ROUYN-NORANDA, QC, Jan. 7, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - X-Terra
Resources Inc. (TSXV: XTT) (FRANKFURT: XTR) is pleased to announce
that it has defined several high priority gold drilling targets on
its road-accessible Grog and Northwest properties, located in
Restigouche County in the province of New
Brunswick. The targets were defined as a result of the
fieldwork and data processing completed throughout the 2019
exploration program. Winter drilling will allow to accelerate the
exploration process and continue to generate high quality sampling
in areas previously identified as gold-bearing.
Geochemical surveys, high resolution magnetic survey and induced
polarization were completed across the Grog and Northwest
properties, in addition to the trenching and structural mapping
that were completed to produce a first drilling plan. The Grog and
Northwest properties are characterized by a one to two metres thick
soil and overburden blanket without nearly any outcropping areas.
This situation creates both an opportunity and a challenge for
exploration by making the classic "hammer and boot" prospecting
more challenging. Identification of targets needed to be supported
heavily on indirect exploration methods, such as, geochemistry and
geophysics followed by drilling.
- Grog gold mineralization targets correspond to an area
of about 6 kilometres along the East to Northeast McKenzie Fault
Zone. The mineralized system is not attached to a unique structure
and remain inside a one kilometre-wide favorable corridor marked by
a complex folding pattern with associated shear zones. A
feldspathic dyke swarm event runs all along the targets associated
with clay alteration, open space filling quartz veining marked by
brecciation and sulfidation. The gold-bearing system can be tracked
using arsenic and antimony as pathfinders.
- The Northwest veins system is located about 25
kilometres further south in a distinct geological environment
composed of wacke sediments metamorphosed to the greenschist
metamorphism facies. In this context, low sulfides, free
gold-bearing quartz veins are hosted in strongly dipping shear
zones marked locally by drag folding. Chlorite group minerals are
the main component of the alteration system.
While early, the drilling proposal is supported by multiple
field evidences such as the gold enrichment observed with
lithological contacts, shearing and particular alteration
assemblages. Structural information obtained during the 2019 field
exploration program allowed to give an orientation for each
target.
"The 2019 exploration program on the Grog and Northwest
properties was very successful and to further delineate these first
drill targets is a true testament to the hard work the entire team
has done. Some of the targets identified exhibit the geological
characteristics required for a porphyritic-epithermal connection,
however, other sectors of the properties advocate more for an
intrusion related gold deposit context. In addition, this will be
the first time any drilling has taken place over the Grog
Property", stated Michael Ferreira,
President and Chief Executive Officer of X-Terra Resources.
The objective of these first drill holes is to confirm the
position of gold-bearing structures, evaluate the geometrical
parameters such as dip and thickness, and recover information that
will validate geological controls on gold mineralization.
Six distinct high-priority targets were modelled to be tested
first with one or two shallow drill holes. X-Terra Resources' plan
is to drill between one and three shallows holes per target.
Targets
|
Host
rocks
|
Geochemical
signature and alteration
|
Host
structure
|
Mineralization
environment
|
Northwest
26
|
Greenschist
sediments
|
Au, chlorite
alteration
|
N-NE strongly dipping
shear zone along a folded contact
|
Orogenic quartz
veins
|
Dyke swarm
|
Feldspathic
dykes/hornfels
|
As-Sb, hornfels
alteration
|
Dykes contacts
corresponding to a strong chargeability contrast.
|
Intrusion
related
|
Bellevue
South
|
Conglomerate/shear
zones
|
Au-As-Sb, clay
alteration
|
Shear zone cross
cutting a fold hinge
|
Epithermal
veins
|
Bellevue
North
|
Conglomerate/shear
zones
|
Au-As, clay
alteration
|
Shear zone cross
cutting a fold hinge
|
Epithermal
veins
|
Grog
|
Conglomerate/feldspathic dykes
|
Au-As-Sb, clay,
silicification
|
Shear zone cross
cutting a fold hinge
|
Epithermal
veins
|
TR-8
|
Conglomerate
|
Au-As-Sb, clay,
silicification
|
Sediments contacts
with a strong chargeability contrast.
|
Epithermal
veins
|
Prospective structures were firstly identified with strong
chargeability contrasts along property wide dipole-dipole induced
polarization survey lines. Further trenching on selected anomalies
made the contact with different sulfides bearing, alteration and
locally strongly faulted environments. Systematic sampling along 20
to 200 metres lines returned varied levels of gold, arsenic and
antimony enrichment.
