Fireweed Metals Corp. (“
Fireweed” or the
“
Company”) (
TSXV: FWZ; OTCQX:
FWEDF) is pleased to announce the filing of the technical
report related to the Mineral Resource Estimate
(“
MRE”) for the Macmillan Pass Project
(“
Macpass”). The MRE provides an updated resource
estimate for the Tom and Jason deposits, as well as the inaugural
resource estimate for the Boundary Zone and End Zone deposits. The
MREs were prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. in accordance
with Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Petroleum
(“
CIM”) definitions, as required under National
Instrument 43-101 (“
NI 43-101”). Fireweed is also
pleased to announce the inclusion of germanium and gallium as
by-product elements reported alongside the zinc-lead-silver MRE.
Peter Hemstead, President & CEO, commented,
“The filing of the technical report completes the reporting of our
inaugural resource for Boundary Zone and resource update at Tom and
Jason and provides the documentation behind the process that has
led to the establishment of one of the world’s largest undeveloped
zinc resources1. We are also excited to be able to demonstrate the
presence of significant quantities of by-product elements germanium
and gallium, propelling Macpass to a premier spot on the world
stage of critical mineral districts. The mix of such large
accumulations of the critical minerals zinc, tungsten, germanium,
and gallium on one property represents a strategic asset for North
America and represents a tremendous economic opportunity for
Northern Canada.”
Highlights
- The technical report has been filed
for a Global Mineral Resource Estimate comprising:
- An Indicated Mineral Resource of
55.98 Mt at 7.27% Zinc Equivalent (“ZnEq”*) (5.50%
zinc, 1.58% lead, and 24.2 g/t silver).
- An Inferred Mineral Resource of
48.46 Mt at 7.48% ZnEq* (5.15% zinc, 2.08% lead, and 25.3 g/t
silver).
- By-product elements germanium and
gallium contained within the MRE:
- An Indicated Mineral Resource
containing 55.98 Mt at 10.98 g/t germanium, 7.38 g/t gallium, for a
total of 614,800 kg germanium, and 412,900 kg gallium.
- An Inferred Mineral Resource
containing 48.46 Mt at 8.14 g/t germanium, 5.82 g/t gallium for a
total of 394,400 kg germanium, and 282,100 kg gallium.
- Macpass is now one of the world’s
largest known accumulations of the critical metals germanium and
gallium1.
- Fireweed’s 2024 exploration program
has been completed, comprising over 16,000 m of diamond drilling
and a large regional exploration program targeting new discoveries
using ground gravity surveys, soil sampling, airborne EM-mag
surveys, and prospecting.
Global Mineral Resource
Estimate
The MRE at Macpass is comprised of four distinct
deposits: Tom, Jason, End Zone, and Boundary Zone (Figure 1). Table
1 lists the global mineral resources for Macpass by deposit.
Table 1: Macpass Project Global Mineral
Resource Estimate by Deposit (combined OP and UG constrained
resources).
Category |
Deposit |
Tonnes (Mt) |
ZnEq (%) |
Zn Grade (%) |
Pb Grade (%) |
Ag Grade (g/t) |
Zn Contained Metal (Mlbs) |
Pb Contained Metal (Mlbs) |
Ag Contained Metal (Moz) |
Indicated |
Tom |
17.52 |
9.90 |
6.30 |
3.34 |
33.0 |
2,435 |
1,291 |
18.56 |
Jason |
3.80 |
9.09 |
7.62 |
1.86 |
1.7 |
638 |
156 |
0.21 |
End Zone |
0.34 |
16.15 |
3.81 |
12.32 |
86.2 |
29 |
93 |
0.95 |
Boundary Zone2 |
34.32 |
5.63 |
4.87 |
0.55 |
21.6 |
3,682 |
413 |
23.83 |
Total Indicated |
55.98 |
7.27 |
5.50 |
1.58 |
24.2 |
6,784 |
1,952 |
43.54 |
Inferred |
Tom |
18.94 |
9.10 |
6.56 |
2.30 |
25.2 |
2,738 |
960 |
15.37 |
Jason |
11.65 |
10.40 |
5.48 |
4.33 |
48.2 |
1,407 |
1,112 |
18.05 |
End Zone |
0.44 |
8.76 |
1.86 |
6.88 |
48.1 |
18 |
67 |
0.68 |
Boundary Zone2 |
17.43 |
3.75 |
3.48 |
0.23 |
9.5 |
1,337 |
87 |
5.32 |
Total Inferred |
48.46 |
7.48 |
5.15 |
2.08 |
25.3 |
5,500 |
2,226 |
39.42 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 1 footnotes:
- All mineral resources have been
estimated in accordance with CIM definitions, as required under NI
43-101.
