SODANKYLÄ,
FireFox has reported numerous drill intercepts of relatively narrow high-grade gold mineralization (as shown in Table 1) at the Mustajärvi Project since its first drill program in 2018, but this is the first visible gold reported by FireFox geologists at the project. Drill hole 21MJ001 is a significant step-out (150 metres) to the northeast from a recently reported high-grade intersection in drill hole 20MJ009 (2.0m at 33.25 g/t gold, see Company news release dated
Highlights:
- Hole 21MJ001 intercepted visible gold (at least six discrete flakes up to 1.0mm across) at a depth of approximately 185.5m downhole (see Figure 2: https://bit.ly/32guK6w)
- The VG occurs in a 1.4 metre (m) section of QCT-veins from 184.2 to 185.6m depth
- QCT veins also host the high-grade gold mineralization previously reported in drill holes 20MJ009, 19MJ006, and others in the
Central Zone - There are several QCT veins of variable thickness within altered metamorphosed sedimentary and volcaniclastic rocks from 165.6m to the end of this hole at 199.4m downhole (see Figure 3: https://bit.ly/3adj2Of)
- This hole is a step-out of approximately 150m from drill hole 20MJ009 along the northeast trending Mustajärvi
Shear Zone - Drill hole 21MJ001 was completed in the early hours of
April 11, 2021 , so assays have not yet been completed to confirm the quantity or extent of gold in the drill core
"We are very excited to report the first visible gold from drilling at the Mustajärvi Project. The new drilling has encountered significant zones of intense alteration and veining along trend but beyond the extents of previous drilling," commented Carl Löfberg, President and CEO of FireFox. "In light of this favorable geology, we shall move quickly to secure assays on these samples and to carefully consider our plans for the current drill program."
Preliminary Geologic Details of Drill Hole
The Mustajärvi Project lies along the highway between the cities of Kittilä and Sodankylä, approximately 17 kilometers east of Kittilä. The project remains in the early stages of exploration, having only seen approximately 4,170m of drilling by FireFox since 2018. The property straddles the Mustajärvi
The 2021 drill program is targeting the brittle rocks in these interpreted dilatant zones at the Northeast Target, the
Table 1: Highlights of Previous Mustajärvi High-Grade Drill Intercepts
Drill Hole | Easting | Northing | Azimuth (°) | Plunge (°) | Depth (m) | From (m) | To (m) | Interval* (m) | Gold (g/t) |
18MJ002 | 427702 | 7500228 | 340 | 45 | 82.1 | 34.35 | 34.75 | 0.35 | 11.63 |
18MJ010 | 422728 | 7500162 | 340 | 45 | 154.8 | 125.5 | 127.5 | 2.00 | 45.05 |
20MJ008 | 427716 | 7500191 | 340 | 45 | 200 | 97.5 | 98.0 | 0.5 | 11.20 |
19MJ006 | 427709 | 7500244 | 340 | 45 | 179 | 125.75 | 127.9 | 1.95** | 12.0 |
including | 126.25 | 127.1 | 0.85 | 24.7 | |||||
20MJ009 | 428335 | 7500581 | 340 | 45 | 178.5 | 65.0 | 67.0 | 2.0 | 33.25 |
146.5 | 147.0 | 0.5 | 9.36 | ||||||
* - Drilling is believed to be perpendicular to the dip of the mineralization, however true widths are not yet known and will be ** - Including 0.2m of core loss Please see the original news releases for additional details: Holes 18MJ002 and 18MJ010 reported |
In drill hole 21MJ001, the targeted volcano-sedimentary series was encountered at approximately 104m down hole and continued to the termination of the hole at 199.4m. This section of rocks is pervasively altered with moderate to very abundant amounts of silica, albite, sericite, and pyrite. The altered rock sequence is cut throughout its width by QCT veins, quartz tourmaline, and quartz veins that contain abundant to semi-massive and massive zones of pyrite (see Figure 3). There are additional sulfide, or possibly telluride and bismuth-bearing minerals (not yet confirmed), that are common in the most intensely altered and veined rocks. Intense sericitic alteration with disseminated pyrite and narrow quartz tourmaline veins (up to 1cm) can be observed at the bottom of the drill hole.
