Western Alaska Minerals Announces Initial Drill Results at Its Highgrade Carbonate Replacement Deposit - up to 18.5 Meters of Massive Sulfide IN TW0 Horizons Encountered IN Waterpump Creek WPC22-07
WESTERN ALASKA MINERALS ANNOUNCES
INITIAL DRILL RESULTS AT ITS HIGHGRADE
CARBONATE REPLACEMENT DEPOSIT - UP
TO 18.5 METERS OF MASSIVE SULFIDE IN
TW0 HORIZONS ENCOUNTERED IN
WATERPUMP CREEK WPC22-07
TUCSON, AZ
,
July 5, 2022
/CNW/ -
Western Alaska Minerals
(the "Company" or "WAM") is
pleased to announce visual observations from this summer's first 13 drill holes at its high-grade
Waterpump Creek carbonate replacement deposit ("CRD") target at its 100%-owned Illinois Creek
project in western
Alaska
.
Initial Results
The Company is pleased to report significant massive sulfide intercepts in drill holes WPC22-07,
WPC22-08, WPC22-011 and WPC22-13. The intercepts encountered show massive sphalerite and
argentiferous galena in a matrix of secondary dolomite similar to that seen in previous 2021 drilling.
Table 1
highlights the massive sulfide intervals encountered to-date (
June 28
th
). All assays are
pending.
Table 1. Massive Sulfide Intercepts at Waterpump Creek
Drill hole
From
(meters)
To
(meters)
Thickness
(meters)
Estimated
True
Thickness
(meters)
Sample Ship
Date*
WPC22-07
Massive Sulfide
138.0
142.5
4.5
4.5
June 17
th
WPC22-07
Massive Sulfide
150.4
164.4
14.0
12.1
June 17
th
WPC22-08
Massive Sulfide
114.6
123.1
8.5
7.7
June 17
th
WPC22-11
Massive Sulfide
139.1
150.6
11.5
11.3
June 28
th
WPC22-11
Internal Gossan
150.6
152.7
2.1
2.0
June 28
th
WPC22-11
Massive Sulfide
152.7
156.3
3.6
3.5
June 28
th
WPC22-13
Massive Sulfide
150.8
151.9
1.1
1.0
Processing
WPC22-13
Internal
Gossan/Void
151.9
158.4
6.5
5.9
Processing
WPC22-13
Massive Sulfide
158.4
161.4
3.0
2.7
Processing
*
samples are being processed at ALS Vancouver and have been priority rushed.
Photos 1 thru 6
are images of both massive sulfide intervals encountered in WPC22-07 along with
a series of photos highlighting mineralization textures.
Photo 1. Portion of Upper Massive Sulfide Interval WPC22-07 138.0-143.5 meters - 4.5 meters -
Massive Intergrown Sphalerite, Argentiferous Galena and Recrystalline Dolomite (CNW
Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photo 2 Portion of Lower Massive Sulfide Interval WPC22-07
150.4-164.4 meters – 14.0 meters -
Massive Intergrown Sphalerite, Argentiferous Galena and Recrystalline Dolomite (CNW
Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photo 3. WPC22-07 - Banded 'Zebra' Mineralization: Bands of massive Fe-rich sphalerite and/or
argentiferous galena between laminated dolomite crystals (CNW Group/Western Alaska Minerals
Corp.)
Photo 4. WPC22-07 - Massive Fe-rich sphalerite infilling clots of intergrown dolomite crystals in turn
cut by veinlets of argentiferous galena (CNW Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photo 5. WPC22-07 - Massive interstitial argentiferous galena with minor sphalerite in-filling a
dolomite crystal mat (CNW Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photo 6. WPC22-07 - Multiphase massive Fe-rich sphalerite mineralization with zones of late
argentiferous galena infilling a mat of dolomite crystals and crosscutting earlier massive sphalerite
(CNW Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photos 7 thru 9
are images of massive sulfide mineralization encountered in WPC22-08.
Photo 7. Portion of massive sulfide Interval WPC22-08
114.6-123.1 meters - 8.5 meters of Massive
Sulfide Mineralization with Fe-rich Sphalerite and Bands of Argentiferous Galena (CNW
Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photo 8. WPC22-08 - Massive intergrown sphalerite and argentiferous galena infilling a mat of fine-
grained dolomite crystals (CNW Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photo 9. WPC22-08 - Massive sphalerite cut by argentiferous galena veinlets (CNW Group/Western
Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photos 10 thru 12
are images of massive sulfide mineralization encountered in WPC22-11.
Photo 10. Portion of massive sulfide interval WPC22-11
139.1 – 150.6 – 11.5 meters (CNW
Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photo 11. WPC22-11 - Mat of intergrown argentiferous galena and dolomite cut by Fe-rich
sphalerite bands (CNW Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
Photo 12. WPC22-11 - Massive intergrown Fe-rich sphalerite with interstitial argentiferous galena
(CNW Group/Western Alaska Minerals Corp.)