- Data for this mineral resource
estimate has been independently reviewed and validated by a
third-party consultancy, SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. (“SLR”)
- Pierre Landry P.Geo. of SLR is
independent of Fireweed Metals Corp., and a ‘Qualified Person’ as
defined under NI 43-101. Pierre Landry is responsible for the
Macpass Mineral Resource Estimate.
- g/t: grams per tonne; Mlbs: million
pounds; Moz: millions of troy ounces; Mt: million metric
tonnes.
- Mineral resources are reported
within conceptual open pit (“OP”) shells and underground (“UG”)
mining volumes to demonstrate Reasonable Prospects for Eventual
Economic Extraction (“RPEEE”), as required under NI 43-101;
mineralization lying outside of the OP shell or UG volumes is not
reported as a mineral resource. Note the conceptual OP shell and UG
volumes are used for mineral resource reporting purposes only and
are not indicative of the proposed mining method; future mining
studies may consider UG mining, OP mining or a combination of both.
Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
- All quantities are rounded to the
appropriate number of significant figures; consequently, sums may
not add up due to rounding.
- All prices in Canadian dollars
unless otherwise stated.
- Open Pit mineral resources are
reported at a pit wall angle of 45°, Revenue Factors of 0.8 (Tom,
End Zone), 0.6 (Jason), 1.0 (Boundary Zone), and Net Smelter Return
(“NSR”) cut-off of $30/tonne (“t”).
- Underground mineral resources are
constrained within reporting panels with heights (H) of 20 m,
lengths (L) of 10 m, with 10 m H and 5 m L sub-shapes and minimum
widths of 2 m at Tom, Jason, and End Zone; and 20 m H by 20 m L
with 10 m sub-shapes and a minimum width of 5 m at Boundary Zone,
using an average panel NSR cut-off of $112/t.
- NSR block values and zinc
equivalency are based on a price of US$1.40/lb Zn, US$1.10/lb Pb,
and US$25/oz Ag, CAD:USD exchange rate of 1.32, and a number of
operating cost and recovery assumptions specific to each deposit or
mineralization domain (see technical report for further
details4).
- ZnEq has been calculated on a
block-by-block basis using the NSR calculation and input parameters
related to each deposit or mineralization domain (see technical
report). For reporting subtotals and totals, ZnEq values have been
calculated using the mass weighted average of the ZnEq block values
of each respective domain for its respective classification
category within OP and UG reporting volumes.
- The effective date of the
zinc-lead-silver MRE is September 4, 2024 and the MRE is based on
all drilling data up to and including holes drilled in 2023 with a
final database cut-off date of June 23, 2024. The MRE does not
include any data from holes drilled in 2024.
- Inferred Mineral Resources are
considered too speculative geologically to have economic
considerations applied to them that would enable them to be
categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is also no certainty that
these Inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to the Measured
and Indicated categories through further drilling, or into Mineral
Reserves, once economic considerations are applied. The Inferred
Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence
than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be
converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the
majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an
Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.
The Macpass MRE contains elevated concentrations
of germanium and gallium. These are reported as by-product elements
in Table 2.
Table 2: Macpass Project Global
By-Product Elements by Deposit (Within Combined OP and UG
Constrained Resources).
Category |
Domains |
Tonnage (Mt) |
Ge (g/t) |
Ga (g/t) |
Ge Contained Metal (kg) |
Ga Contained Metal (kg) |
Indicated |
Tom |
17.52 |
9.22 |
5.71 |
161,500 |
100,000 |
Jason |
3.80 |
8.74 |
4.76 |
33,200 |
18,100 |
End Zone |
0.34 |
4.81 |
6.42 |
1,600 |
2,200 |
Boundary |
34.32 |
12.19 |
8.53 |
418,400 |
292,600 |
Total Indicated |
55.98 |
10.98 |
7.38 |
614,800 |
412,900 |
Inferred |
Tom |
18.94 |
9.39 |
5.94 |
177,800 |
112,500 |
Jason |
11.65 |
6.32 |
3.36 |
73,500 |
39,200 |
End Zone |
0.44 |
2.68 |
3.56 |
1,200 |
1,600 |
Boundary |
17.43 |
8.14 |
7.39 |
141,900 |
128,800 |
Total Inferred |
48.46 |
8.14 |
5.82 |
394,400 |
282,100 |
See Table 1 footnotes.The effective date for the
germanium-gallium by-product element estimate is Oct 17, 2024.
