Appia Intersects 16.06 wt% Treo over 15.55 m Including 49.17 wt% Treo over 3.7 m in Drill Hole IV-19-012 on the Critical Rare Earth Element Alces Lake Property
Toronto, September 3, 2019 - Appia Energy Corp. (the "Company" or "Appia) (CSE:API) (OTCQB: APAAF) (FSE: A0I.F) (FSE: A0I.MU) (FSE: A0I.BE) is pleased to announce the assay results from diamond drill holes IV-19-008 to IV-19-014 on the Alces Lake property (the "Property") northern Saskatchewan, as part of the recently completed diamond drilling program (the "Program") (see Figure 1 for drill hole locations).
Each of the drill holes intersected the Rare Earth Element ("REE") mineralized system, with 5 of the 7 drill holes intersecting high-grade Total Rare Earth Oxides ("TREO"). See Table 1 for full results. Highlights include;
- IV-19-012: 16.059 wt% TREO* over 15.55 m core length starting at 8.7 m down hole depth, including 31.339 wt% TREO** over 7.9 m core length at 9.7 m down hole depth which also includes 49.165 wt% TREO** over 3.7 m core length at 9.7 m down hole depth
- IV-19-013: 4.449 wt% TREO* over 5.95 m core length starting at 6.0 m down hole depth, including 12.556 wt% TREO** over 2.05 m core length at 9.9 m drill hole depth, and 22.457 wt% TREO** over 1.8 m core length starting at 22.6 m down hole depth
- IV-19-011: 6.162 wt% TREO* over 6.5 m core length starting at 7.9 m down hole depth, including 37.576 wt% TREO** over 1.05 m core length at 9.85 m down hole depth.
True thickness has not been determined for each of the mentioned intervals, including those in Table 1.
Diamond drill hole IV-19-012 was collared 9 m north-northeast of diamond drill hole IV-19-003, which intersected 16.10 wt% TREO over 11.65 metres core length starting at 10.25 m down hole (see News Release, July 16, 2019). The massive mineralization intersected in both IV-19-012 and IV-19-003 are very similar in appearance and lithogeochemical properties, and are interpreted to be part of the same mineralized body which remains open along strike.
All the REEs are 100% hosted in coarse-grained monazite, however the LREO:HREO ratio for IV-19-014 between 24.0 to 25.05 m, in particular, suggests another REE mineral host, and based on the 2018 heavy mineral sand study which identified a significant concentration of xenotime within the sands, Appia believes this interval reflects monazite with xenotime mineralization. A study to determine the presence of xenotime within the Alces Lake outcrops is planned to commence once the full suite of sample assay results from the Program have been disclosed.
Mr. James Sykes, Appia's Vice-President, Exploration and Development, comments: "The assay results from the reported drill holes, especially IV-19-012 (and IV-19-003), continue to showcase the near-surface, world-class high-grade REE mineralization at Alces Lake. We remain highly encouraged for continued exploration on the Property. In addition, we are seeing the REE mineralized system continuing to depths 30 and 50 m below surface. The high-grade zones we've intersected to-date are mantled and/or connected with low-grade REE mineralization, therefore these low-grade zones have the potential to guide us to higher-grade REE occurrences, thereby greatly increasing the prospect for high-grade REEs near-surface and at depth. We may have identified another REE source from within the rocks; xenotime. This is yet another exciting component to the Alces Lake property as xenotime typically hosts relatively higher concentrations of heavy REEs, such as dysprosium ("Dy") and terbium ("Tb"), both of which are considered critical REEs. Dy is up over US$100/kg (+57%)* and Tb is up over US$150/kg (+35%)*** since the beginning of the year".
Drill hole assay results will continue to be released in the coming weeks as they are received and analyzed by the Company. The Company is continuing regional exploration and prospecting for additional REE surface zones.
The Alces Lake Property encompasses some of the highest-grade total and critical REE mineralization in the world, hosted within numerous surface and near-surface showings to which the depth extent remains unknown. Critical REEs are defined here as those that are in short-supply and high-demand for use in permanent magnets and modern electronic applications (i.e.: Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr) and Dysprosium (Dy)). The Alces Lake project area is 14,334 hectares (35,420 acres) in size and is 100% owned by Appia.
Appia considers "high-grade" REE mineralization to be >1.897 wt% TREO, which represents >75th percentile for global REO deposit grades of advanced stage projects (excluding the Gakara, Steenkampskraal and Mount Weld CLD deposits). The global REO deposit information was derived from publicly available information as of January 31, 2018, from individual company websites, SEDAR technical report filings, and the Technology Metals Research Advanced Rare Earth Projects Index (http://www.techmetalsresearch.com/metrics-indices/tmr-advanced-rare-earth-projects-index/)
All assay results were provided by Saskatchewan Research Council's ("SRC") Geoanalytical Laboratory, an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (CAN-P-4E) certified laboratory in Saskatoon, SK, for multi-element and REE analysis.
All analytical results reported herein have passed rigorous internal QAQC review and compilation. The technical content in this news release was reviewed and approved by Dr. Irvine R. Annesley, P.Geo, Advisor to Appia's Board of Directors, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
*Composite results calculated using 0.10 wt% TREO cutoff
**Composite results calculated using 4.0 wt% TREO cutoff
***Prices are based on Argus Metals quoted prices; Dy Oxide 99% min FOB China as of Jan. 2019 = US$177.64/kg, Dy Oxide 99% min FOB China as of Jul. 2019 = US$279.55/kg, Tb Oxide 99% min FOB China as of Jan. 2019 = US$432.00/kg, and Tb Oxide 99% min FOB China as of Jul. 2019 = US$586.50/kg.
About Appia
Appia is a Canadian publicly-traded company in the uranium and rare earth element sectors. The Company is currently focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements ("REE") and uranium on the Alces Lake property, as well as prospecting for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 57,048 hectares (140,968 acres) in Saskatchewan.
The Company also has a 100% interest (subject to a 1% Uranium Production Payment Royalty and a 1% Net Smelter Return Royalty on any precious or base metals payable, provided that the price of uranium is greater than US$130 per pound) in 12,545 hectares (31,000 acres), including rare earth element and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario, which historically produced over 300 million pounds of U3O8 and is the only Canadian camp that has had significant rare earth element (yttrium) production. The deposits are largely unconstrained along strike and down dip.
Appia's technical team is directed by James Sykes, who has had direct and indirect involvement with over 550 million lbs. U3O8 being discovered in five deposits in the Athabasca Basin.
Appia has 65.3 million common shares outstanding, 85.2 million shares fully diluted.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward- looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information, please contact:
Tom Drivas, President, CEO and Director: (tel) 416-546-2707, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) appia@appiaenergy.ca
James Sykes, VP Exploration & Development, (tel) 306-221-8717, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) jsykes@uraniumgeologist.com
Frank van de Water, Chief Financial Officer and Director, (tel) 416-546-2707, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) fvandewater@rogers.com
FIGURE 1 - ALCES LAKE DIAMOND DRILLING 2019 PLAN MAP
To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:
https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/47458_8d53c992843288ad_002full.jpg
TABLE 1 - LITHOGEOCHEMICAL RESULTS FOR DRILL HOLES IV-19-008 to IV-19-014, & IV-19-003
To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit:
https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/47458_appia_enhanced.jpg
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/47458
