Emperor Metals Inc. Announces Final Results from 2023 Exploration Campaign and Strategic Insights for 2024 at Duquesne West Gold Project
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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2024) - Emperor Metals Inc. (CSE: AUOZ) (OTCQB: EMAUF) (FSE: 9NH) ("Emperor") is pleased to announce additional assay results and achievements from the 8,579 meter 2023 drilling campaign at the Duquesne West Gold Project. Emperor is targeting a multi-million-ounce resource in a combination conceptual open pit and underground mining scenarios. This campaign, guided by the innovative application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, was strategically designed to achieve two major objectives:
Explore anticipated extensions of high-grade targets suitable for both underground and open-pit mining.
Identifying potential infill opportunities within a conceptual open-pit model. Historically, the potential for lower-grade, bulk tonnage contributory ounces was overlooked.
Highlights of Emperor's 2023 Drilling Campaign:
Extensions of High-Grade Targets: Exploration drilling has successfully identified extensions of high-grade mineralization favorable to both underground and open-pit mining methods, underscoring the robust potential of the project
10.8 m of 15.8 g/t Au (DQ23-05)
11.7 m of 5.63 g/t Au (DQ23-01)
13.2 m of 3.75 g/t Au (DQ23-09)
Opportunities in Conceptual Open Pit Model: Drilling and resampling has unveiled promising potential for the conceptual pit, previously classified as waste, that are now recognized for their potential to expand and improve the basic economics. Some notable thickness include:
25.0 m of 1.69 g/t Au (DQ23-02)
11.75 m of 0.61 g/t Au (DQ23-10)
24.4 of 0.5 g/t Au (DQ23-05)
Expansion of Mineralization Footprint: A continuous trend of mineralization extending over 1.2 kilometers east of the conceptual open-pit model has been discovered, significantly expanding the overall footprint of mineralization at the project.
Fully Funded 2024 Drilling Program: Emperor is fully funded for a 5,000-meter drilling program set to commence in Q2 of 2024, building on the successes of the 2023 campaign.
CEO John Florek commented:
During this inaugural drilling campaign, the pivot to start drilling and exploring the extents of an open pit was envisioned in the mist of the program. A conceptual open pit model was developed for various stages, and we proceeded to start defining the extents of a Phase 1 Open Pit since this is usually the most economic phase of open pit development. Our objective in 2023 to grow the footprint of this deposit was clear and we delivered.
It is remarkable that we went from exploring a high-grade gold deposit with an underground development scenario to a large-scale open pit vision above this high-grade gold deposit so quickly. The revelation that the hosts rocks contained low-grade bulk tonnage gold was a real game changer. This concept de-risks and diversifies the project immensely; especially in a Tier 1 District where numerous companies have grown from small junior explorers to major developers. The proximity to multiple mills and infrastructure makes the production potential of this project highly valuable. The recent surge of gold prices supports this vision.
Emperor is transforming the approach to evaluating and developing opportunities like Duquesne West using A.I., which allows us to optimize our exploration expenditures and capitalize on new information quickly; this accelerates our productivity offers a significant competitive advantage, on par with, or ahead of, senior mining companies. Emperor's scientific and technological edge sets us apart.
Upcoming Drilling Season:
Emperor is fully funded for a 5,000 meter drilling program to begin in Q2 of 2024. These 2023 results will now be used to refine our A.I. models which will aid in targeting in the 2024 drill season. Our strategy is still focused on evaluation of increasing potential ounces for a later mineral resource update. Most of our work for 2024 will be concentrated on the open pit concept; we see potential to add ounces cost effectively by expanding the footprint and/or adding incremental ounces to this conceptual open pit. This should expeditiously enhance our inferred ounce profile.
Emperor is also sampling near-surface core from the historical core library that was not assayed by previous explorers. Up to
Our recent financing of an additional 2.2 million dollars was opened due to investor demand. Half of this financing was taken by Robert McEwen who is an industry leader and now strategic partner. His endorsement validates our innovative approach, gives confidence to the overall program and has highlighted emphatically that we share a vision for the applications of A.I. and Machine Learning.
