HALIFAX, NS, April 26, 2022 /CNW/ - Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV:
FOR) (FWB: 5QN) ("Fortune Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to
announce initial drill target areas and 2022 drilling plans for its
100% owned Strike Uranium Project ("Strike" or the "Project"),
located in northern Saskatchewan
(see Figure 1 and 2).
Highlights:
- Nine (9) initial drill target areas have been identified
following ground gravity surveying completed in March 2022 (Figure 3).
- The initial target areas comprise favorable geological,
geophysical and geochemical features typically associated with
high-grade basement-hosted uranium deposits related to the
Athabasca Basin.
- The Tena target area (Figure 4) includes the historical Tena
prospect where over 1,000 tonnes of uranium ore was mined in the
1950's with reported grades of 0.6% to 3.5%
U3O8. Drill targets have been developed
down-dip and along strike of the historical adit.
- The Tena South target area (Figure 4) is located immediately
south of the historical Tena prospect, associated with a coincident
gravity low and electromagnetic ("EM") conductor.
- The other seven (7) target areas include discrete gravity lows
located along prominent EM conductors proximal to favourable
geochemistry results and structural features.
- Drilling is expected to commence in mid-May with approximately
2,500 meters planned in 8 to 10 drill holes. The program is
expected to be results-driven, based upon drilling results and
additional gravity survey results.
Dale Verran, CEO for Fortune Bay,
commented, "We are pleased to have generated an initial set of
drill target areas for Strike which meet the exploration criteria
for high-grade basement-hosted uranium deposits related to the
Athabasca Basin. The historical
work completed between 2005 and 2008 identified favorable settings
and positive signs for uranium mineralization, however target areas
were not followed up with drill testing. A thorough review and
analysis of the historical data, combined with results from winter
2022 ground gravity surveying, has revealed multiple target areas
for drill testing. We are looking forward to our maiden exploration
drilling campaign, expected to commence in May 2022, which will aim to test a number of
these target areas in addition to the historical Tena uranium
prospect."
Strike Drill Targeting
Historical Background
The Project is endowed with a
modern (mid-2000's), comprehensive historical exploration database
from numerous uranium-focused surveys, including airborne and
ground geophysical surveys, ground radiometric surveys and
geochemical and reflectance spectrometry (clay) surveys. Despite
positive results, and documented recommendations in historical
assessment reports to advance the project, the targets generated
were never drill tested. This previous exploration work identified
prospective graphite- and sulphide-bearing EM conductors that due
to their physical properties predominantly manifest as valleys and
topographical lows, covered by overburden and small shallow lakes.
These "blind" conductors have therefore not been explored by
surface prospecting. Geochemical sampling from outcrop at valley
edges along the conductor traces has confirmed elevated pathfinder
elements, as well as favorable clay alteration including dravite,
illite and kaolinite. Furthermore, the area is known to be endowed
with historical uranium occurrences, including the Tena prospect.
The known uranium occurrences were discovered along valley edges,
immediately off the conductor traces, where outcrop is available
and surface prospecting was possible, leaving the conductor targets
at these localities untested.
Initial Drill Target Area Selection
Initial targeting
at Strike has encompassed review and prioritization of target areas
from integrated historical datasets. Three predominant conductor
traces have been identified, and have been named the J, K and L
conductors (Figure 3). Target areas along these conductor corridors
were prioritized based on the nature and amplitude of the EM
anomaly, topography and surface exposure, magnetic features,
structural setting, historical geochemical data, historical
reflectance spectrometry data, and historical scintillometer survey
results. Target areas have been refined based on the results of
winter ground gravity survey results. These data, collected to
detect potential favorable clay alteration zones along the EM
conductors, were integrated with existing datasets to refine drill
target locations. Ground gravity survey over conductor traces will
be ongoing in May.
The Tena target area (Figure 4) includes the historical Tena
prospect where over 1,000 tonnes of uranium ore was mined in the
1950's with reported grades of 0.6% to 3.5%
U3O8. In June
2021, the Company verified the Tena prospect through
geological investigation, gamma-ray spectrometer surveying, and
confirmatory rock sampling. The results demonstrate high uranium
grades on surface together with anomalous geochemical associations
indicative of unconformity-related, basement-hosted uranium
mineralization. Highlight uranium assay results of grab rock
samples collected from the historical adit included 1.75%
U3O8, 0.94% U3O8 and
0.55% U3O8 (see News Release dated
September 16, 2021). Three historical
drill holes, on an approximate 65 metre spacing along strike, were
completed by Amok Ltd. in 1968. Drill hole S4 intersected 1.6% eU
over 4 feet (eU is equivalent uranium derived from a downhole gamma
spectrometer) at a depth of approximately 160 metres below surface.
