Aldebaran Resources Inc. (“
Aldebaran” or the
“
Company”) is pleased to report assays from two
holes at the Altar copper-gold project located in San Juan,
Argentina. The Company’s field season has concluded at the Altar
project with four drill holes completed. Assays results are pending
from the remaining two holes. The highlights are listed below, with
corresponding images in Figures 1-3 and detailed results in Table
1.
Highlights
- ALD-21-217 was
collared at Altar Central (see Figure 1), returning 63 m of 0.94%
CuEq in near surface supergene mineralization, and 584 m of 0.52%
CuEq, including 158 m of 0.71% CuEq, in hypogene mineralization,
extending the hypogene zone approximately 150 m to the west and 500
m below the current resource estimate.
-
ALD-21-217 ended in 16 m of 0.91% CuEq mineralization including
high-grade molybdenum (1,263 ppm Mo).
- ALD-21-218 was
collared at Altar East (see Figure 1), returning 742 m of 0.32%
CuEq in hypogene mineralization.
- Results from two
additional holes are pending, including one in the QDM/Radio
Porphyry area and an additional hole at Altar Central.
John Black, Chief Executive Officer of
Aldebaran, commented as follows: “Hole ALD-21-217 has
extended known mineralization well beyond where our current
resource estimate reaches, increasing the overall footprint of the
project significantly. We are very encouraged that hole ALD-21-217
was getting stronger towards the bottom, including very high-grade
molybdenum. This, along with other drilling completed to date,
makes us believe we are on the edge of an additional, yet to be
discovered, porphyry centre. Hole ALD-21-218 has defined the
northern extent of higher-grade mineralization at Altar East,
however we still have several encouraging targets at Altar East
which will be tested in future field seasons. While the 2020/2021
field season is over at Altar, now the real work begins for our
team as we use the geochemical and geophysical data collected,
combined with the results from drilling, to plan for the next
drilling campaign which we expect to be larger in scale and
scope.”
Discussion of Results:
Drill Hole ALD-21-217 was
drilled at angle of -75 (see Figure 2) and was targeting the west
extension at Altar Central underneath a fence of historical,
shallow holes (see PR from Feb 2, 2021 for details). The hole hit
an upper interval of well defined, supergene mineralization that
should help further define the supergene portion of the existing
resource estimate for Altar (see PR from Mar 22, 2021 for details).
The supergene mineralization partially overprints a zone of high
sulphidation mineralization, where elevated Arsenic is observed. As
well, a lower zone of hypogene mineralization was intersected,
which extended the footprint of mineralization approximately 150 m
to the west and 500 m below the current resource estimate. The hole
ended in some of the best grades intercepted throughout the
entirety of the hole, including high-grade molybdenum. The current
interpretation is that the high-grade molybdenum intercept
indicates the hole drilled down the shoulder (or outer rim) of a
potential new porphyry centre that has yet to be discovered. This,
combined with higher grade molybdenum intercept in hole ALD-19-212
(see PR from Oct 2, 2019 for details), presents an interesting
target for follow up drilling in upcoming field seasons.
Drill Hole ALD-21-218 was
drilled at angle of -70 (see Figure 3) and was targeting the north
extension of higher-grade intercepts at Altar East (see PR from Feb
2, 2021 for details), and was drilled beneath a fence of
historical, shallow holes. The hole was well mineralized and
altered throughout, however the grades were lower than anticipated.
No supergene mineralization was intersected in the hole. This drill
hole effectively closes off higher-grade mineralization to the
north at Altar East.
Table 1 below provides more detail on the
mineralized intercepts encountered in drill holes ALD-21-217 and
ALD-21-218. The locations of the reported drill holes are indicated
in Figure 1.
Table 1 - 2021 Altar Drill Hole
Results |
CuEq (%) Cutoff |
From(m) |
To(m) |
Interval(m) |
Cu(%) |
Au(g/t) |
Ag(g/t) |
Mo(ppm) |
As(ppm) |
CuEq(%) |
|
ALD-21-217 |
|
0.2 |
|
69 |
132 |
63 |
0.870 |
0.060 |
1.94 |
35 |
410 |
0.939 |
|
0.2 |
|
132 |
228 |
96 |
0.338 |
0.037 |
0.77 |
38 |
1,149 |
0.382 |
|
0.2 |
|
917 |
1,501 |
584 |
0.446 |
0.013 |
1.04 |
161 |
141 |
0.517 |
|
0.5 |
incl. |
989 |
1,147 |
158 |
0.658 |
0.019 |
1.54 |
85 |
231 |
0.712 |
|
0.5 |
and |
1,485 |
1,501 |
16 |
0.462 |
0.003 |
2.65 |
1,263 |
148 |
0.908 |
|
ALD-21-218 |
|
0.2 |
|
123 |
865 |
742 |
0.263 |
0.059 |
0.72 |
37 |
137 |
0.321 |
|
The grades are uncut. CuEq and AuEq values were calculated using
copper, gold and silver. Metal prices utilized for the calculations
are Cu = US$3/lb, Au = US$1,400/oz, Ag = US$18/oz, and Mo =
US$10/lb. No adjustments were made for recovery as the project is
an early-stage exploration project and metallurgical data to allow
for estimation of recoveries is not yet available. The formulas
utilized to calculate equivalent values are CuEq % = Cu % + Au
g/t * 0.6805 + Ag g/t * 0.00875 + Mo ppm / 3000. |
|
Update on Field Program
The field program recently concluded at the
Altar project after the completion of four drill holes on the
project totaling 4,694.5 m. In addition, a 3D IP-MT geophysical
survey was conducted over a portion of the project area. The
Company had hoped to complete a larger geophysical program but
technical issues with the geophysical equipment delayed the
program. The intention is to complete the remainder of the
geophysical program at the start of the next field season, which is
expected to commence in the fourth quarter of this year. The
geophysical data collected to date will be valuable in defining
drill targets for the next field season. The Company also collected
2,533 talus fine geochemical samples to extend and compliment the
1,800 samples already collected, which have proved a useful tool
for targeting at Altar. Additionally, the Company completed an
extension of its existing ground magnetics survey to the east of
the project. The survey was extended because of a promising
magnetics target that was identified at the edge of the existing
survey; the extension will allow for better evaluation and future
drill targeting.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical data contained in
this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Kevin B.
