Ascot Resources Reports Final Drill Results from 2017 Drill Program at Premier Property

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascot Resources Ltd (TSXV:AOT) (“Ascot” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the completion of Ascot’s 2017 drilling program on the Premier property, which covers more than 65 square kilometres near the town of Stewart in northwest BC.  The 2017 program was executed in a cost effective and efficient manner utilizing the company owned fleet of eight diamond drills.

During the 2017 season, 379 holes were drilled for a total 118,800 metres with the specific goal of further exploring high priority targets outlined in previous campaigns with a focus on the Northern Lights area (“Northern Lights”). Work in the Northern Lights used a combination of broad drilling to outline the target, as well as tightening drill spacing on specific higher-grade areas for inclusion in a new resource estimate.  This release summarizes the last set of high grade assay results from 40 holes drilled on targets in the Northern Lights area as well as a number of reconnaissance drill holes in the Big Missouri-Martha Ellen areas, located approximately 5 kilometres to the north of the Premier open pit.

Recent Drilling Highlights:

• In the Northern Lights West zone, hole P17-1570 returned 10.66 g/t Au over 4.70 metres and P17-1575 returned 9.05 g/t Au over 8.35 metres. This northwest striking steeply northeast dipping limb has been traced for 400+ metres of strike length with 150-200 metres of dip length and remains open to the northwest.
   
• The Ben Subzone continues to deliver excellent results including hole P17-1580 which returned 5.87 g/t Au over 17.4 metres including 58.5 g/t Au over 1.40 metres. This higher-grade area in the Ben Subzone has been traced down plunge for 700 metres, with a general width of 200 metres.
   
• Previously reported drilling at Big Missouri delineated two mineral zones; the Province near surface and the deeper Big Missouri.  Recently completed reconnaissance drilling between the Big Missouri and Martha Ellen comprised of holes P17-1564, 1565 and 1566, demonstrated the presence of two mineralized horizons, which may continue to Martha Ellen.  This suggests that the highly mineralized Martha Ellen zone may be equivalent to the equally prospective Province horizon. Deeper drilling at Martha Ellen is required to confirm the continuity of the Big Missouri horizon.

As per details in a previous release, the Company has engaged David Rennie of Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (“RPA”) as the qualified person to assist management in the development of the new resource estimate.  The new resource estimate will provide the basis for a PEA to explore mining opportunities utilizing the existing mine and plant infrastructure.

With the successful completion of the 2017 program, Ascot is currently reviewing drill plans for next year targeting infill drilling at Big Missouri, Northern Lights and Premier and additional exploration drilling of high priority targets elsewhere on the property.  A finalized drill plan will be announced in conjunction with the new NI 43-101 resource in Q1 2018.

The Company would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people involved with the 2017 drill program.  With eight company owned drills operating on two shifts, the quality of the work completed is testament to the management and operating skills of the all the people at the mine site, and the Stewart core shack, supported by corporate personnel in Vancouver.

• New 2017 drill highlights include:

True widths are believed to be 70-90% of intersected widths in the Premier area.
 (*) samples cut to 1opt or 34.29 g/t Au.

This is the 11th and final results release for 2017 drill season and includes 40 holes P17-1564-1603.

Detailed results table, locations and figures can be viewed at the following Ascot link: www.ascotgold.com

Graeme Evans, P. Geo and Lawrence Tsang, P. Geo provide the field management for the Premier exploration program.  Graeme Evans, designated as the Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of Ascot Resources Ltd.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Analytical work is being carried out by ALS Lab Group. Quality assurance and quality control programs include the use of analytical blanks and standards and duplicates in addition to the labs own internal quality assurance program. All samples were analyzed using multi-digestion with ICP finish and fire assay with AA finish for gold. Samples over 100 ppm silver were reanalyzed using four acid digestion with an ore grade AA finish. Samples over 1,500 ppm silver were fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Samples with over 10 ppm gold were fire assayed with a gravimetric finish.  Identified or suspected metallic gold or silver are subjected to "metallics" assays. Also for extreme high gold grades a concentrate analysis is performed with a fire assay and gravimetric finish accurate up to 999985 ppm Au limit (ALS Au-CON01) method.  Sampling and storage are at the company's secure facility in Stewart with bi-weekly sample shipments made to ALS Labs Terrace prep site.

Ascot Annual General Meeting

Ascot Resources will be holding its Annual General Meeting of the shareholders on December 19, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the offices of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP at Suite 2600, 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, B.C., V7X 1L3