Solstice Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGC) (“
Solstice”, “we”,
“our” or the “
Company”) is pleased to provide an
update on the ongoing exploration program at its Stewart Lake
Project (“
SLP”) in the English River Subprovince
(“
ERS”), approximately 275 km NNE of Thunder Bay,
Ontario. The Company also recently added 73 km2 to the western
margin of the SLP, increasing its ERS land package to 268 km2,
following discovery of extensive pegmatites with fertile
mineralogy. Approximately 65% of the property has been evaluated at
a reconnaissance scale. Field programs will continue until October
while weather conditions permit.
Key 2023 exploration
details:
- Fertile
indicators have been identified in pegmatites and sampled in all
areas of the project explored to date over the course of
the ongoing 2023 field season. The majority of the areas identified
in satellite photo analysis have abundant pegmatites.
-
Pegmatite thicknesses vary from meter-scale up to over
30m thick, with several pegmatites
exceeding 25m. One 30m-thick pegmatite crosscuts English River
metasediments and has a strike length of at least 200m (photo
inset, Figure 1).
- Abundant
fertile indicator minerals have been identified in
pegmatites, containing one or more of muscovite, garnet,
tourmaline, cordierite, and a widespread unidentified blue-green
mineral (Figure 1).
- Large areas of
pegmatite with 30 to 50 cm feldspar crystals and locally
meter-scale crystals of albite1 (photo inset, Figure 1) were
identified.
- Preliminary and
ongoing geochemical analysis using LIBS2 has identified a
lithium-enriched trend of over 40ppm Li in alkali feldspars (40 –
150ppm), which will require more follow-up prospecting and
analysis. Similar readings in alkali feldspars have been
shown to be reliable indicators for the presence of spodumene in
known lithium districts3,4.
Ongoing work will expand reconnaissance
prospecting in currently unexplored areas of the project and will
also include detailed follow up in priority areas based on
observations and results to date.
Pablo McDonald, Solstice CEO stated, “I am very
pleased with the interim results of our exploration program. Our
team’s work so far shows that we are indeed in a newly identified
area of prospective pegmatites. This positive first pass has
already generated several promising geochemical and mineralogical
anomalies that will be the focus of our follow-up efforts. We now
are on the vanguard of lithium exploration in the ERS; we have the
largest land package in the ERS and based on the new recognition of
widespread fertile pegmatites from our reconnaissance-scale work to
date, we consider the potential for LCT pegmatites to be high.”
The Company plans to extend its in-depth and
systematic prospecting and sampling program throughout the fall.
Key areas that have not been prospected will be systematically
explored (see Figure 1).
The Company also acknowledges the support of the
Ontario Government with a $200,000 grant through their Ontario
Junior Exploration Program. Pursuant to the OJEP grant, Solstice
will receive up to $200,000 to cover 50% of eligible exploration
costs on the project, which represents a meaningful milestone in
advancing exploration at SLP.
Background
Solstice acquired its extensive land position in
February 2023. The project area is previously unexplored and was
acquired for rare element pegmatite exploration based on its
geological similarity to the Quetico Subprovince (fertile granites
in a dominantly metasedimentary setting), located to the south
which hosts several rare element pegmatite deposits, as well as the
presence of approximately 150 pegmatites up to 28m thick (core
length) in drill core in a small part of the project area which was
explored in the late 1950’s to early 1960’s for iron mineralization
(Figure 1). In addition, the OGS recommended the
area for exploration in February 2023 also based on general
similarities with the Quetico geological Subprovince and a
beryl-bearing pegmatite located to the east of Solstice’s claims.
Visit our website for a detailed background on fertile mineralogy
and LCT potential of the area.
1 Field identification is of albite. X-ray
diffraction is required for definitive characterization of the
mineral
2 LIBS (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy)
using a Sci-Labs Z-300 analyzer. Lithium data calibrated against
LCT pegmatite standard GTA-06. Data should be considered
semi-quantitative pending confirmation by other analytical
techniques.
3 Maneta, V. and Baker, R.vThe potential of lithium in alkali
feldspars, quartz, and muscovite as a geochemical indicator in the
exploration for lithium-rich granitic pegmatites: A case study from
the spodumene-rich Moblan pegmatite, Quebec, Canada, Journal of
Geochemical Exploration, Volume 205, 2019, 106336, ISSN 0375-6742,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2019.106336.
4 Morozova,L. et al. Distribution of Trace
Elements in K-Feldspar with Implications for Tracing Ore-Forming
Processes in Pegmatites: Examples from the World-Class Kolmozero
Lithium Deposit, NW Russia. Minerals 2022, 12, 1448.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ min12111448
Figure 1: SLP Property outline showing
sampled and historically drilled pegmatites with fertile
indicators
Warrant Amendments
The Company announces that, further to its news
release dated August 10, 2023, it intends to amend an aggregate of
15,411,930 warrants exercisable for common shares (the
“Common Shares”) issued pursuant to a private
placement on August 30, 2022 (the “August
2022 Warrants”) (the Company had
originally disclosed it intended to amend 14,041,941 August 2022
Warrants). The August 2022 Warrants have an exercise price of $0.17
and expire on February 29, 2024. The Company intends to: (i) reduce
the exercise price of the August 2022 Warrants to $0.08; and (ii)
include an accelerated expiry clause that will reduce the expiry
period of the August 2022 Warrants to 30 days (the
“Accelerated Expiry Period”) if for any ten
consecutive trading days of Common Shares (the “Premium
Trading Days”) the closing price exceeds the exercise
price of the August 2022 Warrants by 25% or more, which would be
$0.10, whereby such Accelerated Expiry Period will begin not more
than 7 calendar days after the tenth Premium Trading Day.
