strategically
positioned along the extensions , or proxim al to historic al Ni-Cu occurrences such as Savane and
Rochette, or in new areas of interest including the Bonhomme area located north of the former Lac
Edouard Ni-Cu mine, as well as the Cabouron and Tête Sud areas.
RTEC geology crews were very active in the field during the summer of 2022, prospecting and mapping
prospective areas where new VTEM conductors were identified. The Rochette showing returned 0.84%
Ni and 0.16% Cu (Tenor of 4.26% Ni calculated at 100% sulfides) in a grab sample. The La c Matte
showing returned a grab sample grading 0.36% Ni and 0.18% Cu (Tenor of 6.96% Ni calculated at
100% sulfides).
Prospecting in the Bonhomme area north of Lac Edouard former mine led to the identification of several
anomalous values in Ni -Cu in ultramafic intrusions. This area is also characterized by the presence of
several untested VTEM conductors that will be tested during this drilling program.
Whole-rock l ithogeochemistry results indicate that most of the Lac Matte samples and some of the
Savane, Rochette and Flamengo samples (a new prospect found 4km south of Bonhomme) plot in
orthopyroxene-cumulate ultramafic field favorable for dynamic conduits. Samples from most showings
show evidence of base metal enrichment. The Rochette showing shows both base metal and platinum
(Pt) enrichment.
A budget of US$2.6 million has been approved for this drilling program, which is scheduled to begin in
early December 2022 and continue through the first quarter of 2023. First anniversary payment of
CAN$100,000 was received. RTEC is project operator.
About the Tete Nord Ni-Cu property
The Tete Nord property comprises 9 95 claims covering a surface area of about 5 45 square kilometres
in mafic and ultramafic rocks of the La Bostonnais Complex north of La Tuque. The largest claim block
is located south of the former Lac Edouard mine, which historically produced 50,000 tonnes grading
1.50% Ni and 0.50% Cu (Source: SIGEOM NTS sheet 31P09).
This property hosts a few mineral occurrences, including the Savane showing, located approximately
25 kilometres south of the former Lac Edouard mine, consisting of a Ni -Cu showing discovered by
prospecting in 1995 in a pyroxenite, where historical values of 1.80% Ni and 0.20% Cu were reported
in grab samples. Another grab sample from a subcropping boulder also yielded grades of 1.98% Ni and
0.46% Cu about 250 metres north of the Savane showing ( Source: SIGEOM NTS sheet 31P07;
GM55352). Calculated nickel tenors (grades normalized to 100% sulfides) of historical sampling at the
Savane showing reaches up to 3.5% Ni (see Midland press release dated February 23 , 2021). Bedrock
exposures in the Savane area exhibit undeformed magmatic breccia textures, indicative of a dynamic
system conducive to the emplacement of Ni-Cu mineralization. No historical drilling has been reported
in this highly favorable area.
Cautionary statements:
Grab samples are selective by nature and reported values are not necessarily indicative of mineralized
zones.
Mineralization occurring at the former Lac Edouard mine is not necessarily indicative of mineralization
that may be found on the Lewis property held by Midland.
Option Agreement with RTEC
Under this agreement, RTEC may earn an initial 50% interest (First Option) in the Tete Nord property
over a period of four years, by fulfilling the following conditions:
• Exploration expenditures totalling $4,000,000, including a minimum of $500,000 in the first
year.
• Cash payments totalling $500,000, including $100,000 w ithin 60 days of execution of the
agreement
After earning an initial 50% interest, RTEC may elect to increase its interest to 70% (Second Option)
over a period of four years by fulfilling the following conditions:
• Exploration expenditures totalling up to $10,000,000 and cash payments totalling $500,000,
gaining interest on the following schedule:
▪ An additional 1% interest (for a total of 51%) by funding an additional $250,000 of
exploration expenditures;
▪ An additional 1% interest for each additional $500,000 of exploration expenditures (for a
total of up to 69%) ; and
▪ An additional 1% (for a total of 70%) by funding an additional $750,000 of exploration
expenditures.
