Churchill Prioritizes TB-01 Nickel Target for Follow-up Exploration at the Taylor Brook Project, Newfoundland & Labrador
TORONTO, Dec. 05, 2024 - Churchill Resources Inc. ("Churchill" or the "Company") (TSXV: CRI) is pleased to provide an update on its Taylor Brook nickel project where drilling has been in progress since mid-September but is currently shut down for borehole geophysical and Optical and Acoustic Televiewer surveys. These surveys along with imminent assay and geochemical results, are anticipated to generate refined chargeability +/- conductor targets for further drill and trench testing in Q1-Q2, 2025. As well, the Company continued soil sampling, lithogeochemical sampling, and prospecting work through the Fall to assist in identifying potential new targets along the ~13km TB Magmatic Trend, and the new TB West licenses. To summarize:
- Ni-Cu-Co sulphides identified near surface and at depth at TB-01 in multiple holes
- Borehole IP, Televiewer, and EM surveys commencing with two geophysical crews
- 2025 work to include trenching and more drilling at TB-01, and
- Further exploration of TB Magmatic Trend along strike of TB-01
Paul Sobie, CEO, commented:
"Our Fall 2024 drill program at Taylor Brook has prioritized the TB-01 Target area within the Taylor Brook Gabbro Complex ("TBGC") South Lobe for nickel-copper-cobalt discovery potential, with more work in progress to pinpoint the location of the chargeability zones/lenses/shoots that collectively are interpreted to make up the overall target area. Our first pass geophysical survey on this grid was quite wide at 200m intervals, so now borehole and infill surface surveys are needed to more accurately position the Induced Polarization ("IP") chargeability targets. Our holes have not yet intersected the highest chargeability portions of TB-01, but did intersect nickel-copper sulphide clots, blebs and stringers, both near surface and at depth, per Figure 1. The on-going geophysical work and televiewer surveys will allow us to construct a first 3-D geological/chargeability/conductor plate model of the TB-01 area. With those results, systematic trenching, as well as more drilling on TB-01 in early 2025, can be planned, after new permit applications are submitted and approved. A positive logistical development is that active logging clear-cut operations are now within ~2km of the TB-01 area to the southeast, and are moving to the northwest, such that access and bedrock exposure will continue to improve. The TB-01 IP anomalies remain open to the southeast, so 2025 work will also be focused on determining how far it extends in this direction.
Target TB-06 in the Layden Extension area was found to be caused by numerous magnetite layers in altered magmatic rocks, more akin to a layered intrusive complex model potentially prospective for Ti-V-Cr-Fe, and with depth, possible PGE-nickel-copper mineralization. Our one hole into this large IP chargeability target encountered only trace sulphides, so the IP anomaly is interpreted to have been caused by the cumulative layers of iron oxides.
Target TB-08 along strike with the Layden Prospect had two drill tests which did not encounter significant intersections of sulphide mineralization, suggesting that the prospect does not extend into this area in the form of a large mineralized body. Borehole surveys will be completed on these holes to search for off-hole anomalies that could still indicate potential. As well three deep holes at Layden will be surveyed with the borehole IP equipment to enhance our 3-D modelling and target definition at depth.
The recently closed flow-through private placement allows for continuous field and desktop work on the project through the winter months and well into 2025. Target TB-01 has intrigued us since acquiring the property, with its location just inside the margin of the South Lobe of the Taylor Brook Gabbro Complex, where it is intruded by the ~13km long TB Magmatic Trend resistivity low feature, with coincident, highly anomalous Ni-Cu-Co soil samples at surface. We look forward to advancing this prospect while we continue to explore the TB Magmatic Trend and our new TB West licenses."
Figure 1 - TBSL-1 Grid Gradient I.P. Chargeability over -300m MMT Resistivity with Sulphide Examples
Drilling Summary
The Fall 2024 drill program of eight NQ core holes targeted three high chargeability/low resistivity targets (TB-01, TB-06, and TB-08), which were identified earlier in the year through follow-up ground gradient and pole-dipole IP and Controlled Source Audio Magneto-Telluric ("CSAMT") geophysical surveys. Assay, geochemical, petrographical and physical property samples have been selected from the drillholes and submitted for analysis. All results are pending.
Mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks were intersected in all holes, confirming the Company's geological model of a newly recognized regional magmatic system on the property that intrudes Grenvillian gneisses as well as Late Proterozoic marbles and the Silurian Taylor Brook Gabbro. The magmatic system drilled this Fall appears dynamic in places, particularly at the TB-01 target, where it exhibits evidence of multiple intrusive pulses, assimilation of country rock xenoliths, and nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide blebs, stringers and patches over short intervals, at several depths including near surface. Mineralized glacial float samples were also prospected at TB-01 this Fall, correlating well with the soil anomalies, and the near-surface drilled units. Assay results are also pending for the prospecting samples.
Drill testing of the TB-08 and TB-06 targets at the Layden Extension Grid found the IP chargeability anomalies to be due to layered fine-grained magnetite (+/- Titanium and Vanadium) within magmatic intrusive rocks and presumed to be Taylor Brook Gabbro North Lobe units. Minor disseminated pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite were noted in a few of the oxide layers, however, in far lesser amounts than at Target TB-01, as per the following table.
Taylor Brook Project 2024 Fall Drilling Program | ||||||||
Hole | IP Target | Length | Azimuth | Dip | Easting | Northing | Elevation | Chargeable Mineral Observations |
TB24-41 | TB-01 Centre | 699.00 | 175 | -45 | 488625 | 5494524 | 258 | sulphide blebs, stringers at 60-85m |
TB24-42 | TB-01 East | 172.00 | 225 | -45 | 489002 | 5494267 | 286 | sulphide blebs, stringers at 13-25m, 145m, hole ended due to deviation |
TB24-42B | TB-01 East | 488.00 | 225 | -45 | 489009 | 5494261 | 287 | sulphide blebs, stringers at 11-25m, 225m, 485m |
TB24-43 | TB-01 West | 542.00 | 70 | -65 | 488203 | 5494132 | 240.7 | sulphide blebs, stringers at 499m |
TB24-46 | TB-06 South | 184.00 | 215 | -45 | 485397 | 5498765 | 290 | Fe-Ti-V oxides in three <5m zones, hole ended due to azimuth correction |
TB24-46B | TB-06 South | 706.00 | 245 | -45 | 485397 | 5498765 | 290 | Fe-Ti-V oxides in nine zones 5-35m thick, trace Ni-Cu sulphides at 625m |
TB24-47 | TB-08 South | 193.00 | 245 | -45 | 483431 | 5499178 | 268 | gabbronorite from 110-193m, no chargeable minerals noted to explain IP anomaly |
TB24-48 | TB-08 North | 136.00 | 225 | -65 | 482935 | 5499385 | 282.7 | Thin sulphide (po-py) horizon at 100m, hole in Grenville gneisses from top to EoH |
Total | 3,120.00 |
About Churchill Resources Inc.
Churchill Resources Inc. is a Canadian exploration company focused on high grade, magmatic nickel sulphides in Canada, principally at its prospective Taylor Brook and Florence Lake properties in Newfoundland & Labrador. The Churchill management team, board and its advisors have decades of combined management experience in mineral exploration and in the establishment of successful publicly listed mining companies, both in Canada and around the world. Churchill's Taylor Brook and Florence Lake projects have the potential to benefit from the province's large and diversified minerals industry, which includes world class nickel mines and processing facilities, and a well-developed mineral exploration sector with locally based drilling and geological expertise.
The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Derek H.C Wilton, P.Geo., FGC, who is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Mr. Wilton is an honourary research professor of Economic Geology at Memorial University in St. John's and is independent of the Company for the purposes of NI 43-101.
Further Information
For further information regarding Churchill, please contact:
Churchill Resources Inc. | |
Paul Sobie, Chief Executive Officer | |
Tel. | +1 416.365.0930 (o) |
+1 647.988.0930 (m) | |
psobie@churchillresources.com | |
Alec Rowlands, Corporate Consultant | |
Tel. | +1 416.721.4732 (m) |
arowlands@churchillresources.com |
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "proposed", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, , the Company's objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Company's properties; interpretation of recent exploration results; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Company's properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans and costs and financing availability.
These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Company's properties; failure to identify any mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Company's properties; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; and those factors described in the most recently filed management's discussion and analysis of the Company. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.
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