Yukon Metals Identifies High-Priority Drill Targets at Birch
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Yukon Metals Identifies High-Priority Drill Targets at Birch
January 8, 2025 – Vancouver, British Columbia –Yukon Metals Corp. (CSE: YMC, FSE:
E770, OTCQB: YMMCF) (“Yukon Metals” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide results
of an Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical
survey program over its 7,000-hectare Birch Property (“Birch”), located 65 km northeast of
Burwash Landing, Yukon. Birch is one of Yukon Metals’ seventeen high-quality properties
across 42,500 hectares in the Yukon.
Highlights:
• Yukon Metals geologists completed eight ERT and IP geophysical surveys over the
eastern portion of the 2024 soil sampled copper and gold anomaly at Birch . The
survey identified several high-priority drill targets.
• Structural geological features can be inferred from the geo-electric signatures
of the rock, guiding drill placement.
• The new geophysical data aligns with previously identified soil anomalies of up to
0.24% Cu in soils and up to 0.99 g/t Au spanning 1400 meters, and rock chip sampling
with values up to 2.42% Cu and 14.1 g/t Au, further emphasizing the project's
potential for significant mineralization.
• All sections intersecting the soil anomaly zone showed geophysical anomalies below
surface that are interpreted to correspond to changes in rock type and sulphide
mineralization in skarn horizons over several hundred meters.
Rory Quinn, President & CEO stated, “With this geological survey program, which includes
induced polarization, surface mapping, and soil and rock sampling programs, Yukon Metals
is closer to uncovering the mineral potential of the highly prospective Birch Property. The
next step will be to commence drilling at Birch, targeting mineralized skarn horizons.”
The survey identified several high-priority geophysical anomalies supporting the next phase
of exploration. These results mark an important step forward in advancing Birch as a highly
prospective property for precious and base metal mineralization. The geophysical data is
being integrated with surface geochemical results, geological mapping, and previously
collected airborne magnetic survey data , to define both high-priority drill targets, and areas
for future exploration.
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The ERT and IP surveys were conducted to study the electrical properties of the area's
dominant rock formations, including limestone, marble, schist, and granite. Structural
geological features and contacts can be inferred from the geo-electric signatures of the rock,
guiding drill placement.
These techniques involve sending electrical currents into the ground and measuring how
different materials respond, creating detailed subsurface maps that highlight geological
layers and structures. I nduced polarization measures how certain materials, like metallic
minerals, temporarily store and release electrical charge, often indicating the presence of
sulfides. Conductivity indicates rock containing electrically conductive minerals such as
sulphides and metallic elements. Resistivity is used to guide identification of rock type,
delineate rock types, depth of overburden and identify anomalous zones.
Advanced software processed the data to produce high -resolution images, helping identify
key geological features such as bedrock layers, mineralized zones, and areas of uncertainty.
Figure 1- 2024 Geophysics Lines with anomalous Copper in Soil and Rock Samples.
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Figure 2- Conductivity sections with overlain 2024 copper-in-soil greater than 200 ppm.
High conductivity zones (red) show a strong, continuous anomaly across six of the
parallel surveys, potentially indicative of mineralized zones
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Figure 3- 3d views of Induced Polarization chargeability sections. High chargeability
zones (red) potentially indicative of sulphide mineralization and consistent with skarn
geophysical signatures are visible in most of the surveys.
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Figure 4- 3d views of Resistivity sections. Deep, high resistivity zones (red) are likely
schist. Low resistivity zones (blue) are likely marble, intrusive granodiorite or
mineralized skarns. The prospective low resistivity zones align with IP chargeability and
conductivity highs. Near-surface high resistivity (red) may be permafrost surficial
colluvium.
About the Birch Project
Yukon Metals owns 100% of the helicopter-accessed Birch project located 65km northeast
of the community of Burwash Landing. The Birch project area is dominated by frost-heaved
boulders in unglaciated terrain, with outcrop present on steeper ridges. The project lies
predominantly within the Finlayson assemblage of the Yukon-Tanana Terrane, consisting of
variably carbonaceous schist and quartzite, marble, garnet amphibolite and rare
metaplutonic rocks.
