Vancouver, BC - Barsele Minerals Corp. - (TSX-V: BME) ("Barsele") is pleased to report an operational update for the ongoing exploration program within the Barsele Gold-VMS Project area in Västerbottens Län, northern Sweden. The exploration program is being operated by joint venture partner Agnico Eagle Mines Limited - (TSX, NYSE: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle"). Ownership in the project is 55% Agnico Eagle and 45% Barsele. Agnico Eagle can earn an additional 15% in the project through completion of a pre-feasibility study. There is no cash outlay by Barsele until pre-feasibility is completed.
During the month of September, five diamond drills were operational within the property. Nine drill holes (3 infill and 6 expansion) tested the Avan, Central and Skiråsen zones. Other drilling was focused on the Norra massive sulfide zone (2 holes), as well as regional drilling (5 holes) along the trend of the new Risberget gold target, 3.7 kilometers to the east-southeast of the Skiråsen Zone.
Recent significant drill results through the end of September include highlight regional Risberget hole RIS17002 that yielded 50.0 meters core length (35.0 meters true thickness) grading 0.82 g/t gold at a midpoint depth of 100 meters below surface. There were four visible gold observations along this core interval. Additionally, expansion hole CNT17020 yielded 21.0 meters core length (6.7 meters true thickness) grading 2.96 g/t gold uncut (2.58 g/t gold cut) at a midpoint depth of 600 meters below surface. Expansion hole CNT17021 yielded 7.0 meters core length (3.4 meters true thickness) grading 5.60 g/t gold at a midpoint depth of 85 meters below surface and expansion hole CNT17022 yielded 12.0 meters core length (8.3 meters true thickness) grading 3.14 g/t gold at a midpoint depth of 400 meters below surface. Other drilling of significance from the Norra VMS deposit area includes hole NOR17006, within which 39 meters (106-145 meters) of talc-chlorite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite alteration and mineralization was intersected, while hole NOR17007 intersected 24 meters (75-99 meters) of polymetallic stringer and massive sulphide mineralization. Metal grades will be forthcoming in a subsequent news release.
Nine holes are reported in this news release, of which six were expansion, two were infill and one was a regional test. One hole was abandoned due to bad ground conditions. Since the initiation of drilling in late 2015 and until the end of the month of September, 86,310 meters of core has been collected from a total of 191 drill holes. Base of till sampling is ongoing.
Agnico Eagle's recent surface extension trenching program has been completed. Structural mapping along the 90.0 meter by 15.0 meter corridor validates the existing gold distribution model and more importantly provides detailed information on quartz veining and reactivation of the various shearing and mineralization orientations. This information will assist with the ongoing modelling of the gold deposit.
A regional surface till sampling program was carried out during the summer months. This work has resulted in a broad area with anomalous precious and base metal responses in the northern third of the property, several kilometers to the north of existing drilling. As the Barsele Project was originally discovered using till sampling, these results are considered significant.
September 2017 Drilling Update | |||||||||||
| Hole ID | Easting | Northing | Az | Dip | DDH Length | From (m) | To (m) | CL (m) | TL (m) | Au (g/t) | Top Cut (g/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVA17022 | 617609.319 | 7215564.72 | 219 | -70 | 802.80 | 150.00 | 152.00 | 2.00 | 0.70 | 6.60 | |
| Expansion | |||||||||||
| AVA17023 | 617781.982 | 7215404.07 | 222 | -46 | 290.40 | 58.00 | 67.00 | 9.00 | 6.60 | 0.97 | |
| Expansion | |||||||||||
| AVA17024 | 617727.977 | 7215140.75 | 43 | -56 | 324.20 | ||||||
| Expansion | No Significant | Intersections | |||||||||
| CNT17019 | 618614.72 | 7215120.47 | 218 | -50 | 450.50 | 148.00 | 165.00 | 17.00 | 11.3 | 0.85 | |
| Infill | 250.00 | 257.00 | 7.00 | 4.60 | 1.83 | ||||||
| 280.00 | 292.00 | 12.00 | 8.00 | 1.85 | |||||||
| CNT17020 | 618529.80 | 7215097.77 | 221 | -74 | 749.00 | 275.00 | 281.00 | 6.00 | 1.80 | 1.38 | |
| Expansion | 288.00 | 295.00 | 7.00 | 2.10 | 1.17 | ||||||
| 333.00 | 340.00 | 7.00 | 2.10 | 1.16 | |||||||
| 430.00 | 433.00 | 3.00 | 0.90 | 3.08 | |||||||
| 450.00 | 457.00 | 7.00 | 2.20 | 1.35 | |||||||
| 619.00 | 640.00 | 21.00 | 6.70 | 2.96 | 2.58 | ||||||
| 660.00 | 670.00 | 10.00 | 3.20 | 1.89 | |||||||
| CNT17021 | 618675.06 | 7215074.99 | 218 | -65 | 626.00 | 56.00 | 60.00 | 4.00 | 1.90 | 1.25 | |
| Expansion | 94.00 | 112.00 | 18.00 | 8.70 | 2.63 | ||||||
