Aurion Resources Ltd. reported results for 22 holes from the 2023 drilling program on the Aurion-B2Gold Corp. Joint Venture, operated by B2Gold, in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt in northern Finland. A total of 8,156.10 m of diamond core drilling has been completed to date on the JV properties in 2023.

The drill program was designed to test several new target areas and for the existence of additional mineralized zones or extensions to known mineralization at Helmi and Kutuvuoma. Six scout drill holes (1,205.85 m) were completed in the Vuoma permit area in the southeastern part of the JV property. The holes were planned to test the southern side of the Kumpu basin with the aim of finding a prospective volcano-sedimentary package of rocks along the main Savukoski/Kumpu contact (the equivalent package which hosts Helmi).

Drill holes VUO23004, VUO23005 and VUO23006 were collared approximately 2.7 km south-southwest of Helmi and drilled to the northeast. All three holes intersected anomalous gold (=0.1 g/t) values hosted by various lithologies. The best individual sample was from hole VUO23004 where 0.72 g/t Au over 1.40 m from 132.40 m was returned from sediments.

Drill hole VUO23007 was collared 2.7 km south of Helmi and drilled to the northeast. Several mineralized intervals were intersected in strongly deformed, sericite-chlorite-albite/K-feldspar altered Kumpu sandstone with local trace sulphides. These intervals lie within ~60 m of the Savukoski/Kumpu contact.

Intercepts include 0.73 g/t Au over 2.70 m from 65.70 m, 0.37 g/t Au over 15.50 m from 78.50 m including 0.49 g/t Au over 10.00 m from 81.20 m, 1.33 g/t Au over 8.30 m from 133.60 m and 1.33 g/t Au over 1.35 m from 171.40 m. This mineralization is a new discovery along the Savukoski/Kumpu contact on the southern margin of the basin. Notably, the hole also intersected ultramafic rocks containing magnetite-pyrite veinlets like those observed at Helmi where they carry gold. Drill holes VUO23008 and VUO23009 were collared approximately 3.6 km southwest of Helmi and drilled to the northeast.

The holes did not intersect any significant mineralization. Three drill holes (1,034.20 m) were completed to the east of the Helmi prospect. The holes were planned to test the eastern part of the Helmi corridor prospective package and the possibility of a mineralized shoot under the main Helmi mineralization.

Drill hole IKK23044 was collared as the easternmost hole along the Helmi corridor and drilled to the northwest. The hole intersected low grade mineralization at the bottom of the hole close to the tenement boundary with Rupert Resources Ltd. The mineralization is hosted in metasedimentary intervals within an ultramafic volcanic package, bracketed by brecciation. The hole returned 0.39 g/t Au over 0.80 m from 197.60 m and 0.40 g/t Au over 3.95 m from 201.80 m. Drill hole IKK23045 was collared to the east of Helmi, 292 m west-northwest of IKK23044 and drilled to the southeast.

The hole intersected several mineralized intervals including 1.00 g/t Au and 1.18% Cu over 5.00 m from 80.00 m, 0.37 g/t Au and 0.30% Cu over 5.05 m from 112.00 m, 1.04 g/t Au over 5.20 m from 220.55 m, 1.76 g/t Au over 1.40 m from 308.70 m, 1.21 g/t Au over 9.20 m from 392.00 m and 7.73 g/t Au over 1.00 m from 409.50m. The mineralized zones may represent the identification of additional mineralized shoots along the Helmi corridor. Drill hole IKK23046 was collared to the east of Helmi, 177 m west-northwest of IKK23045 and drilled to the southeast.

The hole intersected 1.24 g/t Au and 0.62% Cu over 4.45 m from 161.40 m. Due to technical difficulties the hole was abandoned short of the planned target depth, notably where signs of Helmi-style alteration and strain began increasing within the ultramafic host package. Four scout drill holes (1,457.25 m) were completed to the south and west of the test pit area of the Kutuvuoma prospect. The holes were planned to test targets outside of the known mineralized zones at depth and beyond the plunge to the west.

The holes also aimed to test geophysical anomalies and discontinuities visible in the ground magnetics outside of the immediate test pit area, as well as at the contact with the gabbro body south of the pit. Drill hole KU23010 was collared 450 m south of the test pit and drilled to the northeast. The hole intersected low grade mineralization in pyrite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite enriched metasediments in contact with ultramafic rocks returning 0.26 g/t Au over 12.80 m from 351.60 m including 0.97 g/t Au over 2.10 m from 351.60 m. A second low grade mineralized interval was intersected in pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pyrite enriched ultramafic rocks returning 0.30 g/t Au over 16.80 m from 430.20 m including 0.98 g/t Au over 3.00 m from 440.30 m. These intercepts represent identification of new mineralized zones or shoots to the south of the previously identified mineralization.

Drill hole KU23011 was collared 400 m southwest of the test pit and drilled to the northeast. The hole intersected mineralization hosted by mixed ultramafic rocks and metasediments with blebby pyrite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite. Higher grades in the interval are associated with quartz veining.

The interval returned 0.99 g/t Au over 16.35 m from 258.20 m including 1.43 g/t Au over 10.45 m from 261.70 m. This intercept represents identification of a new mineralized zone or shoot to the south of the previously identified mineralization. Hole KU23011 became stuck in a graphitic fault and was abandoned prior to target depth. Drill hole KU23012 was collared 425 m west-southwest of the test pit and drilled to the northeast.

The hole intersected mineralization hosted by talc-chlorite schist returning 0.83 g/t Au over 2.80 m from 231.20 m and 1.89 g/t Au over 1.20 m from 244.60 m. Low grade mineralization was intersected in ultramafic rocks returning up to 0.52 g/t Au over 3.30 m from 299.00 m. Drill hole KU23013 was collared 300 m west of the test pit and drilled to the northeast as a 180 m overcut to hole KU23012. The hole appears to have either drilled over or stopped short of the mineralization as it became stuck in a graphitic fault and was abandoned prior to target depth. One anomalous gold (=0.1 g/t) value was returned from the end of the hole.

Seven scout drill holes (1,695.00 m) were completed at several areas between the Helmi and Kutuvuoma prospects and were planned to test various geophysical and geochemical targets.