VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yukon Metals Corp. (CSE: YMC, FSE: E770, OTC: YMMCF – the “Company” or “Yukon Metals”), is pleased to provide an update from ongoing reconnaissance fieldwork on its 715-hectare Star River Project, located 50 kilometres (“km”) due south of Ross River, Yukon, with all-season road access.
The second batch of results of the prospecting program include assays for an additional 100 samples of 175 samples taken to date (Figures 6-7). Samples in this release were taken near historic F2, F3, Saddle, FLT, Canyon and Gem showings. Significant gold and silver values were returned, including 3 ounces per ton Au (oz/ton) or 101 grams per tonne Au (g/t) from F2 (Table 1), multiple samples ranging from 1.62 up to 9.35 g/t Au at Saddle (Table 2), and 9.74 g/t Au near FLT (Table 4). Elevated silver was found in several samples at F2 and F3, including 1,935-1,940 g/t Ag at F2 and 1,790 g/t Ag at F3. In addition, an overlimit assay of sample K140057, described in the news release dated September 10, 2024, contains 10,936 g/t Ag (319 oz/ton Ag) from a new mineralization occurrence on the property.
Rory Quinn, President & CEO stated, “Yukon Metals has now sampled bonanza grade silver and bonanza grade gold on the same property, at Star River! Not only have we sampled 319 ounces per ton silver (~4oz/ton gold equivalent), we have now sampled 3 oz/ton gold! As shown in Figures 6-7, high grade silver and gold have been sampled from multiple areas across this 715-hectare property, in most cases, areas that are many hundreds of meters apart. These ongoing results are a culmination of the fantastic work done by our technical team this field season, and there is more to come!”
The field portion of the exploration program has now been completed, including mapping, prospecting, and ground geophysics, including TDEM and gravity surveys. Data processing and map compilation is ongoing with further rock samples from the prospecting survey still pending analysis. Upcoming samples are expected in several areas on the northern portion of the claim block.
Vision Quest, a Yukon First Nations-owned exploration contractor working closely with Yukon Metals, has successfully commissioned and now closed and moved out the temporary 10-person camp on the claims as permitted under a Class 1 Notification.
F2 and Canyon Showings The F2 and Canyon showings are located near a closed adit that was drifted in the late 1960s. Mineralization taken from nearby outcrop is hosted within a variably oxidized quartzite unit approximately 12m wide and consists of silver and gold hosted in galena-sphalerite bearing veins and quartz-arsenopyrite veins. Elevated gold mineralization was found 200m south of the F2 showing including samples assaying 101 g/t Au and 1.69 g/t Au in highly oxidised arsenopyrite-scorodite float.
Table 1- Highlighted samples taken near the historic F2 and Canyon showings.
Sample
Au g/t
Ag g/t
As ppm
Cu ppm
Pb ppm
Sb ppm
Zn ppm
Type
K137062
0.02
1,940
179
26
>200,000
1,935
12
Outcrop
K137063
0.14
1,935
177
23
>200,000
1,845
32
Float
K137066
101.00
52
>10,000
219
842
314
26
Float
K137067
1.69
8
>10,000
78
739
66
43
Float
K140003
0.10
1,450
101
403
>200,000
2,090
21
Float
K140010
0.05
287
52
43
>200,000
307
2
Float
K140014
3.26
538
9,020
307
>200,000
1,980
915
Float
K140016
1.06
578
1,270
266
>200,000
8,000
5
Outcrop
K140042
0.75
627
2,710
343
>200,000
>10,000
83
Outcrop
K140043
0.08
1,285
421
45
>200,000
1,490
24
Outcrop
K140044
0.29
379
1,880
38
171,500
2,940
58
Outcrop
K140048
0.96
18
3,870
48
3,940
267
41
Outcrop
K140050
0.97
3
1,935
9
349
95
22
Outcrop
K140104
1.70
5
3,900
14
780
67
22
Outcrop
K137095
0.43
7
921
15
2,050
48
135
Outcrop
K137097
0.41
6
4,900
400
576
107
64
Outcrop
K137098
0.83
449
6,300
135
>200,000
2,700
50
Vein
K137099
0.94
11
8,000
130
3,470
479
71
Outcrop
K137100
2.28
35
9,400
205
13,050
633
50
Outcrop
Figure 1- Samples taken near historic F2 showings, Au g/t.