Germanium and Gallium Geology,
Estimation Methodology, and Metallurgy
The elements germanium and gallium are both
critical minerals and occur in association with zinc deposits.
Germanium is known to occur within the mineral sphalerite (zinc
sulphide), and gallium is known to occur within sphalerite and also
within aluminosilicate minerals. Positive correlation of zinc
assays with germanium assays and positive correlation of zinc
assays with gallium assays support the interpretation of these
minerals hosting these elements at Macpass.
Fireweed has carried out a comprehensive
re-assay program for 2017–2023 drilling and selected historical
intervals using a specialized assay method that can quantify
gallium and germanium—a closed vessel assay (Bureau Veritas method
GC204). Gallium and germanium have lower data density than zinc,
lead, and silver even after the re-assay program. As a result,
regressions with zinc or zinc and aluminum were used to estimate
germanium and gallium grades for samples where gallium or germanium
assay data were unavailable. A full description of the QA/QC of
data supporting the MRE is available in the technical report.
The Macpass zinc concentrate from the Boundary
Zone material shows potential for commercially meaningful levels of
gallium and germanium. The indications on germanium levels in
Boundary Zone zinc concentrate range from 85 g/t to 285 g/t, with
gallium levels ranging from 17 g/t to 56 g/t, which may be of
economic interest to a smelter with the capability to recover these
elements.
Gallium and Germanium By-Product
Potential
There is no known precedent for germanium or
gallium to be payable in zinc concentrates. Therefore, Fireweed
have attributed zero value to gallium and germanium in the Net
Smelter Return (“NSR”) calculations used to define
the mineral resource and germanium and gallium do not contribute to
the Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction
(“RPEEE”) associated with resource category
classification. Gallium and germanium do not contribute to the zinc
equivalency calculations in the MRE. Although Fireweed does not
attribute any direct potential economic value to the germanium and
gallium, it is anticipated that favourable treatment charges may be
negotiated with smelters that recover one or both of these
elements.
Exploration Update
The 2024 exploration program at Macpass is now
complete. A total of 16,013 m were drilled in 49 holes, and assays
are pending for most holes. A large regional program was completed,
including extensive ground gravity surveys, prospecting, soil
sampling, and airborne geophysical surveys of LiDAR and
VTEM-magnetics.
A VTEM-magnetic survey was flown at the Gayna
project covering 80% of the claims. The data will be analyzed for
conductive anomalies that could be associated with massive sulphide
mineralization.
The regional exploration data will be analyzed
over the winter in order to define targets for further exploration
with the objective of making new discoveries.
Map 1: Macpass Project and
Mactung Project locations
Qualified Person Statements and Related
Disclosure
Technical information in this news release
relating to the MRE has been reviewed and approved by SLR
Managing Principal Resource Geologist, Pierre
Landry, P.Geo. (BC), a ‘Qualified Person’ as defined under NI
43-101. Mr. Landry is considered to be “independent” of the Company
under Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
All other technical information in this news
release has been reviewed and approved by Fireweed Metals’ VP
Geology, Dr. Jack Milton, P.Geo. (BC), a ‘Qualified Person’ as
defined under NI 43-101. Mr. Milton is not independent of the
Company within the meaning of NI 43-101, as he is VP, Geology of
the Company.
A NI 43-101 Technical Report supporting the MRE
has been filed on SEDAR+. Reference should be made to the full text
of the Technical Report for the assumptions, qualifications, and
limitations relating thereto.
About Fireweed Metals Corp.
Fireweed Metals Corp. is an exploration company
focused on unlocking value in a new critical metals district
located in Northern Canada. Fireweed is 100% owner of the Macpass
District, a large and highly prospective 977 km2 land package. The
Macpass District includes the Macpass zinc-lead-silver project and
the Mactung tungsten project. A Lundin Group company, Fireweed is
strongly positioned to create meaningful value.
