HALIFAX, NS,
June 4,
2024 /CNW/ - Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV: FOR) (FWB:
5QN) (OTCQB: FTBYF) ("Fortune Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to
announce drill targets for its Murmac Uranium Project ("Murmac or
the "Project") located in northern Saskatchewan. A drilling program is scheduled
to commence in the coming days to test up to thirteen (13) of these
targets with the potential to discover high-grade, basement-hosted
uranium mineralization related to the Athabasca Basin. The drilling program is being
funded by Aero Energy Limited (TSXV: AERO) (OTC Pink: AAUGF) (FSE:
13L0) ("Aero"), and is being operated by Fortune Bay, under an
Option Agreement that was executed on December 15, 2023.
Highlights:
- A total of thirteen (13) priority drill targets have been
selected following the recent completion of a high-resolution
VTEM™ survey (April
2024) and 3D modelling of the existing ground gravity
data.
- The targets represent favorable settings for high-grade
basement-hosted uranium deposits related to the Athabasca Basin.
- Target selection has been based on criteria including
geophysical signature, geological/structural setting, proximity to
historical uranium occurrences of interest, and Fortune Bay's
previous positive drilling results.
- Drilling is expected to commence in the coming days with
approximately 2,600 meters planned in ten (10) to thirteen (13)
drill holes. The program is expected to be results-driven and may
be modified based on results from drilling.
Gareth Garlick, Technical
Director for Fortune Bay, commented "We believe we have
developed a compelling set of drill targets in collaboration with a
highly experienced technical team from Aero and Convolutions
Geoscience. These targets derive from the integration of new
geophysical data and interpretations, key findings from our
prospecting work and historical research, and learnings from
initial successes in our 2022 drill program. Murmac represents a
unique opportunity for high-grade, basement-hosted uranium
discovery considering the significant number of surface showings
and the limited drill testing of the prospective graphitic
conductors. We are excited to get the drill turning on these
targets."
Drill Target Selection
Background & Previous Work
The Project is located within the original uranium mining
district of Canada, lying between
the historical Gunnar and Lorado Uranium Mines. The Project was
explored for Beaverlodge-style uranium mineralization,
predominantly during the period 1960 to 1980. Historical
exploration work focused on ground prospecting and sampling,
followed by trenching and/or drill testing. Numerous high-grade
(> 1% U3O8) uranium occurrences were
discovered (see News Release dated September
28, 2021) demonstrating a substantial endowment of uranium
within the project area. The numerous conductive units
(graphite-bearing metasediments) were however never systematically
explored for high-grade, basement-hosted uranium mineralization
typical of the Athabasca Basin and
its margins. Due to their physical properties, these conductive
units predominantly manifest as valleys and topographical lows,
covered by overburden and small shallow lakes. These blind
conductors have therefore not been properly explored by historical
surface prospecting and warrant drill testing where favorable
targets have been identified. The Athabasca Basin margin is located
approximately five kilometres to the south of the Project,
indicating vertical proximity to the basal unconformity (now
eroded) and good preservation potential for basement-hosted
mineralization.
During summer 2022, Fortune Bay completed a maiden drilling
program of fifteen (15) drill holes to commence regional testing of
the conductive units along three principal corridors, namely
Pitchvein, Armbruster and Howland, that collectively cover over 30
kilometres in strike extent. The drilling program identified
shallow, highly elevated concentrations of uranium in six (6) of
the drill holes, including 0.18% U3O8 and
0.17% U3O8 from individual assay samples.
Importantly, these discoveries demonstrated geological and
geochemical characteristics consistent with unconformity-related,
basement-hosted deposits, thereby validating the exploration model
and demonstrating the potential for high-grade discovery through
additional exploration. Further details regarding Fortune Bay's
drill results can be found within the News Releases dated
August 23, 2022 and December 13, 2022.
Recent Geophysical Data Acquisition &
Interpretation
A helicopter-borne geophysical survey, including
electromagnetics and magnetics, was completed during late
April 2024. The survey was undertaken
by Geotech Ltd. using the VTEM™ Plus geophysical
system. The survey covered the entire Project on a 100-metre line
spacing, obtaining new coverage and infilling the area previously
surveyed in 2022 using VTEM™ at a 200-metre line spacing.
Ground gravity data acquired during 2022 was subject to 3D
inversion and modelling. The geophysical data processing,
interpretation and integration to assist in the prioritization of
drill targets was completed by Convolutions Geoscience Corporation
("Convolutions").
Target Selection for 2024 Drill Program
Targets were selected and prioritized through an iterative
approach working in collaboration with Aero and Convolutions.
