/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US WIRE SERVICES OR
FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA/
Trading Symbols: TSX-V: ZFR
OTC-ZPHYF
Shares Outstanding: 67,986,985
HALIFAX, NS, Dec. 21, 2021 /CNW/ - Zephyr Minerals
Ltd. ("Zephyr" or the "Company") (TSXV:ZFR)
(OTC:ZPHYF), is pleased to announce that through its wholly owned
Zimbabwean subsidiary Sutter Mining (Private) Limited ("Sutter"),
it has received registration from the Ministry of Mines and Mining
Development for the Nyanga North prospect which comprises two
staked Special Blocks totaling 201 hectares prospective for gold
and base metals in the northeastern part of the Umkondo Basin of
Zimbabwe. The Special Blocks cover
an area encompassing a postulated 2 kilometer long shear zone which
is interpreted from satellite imagery to be the eastern extension
of a gossanous gold bearing eluvium zone recently mined by local
artisanal miners as evidenced by numerous small pits
(www.zephyrminerals.com).
In addition, Sutter has made application to the Ministry of
Mines and Mining Development for two Exclusive Prospecting Orders
("EPO"), covering approximately 124,000 hectares of gold
prospective ground, one of which for 61,000 hectares is located in
the Nyanga area surrounding the Special Blocks. The second EPO
application covers approximately 63,000 hectares in the Mount
Darwin West area. These applications are currently in the review
process, and while Sutter is optimistic the EPO's will be granted,
timing is not known at present. A news release will be issued upon
Zephyr receiving a decision from the Ministry of Mines and
Development on these two EPO applications .
The gossanous scree slope which has been the target of extensive
eluvium gold mining by the artisanal miners is located
approximately 370 meters west of the western boundary of Sutter's
Special Blocks. The local artisanal miners have been mining the
gossanous scree from an area trending east-west and measuring
approximately 240 meters by 60 meters on the side of a 100 meter
high hill since 2014. As observed from satellite imagery, a 2
kilometer long, east-west trending lineament interpreted to be a
shear zone traces the trend of the gossanous scree zone to the east
on to the Sutter's Special Blocks. Based on the extensive eluvium
mining at the western extremity of the interpreted shear zone, this
structure is undoubtedly a highly prospective gold exploration
target. An initial, low cost exploration program entailing soil
sampling and geological mapping to further characterize the
gold-base metal potential of the prospect is scheduled to commence
early in Q1-2022. Favourable results from this program, would
support a second phase of work encompassing trenching and/or
diamond drill testing.
The discovery of gold at Nyanga was first announced in the
Harare Herald on May 19, 2014
(https://www.herald.co.zw/rich-gold-deposits-discovered-in-nyanga/).
This article stated: "New rich gold deposits were recently
discovered by artisanal miners in Nyanga. Mines commissioner for
Manicaland Province Mr. Agripa Chimusasa said in an interview last
week that the discovery of new gold deposits would play a
significant role in the growth of the country's annual gold
production. "There have been discoveries recently further north of
the province in the Matizi and Gairezi areas in Nyanga" he said.
The area, Mr Chimusasa said, is still underexplored but it is
believed to have a rich vein of gold judging from findings by those
who are using rudimentary methods."
Loren Komperdo, President &
CEO stated; "Although the Harare Herald article is lacking in
detail, the artisanal mining at Nyanga North identifies a new
discovery which has never been drilled or explored with a
systematic, modern exploration program. It would be very difficult
to find such an obvious highly prospective target in North America which has never been
drilled."
Geologically the area is part of the north-south trending
Gairezi segment of the Umkondo Basin, a Proterozoic age sedimentary
basin, which was deposited in a braided stream and shallow marine
environment. The sedimentary units underwent moderate grade
metamorphism and are manifested in the area as quartz mica schists
and quartzites. Until recent discoveries by artisanal miners
of these hydrothermal gold deposits in the Umkondo Basin, this
terrane had not been considered prospective for gold
mineralization. Previously only copper mineralization had been
noted in the Umkondo basin. Traditionally, potential for gold
deposits in Zimbabwe was
considered to be principally in the Archean granite-greenstone
terrane, hence geological settings outside this terrane, like the
Umkondo Basin received little attention from mining companies. The
Umkondo Basin is now however, proving to be a new frontier for gold
exploration following the discovery and mining by artisanal miners
of gold at several localities.
The project is located in north-eastern Zimbabwe in the province of Manicaland near
the border with Mozambique
centered on 17°40'11" South and 33°00'45" East. The topography is
hilly with elevations above the valley floor in the 100 to 150
meter range. The Gairezi River immediately east of the Special
Blocks marks the border of Zimbabwe with Mozambique.
A Special Block is a mining claim up to 150 hectares in size and
entitles the holder to explore for, and mine any minerals that may
be discovered and deemed economic. In the event only gold is
discovered on the Special Blocks, regulations require these to be
converted into gold claims. This is a straightforward process that
requires subdividing the Special Blocks into 10 hectare, surveyed
gold Claims.
Please visit the Zephyr website at www.zephyrminerals.com for
maps and photos of the Nyanga North prospect.
Dawson Mine Permitting Update
Zephyr is continuing to address questions in an adequacy
response letter from Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
(DRMS) to the mine permit application lodged by Zephyr on
30 June, 2021. The deadline for a
decision date for DRMS to approve or deny the mining permit
application has been extended to February
28, 2022.
Mr. Mark Graves, P.Geo.
resigns as VP Exploration
Mr. Mark Graves, with over 40
years of experience in the mining industry has resigned as VP
Exploration to pursue his contracting/consulting work in
Atlantic Canada and elsewhere.
Mark has made significant contributions to the geological knowledge
of Zephyr's Dawson project in Colorado over the last 7 years, for which
Zephyr expresses its thanks and appreciation. Zephyr wishes Mark
success in his future activities.
Additional Information
Mr. Terence F. Coughlan, P.Geo,
an independent consultant to the Company, and a qualified person as
the term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed
and approved the scientific and technical information in this news
release. Mr. Coughlan has not visited the property.
About Zephyr Minerals Ltd.
Zephyr Minerals Ltd. has applied for a mining permit at its 100%
owned high grade Dawson-Green Mountain property in Colorado, USA. After expanding it's land
package to 1,385 hectares (3,574 acres) the Company now controls a
12.2 kilometer long Dawson-Green Mountain mineralized trend. The
Company has also begun new project evaluation with focus on under
explored areas with the potential to host world class mineral
deposits. In addition to the Dawson-Green Mountain property, the
Company is assessing opportunities in Zimbabwe.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:
Neither 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. The forward-looking statements contained in this
document are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made
by the Company, including, with respect to the use of funds from
the private placement, expectations and assumptions concerning
timing of receipt of required regulatory approvals. The
forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as
of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to
update publicly 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
laws.
SOURCE Zephyr Minerals Ltd.