The final targeting used the last detailed airborne magnetic
survey produced at 50 metres spacing over 701 line kilometres
interpreted with the help of structural measurements and geological
mapping from each trench.
Drilling priorities
Northwest 26 target: High grade gold values were
obtained from four sub-outcropping quartz vein occurrences
scattered within a five kilometre by five kilometre area. For all
cases identified to date, gold enrichment values up to 207.6 g/t Au
from chip samples and boulder samples were obtained from individual
0.1 to 0.3 metre wide veins.
The northwest trench No 26 result (4.5 g/t Au) is associated
with a 10 metre-wide quartz vein networks following a chlorite rich
shear zone (see X-Terra Resources press release dated November 27, 2019). Drill holes planned should
prove the repetition and consistency of gold grades inside the vein
system (See link:
https://www.xterraresources.com/pdfs/Drill-Targets-2020-XTT-NB-TRENCH-26.pdf).
Dyke swarm Target: Strong arsenic and gold geochemical
anomalies are associated with a feldspathic dyke swarm highlighting
a north to north-south orientation. A strong brecciation associated
with clay, silica and pyrite alteration was identified at the limit
of accessible ground for trenching. Drilling will cross-cut this 60
to 100 metre area bounded by strong mineralization
indicators.
Bellevue North & South
Targets: The area is located approximately two kilometres north
of the Dykes swarm showing. Initial roadside prospecting returned 1
to 2.87 g/t Au boulders. Initial trenching has intercepted a series
of gold values between 0.3 and 0.8 g/t forming locally five metres
wide interval. Target modelling indicates a strong control by a
north-east shear zone developed inside a silicified and argilized
conglomerate. Both gold showings can belong to similar parallel
structures according to the current interpretation. The distance
between them reaches approximately 600 metres. The drilling
strategy aims to cut entirely the gold-bearing structure
thickness.
Grog Target: The Grog showing area is located
approximately 700 metres north of the Bellevue showing. Actual
trenching patterns returned gold values up to 3.7 g/t Au partly
hosted in argilized strongly dipping feldspathic dykes, and partly
in silicified conglomerates extending over approximately 500
metres. Structural observations have indicated the importance of
intersections between dykes and easterly fractures. The initial
drilling planned aim to reproduce historical surface results.
Tr-8 Target: Trench No. 8 represented the northernmost
exploration area on the property, being located approximately six
kilometres from the dyke swarm target. The mineralization context
identified with gold anomalies between 0.05 and 0.27 g/t Au is
located at the intersection between a conglomerate-siltstone
contact and an oblique minor shear zone. The gold enrichment is
related to silicification and brecciation similar to the structures
observed in epithermal environments.
(See
link: https://www.xterraresources.com/pdfs/Drill-Targets-2020-XTT-NB.pdf).
Qualified Person
Jeannot Théberge, P. Geo registered in the Provinces of Québec
and New-Brunswick, a consultant to
X-Terra Resources, a qualified person under National Instrument
43‑101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects ("NI 43-101") has reviewed
the technical contents of this news release, and has approved the
disclosure of the technical information contained herein.
About X-Terra Resources Inc.
X-Terra Resources is a resource company focused on acquiring and
exploring precious metals and energy properties in Canada.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains statements that may constitute
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information may
include, among others, statements regarding the future plans,
costs, objectives or performance of X-Terra Resources, or the
assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this news release,
words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe",
"expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar
words and the negative form thereof are used to identify
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should
not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and
will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the
times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. No
assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the
forward-looking information will transpire or occur, including the
exploration programs and development (including any drilling
programs) of the Grog and Northwest Properties, or if it does so,
what benefits X-Terra Resources will derive from the Grog and
Northwest Properties. Forward-looking information is based on
information available at the time and/or management's good-faith
belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or
unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable
factors, many of which are beyond X-Terra Resources' control. These
risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited
to, those described under "Financial Instruments" and "Risk and
Uncertainties in X-Terra Resources' Annual Report for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2018, a copy
of which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and could cause
actual events or results to differ materially from those projected
in any forward-looking statements. X-Terra Resources does not
intend, nor does X-Terra Resources undertake any obligation, to
update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this
news release to reflect subsequent information, events or
circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable
laws.
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Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
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accuracy of the release.
Website: www.xterraresources.com
SOURCE X-Terra Resources Inc.