Saddle Showing
The Saddle showing was first prospected in 1986. Three holes were subsequently drilled and intersected mineralization hosted in oxidized veins. In 1987 manto style mineralization was exposed over a surface area of 34 by 4 meters. Samples taken by Yukon metals of oxidized vein material in the area assayed up to 9.35 g/t Au with associated elevated As, Pb, Sb, Zn. Chip samples across a highly oxidized exposure in the southern part of the Saddle area showed consistent gold mineralization over the 20m sampling length.
Table 2- Highlighted samples taken near the historic Saddle showing.
Sample
Au g/t
Ag g/t
As ppm
Cu ppm
Pb ppm
Sb ppm
Zn ppm
Type
K140107
3.03
103
>10,000
3,470
1,540
1,425
1,770
Float
K140109
2.52
22
6,610
146
7,640
354
18
Subcrop
K140110
0.95
9
3,320
33
3,070
93
33
Subcrop
K140111
0.65
21
2,970
60
8,800
114
29
Subcrop
K140112
1.62
7
3,610
128
1,625
103
38
Subcrop
K140114
1.86
18
3,930
220
2,480
283
95
Subcrop
K140115
2.03
29
3,880
363
1,765
435
47
Subcrop
K140117
6.82
368
>10,000
1,565
98,000
4,860
132
Subcrop
K140118
1.44
31
4,150
1,475
5,310
1,250
148
Subcrop
K140119
5.08
19
10,001
101
7,710
216
35
Subcrop
K140021
9.35
11
10,001
277
1,695
1,270
4,090
Float
K140022
2.05
13
10,001
240
316
210
103
Float
Figure 2- Samples taken near historic Saddle showing, Au g/t.
Gem Showing The Gem showing was first prospected for silver in the mid-1950s in an area 300m northeast of the Canyon and F2 showings. Galena-quartz-siderite-pyrite veins within quartzite exposures were found within a highly faulted area. Historic work in the Gem area focused on silver and lead mineralization. Samples taken by Yukon Metals discovered elevated gold values up to 2.01 g/t Au in both galena-siderite and quartz-arsenopyrite veining.
Table 3- Highlighted samples taken near historic Gem showing.
Sample
Au g/t
Ag g/t
As ppm
Cu ppm
Pb ppm
Sb ppm
Zn ppm
Type
K137075
1.05
266
2,990
161
100,500
410
32
Subcrop
K137077
2.01
5
>10,000
23
206
26
28
Subcrop
K137083
0.21
195
1,075
27
83,100
219
15
Outcrop
K137086
0.45
70
120
72
32,700
129
6
Outcrop
Figure 3- Samples taken near historic Gem showing, Au g/t.
FLT Showing Float samples were taken in outcrop to the east of the historic FLT showing as well as downslope on a float train. One sample in float assayed 9.74 g/t Au in a highly oxidized rock containing pyrite, sphalerite and other fine-grained sulphides.
Table 4- Highlighted samples taken near the historic FLT showing.
Sample
Au g/t
Ag g/t
As ppm
Cu ppm
Pb ppm
Sb ppm
Zn ppm
Type
K140029
9.74
4
>10,000
4
84
892
1,900
Float
Figure 4- Samples taken near historic FLT showing, Au g/t.
F3 Showing Outcrop near the F3 showing consists of a small oxidized manto located stratigraphically above a black shale unit in a creek. The exposed manto is approximately 2m wide and 20m long before its exposure disappears under surficial sediments. To the south, a NS trending subvertical fault that is ~5m thick hosts galena-siderite mineralization. Silver mineralization up to 1,790 g/t Ag was found in oxidised galena veins in the outcrop of this fault.
Table 5- Highlighted samples taken near the historic F3 showing.
