Surge Copper Provides Berg Area Reconnaissance Exploration Results, a Round-Up of the 2022 Exploration Program and Announces 2023 Initial Exploration Plans
PO Box 10351 888-700 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7Y 1G5
www.surgecopper.com
TSX-V Trading Symbol: SURG
OTCQX: SRGXF
Frankfurt Trading Symbol: G6D2
Telephone: +1 (604) 781-5454
Email: [email protected]
April 19, 2023
NEWS RELEASE
Surge Copper Provides Berg Area Reconnaissance Exploration Results, a Round-Up of
the 2022 Exploration Program and Announces 2023 Initial Exploration Plans
April 19, 2023, Vancouver, British Columbia – Surge Copper Corp. (TSXV: SURG) (OTCQX:
SRGXF) (Frankfurt: G6D2) (“Surge” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide final exploration
results for the 2022 Ootsa-Berg reconnaissance exploration program including drill results from 4
holes at the Sibola target, the maiden hole completed by Surge from the Sylvia target, and surface
sampling and mapping across numerous target areas . The Company also provides a summary
overview of key results from the 2022 regional exploration program and highlights initial plans for
the forthcoming 2023 field exploration program.
Berg Reconnaissance Exploration Highlights
• Multiple new surface discoveries or target advancements were made including:
o Expansion of the Bergette copper-molybdenum-in-soil anomaly to 2.7 by 1.7
kilometres
o Drilling at Sibola has intersected high grade silver including 312 g/t silver over 3
metres, and anomalous gold including 52 metres of 0.10 g/t gold
o A new 1 kilometre long Cu-in-soil target has been identified east of Sibola
o High-grade copper mineralization has been discovered 750 metres north of Sylvia
returning up to 1.5% copper and 36.1 g/t silver in a grab sample
o A grab sample from the Tahtsa target has returned 4,150 g/t silver and 4.3 g/t gold
from a zone where quartz veining has been observed over a width of 50 metres
o Also at Tahtsa, a composite representative grab sample has returned 0.152%
molybdenum from an outcropping ultramafic unit containing quartz veins,
magnetite, and molybdenite that has been traced over 50 metres
o A bulk tonnage precious metal target has been identified at the North Whiting
Creek Target where 4 representative surface grab samples from a sparsely
sampled area 70 metres by 300 metres average 2.17 g/t gol d and 33.8 g/t silver,
within a larger 400 by 500 metre zinc-lead-copper-in-soil anomaly
2022 Exploration Program Highlights
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• In 2022 Surge completed 38 drill holes, 23 induced polarization geophysical lines in 5
grids, conducted extensive surface mapping, and collected 4 ,481 soil samples and 33 7
rock samples across the combined Ootsa and Berg properties
• 3 new drill discoveries were made at the new copper -gold zone north of East Seel, the
Blackjack target, and the Breccia East target, highlighted by the following drill intersections
(previously released):
o Copper-Gold Zone – 100 metres grading 0.23% copper and 0.19 g/t gold (see
press release dated January 9, 2023)
o Blackjack – 1430 g/t silver over 2 metres within 66 metres grading 71.3 g/t silver
(see press release dated December 15, 2022)
o Breccia East – 64.6 metres grading 0.24% copper, 0.67% zinc, 0.29% lead, 22.7
g/t silver, and 0.17 g/t gold (see press release dated November 2, 2022)
• Drilling at the Bergette target has intersected the longest mineralized zone from the target
to date with hole BRG22 -02 returning 176 metres grading 0.22% copper and 0.012%
molybdenum (see press release dated February 27, 2023)
2023 Initial Exploration Plans
• Berg deposit drilling targeting infill of certain areas within the deposit and testing of deeper
geophysical targets
• Sylvia target drilling following up on reconnaissance results described below
• Advancement of Ootsa drill discove ries including the new copper-gold zone, Blackjack,
and the Breccia East Zone
• New targets showing scale and grade including Tahtsa, North Whiting Creek, and North
Sylvia will be advanced through additional mapping and surface sampling and prioritized
for future drill testing
Leif Nilsson, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “ Surge’s 2022 regional reconnaissance
exploration program w as a significant achievement for the Company, resulting in a major
advancement of the exploration knowledge base in what we consider to be one of the largest
emerging critical minerals districts in Canada. The program spanned target drilling, surface
geophysical plus soil and rock sampling programs, and widespread prospecting and mapping
campaigns across nearly two dozen distinct targets within a 1,250 square kilometre area. Surge
made three new drill discoveries at the Ootsa Project during the first phase of the program , and
has identified or advanced several new promising targets during the second phase. The Company
is currently working on planning activities for the 2023 exploration program which will seek to
follow up on several results from the 2022 program, in addition to high -value-add drilling at the
Berg deposit, with further details on this program to be provided after the completion of the Berg
PEA and before the commencement of the program.”