Image 1: A) Figure showing Phase 1 conceptual open pit model and location of assays in this press release. B) Figure showing Phase 1 Open Pit contained in the Ultimate Pit Conceptual Model. These intercepts increase the footprint of the deposit and add ounces to the deposit.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8461/204885_a00b4d7134f749dc_001full.jpg
Summary of Drill Results:
2023 Recent Drilling Results
Full results for DQ23-10 to DQ23-14 and unsampled historical core have been released from SGS Laboratories (see Image 1 and Table 1 intercept highlights). The strategy of diamond drillholes DQ23-10 to 14 and the assaying of historic unsampled intervals was to determine if the Phase 1 pit could be extended westward to connect smaller satellite pits and add incremental ounces in the previously unsampled host rock. Affirmation of both scenarios bolstered support for growth. Both the smaller Phase 1 and Ultimate Pit Conceptual Model contain mineralization in the host rock that surrounds the high-grade zones.
DQ23-10 intersects 11.75 metres (m) of 0.61 g/t Au
DQ23-14 intersected 5.0 m of 0.83 g/t Au.
Up to
Historic Core Sampling
Historic drill core sampling was confined to the potential Phase 1 Open Pit areas where intervals within previous obtained drill-core were not sampled (see Image 1 and Table 1). This was the best strategic option for evaluation in this inaugural drilling program.
DQ10-11 and DQ11-22 revealed the potential to add incremental ounces to the main portion of the Phase 1 pit shell with 8.0 m of 1.9 g/t Au and 6.0 m of 0.76 g/t Au this is expected to extend the footprint of mineralization and add additional lower grade incremental ounces to the high-grade zones in the Phase 1 Open Pit.
Outside the main area of the Phase 1 Open Pit, continuation of mineralization extends 1.7 km eastward to what previous workers called the Nip Zone. The combination of several factors gives significant exploration potential for expanding the pit:
Drillholes 2DQ06-17 and DQ06-18 which are 1.7 km from the main Phase 1 Open Pit area contains unsampled mineralization (see table 1) where higher grade gold exists in historical core. In addition to these incremental ounces, both these drill-holes had near surface higher grade intercepts. 2DQ06-17 had an interval of 4.6 m of 2.56 g/t Au and 2DQ06-18 had an interval of 2.5 m of 51.9 g/t Au.
There is very limited drilling between the main Phase 1 Open Pit and the eastern portion of property (Nip Zone), which creates significant opportunity.
Multiple high-grade near surface hits with reasonable thickness in historic drillholes along this trend; such as 2DQ10-17 of 16.0 m of 3.2 g/t Au.
The open pit concept in Image 1B shows an ultimate pit with a depth extent of 400 meters; the footprint is 1.8 km by 0.8 km. Sampling unsampled historic core in 2024 will strategically focus on the area of the conceptual open pit design. This will allow us to determine the potential economics as we progress through the phases having the necessary assay results for resource evaluation and eventually for economic evaluations.
In General, mineralization is within and proximal to a fertile, gold endowed, quartz-feldspar porphyry intrusion (QFP), which appears to enrich the greenstone belt along this structural corridor that hosts the Duquesne West Gold Deposit. Apophyses of this intrusion are more endowed and are close to the most highly replacement type mineralization. Competency contrasts between rock types within this mineralized corridor are good sites for additional mineralization.
High and low-grade mineralization are important in Open Pit Mining:
- Highest grade intercepts are within mafic (+/- ultramafic) breccia zone carapaces mantling the QFPs or highly deformed replacement style structural zones (in the mafic volcanics) that are highly strained and completely replaced by ankerite, sericite, and quartz.
- The broadest low-grade zones are located within the QFPs.
- Some lower-grade broad zones mantle higher-grade intercepts in the mafic volcanics. This usually occurs at the margin between mafic volcanics and QFP (low grade in both units surrounding a high-grade intercept.)
This mineralizing system is significantly large in length, width and depth. These broad zones will aid in lowering strip ratios when Emperor has enough data to support a new resource estimate for both open pit and underground conceptual mining scenarios.
Samples were sent to SGS Laboratories in Lakefield, ON.
Quality Assurance and Control
The Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) was conducted by Technominex, a geological contractor hired by Emperor, which adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines for exploration related activities conducted at its facility in Rouyn Noranda, Quebec. The QA/QC procedures are overseen by a Qualified Person on site.
