STS.V · 2023-03-13 12:00:00

South Star Battery Metals Announces Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the BamaStar Graphite Project in Coosa County Alabama, USA

Resource Estimates

South Star Battery Metals Announces Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate

for the BamaStar Graphite Project in Coosa County Alabama, USA

Highlights:

520,000 tonnes of contained graphite with an open pit-constrained mineral resource estimate of

22M

tonnes of inferred resources at an average

grade of 2.4% (Cg), based on a 1.1% cut-off grade.

Estimate is based on 12 drill holes totaling

506m

of HQ diamond drilling completed in 2022.

The mineral resource estimate confirms the significant potential of this historical mine with graphite mineralization open at depth and in both

directions (NE & SW).

The mineral resource estimate and initial open pit optimization confirms the deposit is amenable to open pit mining operations with at-surface

mineralization and low strip ratios.

The next drilling program (2,000-

2,500m

) is under contract and planned to begin in

May 2023

to support a NI43-101 Preliminary Economic

Assessment (PEA) planned for Q1 of 2024.

VANCOUVER, BC

March 13, 2023

/CNW/ - South Star Battery Metals Corp. ("South Star" or the "Company") (TSXV: STS) (OTCQB: STSBD), is pleased to

announce the successful completion of its maiden mineral resource estimate ("MRE") for the BamaStar Graphite Project located in

Coosa County, Alabama

United States

(the "Project"). The independent mineral resource estimate was prepared by Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. in accordance with

Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101.

Richard Pearce

, CEO of South Star, commented, "The BamaStar maiden mineral resource estimate is a fantastic result and confirms the potential for a significant

deposit at this historical mine with at-surface mineralization that should be amenable to open pit mining techniques and low strip ratios. It's one of two projects in

the continental

United States

with a defined mineral resource estimate. The preliminary drilling program was designed to test limits and continuity, and the team

successfully achieved those objectives. We have successfully completed our 3-tonne pilot plant metallurgical testing program confirming our process flowsheet

and recoveries. We have contracts signed for the next drilling program expected to begin around

May 2023

, and we are planning to get a NI 43-101 PEA

completed by Q1 of 2024. The PEA will present our strategic plan of two mines, each producing 50,000 tonnes per year of concentrates, feeding a centrally

located, value-add plant in the southeast

United States

and producing active anode material for electric vehicles, as well as purified/micronized and expandable

graphite products. South Star has two scalable assets in strategic, stable, mining-friendly jurisdictions and the team to build and operate them in a safe

responsible manner in partnership with communities and stakeholders. It's happening at the perfect time, when supply is constrained and demand is outstripping

supply. This dynamic will be putting significant pressure on the graphite price in 2023 and for the foreseeable future.

Santa Cruz

will have the first new graphite

production in the Americas since 1996 this year, and BamaStar is expected to be producing in 2027."

Mineral Resource Estimate

https://www.southstarbatterymetals.com/ydihapto/2023/03/fig13-10-23.png

Table 1, Mineral Resource Statement: Open Pit-Constrained Resources (1.1% Cg cut-off grade).

Mineral Resource

Category

Zone

Density

(gfcm)

Tonnes

(M)

Graphitic Carbon

(% Cg)

In-Situ Graphite

(t)

Central

2.64

2.5

270,000

Inferred

North

2.61

2.3

280,000

Total:

2.62

2.4

540,000

Notes to Table 1 and Table 2 (#7 does not apply to Table 2)

The independent Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource Estimate, as defined by NI 43-101, is Mr.

Simon Mortimer

, (FAIG #7795) of Atticus

Geoscience Consulting S.A.C., working with Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. The effective date of the Mineral Resource Estimate is

March 7,

2023

These Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred

Resources in this Mineral Resource Estimate are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Resources as

Indicated. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with

continued exploration. Slight differences may occur due to rounding.

Mineralized domains were based on lithological contacts. A cut-off grade of 1.0% graphitic carbon (Cg) was used for defining the mineralised domain,

which was determined on the basis of core, surface trench, and surface sample pit assay geostatistics and drill core lithologies for the deposit.

Geological and block models for the Mineral Resource Estimate used data from a total of 12 surface diamond drill holes (core), 29 trenches, and 90

surface sample pits. The drill hole database was validated prior to resource estimation and QA/QC checks were made using industry-standard control

charts for blanks, core duplicates and commercial certified reference material inserted into assay batches by South Star Battery Metals.

Quantities and grades in the Mineral Resource Estimate are rounded to an appropriate number of significant figures to reflect that they are estimations.

Slight differences may occur due to rounding.

An economic cut-off grade of 1.1% graphitic carbon (Cg) was calculated and applied to the resource block model for reporting purposes.

