IDM Prioritizes Gold Geochemical Targets at Extensive Yukon Portfolio
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 18, 2016) - IDM Mining Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:IDM) ("IDM" or the "Company") IDM Mining Ltd. ("IDM") is pleased to announce that an initial review of exploration data on the recently acquired properties in Yukon Territory, has prioritized multiple targets in three areas. The portfolio is comprised of approximately 14,500 lode claims totaling over 300,000 hectares divided over 11 project areas. The portfolio was acquired from Oban Mining in January 2016. Data gathered by previous operator, Ryan Gold, as well as historic holders, includes results from over 158,000 soil samples, airborne geophysical surveys, reconnaissance mapping and sampling, and over 10,000 meters of drilling. Review of this data has identified over a dozen broad soil geochemical anomalies in addition to numerous other areas of interest defined by geophysical and geological criteria. Multiple mineralization styles have been identified, including intrusive-related, skarn, sediment-hosted and orogenic gold systems.
Recent successful exploration programs in Yukon, including those that led to the discoveries of Underworld's White Gold, Atac's Rackla and Kaminak's Coffee deposits were the result of multi-year exploration strategies that culminated in drilling soil anomalies similar to those identified in IDM's Yukon portfolio. Goldcorp recently announced a proposed acquisition of Kaminak and their Yukon portfolio. These recent Yukon discoveries, as well as the anomalies on IDM's ground, were identified using property-wide 'ridge and spur' soil sample traverses by following them with grid soil sampling to outline anomalous areas. Throughout IDM's Yukon portfolio, multiple impressive gold and pathfinder element anomalies were identified without any of the follow-up through drilling and trenching that can elevate an anomaly to a discovery.
"The anomalies identified by previous operators are very compelling and warrant drilling to make a discovery," said Robert McLeod, CEO of IDM Mining. "As VP Exploration at Underworld Resources, my team and I drilled the Golden Saddle Discovery, which was a greater than 40 ppb gold-in-soil anomaly. IDM's Yukon portfolio has multiple, large gold targets that are as attractive as Golden Saddle when it was just a soil anomaly."
To get best value for the Yukon portfolio while IDM focuses on advancing its flagship Red Mountain underground high-grade gold project, the Company is looking at the following options: 1) with low holding costs, leave on care and maintenance as the Company directs it focus on Red Mountain 2) explore the properties. 3) Joint venture opportunities 4) Spin-out the portfolio into a new, Yukon-focused junior, possibly combining with other companies assets. 5) Sell select properties or the entire portfolio.
The highest priority targets are discussed below.
Pluto Property, Kluane Region
The Pluto Property in the Kluane region of the Yukon lies approximately 100km WSW of the town of Carmacks. The land package covers an area of 588 km2, and is underlain by a series of metamorphic schists of the Yukon-Tanana terrane and the Paleocene Ruby Range granodiorites.
In 2011, ridge and spur soil sampling was across the entire property and then followed up in promising areas in 2012 with a soil grid covering a 39km2 area. Five large geochemical anomalies were identified: the strongest is the Charon target, a 1900 by 400 meters east-west trending Au ± Cu ± As ± Te anomaly defined by Au-in-soil levels averaging 234 ppb Au that ranges from trace to 15,342 ppb Au. Individual soil values include: 1,135ppb, 1,373ppb, 3,411ppb, and 15,342 ppb Au. Mapping in the area revealed complex geology including limestone, marble, sandstone and volcaniclastics intruded by felsic dykes and associated skarn. Grab samples returned up to 7.11 g/t Au.
Four other targets have been identified on the Pluto property. The Nix target, which lies 700 meters to the south of Charon and could represent a southern extension, is a gold-in-soil soil anomaly that covers an area 2,000 by 850 meters with samples ranging from trace to 983 ppb Au with an average 27 ppb Au. If this is indeed a southerly extension of Charon, it would result in a combined target covering 2,500 by 2,500 meters.