Berg Area 2022 Reconnaissance Exploration Results
During 2022, the Company completed 38 drill holes, 23 induced polarization geophysical lines in
5 grids, conducted extensive surface mapping, and collected 4 ,481 soil samples and 337 rock
samples across the combined Ootsa-Berg property. The program culminated in three new drill
discoveries on the Ootsa property and the advancement of large-scale anomalies at Bergette and
several other prospects on the Berg property. The 20-person exploration camp at Sibola was
constructed between the Sylvia and Sibola prospects to accommodate low-elevation exploration
activities in the northern part of the Berg claim block.
Surge Copper Corp. 3
Figure 1. Summary map showing 2022 exploration work on the Ootsa-Berg project
overlain on ZTEM 180 HZ Total Phase Rotation map.
2022 drilling activities started on the Ootsa property and transitioned to the Berg property in
August 2022, after receipt of a new Berg exploration permit. All drill results from the Ootsa
property and the Bergette target have been released previously. Drill results for the final 5 holes
from the 2002 program are presented in this release along with key surface exploration
advancements and discoveries.
Bergette Target
Four helicopter -supported drill holes, 5 IP lines, and numerous rock and soil samples were
completed at the Bergette Target in 2022. Highlights from drilling include hole BGT22 -01 which
intersected 143 metres grading 0.23% copper and 0.010% molybdenum including 18 metres
grading 0.55% copper and 0.021% molybdenum , and hole BTG22 -02 which intersected 176
metres grading 0.22% copper and 0.012% molybdenum including 16 metres grading 0.53%
copper and 0.034% molybdenum (previously released, see February 27, 2023 news release).
Soil sampling across the Bergette target area has increased the size and improved the definition
of the copper-in-soil anomaly which now extends over a 2.7 by 1.7 kilometre area. A new gold
zone was discovered on the north east edge of the Bergette copper-in-soil anomaly identified in
grab samples 996352 and 996353. These samples are located 140 metres apart and come from
a 0.3 to 2 metre wide sericite-pyrite-quartz alteration zone hosted in volcanic rocks. Rock sample
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996352 returned 4.5 g/t gold, 32.6 g/t silver, and 0.27% copper, and rock sample 996353 returned
8.86 g/t gold , 314 g/t silver , and 0.33% copper . The significance and extent of this gold
mineralization remain generally unconstrained and the area has seen limited exploration.
Figure 2. Map showing copper-in-soil and gold-in-rocks from the Bergette Target along
with locations of 2022 drilling.
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Figure 3. Samples 996352 (4.5 g/t gold, 32.6 g/t silver, and 0.27% copper) and 996353 (8.86
g/t gold, 314 g/t silver, 0.33% copper) from northeast of Bergette. Left: 1 to 2 metre wide
rusty alteration zone exposed at sample 996352. Right: Close-up of sa mple 996353
containing semi-massive pyrite and quartz.
Sibola Target
The Sibola Target contains overlapping ZTEM, chargeability, and magnetic anomalies that occur
along a flat till -covered valley. Four holes tested the target in 2022 along a 2 kilometre strike
length. Drilling has confirmed very large alteration systems occur through the area with all holes
intersecting large and intense zones of hydrothermal alteration containing varying amounts of
pyrite, silicification, sericite, and propylitic alteration.
