VANCOUVER, BC, July 06, 2020 /CNW/ - Sun Metals
Corp. (TSXV: SUNM) ("Sun Metals" or "we" or
the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling has
commenced at Stardust, the Company's 100% owned, high-grade
copper-gold project located in northcentral B.C.
Three diamond drill rigs are currently onsite and actively
drilling. Our fully funded 2020 $3.8
million exploration program is focused on expanding the
high-grade 421 zone at Stardust, and exploring for similar thick
high-grade, massive sulphide zones that this system is known
for. The drill program is anticipated to run until
early October and consist of 12 – 16 holes. The program
design will remain flexible to allow the exploration team to follow
up on successful results.
Initial drilling is focused on expanding the 421 zone, including
two rigs on the highly prospective and shallower southern up-plunge
extension of the zone near hole 453 and on completing hole 455
which was not finished during the 2019 campaign and is targeting
the northern down plunge extents of the zone.
Subsequent drilling will include:
- Targeting vertically below the 421 zone exploring for a
vertical feeder component to the mineralization;
- Test fold targets in carbonate stratigraphy east of the 421
zone for analogous zones;
- Targeting the footwall of the 101 lens in areas of open
mineralization.
Sun Metals has developed and implemented COVID-19 infection and
control protocols at Stardust to meet or exceed all government
requirements, as well as satisfy the Company's mandate to protect
the workers and communities that we rely on (See June 3, 2020 press release for more information
on our COVID-19 safeguards). In mid-June, Sun Metals received
conditional provincial approval to occupy camp at Stardust and
proceed with our planned drill program.
Sun Metals has recently created several brief videos to provide
insight on exploration potential at Stardust:
- We know the roadmap to discovery:
https://vimeo.com/425220373
- Expansion opportunities in 421 zone:
https://vimeo.com/425220275
- Multiple untested folds like 421 zone:
https://vimeo.com/425220335
In just two years, Sun Metals' technical team has developed a
proven understanding of the Stardust system that has resulted in
significant discovery success. In 2018, our first full season at
Stardust, our technical team drilled one of that year's strongest
discovery holes: DDH18-SD-421, which intersected 100 metres of
5.05% copper equivalent (CuEq)1. In 2019, we started to
delineate what is now known as the 421 zone, one of the
most significant recent high-grade copper-gold discoveries
in Canada. Seventeen pierce points now define the 421 zone and
have established continuity. Average mineralized drill intercepts
in this zone are greater than historic drill intercepts in the
nearby Canyon Creek zone2. The 421 zone has been
delineated over a plunge length of 375 metres and remains open for
both extension and expansion.
_________________________
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1 See
press release dated November 14, 2018 available at
www.sunmetals.ca
|
2 See the
technical report titled "Stardust Project Ni 43-101 Technical
Report Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia" with an effective
date of January 8, 2018 for further information, available at
www.sunmetals.ca or under the Company's SEDAR profile at
www.sedar.com
|
Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed,
verified and approved by Ian Neill
P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of Sun Metals, who is a
qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101
– Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects.
An updated interactive corporate presentation is available on
Sun Metals' website at
https://www.sunmetals.ca/investors/presentation/.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of
SUN METALS CORP.
Steve Robertson
Chief Executive Officer
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.
About Sun Metals
Sun Metals is advancing its 100%
owned flagship, high-grade Stardust Project located in northcentral
British Columbia, Canada. Stardust
is a high-grade polymetallic Carbonate Replacement Deposit with a
rich history. Sun Metals also owns the Lorraine copper-gold
project (joint-ventured with Teck Resources Limited), and the OK
copper-molybdenum project.
The Canyon Creek copper-gold skarn zone at Stardust was the
subject of a 2018, NI 43-101 resource estimate published by the
Company titled "Stardust Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Omineca
Mining Division, British Columbia"
with an effective date of January 8,
2018. In that report, GeoSim Services Inc. provided the
following estimate.