The Kuiper target lies in the center of the Property and covers an area of 2,500 by 600 meters. The soil samples average 30 ppb Au and range from to trace to 450 ppb Au, coincident with a large magnetic low identified in an airborne geophysical survey. The Styx target forms an east-west trending gold in soil anomaly measuring 300 by 3,400 meters. Gold-in-soil samples range from trace to 465 ppb Au and average 44 ppb Au.
The Hydra target is the largest on the Pluto property, covering an area of 3,100 by 2,000 meters. Gold in soil values range from trace to 3,427 ppb Au and average 41 ppb Au. Although the geology of the area has not been mapped, the anomaly is associated with a magnetic low, similar to the other targets on the Property.
Mahtin Property, Mayo Region
The Mahtin property is located approximately 50 km northwest of the town of Mayo. The area is underlain by Cretaceous plutons intruding carbonate rocks. The property is located 50 km southwest of Victoria Gold's Eagle Deposit at Dublin Gulch, and hosts intrusive-related gold potential as well as skarn mineralization. Over 17,400 soil samples were collected over this prospective area. The property has two main targets: May-Qu and North Mahtin.
The May-Qu target shows potential through its similarities to Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold Project. The main intrusion (the 'Bos Stock') is a southwest trending 3,000 by 2,000-meter granodiorite intrusive, of a similar age and composition to the Eagle Deposit. In 2012 a soil grid over the entire 21km2 claim block identified two large, anomalous zones that correspond with the Bos Stock as well as a second intrusive to the north.
The 'Big Bos' anomaly covers a 2,400 by 1,000-meter area with gold-in-soil values ranging from trace to 1,267 ppb Au and averaging 58 ppb Au. Sheeted veins of quartz and arsenopyrite are found to host mineralization within the intrusive. Only two rock samples were collected from within the stock, and these assayed 3.37 g/t and 2.74 g/t Au.
The second anomaly is associated with smaller intrusive outcropping 1,000 meters north of the Bos Stock. This 'Little Bos' anomaly covers an area of 1,400 by 350m with gold-in-soil values ranging from trace to 724 ppb Au and averaging 57 ppb Au. This could be a separate intrusive, although its proximity to the Bos Stock suggests that it is a small cupola from the main pluton that is partially obscured by country rock.
On the western flank of the intrusive, Au ± Ag ± Cu ± Pb mineralization extends an additional 2,000 meters into the country rock. Limited sampling of mineralized breccia, skarns and polymetallic veins returned anomalous values including: 2.59 g/t Au and 313 g/t Ag. These are analogous to the Eagle Deposit model, where the western end of the intrusion tapers off into the Rex-Peso silver veins, which were historically mined. This mineralization style is also consistent with the nearby Alexco and Keno Hill styles of silver mineralization.
The North Mahtin target is a 1,600 by 400-meter gold in soil anomaly. Samples average 128 ppb Au and range from trace to 1,199 ppb Au. The anomaly is associated with the contact zone between a Cretaceous-aged intrusive and adjacent sedimentary rock. The sediments are dominantly limestone and associated skarn; limited grab samples range up to 15.05 g/t Au and 147g/t Ag. Limited drilling completed by a previous operator in 2007 targeted one area of the anomaly, with anomalous gold mineralization encountered.
In addition to the gold-bearing skarns, a grab sample from the Sprague Creek Stock assayed 12.3g/t Au, suggesting that the intrusive could be mineralized in a similar style to May-Qu.
Golden-Oly Property, North Canol Region
The Golden-Oly property covers an area of approximately 840km2 and is located adjacent to the North Canol road,125km northeast of the village of Ross River.
Widespread gold and arsenic anomalies in soil grids suggest that the targets may be intrusive related or sediment hosted mineralizing systems. An aerial geophysical survey identified multiple magnetic highs ranging in size from 1,500 by 1,500 meters to 4,000 by 2,000 meters. These anomalies are likely due to intrusive plutons. Where exposed, these magnetic highs are associated with gold in soil geochemical anomalies. Five main target areas have been identified: Oly-1, Golden-1, Golden-2, Nug-1 and Nug-2.