Sample
Au g/t
Ag g/t
As ppm
Cu ppm
Pb ppm
Sb ppm
Zn ppm
Type
K140123
0.20
1,790
1,290
8,690
>200,000
5,660
1,365
Outcrop
K140124
0.31
851
2,990
2,010
188,500
3,940
606
Outcrop
K140125
0.42
19
378
51
1,540
209
375
Outcrop
Figure 5- Samples taken near historic F3 showing, Au g/t.
Figure 6- Locations of 2024 rock samples received to date with Au g/t values.
Figure 7- Locations of 2024 rock samples received to date with Ag g/t values.
Table 6- Highlights of significant results from 2024 prospecting to date at Star River.
Area
Sample
Au g/t
Ag g/t
As ppm
Cu ppm
Pb ppm
Sb ppm
Zn ppm
Type
New MX
K140057
0.72
10,936
165
7,310
>200,000
>10,000
2,060
Float
K140058
0.26
4,210
45
3,990
>200,000
4,620
8,940
Float
K140059
0.06
1,290
33
2,370
>200,000
1,745
25,900
Float
Saddle Zone
K140021
9.35
11
10,001
277
1,695
1,270
4,090
Float
K140022
2.05
13
10,001
240
316
210
103
Float
K140107
3.03
103
>10,000
3,470
1,540
1,425
1,770
Float
K140109
2.52
22
6,610
146
7,640
354
18
Subcrop
K140110
0.95
9
3,320
33
3,070
93
33
Subcrop
K140111
0.65
21
2,970
60
8,800
114
29
Subcrop
K140112
1.62
7
3,610
128
1,625
103
38
Subcrop
K140114
1.86
18
3,930
220
2,480
283
95
Subcrop
K140115
2.03
29
3,880
363
1,765
435
47
Subcrop
K140117
6.82
368
>10,000
1,565
98,000
4,860
132
Subcrop
K140118
1.44
31
4,150
1,475
5,310
1,250
148
Subcrop
K140119
5.08
19
10,001
101
7,710
216
35
Subcrop
F2
K137062
0.02
1,940
179
26
>200,000
1,935
12
Outcrop
K137063
0.14
1,935
177
23
>200,000
1,845
32
Float
K137066
101.00
52
>10,000
219
842
314
26
Float
K137067
1.69
8
>10,000
78
739
66
43
Float
K140003
0.10
1,450
101
403
>200,000
2,090
21
Float
K140010
0.05
287
52
43
>200,000
307
2
Float
K140014
3.26
538
9,020
307
>200,000
1,980
915
Float
K140016
1.06
578
1,270
266
>200,000
8,000
5
Outcrop
K140042
0.75
627
2,710
343
>200,000
>10,000
83
Outcrop
K140043
0.08
1,285
421
45
>200,000
1,490
24
Outcrop
K140077
0.92
310
1,210
328
172,000
>10,000
7
Float
K140078
0.75
129
3,030
228
68,000
844
60
Float
K140079
0.46
1,410
1,150
342
210,000
1,425
130
Float
K140086
0.17
1,665
854
6,710
>200,000
5,940
2,040
Outcrop
K140087
6.93
35
>10,000
263
6,410
278
306
Float
K140104
1.70
5
3,900
14
780
67
22
Outcrop
K140123
0.20
1,790
1,290
8,690
>200,000
5,660
1,365
Outcrop
K140124
0.31
851
2,990
2,010
188,500
3,940
606
Outcrop
K654505
1.32
2
2,070
35
67
21
13
Outcrop
K654552
4.02
6
>10,000
169
1,885
223
32
Float
Canyon
K137098
0.83
449
6,300
135
>200,000
2,700
50
Subcrop
K137099
0.94
11
8,000
130
3,470
479
71
Chip
K137100
2.28
35
9,400
205
13,050
633
50
Chip
Gem
K137075
1.05
266
2,990
161
100,500
410
32
Subcrop
K137077
2.01
5
>10,000
23
206
26
28
Subcrop
FLT
K140029
9.74
4
10,001
4
84
892
1,900
Float
Key 35
K140055
1.61
7
2,790
7
690
41
6
Subcrop
Lap 10
K140067
1.04
1,165
1,485
917
>200,000
967
695
Outcrop
K140068
0.23
113
958
407
47,400
140
617
Outcrop
K140069
0.14
101
1,375
407
34,400
111
1,540
Outcrop
K140070
0.08
175
1,015
848
46,400
252
4,020
Outcrop
K140071
0.06
603
244
878
>200,000
536
2,330
Outcrop
K140072
0.43
1,095
1,240
437
>200,000
1,180
765
Outcrop
K140073
0.05
405
159
568
170,000
288
603
Outcrop
F3
K140123
0.20
1,790
1,290
8,690
>200,000
5,660
1,365
Outcrop
K140124
0.31
851
2,990
2,010
188,500
3,940
606
Outcrop
K140086
0.17
1,665
854
6,710
>200,000
5,940
2,040
Outcrop
K140087
6.93
35
>10,000
263
6,410
278
306
Float
About the Star River Project
Yukon Metals owns 100% of the Star River base and precious metals project accessible by all-season road from the Robert Campbell Highway and adjacent to the former Ketza Mine haul road. The project is host to multiple showings of polymetallic carbonate replacement mineralization and quartz-sulphide veins first discovered in the 1950s (Figures 6-7). Remnants of underground and surface workings using historical exploration techniques are visible around much of the property and tied together with previously established access roads and trails branching from the Ketza Mine road.