Quality Control
Rock samples were sent to ALS Thunder Bay for preparation and ALS Vancouver for analysis. Samples
were prepared by the RIORCK package where the entire sample is crushed to 70% less than 2mm using
a Boyd crusher-splitter combination, then 1kg of material is pulv erized to better than 85% passing 75
microns. This method includes between -sample washes on both the crushers and pulverizers. The
samples were analyzed for a full element suite using lithium borate fusions (ME-ICP06 and ME-MS81)
with a four acid digestion (ME-4ACD81), S and C by induction furnace (ME -IR08) and Au-Pt-Pd by
an ultralow detection 30g fire assay (PGM -MS23L). This batch of 54 samples included 7 CRMs and 1
blank for a QC insertion rate of 15%. The certified reference materials were in -house standards TAM-
29B and CL -MG, plus a commercial standard OREAS600 from Ore Research Ltd. ALS included
laboratory QC of a range of blank and CRM materials, and 10 RTX samples were analyzed twice as
pulp duplicates.
About Midland
Midland targets the excellent m ineral potential of Quebec to make the discovery of new world -class
deposits of gold, platinum group elements and base metals. Midland is proud to count on reputable
partners such as RTEC, BHP Canada Inc., Probe Metals Inc., Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd, Agnico
Eagle Mines Limited, Osisko Development Corp., SOQUEM Inc., Brunswick Exploration Inc., Nunavik
Mineral Exploration Fund, and Abcourt Mines Inc. Midland prefers to work in partnership and intends
to quickly conclude additional agreements in regard t o newly acquired properties. Management is
currently reviewing other opportunities and projects to build up the Corporation portfolio and generate
shareholder value.
This press release was prepared by Mario Masson. P.Geo., VP Exploration for Midland and Qu alified
Person as defined by NI 43-101.
For further information, please consult Midland’s website or contact:
Gino Roger, President and Chief Executive Officer
Tel.: 450 420-5977
Fax: 450 420-5978
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.midlandexploration.com/
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and
uncertainties include those described in Midland’s periodic reports including the annual report or in
the filings made by Midland from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.
1
Midland / Rio Tinto Tete Nord Location
Midland / Rio Tinto
Tete Nord Option (Ni-Cu)
La Tuque
Montreal
Quebec
2
2022 VTEM Survey Coverage
2
Midland claims : Option Agreement Rio Tinto
New claims : Option Agreement Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto Properties
Other Competitors - claims
VTEM survey covering Midland’s claims
La Tuque
Lac Édouard
Lac Bouchette
Lac Edouard Mine Ni-Cu
Rochette Ni-Cu
Tête-Nord Zn-Cu-Au (VMS)
Savane Ni-Cu
Main Showings
Mine (closed)
Lac Matte Ni-Cu
Cabouron Cu
Lac Curé Ni-Cu
Kiskissink Ni-Cu
Kennedy Ni-Cu
Ghislaine Cu
3
2022-2023 Drilling Areas
3
Midland claims : Option Agreement Rio Tinto
New claims : Option Agreement Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto Properties
Other Competitors - claims
La Tuque
Lac Édouard
Lac Bouchette
Lac Edouard Mine Ni-Cu Main Showings
Mine (closed)
Drilling at Cabouron
2022-2023 Drilling Areas (3,750 m ; 15 ddh’s)
Drilling at Savane, Rochette & Tête Sud
Drilling at Bonhomme
4
4
Magmatic breccia with pyroxenite to melagabbronorite matrix. Note the
matrix-hosted sulfides (pyrrhotite + chalcopyrite). Note the milled
rounded edges to clasts – indicative of a dynamic system
Magmatic breccia. Pyroxenite to melagabbronorite matrix
with heavily disseminated sulfides. Clasts are all autoliths
Rochette Ni-Cu Showing
5
5
Bonhomme – New Ultramafic Intrusions
Anomalous Ni-Cu with high Tenor at 100% Sulfides (5% Ni)Mineralized pyroxenite