The Oly-1 target is the largest geophysical anomaly spanning 4,000 by 2,000 meters and trending approximately east-west. At this anomaly, 1,158 soil samples were collected over the area but only covers 50% of the airborne anomaly. Gold in soil values range from trace to 5,597.5ppb and an average of 1,023 ppb Au. The gold anomaly is associated with a coincident arsenic anomaly, which mirrors the outline of the intrusive. Distal polymetallic veins are associated with anomalous silver mineralization.
The Golden-1 target is a geophysical anomaly covers an area of 2,000 by 2,000 meters in the center of the Golden claims with a soil grid on the northern edge of the intrusion which numerous spot anomalies, ranging up to 750 ppb Au, possibly from discreet gold-bearing structures. The southern limit of this grid would need to be extended to cover the area where the intrusion is exposed.
The Golden-2 target is an airborne magnetic high covering a 2,000 by 3,000-meter area. The intrusion is obscured by a mantle of country rock; ridge and spur soils did not show any anomalous Au results. However, sampling identified anomalous Cu, Sb and Ag around the geophysical target that likely represents small clusters of distal polymetallic veins that are radiating out from the main intrusive. If this follows the same pattern as neighboring plutons, we could expect to see mineralization starting at a relatively shallow depth in the contact zone between the granodiorite and the Earn Group sediments.
The Nug-1 is a 3,500 by 2,500-meter airborne magnetic anomaly associated with a 2,600 by 1,500-meter gold in soil anomaly, trending north-south. Soil values range from trace to 1,409 ppb Au, averaging 117 ppb Au. Geochemically this is similar to the Oly targets, with a gold-arsenic association over the intrusive, surround by a silver-zinc halo.
The Nug-2 target covers a 1500 by 1500-meter area. A soil grid covering a partially buried intrusive consisted of 838 samples collected; individual samples range up to 569 ppb Au, again likely from discreet structures.
PDM Property, North Canol Road
The 110km2 PDM property is located adjacent to the North Canol road, approximately 100km northeast of Ross River. The property was covered by a ridge and spur soil program with 1,322 samples collected. Select soil results range from trace to 171 ppb Au, coupled with an older soil grid that assayed up to 584 ppb Au. Pathfinder elements, associated with a Cretaceous aged intrusive suggest mineralization may be similar to the systems at Golden-Oly.
Maps of the various Properties and targets for the Yukon portfolio can be viewed at www.idmmining.com.
QUALIFIED PERSON
Technical Aspects of this News Release have been reviewed and approved by Robert McLeod, P.Geo, President and CEO of IDM Mining Ltd., and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
ABOUT IDM MINING LTD.
IDM Mining Ltd. is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The Company's current exploration and development activities are focused on precious metals in British Columbia and Yukon with a primary focus on the high grade underground Red Mountain Project which has entered the BC and Canadian environmental assessment process. Further information can be found on the Company's website at www.IDMmining.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD of IDM Mining Ltd.
Robert McLeod, President, CEO and Director
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Forward-Looking Statements: Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others, statements with respect to the proposed exploration and development activities and their timing, resource estimates and potential mineralization. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others and in addition to those described elsewhere in this release, timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals, permits or financing, the risk of unexpected variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates, of failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, of accidents, labor disputes, and unanticipated delays in completing other development activities, the risk that estimated costs will be higher than anticipated and the risk that the proposed mine plan and recoveries will not be achieved, equipment breakdowns and bad weather, the timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, mineral resources are not as estimated, title matters, third party consents, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors and general economic conditions. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: required regulatory approval, permits and financing will be obtained; the proposed exploration and development will proceed as planned; with respect to mineral resource estimates, the key assumptions and parameters on which such estimates are based; that the proposed mine plan and recoveries will be achieved, that capital costs and sustaining costs will be as estimated, and that no unforeseen accident, fire, ground instability, flooding, labor disruption, equipment failure, metallurgical, environmental or other events that could delay or increase the cost of development will occur, and market fundamentals will result in sustained metals and minerals prices. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.
Contact
IDM Mining Ltd.
Robert McLeod
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rm@idmmining.com
www.IDMmining.com