RIO Tinto Commences Exploration ON Solwezi Copper Project
RIO TINTO COMMENCES EXPLORATION ON SOLWEZI COPPER PROJECT
Vancouver, British Columbia, April 19, 2021 – Midnight Sun Mining Corp. (the “Company” or “Midnight
Sun”) (TSX-V: MMA) is pleased to announce Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration Limited (“Rio Tinto”) have
commenced their initial 2021 exploration campaign on Midnight Sun’s Solwezi Licences in Zambia. Rio
Tinto is in Stage 1 of the previously announced Earn -In and Joint Venture Ag reement (the “ Earn-In
Agreement”) (see the Company’s news release Midnight Sun Signs USD$51 Million Earn -In Agreement
With Rio Tinto , dated April 27, 2020 , for details of the Earn -In Agreement ). The initial 2021 work
program budget is USD $ 3,200,000 and is expected to be completed in late June . Results of this
exploration work will dictate the additional budgets for 2021.
Rio Tinto’s planned initial work includes:
4,000 metres of diamond and 1,900 metres of air core drilling on the Mitu trend;
1,200 metres of diamond drilling to test high grade copper anomalies , identified in the Q 4
2020 air core drill program, on the north side of the Solwezi Dome at the Gameno (formerly
Kifubwe) Prospect; and
1,600 metre s of reverse circulation and 1,000 metre s of air core drill ing, and further
mapping at Dumbwa to test a 10+ kilometre copper soil anomaly.
Rio Tinto’s Q4 2020 exploration work focused on strengthening the ir geological understanding of the
Solwezi Licences. Emphasis was placed on identifying and modeling the geology of the Kazhiba Dome
which underlies the 22 Zone , where an overturned Upper Plate and upright facing Lower P late are
separated by a mafic breccia. This geology appears similar to what is observed at the Kansanshi Mine.
The work completed during this program included:
The reanalysis of previous air core drill samples over the Kazhiba Dome and adjacent areas;
129 air core drill holes drilled on a 500 metre x 500 metre grid over the entire Kazhi ba
Dome;
The air core programme included 29 air core holes tracking an audio -frequency
magnetotelluric geophysical line towards Basement and testing a mineral occurrence at the
Gameno (formerly Kifubwe) Prospect;
The reanalysis of previous soil samples;
A 250 metre x 250 metre infill geochemical soil sampling grid; and
Six stratigraphic diamond holes, totalling 2,060 metres, designed to test the Lower Plate of
the Kazhiba Dome for mineralisation.
Al Fabbro, President and CEO of Midnight Sun, stated, “After a lengthy rainy season and dealing with the
difficulties of the COVID -19 pandemic, we are excited for Rio Tinto to begin the 2021 work program.
With the bulk of t his initial budget committed to drilling , this has the potential to be a very pivotal
season for Midnight Sun and the Solwezi Licences.”
The Solwezi Licences are comprised of two individual exploration licences totalling 506 square
kilometres, situated in the North-Western Province of Zambia on the prolific Zambia -Congo Copper Belt
and adjacent to Africa's largest copper mining complex, First Quantum’s Kansanshi Mine.
Qualified Person: Richard Mazur, P.Geo., a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person under NI 43-
101, has reviewed and approved the technical data and contents of this release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF MIDNIGHT SUN MINING CORP.
Al Fabbro
President & CEO
For Further Information Contact:
Al Fabbro
President & CEO
Tel: +1 604 351 8850
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ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEW RELEASE.
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward -looking statements." All
statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward -looking statements.
Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward -looking statements are
based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and
actual results or developme nts may differ materially from those in the forward -looking statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward -looking statements
include, changes in market conditions, unsuccessful exploration results, changes i n commodity prices,
unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general economic conditions. Mining
exploration and development is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ
materially from those projected in the forw ard-looking statements. This list is not exhaustive of the
factors that may affect any of the Company's forward -looking statements. These and other factors
should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward -
looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward -looking statement that
may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable
securities laws.