- Mobilization has begun on the previously-announced (see news release dated
Sept 27, 2022 ) follow-up program at Ballywire, consisting of an initial five (5) holes totalling approx. 1,500m - Step-out distances are planned to range from 80m to 220m from discovery hole G11-468-03
- For reference, G11-468-03 was a 410m step-out exploration hole which intersected one of the best holes drilled in
Ireland over recent years: 66.0m of mineralization including (i) 6.85m of 15.4% Zn+Pb (11.1% Zn, 4.3% Pb) and 160 g/t Ag, (ii) 1.71m of 12.2% Zn+Pb (10.3% Zn and 1.9% Pb) and 38 g/t Ag and (iii) 5.00m of 8.3% Zn+Pb (6.2% Zn and 2.1% Pb) and 107 g/t Ag (true widths 80-100% of intercepted width; see news release datedSept 6, 2022 ) - One drill rig will be used for the follow-up program, with results expected in early Q1 2023
- Ballywire discovery area remains open along strike for 3km to the ENE and 1.5km to the W, as well as, up-dip to the NNW for at least 500m
- Separately, to test for Energy Critical Metals which may occur in Irish-Type zinc deposits, the Company re-assayed high-grade portions of the Ballywire discovery hole
- Assays show significantly elevated germanium (currently trading at approx.
US$31 /oz, 40% higher than silver atUS$22 /oz), with the majority of grades between 23 g/t Ge and 79 g/t Ge - The above results represent some of the highest Ge grades known in
Ireland and compare favourably to grades at Ivanhoe's Kipushi zinc project in DRC (64 g/t Ge), stated by theUSGS to be the most significant carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb-Cu system containing notable amounts of Ge
- At the Carrickittle West target (
Stonepark Project ; see news release datedJune 16, 2022 ), drilling is expected to begin upon receipt of permitting approvals and as logistical considerations allow - As previously stated, both follow-up programs at Ballywire and Carrickittle West are expected to be funded from the Company's existing treasury
- Drilling on the Company's regional targets at the PG West and Stonepark projects have now been completed; results expected in due course; the Company has, to date, drilled 6,042m in 2022
"We are excited to begin this very important follow-up drill program at Ballywire," stated
The 2022 follow-up drill program at Ballywire is planned to consist of five step-out holes totalling approximately 1,500m (see blue dots in Exhibit 1). These holes are designed to individually step-out between 80 and 220m from discovery hole G11-468-03 (see news release dated
High-grade zinc-lead mineralization at Ballywire is currently pierced by three holes over approximately 1.5km (see 97-468-02, G11-468-01 and G11-468-03 in Exhibit 1):
- 97-468-02 (1997): 2.50m of 6.2% Zn+Pb (3.0% Zn and 3.2% Pb), including 0.50m of 20.3% Zn+Pb (9.6% Zn + 10.7% Pb)
- G11-468-01 (2021): 3.30m of 12.5% Zn+Pb (10.1% Zn + 2.4% Pb) and 48.3 g/t Ag, including 0.40m of 25.5% Zn+Pb (20.1% Zn and 5.4% Pb) and 92.2 g/t Ag
- G11-468-03 (2022): 6.85m of 15.4% Zn+Pb (11.1% Zn and 4.3% Pb) and 160.3 g/t Ag, including 2.05m of 40.8% Zn+Pb (30.5% Zn and 10.3% Pb) and 384.7 g/t Ag
The discovery area around G11-468-03 currently remains open and untested along strike for approximately 3km to the ENE and 1.5km to the W, as well as, up-dip to the NNW for at least 500m (see Exhibit 1). Notably, the next nearest historic hole testing the target horizon to the ENE (99-3552-05) is 3km away and intersected 5.00m of 1.6% Zn+Pb.
Drilling to date at Ballywire consistently shows mineralized zones to be generally bedding-parallel along the base of the Waulsortian limestone, similar to the morphology of classic Irish-type zinc deposits. The base of the Waulsortian limestone at Ballywire dips to the SSE, shallowing to the NNW.
Due to its application in high-tech industries and its scarcity on the Earth's crust, the element germanium (Ge) has been on the European Union List of Critical Raw Materials since 2010. Other counties that designate Ge as a critical element include US,
Outside of some coal deposits, Ge is known to occur in trace quantities within some zinc deposits, including Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) zinc-lead deposits which are present in
From | To (m) | Int (m) | Description | Zn | Pb | Zn+Pb | Ag | Ge |
228.20 | 228.57 | 0.37 | MS pebbles | 21.40 | 3.76 | 25.16 | 171.0 | 26.2 |
229.31 | 229.87 | 0.56 | MS lens Sph & Gal | 32.70 | 13.70 | 46.40 | 632.0 | 63.2 |
251.65 | 252.82 | 1.17 | MS - mainly | 5.35 | 1.09 | 6.44 | 106.0 | 14.5 |
252.82 | 253.82 | 1.00 | MS - mainly Py (Gal + Sph) | 3.54 | 4.56 | 8.10 | 113.0 | 6.5 |
253.82 | 254.60 | 0.78 | MS - Py more (Sph + Gal) | 4.17 | 3.47 | 7.64 | 89.7 | 8.8 |
256.45 | 257.00 | 0.55 | MS - Sph/Gal/Py | 32.70 | 19.70 | 52.40 | 540.0 | 55.1 |
257.00 | 257.81 | 0.81 | MS - Sph/Gal/Py | 32.10 | 10.40 | 42.50 | 339.0 | 38.4 |
257.81 | 258.10 | 0.29 | MS - Sph/Gal/Py | 44.30 | 3.35 | 47.65 | 496.0 | 79.2 |
258.10 | 258.50 | 0.40 | MS - Sph/Gal/Py | 14.35 | 2.00 | 16.35 | 183.0 | 33.9 |
268.88 | 269.72 | 0.84 | BNL - Sph cemented Bx | 17.35 | 1.99 | 19.34 | 55.2 | 23.2 |
Note: 'MS' = massive sulphide within the Waulsortian Limestone, 'Sph' = sphalerite (zinc-bearing mineral), 'Gal' = galena (lead-bearing mineral), 'Py' = pyrite, 'BNL' = Ballynash (below Waulsortian Limestone), 'Bx' = breccia |
For global context, Ge does not form stand-alone deposits, instead only occurring as a rare by-product in some zinc or coal deposits. According to the
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The Ballywire zinc prospect is located at the intersection of the south-westerly projection of the Rathdowney Trend (which hosts the past-producing Lisheen and Galmoy zinc mines) and the Pallas Green Corridor (see Exhibit 3). Historic drilling at the Ballywire prospect was sparse, last being worked by operators in 2008. Group Eleven staked the prospect in 2016 based on compelling results from the two most-recent historic holes.
Notes to Exhibit 3: (a) Pallas Green MRE is owned by Glencore (see Glencore's Resources and Reserves Report dated
Technical information in this news release has been approved by Professor
Group Eleven inserts certified reference materials ("CRMs" or "Standards") as well as blank material, to its sample stream as part of its industry-standard QA/QC programme. The QC results have been reviewed by the Qualified Person, who is satisfied that all the results are within acceptable parameters. The Qualified Person has validated the sampling and chain of custody protocols used by Group Eleven.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chief Executive Officer
Neither
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the timing, content, cost and results of proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/ reserves and geological interpretations. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.
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