Osisko Metals Announces Updated Mineral Resource Estimate at Gaspé Copper – Indicated Resource of 495 Mt Grading 0.37% Copper Equivalent

Osisko Metals Incorporated
Osisko Metals Incorporated

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MONTREAL, May 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Metals Incorporated (the "Company" or "Osisko Metals") (TSX-V: OM; OTCQX: OMZNF; FRANKFURT: 0B51) is pleased to announce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”) at Copper Mountain as part of the Gaspé Copper Project, located near Murdochville in the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec.

The updated MRE (see Table 1 below) comprises an open-pit Indicated Resource of 495 million tonnes grading 0.37% CuEq, representing a 30% increase in copper-equivalent metal content over the previously reported copper-only Inferred Resource (see April 28, 2022 press release), as well as greater than 99% conversion rate from Inferred to Indicated category.

At 3.25 billion pounds (1.47 million tonnes) of contained copper, not including significant molybdenum (180 million pounds) and silver (28 million ounces) resources (see Table 1 below), the Copper Mountain in-pit Indicated Resource hosts the largest undeveloped copper asset in Eastern North America.

Other improvements in the updated MRE include a 38% reduction of the strip ratio (now estimated at 1.23) from the estimate in the previously reported Inferred Resource, based on the mineralization geometry that surrounds the former open pit mine.

Robert Wares, CEO & Chairman of the Board, commented: “We are extremely pleased with the results of the updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Copper Mountain Deposit. The overall copper resource has increased since we announced the maiden resource estimate in 2022 with significant molybdenum and silver credits now included in the estimate. Integrating the recently-announced positive metallurgical testing results, the Gaspé Copper Project is showing excellent potential towards becoming a key Canadian copper-molybdenum producer, located in one of the world’s safest mining jurisdictions.”

Mr. Wares continued: “This MRE will provide the basis for a Preliminary Economic Assessment, scheduled to be released in early Q1 2025 in the context of what we believe is the start of a strong long-term copper market. Furthermore, we strongly believe that this important asset could become a core component of Quebec’s critical mineral development strategy that aims to provide essential metals for global decarbonization initiatives.”

Table 1: Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) Base Case

Class

Tonnes

Cu Eq

Cu

Mo

Ag

Cu

Cu

Mo

Mo

Ag

 

Mt

%

%

%

g/t

M lbs

kt

M lbs

kt

(koz)

Indicated

495

0.37

0.30

0.016

1.75

3,248

1,473

180

82

27,911

Inferred

6.3

0.37

0.28

0.019

1.44

39

18

3

1

291

  1. The independent qualified persons for the MRE, as defined by National Instrument (“NI”) 43-101 guidelines, is Pierre-Luc Richard, P.Geo., of PLR Resources Inc. with contributions from Carl Michaud, P.Eng., of G-Mining for cut-off grade and Pit shell optimization, and Colin Hardie, P.Eng., from BBA, for metallurgical parameters. The effective date of the MRE is April 22, 2024.

  2. These Mineral Resources are not mineral reserves as they have no demonstrated economic viability. No economic evaluation of these Mineral Resources has been produced. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Resources in this MRE are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient drilling to define these Inferred Resources as Indicated. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated category with continued drilling.

  3. The Qualified Persons are not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues that could materially affect the MRE.

  4. Calculations used metric units (metres, tonnes). Metal contents in the above table are presented in percent, pounds or tonnes. Metric tonnages and pounds were rounded, and any discrepancies in total amounts are due to rounding errors.

  5. CIM definitions and guidelines for Mineral Resource Estimates have been followed. See Cautionary Note below for copper equivalency (CuEq) values.