VR Resources Initiates Downhole Geophysics at Westwood and Stakes New Target for its Empire Project in northwestern Ontario
VR Resources (VRRCF) has expanded its Empire project in northwestern Ontario to district-scale following the discovery of a PGE-fertile mafic-ultramafic intrusion at the Westwood property. The company has staked the new Mack property, covering a large magnetic high associated with anomalous palladium and copper in lake sediment samples.
At Westwood, a borehole EM survey is underway on Hole 2, targeting both strong conductors (magmatic sulfides) and weak conductors (chlorite schist). The company has submitted an amendment for ice drilling permits, expected by mid-February, and is conducting ice-thickening for logistics support.
The Mack target comprises 100 cells (2,080 hectares) and shows some of the highest palladium and copper values in lake sediment in the area (64 ppm Cu and 16 ppm Pd). Assay results for the first three holes at Westwood are expected in late January, with follow-up drilling planned for February.
VR Resources (VRRCF) ha ampliato il suo progetto Empire nel nord-ovest dell'Ontario a una scala distrettuale a seguito della scoperta di un'intrusione mafico-ultramafica fertile in PGE nella proprietà Westwood. L'azienda ha registrato la nuova proprietà Mack, che copre un'ampia elevazione magnetica associata a palladio e rame anomali nei campioni di sedimento lacustre.
Presso Westwood, è in corso un'indagine EM su Hole 2, mirata sia a conduttori forti (solfuri magmatici) sia a conduttori deboli (scisti di clorite). L'azienda ha presentato una modifica per i permessi di trivellazione su ghiaccio, attesi entro metà febbraio, e sta conducendo un'operazione di ispessimento del ghiaccio per supporto logistico.
Il target Mack comprende 100 celle (2.080 ettari) e mostra alcuni dei valori più alti di palladio e rame nel sedimento lacustre dell'area (64 ppm di Cu e 16 ppm di Pd). I risultati degli assaggi per i primi tre fori a Westwood sono attesi per la fine di gennaio, con trivellazioni di follow-up pianificate per febbraio.
VR Resources (VRRCF) ha ampliado su proyecto Empire en el noroeste de Ontario a escala distrital tras el descubrimiento de una intrusión máfica-ultramáfica fértil en PGE en la propiedad Westwood. La empresa ha registrado la nueva propiedad Mack, que cubre un gran alto magnético asociado con anomalías de paladio y cobre en muestras de sedimento lacustre.
En Westwood, se está llevando a cabo un estudio EM en el pozo 2, con el objetivo de detectar tanto conductores fuertes (sulfuros magmáticos) como conductores débiles (esquistos de clorita). La empresa ha presentado una enmienda para obtener permisos de perforación en hielo, que se esperan para mediados de febrero, y está realizando un espesor de hielo para apoyo logístico.
El objetivo Mack comprende 100 celdas (2,080 hectáreas) y muestra algunos de los valores más altos de paladio y cobre en los sedimentos lacustres del área (64 ppm de Cu y 16 ppm de Pd). Se esperan los resultados de los ensayos de los primeros tres pozos en Westwood a finales de enero, con perforaciones de seguimiento planificadas para febrero.
VR Resources (VRRCF)는 북서 온타리오에서의 Empire 프로젝트를 지역 규모로 확대하였습니다. 이는 Westwood 자산에서 PGE가 풍부한 마피크-울트라마픽 침입체의 발견 결과입니다. 회사는 이상적인 팔라듐과 구리가 포함된 호수 침전물 샘플과 관련된 큰 자기 고를 포함하는 새로운 맥 자산을 등록했습니다.
Westwood에서는 Hole 2에 대한 보어홀 EM 조사가 진행 중이며, 강한 전도체(마그마 황화물)와 약한 전도체(클로라이트 편암)를 모두 목표로 하고 있습니다. 회사는 2월 중순까지 예상되는 얼음 드릴링 허가에 대한 수정안을 제출했으며, 물류 지원을 위해 얼음 두께 작업을 수행하고 있습니다.
맥 타겟은 100개의 셀(2080 헥타르)을 포함하며, 이 지역 호수 침전물에서 팔라듐과 구리값이 가장 높은 것으로 나타났습니다(64 ppm Cu 및 16 ppm Pd). Westwood에서의 첫 세 개 구멍에 대한 분석 결과는 1월 말에 발표될 예정이며, 2월에는 후속 드릴링이 계획되어 있습니다.
VR Resources (VRRCF) a étendu son projet Empire dans le nord-ouest de l'Ontario à l'échelle de tout un district suite à la découverte d'une intrusion mafique-ultramafique riche en PGE sur la propriété Westwood. L'entreprise a enregistré la nouvelle propriété Mack, qui couvre une vaste zone magnétique associée à des anomalies de palladium et de cuivre dans des échantillons de sédiments lacustres.
