Western Metallica Resources Corp. Launches Drilling Program at 100% Owned Penedela Property
WESTERN METALLICA RESOURCES CORP. LAUNCHES DRILLING
PROGRAM AT 100% OWNED PENEDELA PROPERTY
TORONTO, ON, May 25, 2022 – Western Metallica Resources Corp. (TSXV: WMS) (“Western
Metallica” or the “ Company”) is pleased to announce the launch of its inaugural exploration
program as a publicly listed company at its 100% owned Penedela Project. The 2022 exploration
program includes a planned Phase 1 diamond drilling campaign of 2,000 metres that will target
the most prospective areas of the Penedela gold deposit identified to date, a property comprised
of approximately 2,500 hectares.
This program follows the successful acquisition of the Penedela property, permitting and NI 43 -
101 Technical Report in recent months , and Western Metallica’s listing on the T SX Venture
Exchange (“TSXV”) under trading symbol “WMS”. The Penedela Project is one of the Company’s
three gold properties strategically located in Asturias, Spain, one of the most mining friendly
jurisdictions in Western Europe.
Located on the southern edge of the Navelgas Gold Belt , the Penedela Project exhibits
characteristics of gold mineralization similar to other significant deposits in the area . The
mineralization typically occurs in high-grade veins, breccias, skarns and as intrusive-related gold
deposits. The Penedela Project is characterized by a potential trend of mineralization open along
strike and at depth with gold, along with silver, zinc and lead occurrences. The Project has been
tested across 23 drill holes completed to date , of which 5 were executed by Western Metallica
(representing ~750 metres of drilling), and 18 historical holes (representing 2,000 metres of drilling
and over 1,500 samples including core and surface rock chip sampling ), (refer to Figures 1 and
2). Mineralization remains untested below 100 metres depth, in the eastern limb and hinge, and
thickness varies from 1 to 6 metres, with 5 kilometres of potential area for exploration.
Figure 1. DDH Completed and Planned Location
Figure 2. Conceptual Cross Section, Penedela Project
The 750-metre drilling campaign carried out in 2020 by Western Metallica resulted in 5 intercepts
exhibiting gold mineralization. The Penedela geological model indicates a quartz -gold-AsPy
breccia vein hosted between shales and q uartzite units, where the main structural feature is a
symmetric gentle NS axis anticline, the Pen edela anticline. The breccia vein has been drilled in
the west limb of the anticline, resulting in multiple notable grade intercepts. In previous exploration
campaigns, the Company carried out Geochem soil sampling across the anticline and a
geophysical IP survey, both resulting in anomalies coinciding with the area where the hinge of the
anticline is located.
Building on this past success and indicators, the 2022 Phase 1 drilling at Penedela will focus on
the currently excavated, mapped, and sampled 750-metre trend to maximize success , and
comprises an all-inclusive budget of approximately 575,000 €. The drilling program commenced
this past week with results expected in early Q3 2022.
IB027
IB026
IB025
The primary objective of the Phase 1 drilling campaign is to identify mineralization in the hinge of
the Penedela anticline, which has yet to be drilled, and the secondary objective is to extend drilling
to the north in order to test mineralization continuity in the west limb, (refer to Table 1). The main
zones identified along the 5-kilometre gold-bearing corridor on the Penedela Property show s
interesting gold potential. For this reason, the Company plans to target and test this area at depth,
followed by metallurgical testing on composite drill core samples, intended to provide insight into
the depth extension and potential mineralization down-plunge.
Gregory Duras, Chief Executive Officer comments, “We chose to launch the drilling program at
the Penedela Project being a high-priority target, located in a historic gold camp in the Ibias district
of the Iberian Peninsula of Spain, a region that has seen increased investment and exploration
success. Western Metallica’s technical team is being very systematic in its approach to the
Penedela exploration program, having compiled historical data, grab sample and core results,
geophysical data, and structural mapping, enabling us to optimize our targets and maximize our
chances of success. We believe 2022 will be a transformational year for WMS, where the market
and shareholders can expect regular news as we aggressively develop the Penedela Project, with
further follow-up drilling expected contingent on anticipated favourable results."
The exploration team includes two senior geologists, both with extensive gold exploration
experience specifically in the Asturias region, along with three field assistan ts, community
relations and environment al managers. The firm Geonor Drilling, a leading infrastructure and
drilling contractor out of Galicia (NE Spain), has been engaged to execute the planned drilling
program, comprised of a total of 9 holes with an intended depth of 150 to 250 metres, (refer to
Table 1).
Table 1. Western Metallica Phase 1 DDH planned
HOLE EAST NORTH
ELEVATION
(metres) DIRECTION DIP
LENGTH
(metres)
IB-24 668322 4768580 575 90º -45º 250
IB-25 668850 4768850 745 270º -45º 250
IB-26 668583 4768770 715 /// 90º 250
IB-27 668322 4768696 620 90º -45º 225
IB-28 668573 4769051 730 /// -90º 250
IB-29 668725 4768564 675 270º -50º 200
IB-30 668372 4767995 430 120º -50º 150
IB-31 668745 4768420 600 270º -50º 200
IB-32 668303 4768900 600 90º -50º 225
Grant of Stock Options
In addition, the Company announces that it has granted 4,250,000 incentive stock options to
directors, officers, employees and consultants. The incentive stock options have an exercise price
of $0.20 per share and are valid for a 5-year period from the date of grant. The options shall vest
immediately with the exception of those options granted to an individual performing investor
relations services, whose options will vest in accordance with TSXV policies. All Options are
granted pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan and are subject to the terms of the applicable
grant agreements and the requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange.
The Company's Stock Option Plan allows for the issuance of up to 10% of issued and outstanding
share capital in the form of incentive stock options. As a result of this grant, the Company has
4,380,000 stock options issued, representing 8.6% of the issued and outstanding share capital.
Qualified Person
The technical and scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by
Mr. Santiago Gonzalez -Nistal, P.Geo., Exploration Manager of Western Metallica , who is a
“Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects. Mr. Gonzalez-Nistal is an employee of the Company and is not considered independent
under NI 43-101.
About Western Metallica Resources Corp.
Western Metallica is a British Columbia company with its head office in Toronto, Ontario , trading
on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) under symbol WMS. Western Metallica is in the business
of mineral resource exploration and development, its principal asset is its 100% owned Penedela
Gold Property in the “Navelgas Gold Belt” in Asturias , Spain. Western Metallica also has an
interest in two other Spanish gold projects in the “Navelgas Gold Belt” in Astur ias (Valledor and
Sierra Alta) and one project located in Andalucia (Nueva Celti).
Further information of the Company can be found at: www.westernmetallica.com
For more information please contact:
Western Metallica Resources Corp.
Gregory Duras
Chief Executive Officer
Email: [email protected]
Investor Relations
Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the
TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
This press release contains statements that constitute “forward -statements.” Such forward
looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievemen ts, or developments to differ
materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements.
Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current
conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered
appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward -looking information are reasonable,
undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that
they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words “estimate”, “project”,
“belief”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “may” or “should” and the negative of
these words or such variations thereon o r comparable terminology are intended to identify
forward-looking statements and information. The forward -looking statements and information in
this press release include information relating to the planned drill program and the development
of the Penedela Project and other mining projects and prospects thereof . Such statements and
information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause
actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward -looking statements
and information.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future
events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the
Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such
date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not
rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update
these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions,
or other factors, should change.