Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or the "Company") (TSX:
MND, OTCQB: MNDJF) is pleased to announce high-grade drill results
at its True Blue prospect adjacent to the operating Costerfield
gold-antimony mine in Victoria, Australia.
Highlights of True Blue:
- High grades intercepted in upward
extension of 2024’s maiden Inferred Mineral Resource:
- 578.0 g/t gold and 20.5%
antimony over 0.47 m (ETW 0.33 m) in TB031
- 16.8 g/t gold and 2.4 %
antimony over 3.98 m (ETW 2.56 m) in TB027
- Including 172.0 g/t gold and 19.2%
antimony over 0.37 m
- 161.0 g/t gold over 0.19
m (ETW 0.15 m) in TB029
- Drill testing and soil geochemistry
indicate an extensive system with the potential to replicate
Costerfield's Central Corridor which has sustained mining the past
15 years;
- Structural continuity interpreted
on 600 m of strike, leaving 3.4 km of the system yet to be tested;
and
- Follow-up drilling at True Blue has
commenced with now two rigs mobilizing to further define
mineralization and increase deposit confidence.
Frazer Bourchier, President and CEO,
commented:
“Mandalay has been producing gold and antimony
at Costerfield since we acquired the project 15 years ago. We are
excited to see True Blue emerging as a potential new frontier for
Costerfield, marking an exciting new chapter for Mandalay. This
development reinforces our standing position as a growing gold
producer and as the leading Western source of the strategic mineral
antimony. Exploration continues to be a key strategic pillar for
growth, with a minimum of $9 million allocated for the first half
of 2025.”
Chris Davis, VP of Exploration and Operational
Geology, commented:
"Exploration at True Blue has revealed
geological similarities to the mined Central Corridor. These
parallels in host lithology, structural setting, and fluid
transport systems underscore the exceptional potential of True
Blue.
"These results represent a significant
breakthrough, intercepting high-grade mineralization with visible
gold and stibnite (antimony mineral) veins. Mineralization extends
130 metres along strike with strong potential for expansion. The
surface expression of the system lies 300 metres above these
high-grade intercepts, highlighting its significant vertical
extent. Encouragingly, drilling also confirmed down-dip
mineralization at 590 metres depth with further potential. Step-out
drilling of 600 metres to the south uncovered a wide anomalous
mineralized zone of approximately 250 metres, with assays up to 3.8
g/t gold, highlighting the system's continuity and scale.
"Mandalay is committed to unlocking the full
potential of True Blue through an extensive extensional drilling
program. Two rigs will commence follow-up drilling in the coming
weeks, with results expected in the months ahead. Additional drill
metres and drill rig intensity will be determined by staged
assessments, as we work toward building a robust Mineral Resource
to potentially extend Costerfield's mine life.”
Drill Program Details
The True Blue prospect sits approximately 2 km
to the west of the Youle and Shepherd deposits currently being
mined by Mandalay. Mining of gold and antimony in the area began in
1861 and since Mandalay took ownership in December 2009, 577,000
ounces of gold and 65,000 tonnes of antimony have been mined at an
overall grade of 9.1 g/t gold and 3.3 % antimony. This has been
extracted from three major development areas along a 6 km
mineralized “Central Corridor”, from the Augusta mine in the south
to the Youle mine in the north. True Blue has the potential to be
another corridor of production with surface workings and soil
geochemistry anomalism indicating a system spanning 4 kilometres in
strike length (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Map of Costerfield exploration
tenements and mining licence depicting the location of the main
production areas within the central corridor and the True Blue
prospect.
Following the successful commencement of mining
at Youle several years ago, Mandalay has completed a comprehensive
assessment of the Costerfield mineral field. From this assessment,
a number of targets were identified and drilled. With significant
results coming from the initially prioritized Browns and Robinson
deposits, the initial potential of True Blue was not realised until
late 2022 when targeted drilling intercepted antimony
mineralization.
