VANCOUVER, Oct. 31, 2016 - AZARGA METALS CORP. ("Azarga Metals" or the "Company") (TSX-V:AZR) announces: new assay results from its Unkur Silver-Copper Project in the Zabaikalsky administrative region of eastern Russia; confirmation of a second (previously undiscovered) horizon of significant mineralization; a further expansion of its first phase drilling program to approximately 6,200 cumulative linear meters; identification of visible copper mineralization in two trenches; and the retention of SRK Consulting (Russia) Ltd. ("SRK") to prepare a maiden NI 43-101 Resource estimate.
The Company's President and CEO Dorian (Dusty) Nicol said, "This announcement summarizes a great deal of progress happening quickly. It is particularly exciting to confirm a second horizon of significant mineralization at Unkur and that we will be doing extra drilling to try to intersect it again."
NEW ASSAYS FROM DRILL-HOLES AM-017, AM-004, AM-013 AND AM-015
Assays from four new drill-holes (AM-017, AM-004, AM-013 and AM-015) have been received. All intersected significant silver and copper mineralization. AM-017 and AM-004 show higher grade intersections of significant mineralization, whereas AM-013 and AM-015 are lower grade but extend the mineralized strike length by approximately 700 meters to approximately 2.8 kilometers.
Intersections of significant mineralization from the new drill-hole assays include:
- AM-017 – 10 meters at 134.2g/t silver and 1.63% copper (ie, 272.3g/t silver equivalent or 3.21% copper equivalent) from 192.5 meters to 202.5 meters, including a six meter sub-section at 194.5g/t silver and 2.42% copper (ie, 399.5g/t silver equivalent or 4.72% copper equivalent) from 192.5 meters to 198.5 meters.
- AM-004 – 11 meters at 58.0g/t silver and 0.87% copper (ie, 131.7g/t silver equivalent or 1.55% copper equivalent) from 323.5 meters to 334.5 meters.
- AM-013 – Six meters at 27.7g/t silver and 0.66% copper (ie, 83.6g/t silver equivalent or 0.99% copper equivalent) from 71.0 meters to 77.0 meters.
- AM-015 – 10 meters at 4.6g/t silver and 0.29% copper (ie, 29.2g/t silver equivalent or 0.34% copper equivalent) from 135.0 meters to 145.0 meters.
Note: Silver and copper equivalents assume 100% recoveries and a US$17.65/oz silver price and US$2.18/lb copper price
AM-009 did not intersect mineralization of significance and is believed to have been stopped prior to intersecting the mineralized zone. Samples from AM-009 were not sent for assay. This hole will be re-drilled deeper to target mineralization as part of the ongoing program. A similar situation occurred previously with AM-005, which was re-drilled as AM-017, results of which are in this news release.
CONFIRMATION OF A SECOND MINERALIZED ZONE
The Company announced a second, deeper, intersection of significant mineralization in drill-hole AM-001 on 6 October 2016, noting that it suggested the potential for multiple distinct horizons of significant mineralization at Unkur. Such a feature was not observed in the shorter drill holes that had previously returned assays or from historical exploration records.
Review and detailed logging of drill-core by Azarga Metals has now confirmed that the lower mineralized zone is stratigraphically distinct from the upper zone. As a result, a second distinct mineralized zone has been defined to be referred to as Unkur Lower (with the previously discovered zone to be referred to as Unkur Upper). Furthermore, there remains the prospect of discovering additional zones in the future.
FURTHER EXPANSION OF FIRST PHASE EXPLORATION PROGRAM
On 21 September 2016, Azarga Metals announced an expansion of its planned first phase drilling program at Unkur Silver-Copper Project by up to two thirds to approximately 5,000 cumulative linear meters due to positive exploration results.
The Company now aims to further expand the first phase drilling program by adding an additional approximately 1,200 cumulative linear meters of drilling to 6,200 meters. The additional drilling has two principal objectives. One is to drill test targets north of Profile 6-6 (see Map 1 below) where an ongoing ground magnetic survey disclosed geophysical anomalies. Silver-copper mineralization appears to be getting thicker and higher grade in this direction, which may be associated with a change in direction of the mineralized structure. Another objective of the additional planned drilling is to attempt to provide additional intersections that target the Unkur Lower mineralized zone. Drill-hole AM-018 is currently being drilled to specifically target the up-dip portion of the Unkur Lower zone.
Azarga Metals expects to fund the increased drilling with existing cash.
VISIBLE MINERALIZATION EXPOSED IN TRENCHES
Three trenches are currently being excavated with the objective of exposing near-surface portions of the Unkur Upper mineralized zone for sampling (see trench locations on Map 1 below). Two of these trenches, T-02 and T-03, have penetrated glacial cover to expose bedrock, where visible copper mineralization has been observed. These trenches are being excavated and will be sampled.
SRK RETAINED TO PREPARE MAIDEN RESOURCE ESTIMATE DUE Q1 2017
The Company has retained SRK to prepare a maiden NI 43-101 Resource estimate for the Unkur Silver-Copper Project, based on the results of the first phase exploration program. It is anticipated that the results will be available during the first quarter of 2017. SRK's Project Manager has completed his site visit to Unkur in anticipation of preparation of the relevant model.