Fireweed trades on the TSX Venture Exchange
under the trading symbol “FWZ”, on the OTCQX Best Market under the
trading symbol “FWEDF”, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under
the trading symbol “M0G”.
Additional information about Fireweed and its
projects can be found on the Company’s website at
www.fireweedmetals.com and at www.sedarplus.com.
ON BEHALF OF FIREWEED METALS
CORP.
“Peter Hemstead”President &
CEO, and Director
Neither the 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.
Cautionary Statements
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking”
statements and information (“forward-looking statements”). All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, included
herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to
interpretation of drill results, targets for exploration, potential
extensions of mineralized zones, future work plans, the use of
funds, and the potential of the Company’s projects, are forward
looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but
not always, identified by words such as "expects”, "anticipates”,
"believes”, "intends”, "estimates”, "potential”, "possible”, and
similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or
results "will”, "may”, "could”, or "should” occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of Company
management, as well as assumptions made by and information
currently available to Company management and reflect the beliefs,
opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made.
Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties
and accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the Company's expectations include but are
not limited to, exploration and development risks, unanticipated
reclamation expenses, expenditure and financing requirements,
general economic conditions, changes in financial markets, the
ability to properly and efficiently staff the Company’s operations,
the sufficiency of working capital and funding for continued
operations, title matters, First Nations relations, operating
hazards, political and economic factors, competitive factors, metal
prices, relationships with vendors and strategic partners,
governmental regulations and oversight, permitting, seasonality and
weather, technological change, industry practices, uncertainties
involved in the interpretation of drilling results and laboratory
tests, and one-time events. The Company assumes no obligation to
update forward‐looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections
or other factors, except as required by law.
This news release also contains references to
estimates of mineral resources. The estimation of mineral resources
is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about
many relevant factors. Mineral resources that are not mineral
reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy
of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of
available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in
engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be
unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of
drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately
prove to be inaccurate. Mineral resource estimates may require
re-estimation based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in the
price of zinc and other metals; (ii) results of drilling; (iii)
results of metallurgical testing, process and other studies; (iv)
changes to proposed mine plans; (v) the evaluation of mine plans
subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (vi) the possible
failure to receive required permits, approvals and licenses.
Footnotes and References
*Zinc equivalency is based on a price of
USD$1.40/lb Zn, USD$1.10/lb Pb, and USD$25/oz Ag, CAD:USD exchange
rate of 1.32, and a number of operating cost and metallurgical
assumptions specific to each deposit or domain (see technical
report for further details4).
1: References to relative size, grade, and metal
content of the Macpass resources and Mactung resources in
comparison to other tungsten, zinc, gallium, and germanium deposits
elsewhere in the world, respectively, are based on review of the
Standard & Poor’s Global Market Intelligence Capital IQ
database.2: Boundary Zone open pit Mineral Resources, as previously
disclosed in the September 4, 2024 press release, were rounded to
the nearest 100,000 tonnes. For this press release and the
accompanying Technical Report filed on SEDAR+, tonnages are now in
millions, rounded to the nearest 10,000 tonnes.3: The 2018 NI
43-101 Technical Report on the previous mineral resource is
available for comparison on https://www.sedarplus.ca/4: For Tom,
Jason, End Zone, and Boundary Zone Mineral Resources, the technical
report entitled “Technical Report for NI 43-101, Macpass Project,
Yukon, Canada” has been filed on https://www.sedarplus.ca/ with an
effective date of October 17, 2024.5: For Mactung Mineral
Resources, see Fireweed news release dated June 13, 2023 “Fireweed
Metals Announces Mineral Resources for the Mactung Project: the
Largest High-Grade Tungsten Deposit in the World*” and the
Technical Report entitled “NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mactung
Project, Yukon Territory, Canada,” with effective date July 28,
2023 filed on https://www.sedarplus.ca/. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. is
independent of Fireweed Metals Corp., and a ‘Qualified Person’ as
defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Garth Kirkham,
of Kirkham Geosystems Limited., is responsible for the Mactung
Mineral Resource Estimate.
Contact: Alex CampbellPhone: +1 (604) 689-7842
Email: info@fireweedmetals.com
An image accompanying this announcement is
available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6ea64f50-8054-494e-ab45-ff6c617352a8
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