An aggregate of 17,120,274 August 2022 Warrants
were issued, however in compliance with the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”), 15,411,930 August
2022 Warrants are being amended, comprising of: (i) 1,712,026
August 2022 Warrants held by directors, officers and control
persons of the Company; and (ii) all other August 2022 Warrants
(being 13,699,904 August 2022 Warrants). Amendment of the August
2022 Warrants has been approved by all holders of the August 2022
Warrants and is subject to the approval of the TSXV.
The anticipated amendments to 1,712,026 August
2022 Warrants held by certain directors, officers and other related
parties of the Company constitute “related party transactions” of
the Company under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of
Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI
61-101”). In addition, certain directors, officers and
other related parties of the Company purchased units of the Company
in the private placement financing of the Company that closed on
August 10, 2023 (the “Offering”). The purchase of
units under the Offering by such directors, officers and other
related parties of the Company are considered “connected
transactions” to the amendments to 1,712,026 August 2022 Warrants
held by certain directors, officers and other related parties of
the Company under MI 61-101.
Pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI
61-101, the Company is exempt from obtaining formal valuation and
minority approval of the Company’s shareholders with respect to the
“related party transactions” and “connected transactions”, as the
fair market value of the August 2022 Warrants held by related
parties being amended and the fair market value of securities
purchased by related parties under the Offering is below 25% of the
Company’s market capitalization as determined in accordance with MI
61-101.
About Solstice Gold Corp.
Solstice is an exploration company with quality,
district-scale gold and lithium projects in established mining
regions of Canada. Our 268 km2 SLP lithium property is located in
the English River Subprovince in an area that has recently garnered
significant interest for its potential to host rare metals. Our 194
km2 Red Lake Extension (RLX) and New Frontier projects are located
at the northwestern extension of the prolific Red Lake Camp in
Ontario and approximately 45 km from the Red Lake Mine Complex
owned by Evolution Mining. Our 322 km2 Atikokan Gold Project is
approximately 23 km from the Hammond Reef Gold Project owned by
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. Our Qaiqtuq Gold Project which covers
886 km2 with certain other rights covering an adjacent 683 km2,
hosts a 10 km2 high grade gold boulder field, is fully permitted
and hosts multiple drill-ready targets. Qaiqtuq is located in
Nunavut, only 26 km from Rankin Inlet and approximately 7 km from
the Meliadine Gold Mine owned by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. An
extensive gold and battery metal royalty and property portfolio of
over 80 assets was purchased in October 2021. Over $2 million in
value and three new royalties have been generated since the
acquisition.
Solstice is committed to responsible exploration
and development in the communities in which we work. For more
details on Solstice Gold, our exploration projects and details on
our recently acquired portfolio of projects please see our
Corporate Presentation available at www.solsticegold.com.
Solstice’s Chairman, David Adamson, was a
co-award winner for the discovery of Battle North Gold
Corporation's Bateman Gold deposit and was instrumental in the
acquisition of many of the district properties in the Battle North
portfolio during his successful 16 years of exploration in the Red
Lake.
Sandy Barham, M.Sc., P.Geo., Senior Geologist,
is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 standards
responsible for reviewing and approving the technical disclosures
of this news release.
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.
On Behalf of Solstice Gold
Corp. Pablo McDonald, Chief Executive OfficerFor further
information on Solstice Gold Corp., please visit our website at
www.solsticegold.com or contact:Phone: (604)
283-7234info@solsticegold.com
Forward-Looking Statements and
Additional Cautionary Language
This news release contains certain
forward-looking statements (“FLS”) including, but not limited to
rare metal pegmatites prospectively, the need for more prospecting
and analysis, reconnaissance prospecting in currently unexplored
areas of the project, the focus of follow-up efforts on promising
geochemical and mineralogical anomalies, the potential for LCT
pegmatites to be high, extension of in-depth systematic prospecting
and sampling program in the fall, the Company’s intention to amend
the August 2022 Warrants and the required approval of the TSXV. FLS
can often be identified by forward-looking words such as
“approximate or (~)”, “emerging”, “goal”, “plan”, “intent”,
“estimate”, “expects”, “potential”, “scheduled”, “may” and “will”
or similar words suggesting future outcomes or other expectations,
beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements
about future events or performance. In respect of the FLS, the
Company has made certain assumptions that management believes are
reasonable at this time. The assumptions include that the Company
will have sufficient financial resources for fall sampling and
prospecting, that pegmatite discoveries will be to the level
anticipated and that the TSXV will approve the amendments to the
August 2022 Warrants however, there can be no assurance that such
assumptions and statements will prove to be accurate and actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from any FLS include, but are not limited to, limited
capital or access to additional capital for prospecting, delays in
obtaining or failures to obtain required TSXV, governmental,
environmental or other project approvals, inflation, changes in
exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the
development of projects, regulatory approvals and other factors.
FLS are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from expected
results.
Potential shareholders and prospective investors
should be aware that these statements are subject to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the
FLS. Shareholders are cautioned not to place undue reliance on FLS.
By their nature FLS involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks
and uncertainties, both general and specific that contribute to the
possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and
various future events will not occur. Solstice undertakes no
obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any FLS whether
as a result of new information, future events or other such factors
which affect this information, except as required by law.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available
at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0191a97-5377-4116-9666-876b7514943f.
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