Hole SIB22-01 intersected a 3 metre interval of high-grade silver returning 312 g/t silver and 0.12%
copper from 66 metres depth. The hole also intersected a 52 metre wide interval grading 0.10 g/t
gold and 2 g/t silver from 224 metres depth. This broad interval of anomalous gold is associated
with thin silica-pyrite and calcite veinlets and patchy silica flooding and sericite alteration in a fine
grained volcanic rock. The zone with elevated gold in hole SIB22-01 correlates well with a ZTEM
conductor as shown in Figure 5.
Additional zones with elevated precious metals were encountered in holes SIB22-02 and 03 with
hole SIB22-02 intersecting a 2 metre zone grading 66.1 g/t silver from 492 meters depth and hole
SIB22-03 intersecting a 2 metre zone grading 3.68 g/t gold and 12.1 g/t silver from 410 metres.
Summary of Assay Results for Selected Holes
Drill Hole From
(m) To (m) Width
(m)* Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Zn%
SIB22-01 66 69 3 0.02 312.0 0.12 0.008
SIB22-01 224 276 52 0.10 2.0 0.01 0.074
SIB22-01 274 304 30 0.04 1.5 0.01 0.178
SIB22-01 452 504 52 0.03 1.5 0.00 0.148
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SIB22-02 492 494 2 0.03 66.1 0.02 0.66
SIB22-03 410 412 2 3.68 12.1 0.13 0.026
*Width refers to drill hole intercepts; true widths have not been determined.
Figure 4. Sibola Target Map on total magnetic intensity showing copper-in-soils and
copper-in-rocks and 2022 drill hole locations.
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Figure 5. Cross section A-A’ through the Sibola Target showing drill holes SIB22-01 and
02 on modelled ZTEM resistivity. Section location is shown on Figure 4.
Soil sampling and prospecting of incised creek drainages has resulted in a new copper -in-soil
anomaly on the east side of Sibola along with copper mineralization identified in bedrock to t he
east and south of Sibola. The new copper-in-soil anomaly has been traced for about 1 kilometre
and contains copper -in-soil values around 100 to 200 ppm, which is considered a reasonable
anomaly for a till -covered area. Historic samples from 1988 to 1991 taken from this area have
returned anomalous copper and gold including one sample with 0.13% copper and 0.14 g/t gold,
indicating the area is prospective for porphyry copper -gold style mineralization. Hole SIB22 -04
was drilled into a magnetic anomaly approximately 1 kilometre to the southwest of this copper in
soil anomaly and intersected altered and veined volcanic and intrusive rock with zones of strong
silica and magnetite flooding and patchy anomalous gold and silver.
Sample 997066 is a grab sample of propylitic-altered volcanic rock with quartz-carbonate veinlets
and malachite stain exposed over 2 metres on the south side of the Sibola Target. The sample
returned 1.19% copper and 20 g/t silver.
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Figure 6. Mineralization at the Sibola Target, sample 997066 (1.19% copper). Altered
volcanic rock exposed over 2 metres containing quartz-carbonate veining, iron staining,
and malachite.
Sylvia Target
The Sylvia Target contains known porphyry copper style mineralization associated with a one
kilometre long intrusion within a mostly covered area. In 2022 Surge conducted 6 IP lines over
the target along with soil and rock sampling, mapping, and drilled 2 holes. The first drill hole
(SYL22-01) was abandoned due to difficult ground conditions and the second hole (SYL22 -02)
intersected intrusive dikes but did not intersect the main Sylvia intrusion. Hole SYL22 -02 did
encounter widespread alteration, including quartz veinlets and disseminated pyrite with local
chalcopyrite and molybdenite, and intersected 8 metres of anomalous mineralization grading 0.12%
copper from 186 to 194 metres depth. Drill testing of the Sylvia intrusion along a further 800
metres of strike length is expected to resume in 2023.
Surface exploration work has identified a low level copper-in-soil anomaly above and around the
Sylvia intrusion consistent with a till covered target, as well as multiple soil and rock anomalies
surrounding Sylvia.