Emperor QA/QC protocols are maintained through the insertion of certified reference material (standards), blanks and lab duplicates within the sample stream totaling approximately one QA/QC sample per 7 samples. Drill core is cut in-half with a diamond saw, with one-half placed in sealed bags with appropriate tags and shipped to the SGS Lakefield laboratory and the other half retained on site in the original core box. A dispatch list consists of 88 or 176 samples along with their corresponding QA/QC samples for a single batch. This allows complete batches (88 samples) for fire assay. A file for sample tracking records tags used and weights of sample bags shipped to the SGS Lakefield. Shipment is done by Manitoulin Transport and coordination by Technominex staff in Rouyn-Noranda.
The third-party laboratory, SGS prep laboratory in Lakefield Ontario, processes the shipment of samples using standard sample preparation (code PRP91) and produces pulps from the specified samples. The pulps are then sent off to SGS Burnaby for analysis. Chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the submittal into the laboratory preparation facility all the way to analysis at the SGS Burnaby B.C. laboratory.
Analytical testing is performed by SGS laboratories in Burnaby, British Columbia. The entire sample is crushed to
Duplicate sampling of DQ02-10 returned values of 14.6 m of 4.16 g/t Au from 443.4 to 458.0 m. Total assay values over this interval was >
About the Duquesne West Gold Project
The Duquesne West Gold Property is located 32 km northwest of the city of Rouyn-Noranda and 10 km east of the town of Duparquet. The property lies within the historic Duparquet gold mining camp in the southern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in the Superior Province.
Under an Option Agreement, Emperor agreed to acquire a one hundred percent (
The Property hosts a historical inferred mineral resource estimate of 727,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 5.42 g/t Au.1,2 The mineral resource estimate predates modern CIM guidelines and a Qualified Person on behalf of Emperor has not reviewed or verified the mineral resource estimate, therefore it is considered historical in nature and is reported solely to provide an indication of the magnitude of mineralization that could be present on the property. The gold system remains open for resource identification and expansion.
Reinterpretation of the existing geological model was created using Artificial Intelligence (A.I) and Machine Learning. This model shows the opportunity for additional discovery of ounces by revealing gold trends unknown to previous workers and the potential to expand the resource along significant gold-endowed structural zones.
Multiple scenarios exist to expand additional resources which include:
- Underground High-Grade Gold
- Open Pit Bulk Tonnage Gold
- Underground Bulk Tonnage Gold.
1 Watts, Griffis, and McOuat Consulting Geologists and Engineers, Oct 20, 2011, Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Duquesne-Ottoman Property, Quebec, Canada for XMet Inc.
2 Power-Fardy and Breede, 2011. The Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) constructed in 2011 is considered historical in nature as it was constructed prior to the most recent Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (CIM) standards (2014) and guidelines (2019) for mineral resources. In addition, the economic factors used to demonstrate reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction for the MRE have changed since 2011. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to consider the MRE as a current MRE. Emperor is not treating the historical MRE as a current mineral resource. The reader is cautioned not to treat it, or any part of it, as a current mineral resource.