The next phase of drilling was undertaken
through 2023-2024, confirming lower-grade southern structural
continuity and an exceedingly high grade up-dip extension that
displays not only continuity of high antimony endowment but also
the introduction of coarse gold, occurring both within stibnite
(antimony ore) and quartz. Highlights of this drilling include 16.8
g/t gold and 2.4 % antimony over 3.98 m (ETW 2.56 m) in TB027 and
578.0 g/t gold and 20.5% antimony over 0.47 m (ETW 0.33 m) in TB031
located 130m further north (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Longitudinal section of the most
continuous veinset interpreted from the True Blue drilling data.
Note that there is additional drilling of this system up dip,
however this is in a parallel but separate veining network. The
immediately up-dip extension of the vein set in this long section
is untested. Drillholes are annotated with composites over 2.0 g/t
AuEq when diluted to 1.8 m.
The geometry of True Blue is similar to that of
the Youle deposit, consisting of subvertical to west-dipping veins
hosted by the western limb of an anticline (figure 3). Like Youle
and Shepherd, structural continuity of the True Blue mineralized
veins is remarkably consistent over the drill-tested area. This
consistency is attributed to being hosted in the same lithology and
the central corridor.
Interacting fault structures, chiefly the
west-dipping Bearded and Komodo Faults, also play an integral part
in the formation of the typical Costerfield style mineralization
identified at True Blue. Encouragingly the Bearded Fault has been
found to be mineralized, with 161.0 g/t gold over 0.19 m (ETW 0.15
m) recovered in TB029. These west-dipping faults are interpreted to
be contemporaneous with and genetically similar to the highly
mineralized host fault of the Youle deposit. This correlation
allows comparison of True Blue with observations already made
during mining at Youle and enables the acceleration of predictive
modelling for further exploration.
Following predictions based on a Youle-like
model applied to the current understanding of True Blue, a deeper
hole (TB026) was drilled with the aim of testing the Komodo Fault
down-dip of its modelled interaction with vertical mineralization.
Sub-vertical stibnite veins were intercepted at a depth of 590m
below surface with an intercept grading 1.6 g/t gold and 1.7 g/t
gold over 1.16 m (ETW 0.82 m), an exciting result despite the
Komodo Fault being intercepted further down hole than expected
resulting in the targeted geological setting not being fully
tested.
Figure 3. Cross section at 7300N of the True Blue
mineralization as interpreted by drilling to date. Intercepts from
TB027 and TB031 do align with the interpreted veining and appear to
be east and west of the veining, however this is due to off section
effects.
The veining at True Blue is generally
subvertical in nature, often consisting of a cluster of individual
narrow veins concentrated within a 0.5 m-thick zone controlled by
subtle anticline-parallel foliation, however in some areas parallel
mineralized veinlets persist up to 5 m from the main veining
(Figure 4).
Mineralization within these intercepts range
from quartz dominant to stibnite dominant, with gold occurring as
visible grains often in clusters up to 0.4 cm diameter within both
quartz and stibnite (Figure 5 inset). Gold has also been observed
in the form of “veinlets” within stibnite of up to 3 cm in length
and 0.2 mm in width, which is unusual for Costerfield (Figure 6
inset).
Hydrothermal white-mica and carbonate alteration
is widespread within the wall rock and provides further vectoring
potential as exploration continues. Carbonate spotting in
particular is observed at greater intensity than the bulk of other
Costerfield deposits. Fine-grained pyrite and euhedral arsenopyrite
is present proximal to the mineralized veins.
Figure 4. Photograph of True Blue intercept from
TB027 (16.8 g/t gold & 2.4 antimony over 3.98 m (ETW 2.43
m).
Figure 5. Photograph of True Blue intercept
interpreted to be the Bearded Fault from TB029 - 161.0 g/t gold
over 0.19 m (ETW 0.15 m) with inset showing close-up of visible
gold within a quartz matrix at 571.25 m down hole.