Sample Methodology Rock samples were sent to ALS Minerals for analysis with sample preparation in Whitehorse, Yukon and analysis in North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Samples were prepared by crush to 70 % passing 2mm, 250g split pulverised better than 85% passing 75 microns (Prep-31A). Pulp samples were analysed for 34 elements by four acid digestion and ICP-AES (ME-ICP61). All samples were analyzed for gold by fire assay and AAS with a 50g nominal sample weight (Au-AA24). Samples over 10 g/t Au were assayed with 50g sample fire assay with gravimetric finish (Au-GRA22). Samples over 1500 g/t Ag were assayed by 50g sample fire assay with gravimetric finish (Ag-GRA21). Samples over 10,000 g/t Ag were analysed with Ag-CON01.
Rock samples taken while prospecting referenced in this release are selective in nature and collected to determine the presence or absence of mineralization and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.
Figure 8- Star River Project Location Map
Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Helena Kuikka, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Yukon Metals and a Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101).
About Yukon Metals Corp.
Yukon Metals is well financed and represents a property portfolio built onover 30 years of prospecting by the Berdahl family, the prospecting team behind Snowline Gold’s portfolio of primary gold assets. The Yukon Metals portfolio consists primarily of copper-gold and silver-lead-zinc assets, with a substantial gold and silver component. The Company is led by an experienced Board of Directors and Management Team across technical and finance disciplines.
Yukon Metals is focused on fostering sustainable growth and prosperity within Yukon's local communities, while simultaneously enhancing stakeholder value. Our strategy centers around inclusivity and shared prosperity, offering both community members and investors the chance to contribute to, and benefit from, our ventures.
The Yukon
The Yukon ranks 10th most prospective for mineral potential across global jurisdictions according to the Fraser Institute’s 2023 Survey of Mining Companies, and is host to a highly experienced and conscientious local workforce, fostered by a long culture of exploration coupled with deep respect for the land. Recent major discoveries with local roots such as Snowline Gold’s Rogue Project - Valley Discovery, demonstrate the Yukon’s potential to generate fresh district-scale mining opportunities.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release contains certain forward-looking information, including information about the incremental release from escrow of the Consideration Shares, the resumption of trading of the Common Shares and the Company’s future plans and intentions. Wherever possible, words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict” or “potential” or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify the forward-looking information. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.
Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those discussed or implied in the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the incremental release from escrow of the Consideration Shares; the resumption of trading of the Common Shares; and other risks and uncertainties. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s listing statement dated May 30, 2024, available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.