Drill targets have been developed down-dip and along strike of the
historical adit to provide additional tests of the mineralized
structure.
Drilling Program and Operational Details
Drilling of
the initial target areas is expected to commence in mid-May and
will be helicopter-supported. Additional drill target area
selection is expected to be carried out upon completion of
additional ground gravity survey work scheduled ahead of drill
testing. The Company has all the required permits for the planned
exploration activities.
Murmac Uranium Project
Update
- Initial ground gravity surveying has been completed and
surveying is expected to resume in Spring, following completion of
the gravity surveying at Strike.
- A VTEM™ (Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic) survey was
completed in mid-April 2022 to obtain
modern high-quality EM and magnetic data.
- Newly acquired VTEM™ and gravity data will be integrated with
extensive historical exploration and regional datasets to identify
initial drill targets.
- Maiden drilling is expected to commence following completion of
drilling at Strike and continue into late Summer, with provision
for up to 8 drill holes (2,000 m).
The drilling program will be results-driven, and will be adjusted
based on gravity survey results and any drill results that warrant
immediate follow-up.
Qualified Person and Data
Quality
The technical and scientific information in this news release
has been reviewed and approved by Dale
Verran, M.Sc., P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr.
Verran is an employee of Fortune Bay and is not independent of the
Company under NI 43-101.
Uranium assays reported herein were undertaken by the
Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") Geoanalytical Laboratories.
Sample preparation included drying, jaw crushing to 60% passing -2
millimetres, and pulverizing to 90% passing -106 microns. Uranium
assays are obtained using SRC's ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited
method for the determination of U3O8 wt%.
Unless otherwise stated, the historical results (including drill
results) contained within this news release have not been verified
and there is a risk that any future confirmation work and
exploration may produce results that substantially differ from the
historical results. The Company considers these results relevant to
assess the mineralization and economic potential of the property.
Further details regarding the historical Tena prospect can be
found within the Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDA #1511).
Historical work completed by Cameco Corp. between 2005 and 2008 is
available within assessment reports filed on the Saskatchewan
Mineral Assessment Database (SMAD File Number 74N-0102, 74N-0103
and 74N-0106).
About Fortune Bay
Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV:FOR, FWB: 5QN) is an exploration and
development company with 100% ownership in two advanced gold
exploration projects in Canada,
Saskatchewan (Goldfields Project)
and Mexico, Chiapas (Ixhuatán Project), both with
exploration and development potential. The Company is also
advancing the 100% owned Strike and Murmac uranium exploration
projects, located near the Goldfields Project, which have
high-grade potential typical of the Athabasca Basin. The Company has a goal of
building a mid-tier exploration and development Company through the
advancement of its existing projects and the strategic acquisition
of new projects to create a pipeline of growth opportunities. The
Company's corporate strategy is driven by a Board and Management
team with a proven track record of discovery, project development
and value creation. Further information on Fortune Bay and its
assets can be found on the Company's website at
www.fortunebaycorp.com or by contacting us as
info@fortunebaycorp.com or by telephone at
902-334-1919.
On behalf of Fortune Bay Corp.
"Dale Verran"
Chief Executive Officer
902-334-1919
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Information
Information set forth in this news release contains
forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the
date of this news release. These statements reflect management's
current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are
not guarantees of future performance. Words such as "expects",
"aims", "anticipates", "targets", "goals", "projects", "intends",
"plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "continues", "may",
variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to
future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking
statements. Fortune Bay Corp. ("Fortune Bay" or the "Company")
cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently
uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number
of material factors, many of which are beyond Fortune Bay's
control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and
uncertainties relating to metal prices, changes in planned work
resulting from weather, COVID-19 restrictions, availability of
contractors, logistical, technical or other factors, the
possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and
realize the perceived potential of Fortune Bay's mineral
properties, uncertainties involved in the interpretation of
drilling results and other tests, the possibility that required
permits may not be obtained in a timely manner or at all, risk of
accidents, equipment breakdowns or other unanticipated difficulties
or interruptions, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated
expenses in work programs, the risk of environmental contamination
or damage resulting from the exploration operations, the need to
comply with environmental and governmental regulations and the lack
of availability of necessary capital, which may not be available to
Fortune Bay, acceptable to it or at all. Fortune Bay is subject to
the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as
general economic and business conditions. Accordingly, actual, and
future events, conditions and results may differ materially from
the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or
implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required
under applicable securities legislation, Fortune Bay undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking
information. Fortune Bay does not intend, and does not assume any
obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as
required under applicable securities legislation. For more
information on Fortune Bay, readers should refer to Fortune Bay's
website at www.fortunebaycorp.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
Figure 1: Location of the Goldfields, Strike and Murmac
Projects relative to the Athabasca
Basin.
SOURCE Fortune Bay Corp.