Midland Identifies New Prospective Ultramafic Complex and Discovers New Ni-Cu-PGE Zone on its Laflamme Project
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Apr 14, 2016) - Midland Exploration Inc. ("Midland") (TSX VENTURE:MD) is pleased to report the discovery of a new zone of nickel, copper and platinum group element ("Ni-Cu-PGE") mineralization on the Laflamme project, located about 25 kilometres west of the town of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, in Abitibi, Quebec.
Drill hole LAF-16-38 intersected a new Ni-Cu-PGE zone with disseminated, locally semi-massive and net-textured mineralization grading 0.45% Ni, 0.35% Cu, 0.15 g/t Pt and 0.24 g/t Pd over 42.60 metres from 446.50 to 489.10 metres depth. Within this wide mineralized envelope, two zones with higher nickel and copper grades respectively yielded 1.11% Ni, 0.47% Cu, 0.21 g/t Pt and 0.79 g/t Pd over 3.50 metres from 449.00 to 452.50 metres, and 0.44% Ni, 0.88% Cu, 0.21 g/t Pt and 0.27 g/t Pd over 4.05 metres from 458.95 to 463.00 metres. The mineralization is hosted in ultramafic intrusive rocks that contain variable amounts of pyrrhotite ("PO"), pentlandite ("PN"), and chalcopyrite ("CP"), mainly occurring as disseminations but locally forming semi-massive and net-textured zones.
Table 1: Assay results for drill hole LAF-16-38 (Collar: UTM Nad83 Z18: 343826E, 5454025N)
| From (m) | To (m) | Length* (m) | Ni (%) | Cu (%) | Pt (g/t) | Pd (g/t) | Au (g/t) | |
| 446.50 | 489.10 | 42.60 | 0.45 | 0.33 | 0.15 | 0.24 | 0.07 | |
| including 449.00 | 452.50 | 3.50 | 1.11 | 0.47 | 0.21 | 0.79 | 0.02 | |
| 458.95 | 463.00 | 4.05 | 0.44 | 0.88 | 0.21 | 0.27 | 0.09 |
| * Note: All mineralized intervals in drill holes LA-11-08 and LAF-16-38 are reported in core length and not in true thickness. Drilling completed to date is not sufficient to determine the orientation of mineralized zones. |
This new mineralized zone, named "Copernick", was intersected at a vertical depth of 425 metres and remains wide open along strike and potentially down-plunge toward the northeast. Following a borehole electromagnetic (« BHEM ») survey conducted in the discovery hole, which identified a conductor located below and to the east of drill hole LAF-16-38, a new 5,000-metre drilling campaign was undertaken.
The first drill hole of the campaign, LAF-16-39, was recently drilled about 175 metres below the mineralized zone intersected in hole LAF-16-38 and encountered strongly serpentinized ultramafic rocks over more than 100 metres core length. These strongly altered ultramafic rocks locally contain disseminated sulphides (PO-CP); assay results are pending. A BHEM survey conducted in this drill hole identified a strong off-hole conductor for which a geophysical model is in progress. In parallel with this modelling, a new drill hole (LAF-16-40) is currently under way to test the Copernick zone at a distance of 50 metres above hole LAF-16-38.
The discovery hole LAF-16-38 was drilled to follow up on a near off-hole BHEM anomaly that was detected in drill hole LA-11-08EXT and recently repositioned more accurately with further surveying. The new Copernick zone is different from the one that was intersected in drill hole LA-11-08, in which a near-surface zone, from 90.6 to 98.6 metres depth, graded 0.66% Ni, 0.35% Cu, 0.17 g/t Pt and 0.16 g/t Pd over 8.0 metres, including a higher-grade interval at 1.55% Ni, 0.53% Cu, 0.26 g/t Pt and 0.28 g/t Pd over 1.6 metres from 91.1 to 92.7 metres (see press release by Midland dated June 15, 2011). In addition to the two different mineralized zones intersected in drill holes LA-11-08 and LAF-16-38, two new strong off-hole conductors were detected in drill holes LAF-16-38 and LAF-16-39. Geophysical modelling is currently underway in order to plan the next drill hole that will test these conductors.
The ultramafic rocks that host this new discovery are part of a folded mafic to ultramafic intrusive complex extending for more than 10 kilometres in length, thus opening up excellent potential for further discoveries of magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE occurrences. A ground magnetic survey and an Orevision-type induced polarization survey (6.0 km) are currently underway to cover the immediate extensions of the Copernick zone, where weak VTEM-type conductors were identified near surface along the lateral extensions.
The Laflamme property covers more than 50 kilometres of prospective stratigraphy and structures for the discovery of orogenic gold, volcanogenic massive sulphides (Cu-Zn), and magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE deposits associated with ultramafic rocks. This property was initially acquired in 2008 based on the presence of major gold, copper and zinc anomalies in tills that were identified during the Octave project, jointly led by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) and the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC).
The Laflamme property now comprises 587 claims covering a surface area of about 328 square kilometres and is a joint venture between Midland (66%) and Aurbec Mines Inc. (34%) ("Aurbec"). Aurbec is a 50.1% subsidiary of Maudore Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:MAO) that was declared bankrupt on January 7, 2015. Deloitte Restructuring Inc. is the receiver of Aurbec.
Maps showing location of the new Copernick discovery may be consulted using the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Laflamme_April_2016.pdf
Quality Control
The exploration program on the Laflamme project is conducted by Midland and data are reviewed by Mario Masson, Vice-President Exploration for Midland Exploration Inc. and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Assay samples are taken from NQ-size drill core sawn in half; one half is shipped to a commercial laboratory and the other half is kept for future reference. Assays were conducted by ALS Minerals in Vancouver, and included blanks and standards inserted in the sample stream as a quality control procedure. The attitude of the zone is not yet known and the intersection width may not be true width.
About Midland Exploration
Midland targets the excellent mineral potential of Quebec to make the discovery of new world-class deposits of gold, platinum group elements, base metals and rare earth elements. Midland is proud to count on reputable partners such as Teck Resources Ltd., Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., SOQUEM INC., Japan Oil and Gas and Metals National Corporation and Aurbec Mines Inc. Midland prefers to work in partnership and intends to quickly conclude additional agreements in regard to newly acquired properties. Management is currently reviewing opportunities and projects to build up the Company portfolio and generate shareholder value.
This press release was prepared by Mario Masson, Midland's VP Exploration, certified geologist and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. For further information, please consult Midland's website: www.midlandexploration.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Midland's periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Midland from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.
Contact
Midland Exploration Inc.
Gino Roger
President and Chief Executive Officer
450 420-5977
450 420-5978
info@midlandexploration.com
www.midlandexploration.com