Table of Significant Drilling Intercepts
| Hole No. | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Au (g/t Au) |
| 1DQ23-10 | 108.75 | 109.8 | 1.05 | 1.96 |
| 109.8 | 111 | 1.2 | 0.005 | |
| 111 | 112.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | |
| 112.5 | 115 | 2.5 | 0.59 | |
| 115 | 117.5 | 2.5 | 0.09 | |
| 117.5 | 118.5 | 1 | 0.14 | |
| 118.5 | 119.5 | 1 | 2.06 | |
| 119.5 | 120.5 | 1 | 0.85 | |
| Wt. Avg. | 11.75 | 0.61 | ||
| Including: | 2 | 1.46 | ||
| 1DQ23-11 | 38.15 | 39.35 | 1.2 | 2.18 |
| 1DQ23-11 | 217 | 218 | 1 | 1.29 |
| 218 | 219 | 1 | 0.8 | |
| 219.0 | 220.0 | 1 | 0.06 | |
| 220 | 221 | 1 | 0.36 | |
| Wt. Avg. | 4 | 0.63 | ||
| Including: | 2 | 1.05 | ||
| 1DQ23-12 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 1.04 |
| 12 | 13 | 1 | 0.1 | |
| 13 | 14 | 1 | 0.92 | |
| Wt. Avg. | 3 | 0.69 | ||
| 1DQ23-14 | 169 | 170 | 1 | 0.55 |
| 170 | 171 | 1 | 1.28 | |
| 171 | 172 | 1 | 1.18 | |
| 172 | 173 | 1 | 0.52 | |
| 173 | 174 | 1 | 0.61 | |
| Wt. Avg. | 5 | 0.83 | ||
| Including: | 2 | 1.23 | ||
| 1DQ23-14 | 308 | 309 | 1 | 0.19 |
| 309 | 310 | 1 | 0.36 | |
| 310 | 311 | 1 | 0.17 | |
| 311 | 312 | 1 | 0.28 | |
| 312 | 313 | 1 | 0.17 | |
| 313 | 314 | 1 | 0.60 | |
| 314 | 315 | 1 | 0.53 | |
| Wt. Avg. | 6 | 0.33 | ||
| 1Host Structures are interpreted to be steeply dipping and true widths are generally estimated to be 80 to | ||||
Historical Core Results
| Hole No. | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Au (g/t Au) |
| 1,2DQ02-10 | 443.4 | 444.3 | 0.9 | 5.42 |
| 444.3 | 445 | 0.7 | 0.13 | |
| 445 | 446 | 1 | 5.55 | |
| 446 | 447 | 1 | 0.28 | |
| 447 | 448 | 1 | 19.28 | |
| 448 | 449 | 1 | 13.42 | |
| 449 | 450 | 1 | 5.9 | |
| 450 | 451 | 1 | 1.48 | |
| 451 | 452 | 1 | 5.09 | |
| 452 | 453 | 1 | 0.31 | |
| 453 | 454 | 1 | 2.65 | |
| 454 | 455 | 1 | 0.48 | |
| 455 | 455.5 | 0.5 | 0.05 | |
| 455.5 | 456.7 | 1.2 | 0.54 | |
| 456.7 | 458 | 1.3 | 0.47 | |
| Wt. Avg. | 14.6 | 4.16 | ||
| Including: | 9.6 | 5.56 | ||
| 1DQ06-17 | 226.1 | 227 | 0.9 | 4.52 |
| 227 | 227.75 | 0.75 | 0.83 | |
| Wt. Avg. | 1.65 | 2.84 | ||
| 1DQ06-18 | 265 | 266 | 1 | 0.61 |
| 266 | 267 | 1 | 0.06 | |
| 267.0 | 268.0 | 1 | 0.21 | |
| Wt. Avg. | 3 | 0.29 | ||
| 1DO-10-03 | 184 | 185 | 1 | 0.69 |
| 185 | 186 | 1 | 0.79 | |
| Wt. Avg. | 2 | 0.74 | ||
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FAQ
What are the highlights of Emperor's 2023 drilling campaign at the Duquesne West Gold Project?
The drilling campaign identified extensions of high-grade mineralization suitable for both underground and open-pit mining methods. Some notable intercepts include 10.8 m of 15.8 g/t Au and 11.7 m of 5.63 g/t Au.
What opportunities were unveiled in the conceptual open pit model at the Duquesne West Gold Project?
Drilling revealed promising potential for the conceptual pit, previously classified as waste, with notable intercepts like 25.0 m of 1.69 g/t Au and 11.75 m of 0.61 g/t Au.
What is Emperor's plan for the upcoming 2024 drilling season?
Emperor is fully funded for a 5,000-meter drilling program in Q2 of 2024 to refine their AI models and target further expansion of the project. The focus will be on evaluating and increasing potential ounces for a later mineral resource update.
Who endorsed Emperor's innovative approach and became a strategic partner?
Robert McEwen, an industry leader, endorsed Emperor's approach and became a strategic partner by investing in the company. This endorsement validates their vision for the application of AI and Machine Learning.
What were the key results of the 2023 drilling campaign at the Duquesne West Gold Project?
The campaign identified extensions of high-grade mineralization suitable for both underground and open-pit mining methods. Notable intercepts include 10.8 m of 15.8 g/t Au and 11.7 m of 5.63 g/t Au.
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