The mineral resource estimates (Central and North zones) were constrained by conceptual pit envelopes using the following optimization parameters, as

provided by South Star Battery Metals, and agreed to by the QP. Commodity prices used were (US$)

$7,770

/t graphite, pit slopes of 34 degrees in oxide

and 54 degrees in fresh rock. Mining and processing costs (US$) were based on benchmarking from similar deposit types, utilizing a mining cost of

$2.25

/t (oxide) and

$2.75

/t (fresh rock), recovery of 97.2% graphite, with processing cost of

$76.12

/t (oxide) and

$78.10

/t (fresh rock), and a G&A cost of

$2.00

/t. Pit optimization was performed using Datamine's Studio NPVS software.

The geological model comprises one mineralized domain split into five solids due to faulting, they are hosted by quartzites and sillimanite gneisses both

with quartz veins and graphite lenses up to

40 m

wide. Individual wireframes were created for each domain.

The block model was prepared using Leapfrog Edge. A

15 m

with variable height block model was created and samples were composited at

1.0 m

intervals. Grade estimation for graphite used data from trench and drill hole data and was carried out using Inverse Distance Squared Weighting.

Grade estimation was validated by comparison of input and output statistics (Nearest Neighbour method), swath plot analysis, and by visual inspection of

the assay data, block model, and grade shells in cross-sections.

Density assignation was carried out for the mineralization domain using flat density by weathering domain, on the basis of 37 specific gravity

measurements collected in 14 surface locations, and 51 specific gravity measurements collected during the core logging process, the average estimated

density value within the strong weathering is 2.32 g/cm3 (t/m3), moderate weathering is 2.47 g/cm3 (t/m3), weak weathering is 2.62 g/cm3 (t/m3), while

the fresh rock domain of the resource model yielded 2.80 g/cm3 (t/m3).

The Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared following the CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (

November

29, 2019

The NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical report will be filed on Sedar within 45 days of this press release.

Drill Data & Assay Results

Assay samples were sent to ActLabs and graphitic carbon (% Cg) was tested using LECO analysis. Actlabs is an accredited independent laboratory with the ISO

9001:2015 & ISO/IEC 17025:2017 registrations. Refer to the Company's Press Release dated

January 12, 2023

for additional details on completed drilling and

assay programs.

ABOUT SOUTH STAR BATTERY METALS CORP

South Star Battery Metals Corp. is a Canadian battery metals project developer focused on the selective acquisition and development of near-term production

projects in the Americas. South Star's Santa Cruz Graphite Project, located in Southern Bahia,

Brazil

is the first of a series of industrial and battery metals

projects that will be put into production.

Brazil

is the second-largest graphite-producing region in the world with more than 80 years of continuous mining.

Santa

Cruz

has at-surface mineralization in friable materials, and successful large-scale pilot-plant testing (>30t) has been completed. The results of the testing show

that approximately 65% of Cg concentrate is +80 mesh with good recoveries and 95%-99% Cg. With excellent infrastructure and logistics, South Star is fully

funded for Phase 1, and the 12-month construction and commissioning are underway.

Santa Cruz

will be the first new graphite production in the Americas since

1996 with Phase 1 commercial production projected in Q4 2023. Phase 2 production (25,000tpy) is partially funded and planned for 2026, while Phase 3

(50,000tpy) is scheduled for 2028.

South Star's second project in the development pipeline is strategically located in

Alabama

in the center of a developing electric vehicle, aerospace and defense

hub in the southeastern United States. The BamaStar Project is a historic mine active during World Wars I & II. Trenching, phase 1 drilling, sampling, analysis,

and preliminary metallurgical testing have been completed. The testing indicates a traditional crush/grind/flotation concentration circuit that achieved grades of

approximately 94-97% Cg with approximately 86% recoveries. South Star is executing on its plan to create a multi-asset, diversified battery metals company with

near-term operations in strategic jurisdictions. South Star trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol STS, and on the OTCQB under the symbol

STSBF.

South Star is committed to a corporate culture, project execution plan and safe operations that embrace the highest standards of ESG principles based on

transparency, stakeholder engagement, ongoing education, and stewardship. To learn more, please visit the Company website at

http://www.southstarbatterymetals.com

The technical and scientific information related to geology and mineral resource estimate in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr.

Simon

Mortimer

(FAIG #4083) of Atticus Geoscience Consulting S.A.C. and Dr.

Scott Jobin-Bevans

(P.Geo. #0183) of Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. Mr.

Mortimer and Dr, Jobin-Bevans are both a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and are independent of South Star Battery Metals.

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Richard Pearce, P.E., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO

of South Star Battery Metals Corp.

On behalf of the Board,

Mr.

Richard Pearce

Chief Executive Officer

For additional information, please contact:

South Star Investor Relations

Email:

[email protected]

+1 (604) 706-0212

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/southstarbm

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/southstarbatterymetals

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/southstarbatterymetals/

YouTube:

South Star Battery Metals - YouTube

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility

for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to

information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that

express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and

may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: moving

Santa Cruz

into production and scaling operations as well as advancing the

Alabama

project;

and

the Company's plans and expectations.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the

forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks

related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock

exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of

feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral

deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility

and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks

related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the

Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results

may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking

statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to

reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

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SOURCE

South Star Battery Metals Corp.

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CNW 08:00e 13-MAR-23

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