AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP. (“Azincourt” or the
“Company”)
(TSX.V: AAZ, OTCQB: AZURF), is pleased
to announce that the sample analysis has finally been received from
the 2024 exploration program at the East Preston uranium project in
the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada.
The 2024 drill program consisted of 1,086 meters
of drilling in four diamond drill holes completed between March and
April 2024. Drilling was focused on the K and H Zones (Figure 3)
with initial results reported in a news release dated May 28th,
2024.
Winter 2024 Diamond Drilling Program
Highlights
A total of 53 samples, including four blanks and
four external standards, were collected throughout the program and
sent to the Geoanalytical Laboratory at the Saskatchewan Research
Council in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for analysis. All blanks and
standards returned within expected statistical norms.
Samples of clay alteration were analyzed by
Short Wavelength Infrared Reflectance (SWIR, sometimes referred to
as “PIMA”) to confirm the clay species. A total of 53 samples were
submitted for analysis, including 33 samples from the 2024 program
and 20 samples from the 2021 -2023 programs. PIMA results identify
relative proportions of phyllosilicate and clay minerals including
illite, chlorite, dickite, kaolinite, and dravite. Illite and
kaolinite are both indicators of hydrothermal alteration typically
found within alteration halos of unconformity associated uranium
deposits. Dravite is a boron-rich clay which is typically found
within a larger clay package in close proximity to uranium
mineralization in the system. Both illite and dravite have been
identified as being significant vectors for recent discoveries to
the northwest of the East Preston project.
Analysis of the results shows several intervals
with weakly anomalous uranium enrichment within the clay alteration
zones along the K, and H- target zones (Figure 3). Uranium
enrichment is identified as uranium (U) values and a
uranium/thorium ratio (U/Th) above what would normally be expected
in the given rock type or area.
The highest uranium result for 2024 was returned
in hole EP0058 where 16 ppm U over 1.91m, including up to 21.9 ppm
U over 0.51m was returned. This enriched zone sits above a zone of
dravite and kaolinite clay alteration. This drill hole sits within
a regional illite clay anomaly extending through the K Zone and
south into the lower H Zone.
With the reevaluation and analysis of clay
species in core from previous programs, the regional illite clay
alteration zone identified in 2023 has been expanded to encompass
the length of the K and H Zones as far south as hole EP0060 (Figure
2). Within this zone, many holes contain kaolinite +/- dravite,
highlighting areas where future efforts will focus.
The reevaluation of clay species in core from
previous programs has allowed the identification of illite
alteration, with intervals of kaolinite and dravite in hole EP0037,
drilled in 2022 on the G Zone (Figure 2). This hole previously
identified an east-west cross-cutting structure which may be a
primary fluid conduit to follow-up. Illite and kaolinite were also
identified in EP21001, drilled in 2021 on the A Zone (Figure
2).
The company considers the identification and
expansion of clay alteration halos to be significant, as major
uranium discoveries in the Athabasca Basin such as McArthur River,
Key Lake, and Millennium were primarily the result of drill testing
of strong alteration zones related to conductor features.
Identifying and upgrading the strong alteration zones is a
significant step forward in identifying the key areas along the
conductor trends where more attention is required.
“The alteration we are seeing continues to be
very encouraging,” said VP, Exploration, Trevor Perkins. “The
identification of dravite, kaolinite and illite clays with the
elevated uranium along the K and H Zones emphasizes that we are in
the right environment and identifying areas for closer inspection
along this trend. This trend will continue to be a high priority
moving forward. Based on the clay signatures in the G and A Zones,
these areas will warrant a reevaluation as well,” continued Mr.
Perkins.
East Preston Targets
The primary target area on the East Preston
Project is the conductive corridors from the A-Zone through to the
G-Zone (A-G Trend) and the K-Zone through to the H and Q-Zones
(K-H-Q Trend) (Figure 2). The selection of these trends is based on
a compilation of results from the 2018 through 2020 ground-based EM
and gravity surveys, property wide VTEM and magnetic surveys, and
the 2019 through 2022 drill programs, the 2020 HLEM survey
indicates multiple prospective conductors and structural complexity
along these corridors.