Figure 6. Photograph of True Blue intercept from
TB031 – 578.0 g/t gold over 0.47 m (ETW 0.33 m) with inset showing
close-up of visible gold within a stibnite matrix at 525.50 m down
hole.
Applying Costerfield’s Central Corridor as an
analogous model (supported by the numerous structural and
mineralogical similarities observed) to the geochemical footprint
of the True Blue prospect, Mandalay expects that the 4 kilometre
strike of the line has the potential to host several economic
deposits in addition to the zone that is being currently drill
tested.
In 2024, Mandalay drilled 2 step-out holes south
of the known True Blue vein system. One intercepted a very wide
mineralized zone, containing arrays of mineralized veins over a
down hole length of approximately 250 m, with individual assays
reaching up to 3.8 g/t gold and 2.3% antimony. Although these
results are lower grade and disseminated throughout the drill hole,
such intercepts are unprecedented at Costerfield and the presence
of this highly anomalous mineralization is strong evidence for the
system being able to generate economic mineralization along the
entire strike length of the anomaly corridor.
Figure 7. Plan view illustrating the potential of
the True Blue system. Illustrated on the map is the latest
geological interpretation, Geochemical analysis of soils and
location of recent drilling.
Although still at an early stage of testing,
True Blue has significant potential and exploration of the corridor
is made easier by the observed structural and mineralogical
similarity to Costerfield’s highly profitable central corridor.
Since 2022 exploration success at Costerfield has been achieved by
effectively testing geological models based on knowledge gained
through the past two decades of mining. During 2025 the extensional
and step out drilling programmes will continue as we seek to
confirm mineral resources along the corridor.
Drilling and Assaying
All diamond drill core was logged and sampled by
Costerfield geologists or contracted geologists with significant
industry experience who worked under Costerfield geologist’s
oversight. All samples were sent to On Site Laboratory Services
(OSLS) in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, for sample preparation and
analysis by fire assay for gold, and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
(AAS) for antimony. Site geological and metallurgical personnel
have implemented a QA/QC procedure that includes systematic
submission of standard reference materials and blanks within
batches of drill and face samples submitted for assay. Costerfield
specific reference materials produced from Costerfield ore have
been prepared and certified by Geostats Pty Ltd., a specialist
laboratory quality control consultancy. See Technical Report
entitled “Costerfield Operation, Victoria, Australia NI 43-101
Report” dated March 28, 2024, available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com)
for a complete description of drilling, sampling, and assaying
procedures.
Qualified Person:
Chris Davis, Vice President of Operational
Geology and Exploration at Mandalay Resources, is a Chartered
Professional of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
(MAusIMM CP(Geo)), as well as a Member of the Australian Institute
of Geoscientists (MAIG) and a Qualified Person as defined by NI
43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific
information provided in this release.
For Further Information
Frazer Bourchier Director, President and Chief Executive
Officer
Edison NguyenDirector, Business Valuations and Investor
Relations
Contact:647.258.9722
About Mandalay Resources Corporation
Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based resource
company with producing assets in Australia (Costerfield
gold-antimony mine) and Sweden (Björkdal gold mine). The Company is
focused on growing its production and reducing costs to generate
significant positive cashflow. Mandalay is committed to operating
safely and in an environmentally responsible manner, while
developing a high level of community and employee engagement.
Mandalay’s mission is to create shareholder
value through the profitable operation and successful exploration
at its Costerfield and Björkdal mines. Currently, the Company’s
main objectives at Costerfield are to continue mining the
high-grade Youle and Shepherd veins, and to extend Mineral
Resources. At Björkdal, the Company will aim to increase production
from Aurora and Eastern zones and other higher-grade areas in the
coming years in order to maximize profit margins from the mine.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release contains "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws,
including statements regarding the exploration and development
potential of the True Blue deposit (Costerfield). Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially
from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among
other things, changes in commodity prices and general market and
economic conditions. The factors identified above are not intended
to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect
Mandalay. A description of additional risks that could result in
actual results and developments differing from those contemplated
by forward-looking statements in this news release can be found
under the heading “Risk Factors” in Mandalay’s annual information
form dated March 28, 2024, a copy of which is available under
Mandalay’s profile at www.sedar.com. In addition, there can be no
assurance that any inferred resources that are discovered as a
result of additional drilling will ever be upgraded to proven or
probable reserves. Although Mandalay has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual actions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements
will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.