À Westwood, une étude EM par forage est en cours sur le trou 2, visant à la fois de forts conducteurs (sulfures magmatiques) et de faibles conducteurs (schiste chloritique). L'entreprise a soumis un amendement pour les permis de forage sur glace, attendus d'ici la mi-février, et effectue un épaississement de la glace pour soutenir la logistique.
La cible Mack comprend 100 cellules (2 080 hectares) et présente certains des plus hauts niveaux de palladium et de cuivre dans les sédiments lacustres de la région (64 ppm Cu et 16 ppm Pd). Les résultats des analyses pour les trois premiers forages à Westwood sont attendus fin janvier, avec des forages supplémentaires prévus pour février.
VR Resources (VRRCF) hat sein Empire-Projekt im nordwestlichen Ontario im Hinblick auf eine Gebietsskalierung ausgeweitet, nachdem eine PGE-reiche mafic-ultramafische Intrusion auf dem Westwood-Grundstück entdeckt wurde. Das Unternehmen hat das neue Mack-Grundstück beansprucht, das einen großen magnetischen Hochbereich umfasst, der mit anomalem Palladium und Kupfer in Seesedimentproben assoziiert ist.
In Westwood wird derzeit eine Bohrloch-EM-Untersuchung in Hole 2 durchgeführt, die sowohl starke Leiter (magmatische Sulfide) als auch schwache Leiter (Chloritschiefer) anvisiert. Das Unternehmen hat eine Änderung für die Genehmigungen zur Eisbohrung eingereicht, die Mitte Februar erwartet wird, und führt eine Eisverdichtung als logistische Unterstützung durch.
Das Mack-Ziel umfasst 100 Zellen (2080 Hektar) und weist einige der höchsten Palladium- und Kupferwerte in lokalen Seesedimenten auf (64 ppm Cu und 16 ppm Pd). Die Analyseergebnisse der ersten drei Bohrlöcher in Westwood werden für Ende Januar erwartet, gefolgt von weiteren Bohrungen im Februar.
- Discovery of PGE-fertile mafic-ultramafic intrusion at Westwood property
- Expansion of Empire project with new Mack property acquisition (2,080 hectares)
- High-grade sediment samples at Mack property (64 ppm Cu, 16 ppm Pd)
- No historic drilling or outcrop exposure in Mack area
- Coarse resolution magnetic data from 1960s survey
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VR Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: VRR, FSE: 5VR; OTCBB: VRRCF), the “Company”, or “VR”, is pleased to provide an update on exploration activities for its Empire project in northwestern Ontario.
Upon the recent discovery of a polyphase and PGE-fertile mafic-ultramafic intrusion at the Westwood property, the Empire project and group of properties has been expanded to district-scale, as shown in Figure 1 below, in order to explore additional targets for Cu-Ni-PGE mineralization in previously unrecognized mafic intrusions.
- The Mack property has just been staked to cover a large, kilometer-scale magnetic high associated with anomalous palladium and copper in lake sediment samples from the Ontario Geological Survey (Figure 1), an association that is similar to the five targets and properties already staked and acquired by the Company in 2024.
At the Westwood property itself, preparations are now underway for a follow-up drill program:
- A borehole EM survey is now underway on Hole 2 (Figure 2). The survey is designed to target both strong and weak conductors within the mineralized mafic intrusion discovered in Phase 1 drilling last December:
- Strong Conductor: Magmatic sulfides in a ‘reef-style’ setting, or a semi-massive melt segregation zone,
- Weak Conductor: late-stage chlorite schist on structure, similar to the Roby ore zone at Lac des Iles Mine.
- An amendment to our existing permit to include ice drilling has been submitted to the Ministry of Mines and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation, with turn around expected by mid-February, or earlier. In preparation, an ice-thickening program is underway at Westwood, to facilitate simpler logistics on top of and across the southern end of the small lake that covers our priority target within the mafic intrusion based on our drilling to date (Photo 1).
From VR’s CEO Justin Daley: “As we prepare for drilling planned to start up next week at our Silverback project, we are also expanding our Empire project group of properties to district-scale, to amplify our search for new Cu-Ni-PGE-Au targets in mafic-ultramafic intrusions based on our discovery at Westwood. This part of the Western Wabigoon subprovince of the Superior craton in northwestern Ontario has seen little to no exploration over the past century. As such, we’re eager to bring our methodical approach to the district, combining tried-and-true prospecting on the ground alongside the application of new, state-of-the-art exploration technologies and mineral deposit modeling to both identify and fast-track targets.