Heather, B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc, Ph.D, FAusIMM, Chief Geological
Officer (CGO) and director of Aldebaran, who serves as the
qualified person (QP) under the definitions of National Instrument
43-101.
For further information, please consult
our website at
www.aldebaranresources.com or
contact:
Laura BrangwinInvestor Relations ManagerPhone:
+1 646 583-1404Email: laura.brangwin@aldebaranresources.com
About Aldebaran Resources
Inc.
Aldebaran is a mineral exploration company that
was spun out of Regulus Resources Inc. in 2018 and has the same
core management team. Aldebaran acquired the Rio Grande copper-gold
project located in Salta Province, Argentina from Regulus along
with several other early-stage projects in Argentina. Aldebaran
also has the right to earn up to an 80% interest in the Altar
copper-gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina from Sibanye
Stillwater Limited. The Altar project hosts multiple porphyry
copper-gold deposits with potential for additional discoveries.
Altar forms part of a cluster of world-class porphyry copper
deposits which includes Los Pelambres (Antofagasta Minerals), El
Pachon (Glencore), and Los Azules (McEwen Mining). A total of 259
drill holes (119,052 m) have been completed at Altar between
1995 and 2019. In March 2021 the Company announced an updated
mineral resource estimate for Altar, prepared by Independent Mining
Consultants Inc. and based on the drilling completed up to and
including 2020. Aldebaran’s primary focus is the Altar project with
a view to discovering new zones with higher-grade
mineralization.
Sampling and Analytical Procedures
Altar follows systematic and rigorous sampling
and analytical protocols which meet and exceed industry standards.
These protocols are summarized below and are available on the
Aldebaran website at www.aldebaranresources.com. All drill holes
are diamond core holes with PQ, HQ or NQ core diameters. Drill core
is collected at the drill site where recovery and RQD (Rock Quality
Designation) measurements are taken before the core is photographed
and geological quick log produced. The core is then transported to
the Altar camp facilities where the core is photographed again
under more optimum lighting conditions and then the core is cut in
half with a diamond saw blade, with half the sample retained in the
core box for future reference and the other half placed into a
pre-labelled plastic bag, sealed with a plastic zip tie, and
identified with a unique sample number. The core is typically
sampled over a systematic 1 to 2 metre sample intervals unless the
geologist determines the presence of an important geological
contact, which should not be crossed. The bagged samples are then
stored in a secure area pending shipment to a certified ALS
laboratory sample preparation facility located in Mendoza,
Argentina, where the samples are dried, crushed, and pulverized.
The resulting sample pulps are sent by batch to the ALS laboratory
in Lima for geochemical assay analysis, including a fire assay – AA
finish analysis for gold and a full multi-acid digestion with
ICP-AES analysis for other elements. Samples with results that
exceed maximum detection values for gold are re-analyzed by fire
assay with a gravimetric finish and other elements of interest are
re-analyzed using precise ore-grade ICP analytical techniques.
Aldebaran independently inserts certified control standards, coarse
field blanks, and duplicates into the sample stream to monitor data
quality. These standards are inserted “blindly” to the laboratory
in the sample sequence prior to departure from the Aldebaran
facilities.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements regarding Aldebaran,
including management's assessment of future plans and operations,
may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable
securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, most of which are beyond Aldebaran's control. Often,
but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does
not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or
"believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements
that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would",
"might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
Specifically, and without limitation, all
statements included in this press release that address activities,
events or developments that Aldebaran expects or anticipates will
or may occur in the future, including the proposed exploration and
development of the Altar project described herein, and management's
assessment of future plans and operations and statements with
respect to the completion of the anticipated exploration and
development programs, may constitute forward-looking statements
under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond
Aldebaran's control. These risks may cause actual financial and
operating results, performance, levels of activity and achievements
to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such
forward-looking statements. Although Aldebaran believes that the
expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will
prove to be correct. The forward looking statements contained in
this press release are made as of the date hereof and Aldebaran
does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by
applicable securities law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Figure 1 – Plan Map
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1af9841d-7ecd-4c55-a4c6-e95085b48d76
Figure 2 – Hole ALD-21-217
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee8784a9-3939-4e8a-a236-b4b395ff37bf
Figure 3 – Hole ALD-21-218
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/613022a4-9120-4b83-8a2f-11dea963512c
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