Drilling has confirmed that identified
geophysical conductors comprise structurally disrupted zones that
are host to accumulations of graphite, sulphides, and carbonates.
Hydrothermal alteration, anomalous radioactivity, and elevated
uranium have been demonstrated to exist within these structurally
disrupted conductor zones.
Permitting and Community
Engagement
Permits are in hand to conduct exploration
activities at the East Preston property through the summer of 2026.
Azincourt re recognizes that the granting of these permits does not
negate the rights of the local communities for meaningful
consultation as the project progresses. The company looks forward
to a continued close working relationship and regular consultation
with CRDN and other rights holders to ensure that any potential
impacts and concerns are addressed and that the communities can
benefit from activities in the area through support of local
business, employment opportunities, and sponsorship of select
community programs and initiatives. Local businesses are engaged to
provide services and supplies and members of the Clearwater River
Dene Nation and surrounding communities have been directly employed
on site or to provide support and services to keep the camp and
programs running. The involvement of the local communities is
essential for continued advancement of the East Preston
Project.
Figure 1: East Preston Project Location – Western Athabasca
Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada
Figure 2: Zones at the East Preston Uranium
Project with the areas of dravite and kaolinite clay alteration
highlighted in red, overlain on 2023 drill hole location map.
Figure 3: 2024 East Preston Drill Hole Location
map focused on the K and H Zones.
About East Preston
Azincourt controls a majority 78.4% interest in
the 25,000+ hectare East Preston project as part of a joint venture
agreement with Skyharbour Resources (TSX.V: SYH), and Dixie Gold.
Three prospective conductive, low magnetic signature corridors have
been discovered on the property. The three distinct corridors have
a total strike length of over 25 km, each with multiple EM
conductor trends identified. Ground prospecting and sampling work
completed to date has identified outcrop, soil, biogeochemical and
radon anomalies, which are key pathfinder elements for unconformity
uranium deposit discovery.
The East Preston Project has multiple long
linear conductors with flexural changes in orientation and offset
breaks in the vicinity of interpreted fault lineaments – classic
targets for basement-hosted unconformity uranium deposits. These
are not just simple basement conductors; they are clearly
upgraded/enhanced prospectively targets because of the structural
complexity.
The targets are basement-hosted unconformity
related uranium deposits similar to NexGen’s Arrow deposit and
Cameco’s Eagle Point mine. East Preston is near the southern edge
of the western Athabasca Basin, where targets are in a near surface
environment without Athabasca sandstone cover – therefore they are
relatively shallow targets but can have great depth extent when
discovered. The project ground is located along a parallel
conductive trend between the PLS-Arrow trend and Cameco’s
Centennial deposit (Virgin River-Dufferin Lake trend).
Qualified Person
The technical information in this news release
has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory
requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on
behalf of the company by C. Trevor Perkins, P.Geo., Vice President,
Exploration of Azincourt Energy, and a Qualified Person as defined
by National Instrument 43-101.
About Azincourt Energy
Corp.
Azincourt is a Canadian-based resource company
specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration, and
development of alternative energy/fuel projects. The Company has
been a uranium explorer for over a decade and is currently active
at its majority-owned joint venture East Preston uranium project
located in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, and the Big Hill
lithium project, located in southwestern Newfoundland.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF AZINCOURT
ENERGY CORP.
“Alex Klenman”Alex Klenman, President
& CEO
Neither the 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.
This press release includes “forward-looking
statements”, including forecasts, estimates, expectations and
objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of
assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the
control of Azincourt. Investors are cautioned that any such
statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual
results or developments may differ materially from those projected
in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information
represents management’s best judgment based on information
currently available. No forward-looking statement can be
guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially.
For further information please
contact:
Alex Klenman, President & CEOTel:
604-638-8063info@azincourtenergy.com
Azincourt Energy Corp.1430 – 800 West Pender
StreetVancouver, BC V6C
2V6www.azincourtenergy.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bc343c68-8444-44bf-adc2-d20567c4918c
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