Star Minerals Group Ltd. Announces Updated Exploration Activities of Joint Venture Partner
In preparation for the summer 2014 field program at the Star Property, Lakeland has received a review of historic and recent exploration from project consultants Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. of Edmonton, AB; and notes the following:
Highlights
- A one-day exploration program in 2013 found a number of surface grab samples enriched in gold, platinum group elements (PGE's), and Rare Earth Element's (REE's);
- Two outcrop samples described as altered, black, cryptocrystalline and approximately 200 m apart contained highly anomalous concentrations of gold and PGE's, as follow:
- Sample 79441: 1.8 g/t Au, 0.08 g/t Pt; 0.12 g/t Pd
- Sample 79447: 5.7 g/t Au; 0.36 g/t Pt; 0.39 g/t Pd
- A sandstone boulder with anomalous uranium values also contained strong enrichment in heavy rare earth elements; while a nearby outcrop contained 6.9% TREO's:
- Sample 79442 (boulder sample): 257 ppm Uranium, 0.3% TREO (includes 1,216 ppm Dy2O3 and 321 ppm Y2O3)
- Sample 79447 (outcrop sample): 6.9% TREO (dominantly Light REE enriched).
Project Geology and Target Potential
The Star Property covers a quasi-circular basement uplift along the northern margin of the Athabasca Basin, immediately north of the Company's Gibbons Creek Property (under option to Declan Resources Inc.). This structural feature is considered an ideal location for the development of uranium occurrence's associated with the unconformity or sub-unconformity of the Athabasca Basin.
A small portion of the uplifted basement outcrop on the Star Property was prospected with very promising results, as highlighted earlier. In total, 8 outcrop samples and 2 boulder samples were collected. The highly anomalous concentrations of gold (up to 5.7 g/t Au), platinum group elements (0.75 g/t PGE's), rare earth elements (up to 6.9% TREO) and highly anomalous uranium; suggest the presence of a robust hydrothermal system.
The potential for such a regional hydrothermal system is demonstrated by intense alteration associated with historic uranium mineralization within the Gibbons Creek Property located immediately to the south. Within the Athabasca Basin, there are a number of projects where highly anomalous precious metals and/or rare earth elements occur in spatial relation to Uranium deposits and/or mineralization. Examples of such mineralization include the Nicholson Bay and Fish Hook Bay U-Au-PGE occurrences, and the MAW Zone- Wheeler River occurrences.
Preliminary mineralogical work on the REE-bearing samples includes SEM analysis (Scanning Electron Microscope); BSE analysis (Electron Back-Scatter Analysis); and EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectrometry) and reveals the following:
Sample #79442 - The Heavy REE values are from fine-grained xenotime. The modal mineralogy of the sample reveals primarily quartz, with xenotime (3.1%) and about 1.3% kaolinite/illite clay. Diagenetic-Hydrothermal xenotime accumulations are known elsewhere in the Athabasca Basin region, and have been associated with some unconformity-style uranium deposits (McArthur River, Key Lake, McLean Lake and others).
Sample #79446 - The sample contains 23.6% monazite, with 16.75% kaolinite/illite clay.
About the Property
The Star Property benefits from historic exploration including modern geophysics and drilling completed by Star Minerals in 2005 to 2008; and work by Eldorado Nuclear in the 1970's and 1980's. The Property is considered highly prospective for U, Au, PGE's and REE mineralization. It also benefits from nearby infrastructure, with power lines and highways nearby.
NI 43-101 Disclosure
The technical information above has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of Lakeland by Neil McCallum, P.Geo., of Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a qualified person.
Analytical Methods
All rock samples were delivered to Activation Laboratories Ltd., an ISO Certified Laboratory. All samples were analyzed by a 39-element "partial digestion" with ICP-MS/ICP-OES analysis; and a 49-element "total digestion" with ICP-MS/ICP-OES analysis. Uranium values are converted to U3O8 values with the conversion factor of 1.1792.
Samples with high REE values were tested using the 8-REE method whereby the sample is treated with lithium metaborate/tetraborate fusion with subsequent analysis by ICP-MS and ICP/MS analysis. All REE samples reported herein were derived using this method. Total Rare Earth Oxides ("TREO") include: La2O3, Ce2O3, Pr2O3, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, and Y2O3.
All samples were tested using the 1C-OES-Exploration method Fire Assay (with Platinum and Palladium) on a 30 gram aliquot with an ICP finish.
Joint Venture Terms
Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, Lakeland has the right to earn a 100% interest in the two claims by making cash payments totaling $60,000 and issuing 600,000 common shares over a 12 month period. Star has retained the option of a 25% buyback for payment of 4 times the exploration monies spent by the Purchaser to the date that the buyback option is exercised. The buyback option will be exercisable at any time up to a 90 day period following the completion and publication of a 43-101 compliant resource estimate.
Jim Engdahl President & CEO of Star Minerals Group says, "I am very pleased with the exploration results released by our Joint Venture partner and look forward to the next phase of work."
About Star Minerals Group Ltd.
Star is a Saskatoon-based, diversified exploration stage company, with a primary focus on strategic technology metals, and its advanced joint venture rare earth project Hoidas Lake. To advance exploration, the Company has leveraged the strength and experience of its management, board of directors and advisors to identify and acquire strategic investments that have the capability to generate cash flow with low capital expenditure costs.
The Company entered into a joint venture in an advanced rare earth project in Saskatchewan - Hoidas Lake. Star also holds a strategic gold exploration property in the Seabee gold mining district, diamond properties in the Fort a la Corne region as well as base metal and uranium properties.
STAR TRADES ON THE CSE UNDER THE SYMBOL "SUV".
For more information, please visit our website at www.starminerals.ca
Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Star's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility and the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. Although Star believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward looking information. As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward looking information, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. Other factors that could materially affect such forward-looking statements are described in the risk factors in the most recent management's discussion and analysis that is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, Star does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This cautionary statement expressly qualifies the forward-looking statements contained in this document.
Contact
Star Minerals Group Ltd.
Jim Engdahl
306-664-3828
306-244-0042
info@starminerals.ca
www.starminerals.ca