Target criteria included geophysical signature,
geological/structural setting, proximity to historical uranium
occurrences of interest, and Fortune Bay's previous positive
drilling results. A total of thirteen (13) priority targets were
identified (Table 1, Figure 1) to encompass a variety of target
types and provide a second phase of regional testing across the
Project's three principal conductor corridors.
Table 1: Murmac 2024 Drill Targets.
Conductor
Corridor
|
Target
|
Target
Summary
|
Pitchvein
|
P7
|
Along strike follow-up
of mineralized intercepts and strong alteration in M22-013 &
014 (Fortune Bay holes). Test for extensions of historical
mineralization in CKI-9 (1.01% U3O8 over 2.0
m) and CKI-10 (2.19% U3O8 over 0.5
m).
|
P4
|
Along strike follow-up
of mineralized intercepts in M22-013 & 014 (Fortune Bay holes).
Test intersection of Pitchvein Corridor with property-scale,
mineralized cross-fault.
|
Howland
|
H6
|
Geophysical target (EM
and gravity).
|
H15
|
Geophysical target (EM
and gravity). Intersection of conductor and property-scale,
mineralized cross-fault, beneath lake.
|
H16
|
Geophysical target (EM
and gravity). Along strike of M22-012 (0.17%
U3O8 over 0.1 m) (Fortune Bay
hole).
|
H17
|
Geophysical target (EM
and gravity) at a flexure in the Howland Conductor.
|
Armbruster
|
A15
|
Geophysical target (EM
and gravity) at intersection of conductor and mineralized
cross-fault.
|
A17
|
Intersection of
conductor and property-scale, mineralized cross-fault. Conductor
break/termination.
|
A18
|
Geophysical target (EM
and gravity). Located along strike to south of Quartzite Ridge
uranium showings.
|
A19
|
Geophysical target (EM
and gravity). Located along strike to south of Quartzite Ridge
uranium showings at a flexure in the Armbruster
Conductor.
|
A20
|
Intersection of
conductor and mineralized cross-fault.
|
A21
|
Geophysical target
(gravity) at intersection of conductor and mineralized cross-fault.
Up-ice of 8.82% U3O8 boulder.
|
A22
|
Geophysical target (EM
and gravity) located at a break in the Armbruster
conductor.
|
Drilling Program Details
Drilling of the targets is expected to commence in the coming
days. Aero has approved a budget that is expected to allow for the
completion of approximately 2,600 meters of coring in ten (10) to
thirteen (13) drill holes. The program is expected to be
results-driven and may be modified based on results from drilling.
The Company has all the required permits for the planned drilling
activities.
Qualified Person and Technical
Disclosure
The technical and scientific information in this news release
has been reviewed and approved by Gareth
Garlick, P.Geo., Technical Director of the Company, who is a
Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Garlick is an
employee of Fortune Bay and is not independent of the Company under
NI 43-101.
Further details regarding the historical uranium occurrences
noted in this news release can be found within the Saskatchewan
Mineral Assessment Database (SMAD) and the Saskatchewan Mineral
Deposit Index (SMDI). Fortune Bay has verified the majority of
these occurrences through field prospecting and sampling, however
there is a risk that any future confirmation work and exploration
may produce results that substantially differ from the unverified
historical results. The Company considers these unverified
historical results relevant to assess the mineralization and
economic potential of the property. The historical drill results
obtained by SMDC in drill holes CKI-9 and CKI-10 can be found
within the SMAD references 74N07-0310 and 74N07-0311 and have not
been verified. Additional historical exploration results (uranium
occurrences related to geochemistry results and scintillometer
prospecting) derive from SMAD references 74N07-0290, 74N07-0287 and
74N07-0304.
About Fortune Bay
Corp.
Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV:FOR, FWB:5QN, OTCQB:FTBYF) 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 seven uranium exploration projects on the northern rim of
the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, which have high-grade potential.
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.
Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and
address future events and conditions, by their very nature they
involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements
are based on information currently available to the Company, the
Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet
management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors
involved with forward-looking information could cause actual
events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
information. Forward looking information in this news release
includes, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals,
intentions or future plans, statements, exploration results,
potential mineralization, timing of the commencement of operations
and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from such forward-looking information
include, but are not limited to failure to identify targets or
mineralization, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required
governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political
risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations
and other indigenous peoples, inability to reach access agreements
with other Project communities, amendments to applicable mining
laws, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of
financing or partnerships needed in the future, changes in equity
markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in
commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital
and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the
other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development
industry, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents
filed on SEDAR+. Although the Company believes that the assumptions
and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in
this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be
placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of
this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events
will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by
law. 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.
SOURCE Fortune Bay Corp.