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The Yukon-Tanana Terrane structurally overlies the Ruby Range Batholith which is regionally
mapped in the northeastern portion of the property occurring as Ruby Range quartz-feldspar
porphyry and Rhyolite Creek porphyry and intermediate and felsic volcanic rock (Israel et.
Al., 2011). Project -level mapping indicates the geology of the area is comprised of schists
and marble units, moderately to strongly oxidised felsic intrusive, and patchy oxidised
porphyritic rhyolite dykes.
Copper, zinc and molybdenum mineralization was first identified in the area in the early 1970s
as part of a small exploration campaign which uncovered several skarn horizons in the
northern project area, as well as molybdenite in quartz veins and stringers in granodiorite
float on the southeastern side of the property (MINFILE 115G 077). Gold was not assayed
for until interest renewed in the early 2010s with soil and mapping exploration work over the
area uncovering several high soil anomalies ranging from 0.02-15g/t Au.
The Birch claims were staked over skarn copper and soil gold anomalies in 2022 by Lapie
Mining Inc., and subsequently acquired by Yukon Metals in 2024 as part of the Berdahl land
package. Highlights from the 2024 prospecting and geochemical program include soil
samples across the northern and central sections of the claim block revealing significant gold,
copper, and molybdenum mineralization. A particularly strong copper and gold anomaly has
been identified in the northern portion of the block, extending r oughly east-west over 1,400
meters, signaling an exciting target for further exploration. Additionally, rock -chip float
samples from the eastern segment of this anomaly have shown impressive values.
Methodology
Geophysical Survey
A Lippmann 4 -point Resistivity System was used. A 200 -300 m cable configuration was
selected for high near-surface detail and 50-100 m of depth penetration. Data was collected
and inverted using A dvance Geophysics Inc. Earth Imager 2D software. Noisy data points
and electrodes with poor contact resistance were removed and data was filtered for spikes
or depressions in resistivity. The software produced two -dimensional tomograms using a
smoothed, least squares damped and robust inversion parameters. Preliminary
interpretations were conducted.
The chargeability, conductivity, and resistivity scales shown on the individual survey sections
are not standardized across all sections and may vary to effectively highlight local geological
features. Variations in scale are used to optimize the visualization of anomalies and do not
imply absolute differences in geophysical values between sections. Conductivity ranges from
0.01 to 3.9 ms/M, chargeability from -3 to 45 ms, and resistivities from 200-50,000 Ohm-m.
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Rock and Soil Sampling
Rock and soil samples were sent to ALS Minerals for analysis with sample preparation in
Whitehorse, Yukon and analysis in North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Rock samples were prepared by c rush to 70 % passing 2mm , 250g split pulverised better
than 85% passing 75 microns (Prep-31A). Pulp samples were analysed for 34 elements by
four acid digestion and ICP -AES (ME-ICP61). All samples were analyzed for gold by fire
assay and AAS with a 50g nominal sample weight ( Au-AA24). Samples over 10g/t Au were
assayed by 50g sample fire assay with gravimetric finish (Au-GRA22).
Soil samples were collected with a battery -powered permafrost soil drill recovering high-
quality samples below boulders and frozen ground to depths of 1m. This technique was
designed specifically for Yukon geochemical exploration to better delineate mineralization
along steep, rocky and permanently frozen north-facing slopes unsuitable for traditional soil
sampling techniques. Samples were dried and sieved to 180 um (Prep -41A) and analysed
for 51 elements by aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS and ICP-AES (AuME-TL44).
Rock samples taken while prospecting referenced in this release are selective in nature and
collected to determine the presence or absence of mineralization and may not be
representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.
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Figure 5- IP and Resistivity line locations on the Birch Property