| Inc. | 94.00 | 101.00 | 7.00 | 3.40 | 5.60 | ||||||
| 122.00 | 136.00 | 14.00 | 6.70 | 1.15 | |||||||
| 143.00 | 148.00 | 5.00 | 2.40 | 2.00 | |||||||
| 335.00 | 351.00 | 16.00 | 7.60 | 1.28 | |||||||
| 377.00 | 409.00 | 32.00 | 15.4 | 1.53 | |||||||
| 458.00 | 464.80 | 6.80 | 3.30 | 2.51 | |||||||
| CNT17022 | 618412.04 | 7214706.11 | 40 | -54 | 709.50 | 417.00 | 422.00 | 5.00 | 3.40 | 1.94 | |
| Expansion | 446.00 | 451.00 | 5.00 | 3.40 | 4.84 | ||||||
| 518.00 | 530.00 | 12.00 | 8.30 | 3.14 | |||||||
| assays | pending | ||||||||||
| CNT17023 | 618497.70 | 7214693.94 | 335 | -40 | 244.05 | ||||||
| Infill | Hole | Abandoned | |||||||||
| RIS17002 | 623099.00 | 7213712.38 | 358 | -38 | 285.40 | 168.00 | 218.00 | 50.00 | 35.0 | 0.82 | |
| Regional | |||||||||||
Az = Compass Bearing Dip = Degrees Inclination CL = Core Length TL = True Length Top Cut to 20 g/t gold< | |||||||||||
Barsele's President, Gary Cope states, "We are very pleased with the results from the ongoing infill, expansion and regional drilling at Barsele. Agnico Eagle has made significant progress along the Avan-Central-Skiråsen gold trend, as well as the Risberget zone, and most recently the Norra VMS zone. Base of till and surface till sampling are yielding positive results and this work suggests that the metal endowment within the project claims could be significantly larger. We look forward to the continued efforts from our partner Agnico Eagle, as they continue with the quest to unlock future value at the Barsele Project."
The majority of the technical information in this news release was verified by way of a site visit in August of 2017 by the Qualified Person, where the data was discussed with the site operator, the database was reviewed and drill core was examined. The quality control/quality assurance program at the Barsele project is described on our website at http://barseleminerals.com/s/QAQCProcedures-Barsele.asp.
All samples referred to in the preceding table were tested at independent ALS Laboratories in Romania and Ireland, using ultra trace level method (ME-MS61)-48 element by using four acid digestion together with ICP-AES and ICP-MS analytical methods. Gold is tested by fire assay, aqua regia digest and analysed with either atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or gravimetric finish depending on grade (Au-AA24 and Au-GRA22). Each method has a lower and upper calibration range for which results are accurately determined.
As project operator, Agnico Eagle has developed a community relations program to engage the various stakeholders in the project area. Basic environmental assessment and surface water characterization, species studies and hydrogeology studies are ongoing.
About the Barsele Gold Project
The Barsele Project is located on the western end of the Proterozoic "Skellefte Trend", a prolific volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits belt, where it intersects with the "Gold Line" in Northern Sweden. Both polymetallic deposits and intrusive hosted orogenic gold deposits are present in this region and on the property. Current and past producers in the region include Boliden, Kristineberg, Bjorkdal, Svartliden and Storliden.
Drilling has been focused on verifying, defining and expanding the mineral resources within and along the Central, Avan and Skiråsen zones, that are now interpreted to be part of the same mineralized system that extends 3.0 kilometers in strike length and to a depth of 700 meters and is still open in all directions. These contiguous mineralized zones occur within a granodiorite host that ranges in width from 200 to 500 meters and is traceable over a strike length exceeding 8.0 kilometers. Gold is generally associated with arsenopyrite and low base metal content, but also occurs as native metal.
Art Freeze, P.Geo. is the Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and takes responsibility for the technical disclosure contained within this news release.
About Barsele Minerals Corp.
Barsele is a Canada-based junior exploration company, managed by the Belcarra Group and comprised of highly qualified mining professionals. Barsele's main property is the Barsele Gold Project in Västerbottens Län, Sweden, a joint venture with Agnico Eagle. An updated NI 43-101 Technical Report is expected to be released toward the end of the first quarter 2018.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gary Cope
President
For further information, please contact Barsele Minerals Corp. at (604) 687-8566 x 228, email info@barseleminerals.com or visit our website at www.barseleminerals.com.
This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and Barsele undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.
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