Appendix
Table 1. Significant Intercepts from drilling
program.
Drill Hole ID |
From (m) |
Depth To (m) |
Drill Width
(m) |
True Thick (m) |
Au Grade (g/t) |
Sb Grade (%) |
Au equivalent (g/t) over
min.1.8m Mining width |
Vein Name |
TB014 |
385.01 |
388.37 |
3.36 |
1.93 |
1.7 |
0.0 |
1.7 |
Associated Vein |
TB014 |
626.06 |
628 |
1.94 |
1.49 |
1.4 |
0.2 |
1.6 |
Main Vein |
TB015 |
275.87 |
281.96 |
6.09 |
3.49 |
1.9 |
0.6 |
3.3 |
Associated Vein |
TB015W1 |
578.65 |
578.91 |
0.26 |
0.21 |
15.2 |
16.6 |
6.4 |
Main Vein |
TB017 |
417.87 |
418.09 |
0.22 |
0.16 |
10.7 |
5.2 |
2.0 |
Associated Vein |
TB017 |
425.44 |
429.06 |
3.62 |
2.08 |
1.0 |
0.2 |
1.5 |
Associated Vein |
TB018 |
587.63 |
588.35 |
0.72 |
0.58 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
1.3 |
Main Vein |
TB019 |
443.84 |
446.48 |
4.09 |
2.35 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
1.1 |
Associated Vein |
TB020 |
481.98 |
483.42 |
1.44 |
1.43 |
1.5 |
0.0 |
1.2 |
Associated Vein |
TB022 |
230.31 |
232.47 |
2.16 |
1.87 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
1.6 |
Associated Vein |
TB022 |
461.85 |
464.25 |
2.40 |
1.85 |
1.3 |
0.0 |
1.3 |
Associated Vein |
TB022 |
471.86 |
474.24 |
2.38 |
2.00 |
2.6 |
0.0 |
2.6 |
Associated Vein |
TB026 |
716.56 |
717.72 |
1.16 |
0.82 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
2.6 |
Associated Vein |
TB026 |
730.65 |
731.1 |
0.45 |
0.41 |
0.5 |
2.6 |
1.5 |
Associated Vein |
TB027 |
551.55 |
551.83 |
0.28 |
0.21 |
2.0 |
8.7 |
2.7 |
Associated Vein |
TB027 |
577.57 |
581.55 |
3.98 |
2.56 |
16.8 |
2.4 |
22.5 |
Main Vein |
Including |
577.57 |
577.94 |
0.37 |
0.24 |
172.0 |
19.2 |
28.7 |
Main Vein |
TB029 |
538.32 |
538.7 |
0.38 |
0.22 |
9.9 |
3.7 |
2.3 |
Main Vein |
TB029 |
571.15 |
571.34 |
0.19 |
0.15 |
161.0 |
0.0 |
13.6 |
Bearded Fault |
TB029W1 |
538.07 |
538.28 |
0.21 |
0.12 |
1.8 |
16.5 |
2.8 |
Main Vein |
TB031 |
519.27 |
519.77 |
0.50 |
0.32 |
1.2 |
2.0 |
1.1 |
Associated Vein |
TB031 |
525.01 |
525.48 |
0.47 |
0.33 |
578.0 |
20.5 |
115.6 |
Main Vein |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes1. The AuEq (gold
equivalent) grade is calculated using the following formula:
|
AuEq g per t = Au g per t =Sb% x |
Sb price per 10kg x Sb processing recovery |
|
|
Au price per g x Au processing recovery |
|
|
|
|
|
Prices and recoveries used: Au $/oz = 2,100; Sb
$/t = 16,000; Au Recovery = 93% and; Sb Recovery =
92%2. Composites that are not interpreted to be
connected to a named vein and are below 1 g/t AuEq when diluted to
1.8m are not considered significant and are not recorded here.