Although there is more work to be done to understand the geological history behind the occurrence of these large mafic intrusions in this part of the Marmion terrane, Westwood has shown us that these magnetic targets with associated PGE and copper geochemistry have potential for the discovery of new and significant polymetallic critical metals systems. We look forward to providing further updates as work continues on the ground on both the Empire and Silverback projects. Assay results for the first three holes at Westwood are expected in the last week of January.”
Figure 1. The district-scale Empire property group shown on a regional magnetic map, with the new Mack target shown on the right, covering a large magnetic high with associated geochemical anomalies in palladium, copper and gold in lake sediment samples from the Ontario Geological Survey. Follow-up drilling at the Westwood property is planned for February, based on the discovery of a mineralized, polyphase mafic-ultramafic intrusion during the maiden drill program last month (see Figure 2).
The Mack Target
The new claim group, totaling 100 cells and 2,080 hectares, is 36 kilometers east of Westwood and 15 kilometers north of the town of Upsala on year-round forest service roads. It sits adjacent to Mack Station on the old Grand Trunk Railway, running from Lake Superior to Fort William, which has been decommissioned to a road bed. The staked area covers some of the highest palladium and copper in lake sediment values in the area, reaching 64 ppm Cu and 16 ppm Pd, and is associated with a 5 kilometer long north-northwest trending regional magnetic high (Figure 1). The magnetic data covering most of the trend is coarse resolution, from a historic Geological Survey of Canada survey in the 1960s flown at half mile flight line spacing. There is no historic drilling and little to no outcrop exposure in the area, precluding historic exploration efforts.
Figure 2. Magnetic plan map (upper) and section (lower) for the downhole EM borehole survey currently underway at the Westwood property, utilizing drill holes 001 and 002 from the maiden drill program completed last month, in December, 2024.
Photo 1. View west at the south end of Sisson Lake on the Westwood property, covering a large, mineralized, polyphase mafic-ultramafic intrusion discovered in the maiden drill program in December. Ice making has been ongoing since late December over the area of our priority target for Cu-Ni-PGE-Au mineralization, with the goal of drilling from the ice next month (February).
About the Empire District Project
The Empire project consists of 413 mineral claims in 2 contiguous blocks covering 12,334 hectares. The project is located on Federal Crown Land, with mineral rights administered by the Ontario Ministry of Mines. There is a
Technical Information
Surface grab samples and drill core samples were submitted for geochemical analysis to the AGAT laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Drill core was logged, cut and sampled at the Holbik Exploration warehouse in Upsala, Ontario, with sample preparation completed by AGAT in Thunder Bay alongside gold and PGE determination by atomic absorption assay. ICP-MS analyses for base metals, whole rock, and trace elements is performed at AGAT’s laboratory in Calgary, AB. Analytical results are subject to industry-standard and NI 43-101 compliant QAQC sample procedures, including the systematic insertion of sample duplicates, blanks and certified reference material (CRM) done both externally and internally at the laboratory by AGAT, as described by AGAT.
Technical information for this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101. The content of this news release has been reviewed on behalf of the Company by Justin Daley, MSc, PGeo, President & CEO at VR, and a non-independent Qualified Person who oversees and/or participates in all aspects of the Company’s mineral exploration projects.
About VR Resources Ltd.
VR is an established junior exploration company based in Vancouver (TSX.V: VRR; Frankfurt: 5VR; OTCQB: VRRCF). VR evaluates, explores and advances opportunities in copper, gold and critical metals in Nevada, USA, and Ontario, Canada. VR applies modern exploration technologies, in-house experience, and expertise in greenfields exploration to large-footprint systems in underexplored areas/districts. The foundation of VR is the proven track record of its Board in early-stage exploration, discovery and M&A. The Company is financed for its mineral exploration and corporate obligations. VR owns its projects outright and evaluates new opportunities on an ongoing basis, whether by staking or acquisition.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
“Justin Daley”
Justin Daley, MSc, P.Geo
President & CEO
For general information please use the following:
| Website: | www.vrr.ca |
| Email: | info@vrr.ca |
| Phone: | 778-731-9292 |
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include statements concerning VR’s expectations that it will be providing further updates as work continues on the ground on both the Empire and Silverback projects, and all other statements that are not statements of historical fact.
Although the Company believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with: general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company’s ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties.
The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.
This news release may also contain statements and/or information with respect to mineral properties and/or deposits which are adjacent to and/or potentially similar to the Company’s mineral properties, but which the Company has no interest in nor rights to explore. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on similar properties are not necessarily indicative of mineral deposits on the Company’s properties.
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FAQ
What are the copper and palladium values found in lake sediments at VRRCF's new Mack property?
When will VRRCF release the assay results for Westwood's first three drill holes?
What is the size of VRRCF's new Mack property acquisition?
When is VRRCF planning to begin ice drilling at the Westwood property?
What types of conductors is VRRCF targeting with the borehole EM survey at Westwood?