Stardust Project - Canyon Creek zone Mineral Resource
Estimate³:
RESOURCE
CATEGORY
|
TONNES
|
COPPER %
|
ZINC %
|
GOLD G/T
|
SILVER G/T
|
% CU
EQ 3
|
Indicated
|
985,000
|
1.34
|
0.62
|
1.59
|
36.8
|
2.92
|
Inferred
|
1,985,000
|
1.24
|
0.14
|
1.72
|
30.5
|
2.65
|
(3) The cut-off grade used in the
resource estimate was 1.5% copper equivalent (Cu Eq). Metal price
assumptions for the Cu Eq calculation in this table were $3.00/lb
Copper, $1.25/lb Zinc, $1,300/oz Gold and $18/oz Silver. Adjustment
factors to account for differences in relative metallurgical
recoveries of the constituents will depend upon completion of
definitive metallurgical testing. The following equation was used
to calculate copper equivalence: Cu Eq = Copper + (Zinc x 0.4167) +
(Gold x 0.6319) + (Silver x 0.0087). A cut-off grade of 1.5% Cu Eq
represents an in-situ metal value of approximately $100/tonne which
is believed to represent a reasonable break-even cost for
underground mining and processing. These are not mineral reserves
and no work has been completed that demonstrates economic viability
at the Project.
|
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this news release, other than statements of
historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to
Sun Metals within the meaning of applicable securities laws,
including, but not limited to statements with respect to those that
address mineralization at the Stardust project; relative size of
mineralization at the 421 zone, geophysical surveys, use of
instrumentation data, and goals and expectations pertaining to
metallurgical results; the 2020 program and the use of flow-through
dollars; the potential quantity and/or grade of minerals; the
growth potential of the Stardust project; planned mining methods
and mineral processing; break-even cost for the Stardust project;
British Columbia as a reliable
jurisdiction for mining; proposed timing of exploration and
development plans; potential conversion of inferred resources to
measured and indicated resources; potential extension and expansion
of mineral resources; negotiations with the Takla First Nation; the
potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the focus of the
Company in the coming months. Forward-looking information is often,
but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seeks",
"anticipates", "plans", "continues", "expects", "projects",
"predicts", "potential", "targets", "intends", "believes",
"potential", "budgets", "schedules", "estimates", "forecasts" and
similar expressions (including the negative of such expressions),
or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or
state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should",
"could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future
performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions
of management at the date the statements are made including, among
others, assumptions about future prices of gold and other metal
process; currency exchange rates and interest rates; favourable
operating conditions; political stability; obtaining governmental
approvals and financing on time; obtaining renewals of existing
licences and permits and obtaining required licences and permits;
labour stability; stability in market conditions; availability of
equipment; accuracy of mineral resources; successful resolution of
disputes and anticipated costs and expenditures. Management
believes these estimates and assumptions are reasonable. In
addition, many assumptions are based on factors and events that are
not within the control of Sun Metals and there is no assurance they
will prove to be correct.
Such forward-looking information, involves known and unknown
risks, which may cause the actual results to be materially
different from any future results expressed or implied by such
forward-looking information, including, risks related to the
speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's
formative stage of development; the Company's financial position;
possible variations in mineralization; conclusions of future
economic evaluations; business integration risks; changes in
project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current
economic conditions; future prices of commodities; fluctuations in
the securities market; fluctuations in currency markets; change in
national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls,
regulation and political or economic development; inability to
obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; possible
variations in grade or recovery rates; the costs and timing of the
development of new deposits; failure of equipment or processes to
operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to
perform; the timing and success of exploration activities
generally; delays in permitting; possible claims against the
Company; the timing of future economic studies; labour and employee
disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in
obtaining governmental approvals, financing or the completion of
exploration; relationships with and claims by local communities and
First Nations; negotiations with the Takla First Nation;
assumptions about the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic; and title to
properties as well as those factors discussed in the Annual
Information Form of the Company dated April
1, 2020 in the section entitled "Risk Factors", under Sun
Metals' SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
Although Sun Metals has attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to
differ materially from those described in forward-looking
information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events
or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There
can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate
as actual results and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such statements. Sun Metals disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise unless required by law. Accordingly, readers should
not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
SOURCE Sun Metals