Table 2. Drill Hole Collar Details
DRILL HOLE ID |
NORTHING |
EASTING |
ELEVATION |
DEPTH |
DIP |
AZIMUTH |
DATE COMPLETE |
TB014 |
301496 |
5916260 |
217 |
670.7 |
-50 |
256.37 |
30-Mar-23 |
TB015 |
301389 |
5916369 |
222 |
738.9 |
-63 |
240.37 |
20-Jun-23 |
TB015W1 |
301389 |
5916369 |
222 |
665.4 |
-63 |
240.37 |
3-Apr-23 |
TB015W2 |
301389 |
5916369 |
222 |
950.7 |
-63 |
240.37 |
5-Jul-23 |
TB016 |
301496 |
5916259 |
217 |
639.8 |
-44 |
243.37 |
26-Apr-23 |
TB017 |
301389 |
5916370 |
221 |
622.6 |
-60 |
278.37 |
10-May-23 |
TB018 |
301496 |
5916260 |
217 |
635.6 |
-50 |
258.37 |
17-May-23 |
TB019 |
301421 |
5916495 |
224 |
917.8 |
-60 |
254.37 |
23-Aug-23 |
TB020 |
301420 |
5916495 |
224 |
707.3 |
-56 |
272.37 |
10-Oct-23 |
TB020W1 |
301420 |
5916495 |
224 |
578.8 |
-56 |
272.37 |
25-Oct-23 |
TB021 |
301496 |
5916258 |
217 |
737.4 |
-50 |
243.37 |
28-Nov-23 |
TB022 |
301689 |
5915593 |
209 |
899.2 |
-41 |
257.37 |
1-Feb-24 |
TB023 |
301496 |
5916257 |
217 |
893.4 |
-42 |
233.37 |
2-Feb-24 |
TB024 |
301772 |
5915180 |
204 |
695.9 |
-29 |
262.37 |
8-Mar-24 |
TB024W1 |
301772 |
5915180 |
204 |
850.7 |
-29 |
262.37 |
24-Apr-24 |
TB025 |
301562 |
5916174 |
215 |
900 |
-44 |
238.37 |
15-Apr-24 |
TB026 |
300768 |
5916491 |
237 |
1100.5 |
-63 |
129.37 |
31-Jul-24 |
TB027 |
300769 |
5916490 |
237 |
710.6 |
-40 |
132.37 |
1-Oct-24 |
TB027W1 |
300769 |
5916490 |
237 |
664 |
-40 |
132.37 |
2/12/2024 |
TB028 |
300769 |
5916491 |
237 |
749.4 |
-48 |
109.37 |
21-Oct-24 |
TB029 |
300769 |
5916490 |
237 |
820.9 |
-39 |
124.87 |
18-Nov-24 |
TB029W1 |
300769 |
5916490 |
237 |
699.5 |
-39 |
124.87 |
19-Dec-24 |
TB030 |
300660 |
5916506 |
243 |
930.8 |
-60 |
136.37 |
11-Nov-24 |
TB031 |
300767 |
5916506 |
237 |
599 |
-40.5 |
116.87 |
4-Dec-24 |
Notes:
- Coordinate
System: MGA2020
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9f2edb84-0a13-4e38-8b93-2d8a0842080e
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1b179d43-e450-4c93-83f7-18c5ab928d0b
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5bc0d33b-aa5b-4f31-bb67-7f63fcaf6535
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db2b06b4-6161-4f9a-81ea-4afaeecaed6f
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c1e2259c-3aa4-4412-8d2d-1628b7b08083
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ddea0db-79f9-4a1e-955d-c01096d9d44b
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fffdb231-15ac-45be-96da-91acc84c33b1
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