SUMMARY OF EXPLORATION PROGRAM AND DRILLING TO DATE
Azarga Metals has now completed 11 diamond core drill-holes (approximately 2,900 cumulative linear meters of a planned approximately 6,200 meters) and is in the process of excavating three trenches at its Unkur Silver-Copper Project as per the map and tables below.
| Table 1: Location details for Unkur phase one drilling program completed holes to date | ||||||||||||||||
| Hole ID | East (UTM) |
North (UTM) |
RL | Dip | Azimuth (magnetic) |
Holetype | EOH | Recovery | ||||||||
| AM-001 | 56.84 | 118.57 | 929m | 70° | 253° | DD | 401m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-003 | 56.84 | 118.57 | 931m | 70° | 254° | DD | 96m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-004 | 56.84 | 118.57 | 931m | 70° | 244° | DD | 383m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-005 | 56.84 | 118.57 | 930m | 70° | 242° | DD | 160m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-007 | 56.83 | 118.58 | 928m | 70° | 239° | DD | 80m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-008 | 56.83 | 118.58 | 1,013m | 70° | 239° | DD | 601m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-009 | 56.82 | 118.58 | 976m | 70° | 236° | DD | 225m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-011 | 56.82 | 118.59 | 960m | 70° | 234° | DD | 179m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-013 | 56.82 | 118.59 | 1,000m | 70° | 231° | DD | 100m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-015 | 56.82 | 118.60 | 1,044m | 70° | 230° | DD | 196m | 95% | ||||||||
| AM-017 | 56.83 | 118.78 | 913m | 70° | 242° | DD | 278m | 95% | ||||||||
Analyses are pending for drill-hole AM-008. Drill-holes AM-002 and AM-018 are currently being drilled.
| Table 2: Unkur phase one drilling program assays reported to date (incl. this report) | |||||
| Hole ID | Intersection | From | To | Silvergrade | Coppergrade |
| AM-001 (IS 1) | 40m | 82.5m | 122.5m | 65.9g/t | 0.74% |
| - AM-001 sub-section | 22m | 82.5m | 103.5m | 111.9g/t | 1.13% |
| - AM-001 sub-section | 7m | 85.5m | 92.5m | 244.1g/t | 1.95% |
| AM-001 (IS 2) | 18m | 314.5m | 322.5m | 70.0g/t | 0.81% |
| - AM-001 sub-section | 7m | 320.5m | 327.5m | 137.7g/t | 1.51% |
| AM-001 (IS 3) | 5m | 339.5m | 344.5m | 49.2g/t | 0.32% |
| AM-003 | 16m | 56.5m | 72.5m | 84.0g/t | 0.79% |
| - AM-003 sub-section | 5m | 59.5m | 64.5m | 200.4g/t | 1.39% |
| AM-004 | 11m | 323.5m | 334.5m | 58.0g/t | 0.87% |
| AM-007 | 10m | 49.0m | 59.0m | 20.2g/t | 0.29% |
| AM-011 | 13.7m | 140.2m | 153.9m | 38.6g/t | 0.5% |
| - AM-011 sub-section | 5.9m | 148.0m | 153.9m | 100.7g/t | 1.35% |
| AM-013 | 6m | 71.0m | 77.0m | 27.7g/t | 0.66% |
| AM-015 | 10m | 135.0m | 145.0m | 4.6g/t | 0.29% |
| AM-017 | 10m | 192.5m | 202.5m | 134.2g/t | 1.63% |
| - AM-017 sub-section | 6m | 192.5m | 198.5m | 194.5g/t | 2.42% |
| Notes: n = full reported intersection and n = sub-section of the relevant full reported intersection. | |||||
Drill-holes AM-005 and AM-009 did not intersect mineralization of significance.
Note: Drill intercepts are reported as drilled and may not be representative of true widths. Drill holes have been sited to attempt to intersect mineralization as close to perpendicular as possible, but there is not sufficient information about geometry of the mineralization at this time to estimate true widths. A Quality Assurance / Quality Control program is part of the sampling program at Unkur. This program includes chain of custody protocols as well as systematic submittals of standards, duplicates and blank samples into the flow of samples produced by the sampling including check assays of approximately 10% of the samples by another certified laboratory. Samples were analyzed at SGS Vostok Limited in Chita, Russia. Check assays will be analyzed at ALS Geochemistry in Chita, Russia.
UNKUR SILVER-COPPER PROJECT
Azarga Metals owns 60% of the Unkur Silver-Copper Project along with the right to acquire the remaining 40% in the future.
Sediment-hosted copper and silver mineralization has been identified across the 5,390 hectare project license area, in outcrops, trenches and by historical diamond drilling. The prior exploration outlined a large area of high-grade shallow stratiform sediment hosted copper-silver 20 to 50 meters thick over an area four to six kilometers long.
Further details concerning Unkur Silver-Copper Project are contained in a technical report filed by the Company as per its news release of 5 April 2016.
Qualified Person
The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol, B.Sc. Geo, MA Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the exploration information disclosures contained in this Press Release.
About Azarga Metals Corp.
Azarga Metals is a mineral exploration and development company that owns 60% of the Unkur Silver-Copper Project in the Zabaikalsky province in eastern Russia.
Source: Azarga Metals
