Orford Provides Update on 2021 Exploration Plans for its Qiqavik Gold Project in Northern Quebec
TORONTO, April 8, 2021 - Orford Mining Corp. ("Orford") (TSXV: ORM) is pleased to provide an update on activities at its Qiqavik property. The Qiqavik property is an emerging camp located in the Northern Group of the Cape smith belt in Northern Quebec. Qiqavik covers over 390km2 of Proterozoic greenstone belt and hosts multiple large structures. Less than five months of field work on the ground to-date has resulted in the discovery of a multitude of high-grade grab samples up to 648 g/t Au (Figure 1). In 2019 drilling, Orford was successful in intersecting gold mineralization in all six drill holes targeting three different geological structures on the property separated by up to 18 km (see Orford news release of October 16, 2019, Figure 2)
David Christie, President and CEO of Orford, commented, "The strike-extensive and thick IP Lake Shear Corridor appears to be the source for three high grade gold boulder trains and gold-in-till dispersion trains. We are excited to get back on the ground at Qiqavik in July and commence our 2021 exploration program, focused on the prospective IP Lake Shear Corridor".
A key discovery of the last field program in 2019 was the definition of the IP lake shear corridor (IPLS) in the south-central portion of the property (Figure 2,3). The IPLS has been traced at surface for over 7 km (open to the East and West) and varies in its surface thickness expression from 125 to 375m. The shear is hosted by volcanic and volcanic metasedimentary rocks and is flanked to the south in some of the more westerly portions by an iron formation, or possibly several iron formations which themselves are variably gold mineralized and silicified. Three high grade boulder trains occur north of the IPLS (Figure 3). In 2019,153 till samples were collected around the IPLS to aid in determining the potential source of the high grade boulder trains. Till samples were sent to IOS Geoscientific for gold grain counting (ARTGoldTM).
Normalized gold grain count (to 10kg) results show clusters of till samples with more than 100 grains (Figure 3). These results include the highest counts received to date on the Qiqavik property and are par with what is observed down ice from other producing districts1 where similar till counting methods has aided in discovering gold mines. Given the ice transport direction toward the north-northeast, the close association of these anomalies with the IPLS and secondary cross-structures provide compelling vectors for targeting further exploration on the southern end of IPLS.
1 McMartin, Isabelle, 2009. Till Composition Along the Meliadine Trend Near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut: Applications to Gold Exploration in Permafrost Terrain. Northern Canada Division, Geolgical Survey of Canada, GAC Short Course Notes 18, p.153-166. |
Figure 1 Gold -bearing surface of Grab Samples on Qiqavik.
Note that grab samples are selective by nature and values reported may not be representative of mineralized zones
Figure 2: Summary of Drill Result on the Qiqavik Property
Note that All drilling intervals are down-hole lengths. True thicknesses cannot be estimated with available information
Figure 3: Total Gold Grain Counts for Till Normalized to 10km.
Note that grab samples are selective by nature and values reported may not be representative of mineralized zones
Exploration field work in early July will be focused on defining a cut-off to the southern end of the high-count gold-in-till dispersion trains identified just north of the IPLS. An additional 200 till samples are planned along and to the south of the 7 km IPLS corridor and an additional 150 till samples will be collected along the westerly and easterly extension of the IPLS. Till data will be used in conjunction with a planned airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey of the IPLS along with prospecting and mapping to define drill targets for 1,500 metres of drilling in August 2021.
About Orford Mining Corporation
Orford Mining is a gold explorer focused on highly prospective and underexplored areas of Northern Quebec.
Orford's assets in the Nunavik region of Northern Quebec include the Qiqavik and West Raglan projects comprising a land package totaling over 105,000 hectares in the Cape Smith Belt of Northern Quebec. The Qiqavik Project hosts several new high-grade gold discoveries along a mineralized trend in excess of 40 km. The West Raglan project hosts a number of high-grade Raglan-style nickel/copper/platinum group metal discoveries along a 55 km mineralized trend. In January 2021, Orford entered into an earn-in agreement whereby Wyloo Metals can earn up to 80% of the West Raglan Project for total expenditures of $25.0 million over 7 years.
In 2020, Orford acquired three new property positions (Over 20,000ha) in the Joutel region of the Abitibi district of northern Quebec, which hosts historical deposits such as the Eagle/Telbel, Joutel Copper, Poirier Copper, and Vezza deposits. This information from neighbouring properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on Orford Mining's properties.
Orford continually seeks new gold exploration opportunities in North America.
Orford's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ORM.
To view further details about the Orford's exploration projects please visit Orford's website, www.orfordmining.com.
Qualified Person
The disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Alger St-Jean, P.Geo., Chief Geoscientist of Orford, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. The technical information presented in this release was obtained from historical work reports filed with the Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and has not been independently verified by a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43 101.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains "forward-looking information" including without limitation statements relating to the liquidity and capital resources of Orford and potential of one or more of the Qiqavik, and West Raglan, properties.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Orford to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Orford's filings with Canadian securities regulators available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Although Orford 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Orford disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.
SOURCE Orford Mining Corp.
Contact
David Christie, President and CEO, 2 St. Clair Avenue West, 18th Floor, Toronto, ON M4V 1L5, T: 647-255-8037, www.orfordmining.com