It may be significant that the most intense mineralization occurs at depths below previous drilling at the Northeast Target. Six individual zones of very well-developed tourmaline and pyrite alteration can be distinguished within the albite-sericite altered tuffs and sediments from 172.8-184.2m. Near the top of this zone there is an occurrence of bladed calcite textures in a vein (see Figure 4: https://bit.ly/3uLMbrC). This is often an indication of separation of liquid and vapor phases during vein formation, which may occur in the epizonal portion of orogenic gold deposits.
Visible gold appears as six individual flakes, up to 1.0mm in size, observed on the core surface. These are hosted in a milky-colored carbonate-rich portion of a QCT vein. The vein is 1.4m-thick (184.2 - 185.6m) in total, with an approximately 5cm-wide zone of milky carbonate hosting the VG occurrence. Pyrite is abundant throughout the vein, increasing to semi-massive in places. The VG at 185.5 metres downhole occurs in close proximity to semi-massive pyrite and unconfirmed silver-colored minerals within a QCT vein.
The previous holes in the Northeast Target also hosted high-grade mineralization in quartz tourmaline and QCT veins. However, the altered and veined volcano-sedimentary package encountered in 21MJ001 is interpreted to be stratigraphically below the mineralization encountered in 19MJ006 and 20MJ009. Previous drilling reported brecciated zones in altered metasediments with abundant quartz tourmaline veins and pyrite. FireFox geologists have confirmed that the alteration and veining in the vicinity of the VG occurrence is geologically similar to the previously reported mineralization along the Mustajärvi
The drill rig has moved to drill hole location 21MJ002 (See Figure 1), which is approximately midway between drill hole 20MJ009 and 21MJ001. Company geologists are working diligently to complete the drill logging and sampling process for 21MJ001 so that samples will be delivered to the lab promptly.
FireFox cautions the reader that the samples from this new core hole have not yet been assayed. Hence, descriptions of mineralization and comparisons to previously reported mineralized intervals cannot be relied upon. However, the reported visible gold has been visually confirmed by experienced Company geologists, including FireFox's Exploration Manager and General Manager of Exploration. The team further collaborated closely through a photographic review with senior technical advisors (Dr.
Quality Assurance
The core was transported from the rig to the Company´s core storage facility in Sodankylä, where FireFox's exploration team conducted geological and geotechnical logging and photographed the core. Company geologists will select and mark sample intervals prior to sawing of drill core and sampling for analysis. After insertion of quality controls samples into the shipment, the samples will be promptly delivered to an accredited laboratory for gold and multielement analyses.
About the Mustajärvi
The Mustajärvi
For additional details on the Project, please visit the Company's website www.firefoxgold.com.
About
For more information, please refer to the Company's website and profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
"Carl Löfberg"
Chief Executive Officer
Forward Looking Statements
The information herein contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: the receipt of the assay results, changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, the extent of work stoppage and economic impacts that may result from the COVID 19 virus, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry.
Forward-looking statements in this release may include statements regarding: the intent to move quickly to complete the drill logging and sampling process so that samples will be delivered to the lab promptly so that the Company can secure assays on the samples; plans to review the current drill program in light of the results disclosed herein; the belief as to the location of the most prospective gold targets; the location of possible new targets for the 2021 drill program; the current and future work program, including the extent and nature of exploration to be conducted in 2021; and the potential expansion of the same and the significance of the most intense mineralization occurring at depths below previous drilling at the Northeast Target. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary.
FireFox cautions the reader that the samples from this new core hole are currently being logged and prepared for sampling, so no assays are available yet to confirm the quantity or extent of gold in the drill hole. Hence, descriptions of mineralization and comparisons to previously reported mineralized intervals cannot be relied upon.
Further, although drilling is believed to be perpendicular to the dip of the mineralization, true widths are not yet known and will be confirmed with additional drilling and geological modeling.
The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the expectations of FireFox as of the date of dissemination and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. FireFox does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.
SOURCE
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