-While the Company finds these visual results to be encouraging, it cautions that the significance
of the observations reported here will not be known until assays are received and reviewed. There
is not a resource estimate for Waterpump Creek and the presence or absence of an economically
viable orebody cannot be determined until significant additional work is completed.-
The focus of initial 2022 drilling at Waterpump Creek has been twofold: 1) to begin expansion of the
mineralized footprint and 2) to develop basic ore controls and trends of the bonanza high-grade
mineralization recognized in 2021. (Drill hole WPC21-09, previously released in 2021, reported a
massive sulfide interval of 10.5-meter (9.1 meters true thickness) grading 526 g/t Ag, 22.5% Zn and
14.4% Pb.) Initial drilling down-dip of WPC21-09 shows a major roll over (drag fold?) of the dolomite
stratigraphy into the high angle to vertical N to NNE-trending Waterpump Creek structure. Initial
holes drilled in 2022 were east of the structure and did not encounter mineralization. Subsequent
drilling along strike to the south of the WPC21-09 intercept shows mineralization occurs as massive
carbonate replacement (CRD) mineralization within the footwall dolomite immediately west of the
Waterpump Creek structure.
The mineralization forms a rod-like body roughly 30-60+ meters wide plunging gently to the south at
the flexure in the dolomite. The overall architecture of the Waterpump Creek structure looks graben-
like with the apparent down-drop of the overlying schist package into the dolomite.
Due to the sharp boundary between mineralized massive sulfide and un-mineralized dolomite
(characteristic of CRD deposits), drill spacing has been tightened to a 25-meter grid in order to
effectively target the resource expansion to the south. Current drilling is just over 100 meters south
of the WPC21-09 and progressing south on 25-meter profiles.
CSAMT Geophysical Program
In addition to the ongoing 2 rig drill program, a major system-wide CSAMT (controlled-source audio-
magnetotellurics) program has just finished data collection covering the roughly 8 km distance
between the Illinois Creek oxide mineralization, the Last Hurrah area and the Waterpump Creek
target area. Inversion modeling of the CSAMT sections is ongoing.
Importantly, preliminary results show a complex interplay of stacked thrusts and high-angle syn- and
possibly post-mineral faulting. The Waterpump Creek structure which appears to be the major ore
control at Waterpump Creek is apparent over at least 6 km of strike within the CSAMT sections
south from Waterpump Creek through Last Hurrah to just east of the major East Illinois Creek
manto/gossan.
In addition to the Waterpump Creek structural zone, numerous other targets are apparent in the
initial inversions. More definitive targeting and targeting discussion will be forthcoming as the data is
totally processed.
The qualified person who reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this release is
Stuart
Morris
, P. Geo., a qualified person as defined under NI43-101.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Quality Assurance/Quality Control of drill sample assay results will be independently monitored
through a quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") protocol which includes the insertion of blind
standard reference materials, blanks, and duplicates at regular intervals.
All logging and sampling is completed at WAM's core handling facilities located at the Illinois Creek
mine camp in
Alaska
. Drill core is logged under an established procedure using Geospark
commercial logging software, then diamond sawn on site. Half drill-core samples are then securely
transported to ALS facilities in
Fairbanks, Alaska
from Illinois Creek under a strict chain of custody
protocol. Sample pulps are then sent to ALS's lab in
Vancouver, Canada
, for analysis. Gold content
is determined by fire assay of a 30-gram charge with ICP finish. Silver, lead, copper, and zinc along
with other elements are analyzed by ICP methods utilizing a four-acid digestion. Over-limit samples
for silver, lead, copper, and zinc are determined by ore-grade titration analyses. ALS Inc. is
independent of Western Alaska Minerals and its affiliates.
ALS also performs its own internal QA/QC procedures to assure the accuracy and integrity of
results. Parameters for ALS' internal and WAM' external blind quality control samples are acceptable
for the samples analyzed. WAM is unaware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that
could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.
About WAM
WAM began trading as a Tier 1 company listed on the TSX-V in November, 2021, and maintains
corporate offices in
Alaska
and
Arizona
. WAM has reassembled and fully controls all claims in the
historic Illinois Creek Mining District located in western
Alaska
near the Yukon River, covering
55,360 acres (86.5 square miles). This district was originally discovered by Anaconda Minerals Co.
in the early 1980's. Since 2010, WAM and its private precursory company Western Alaska Copper &
Gold Inc. has been engaged in exploring and advancing its interests in the district and now controls a
diversified portfolio of five deposits that contain gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc.
On behalf of WAM
"Kit Marrs"
Kit Marrs
Chairman & CEO
Phone: (520) 200-1667
Forward Looking Information
Certain statements made, and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking
information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian
and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts
currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet
management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by
such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will",
"could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on
certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral
resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation,
the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating
costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title
disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of
the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guaranteeing of future
performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events
and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to
update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable
securities laws.
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.
SOURCE
Western Alaska Minerals Corp.
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For further information:
Please contact: Vanessa Bogaert, Director of Corporate
Communications/IR at [email protected]; Or visit our website at:
www.westernalaskaminerals.com
CO: Western Alaska Minerals Corp.
CNW 07:00e 05-JUL-22