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PANTHER METALS
PLC
("Panther" or the "Company")
(Incorporated in the Isle of
Man with company number 009753V)
10 July 2024
Dotted Lake: 3D Inversion
Modelling of Targets Commissioned
Panther Metals PLC (LSE:PALM) the
company focused on developing critical minerals projects in
Ontario, Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Abitibi
Geophysics Ltd. ("Abitibi") a well-respected Canada headquartered
international geophysical survey company, to provide geophysical
modelling services for Panther's Dotted Lake Project located upon
the North Limb of the Schreiber-Helmo Greenstone Belt,
Ontario.
In advance of a planned ground
geophysical survey Abitibi have been retained to undertake
three-dimensional (3D) inversion modelling of the airborne
high-resolution magnetic and time-domain electromagnetic ("TDEM")
geophysical data resulting from the Prospectair Geosurvey Inc
("Prospectair") survey flown for Panther in 2020
1.
Abitibi will be undertaking 3D
Inversion Modelling and advanced processing (CET Grid Analysis) of
the magnetics data as well as 3D conductive plate modelling of the
TDEM data.
The Abitibi Deliverables will
include: complete digital files; colour levels maps of the
magnetics data inversion at 3 depths of the total magnetic
intensity (TMI) reduced to the pole and its derivatives (1st
vertical derivative, analytic signal, tilt; colour maps of the
frequency migration of the EM responses into early, mid, and late
times and of the energy envelope; maps of the recommended targets,
conductors, magnetic trends, and interpreted structures; maps of
the structural analyses and predictive targeting; and ground
geophysics follow-up and drilling recommendations.
Whilst the Abitibi work will include
the entire Dotted Lake Project area, the focus of the work will be
the eastern side of the project where Panther has delineated a 4.2
km long trend of high priority soil geochemical and geophysical
anomalies in association with the Dotted Lake ultramafic
intrusion. The soil geochemistry in this area shows very
anomalous levels of multiple elements including nickel (up to
614ppm Ni), cobalt (214 ppm Co),copper (up to 861 ppm Cu) and zinc
(128 ppm Zn). See Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 below for additional
context.
Darren Hazelwood, CEO,
commented:
"We are now vectoring into our drill targets
on possibly the most exciting undrilled geological target area in
Ontario based on the successes by GT Resources on the Tyko zone to
our east.
The geological model developed and
executed by GT Resources won the company discovery of year for
Ontario in 2020 and the north shore of Dotted Lake shows every
element required for a discovery based on that model.
The quantity, abundance and grade of
copper, nickel and cobalt in soils is exceptional, allowing me to
remove the usual caution expressed in greenfield exploration and
say it would be a huge disappoint, when factoring in all the knowns
into our programme, not to make a discovery in this
area.
I look forward to updating the
market on our next steps once this data has been
processed."
Figure 1: Map Showing Highly
Anomalous Soil Geochemical Results over Airbourne Total Magnetic
Intensity Magnetics and Electromagnetic Imagery
Dotted Lake
Airbourne Geophysics Survey Details
Canadian airborne geophysics survey
company Prospectair flew the 818 line-km survey utilising
helicopter-borne sensors over a series of seven flights conducted
between 9th -11th December 2020. A total of 138 geophysical
anomalies were identified by the survey 1.
The survey was flown with traverse
lines at 50m spacing and control lines spaced every 500m. The
survey lines were oriented 162degN with control lines oriented
perpendicular to traverse lines. The nominal flying height aimed by
the pilot was 85m, but the active topography resulted in the
average helicopter height above ground of 86m, with the mag sensor
and receiver coil at 61m, and the transmitter loop at 36m above the
ground. The average survey flying speed (calculated equivalent
ground speed) was 31.1m/s.
Dotted Lake
Project Background: Critical Mineral Potential
·
Total Area: 36.9 km2
·
Prospective for: Base Metals (Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, Zinc)
and Precious Metals (gold, silver, and Platinum Group
Metals)
·
Significant Neighbours: Barrick Gold (Hemlo Mine) to south,
GT Resources (TSXV: GT) (Glencore 16.7% stake) to east.
The Dotted Lake Project encompasses a
substantial 36.9 km² within the North Limb of the Schreiber-Helmo
Greenstone Belt, situated 16 km north of Barrick Gold's Hemlo Gold
Mine which has produced over 22 Moz of gold over 30 years to date
and 9 km from GT Resources recent discovery at West Pickle
Lake. The area is considered very prospective for ultramafic
intrusive related nickel and base metal mineralisation as well as
gold.
The Dotted area has undergone
Panther's airborne electromagnetic and magnetics geophysics survey,
extensive soil sampling and stratigraphic drilling, laying the
groundwork for potential discoveries.
Figure 2: Location of the Dotted
Lake Project, East of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Panther Metals acquired 100% of the
Dotted Lake Project in July 2020. An extensive soil programme
conducted in 2021 identified numerous gold and base metal targets,
all within the same geological footprint as Hemlo. Following the
reopening of a historical trail providing direct access to the
target location, an initial drilling programme in the autumn of
2021 confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation within this
system with anomalous gold continuing along strike and present
within the surrounding area.
Dotted Lake sits upon 2.7 billion
year old, Archaean age, rocks that form the north-eastern 'Dotted
Lake Arm' of the Schreiber-Hemlo Greenstone Belt. Geology
consists sequences of foliated, fine grained, dark green, amphibole
rich metavolcanic rocks situated within an east-northeast trending
isoclinal syncline. The metavolcanics have been intruded by
granitoid rocks of the Dotted Lake Batholith in the southeast of
the property whilst In the northeast an ultramafic intrusive
complex flanks the two.
On 22 February 2021, Panther Metals
announced the receipt of the processed high-resolution Airborne
TDEM and Mag geophysics survey data and associated maps and report
over the Dotted Lake Property on the north limb of the
Schreiber-Hemlo greenstone belt in Ontario, Canada. Prospectair
Geosurveys had conducted the helicopter 818 line-km survey over a
series of seven flights between 9-11 December 2020. A total of
138 geophysical anomalies were identified by the survey, with high
priority anomalies prioritised for follow-up ground
investigation.
In June 2021, Panther Metals
contracted the experienced Thunder Bay based Fladgate Exploration
Consulting Corporation to commence a soil geochemistry sampling
programme over a 1.60km by 0.85km target area coinciding with the
Dotted Lake Exploration Permit area. The soil geochemistry survey
was designed to build out and in-fill the westerly strike
extensions of high grade gold mineralisation intersected by
historical trenching undertaken by a previous licence holder in
2010 (Tr-10-4) and as confirmed during Panther Metals'
reconnaissance sampling (gold up to 18.9g/t Au) announced 5
November 2020. The soil survey provided important geochemical
coverage of target structures outlined by Panther's airborne
geophysical survey.
Figure 3: Dotted Lake Geochemical Soil Sampling
Anomalies
The Dotted Lake soil sampling survey
results became available in early November 2021, the
480 sample survey data delineated a 1.3km long shear-related
gold anomaly striking westward from the site of Panther's Dotted
Lake drill hole. Other structural features were identified for a
total of 18 multi-element anomalies which may provide exploration
vectors towards deposits.
Nickel and Cobalt Targets
In September 2022 Panther digitised
historical exploration data in conjunction with the airborne and
soil survey data. This work defined a new area, in the northeast of
the Dotted Lake property, which is considered very prospective zone
for nickel (Ni) mineralisation (the "Ni Target") and which is
underlain by an ultramafic intrusive complex. Panther has digitised
historical geochemical soil survey report data based on work
undertaken by Clear Mines Ltd in August 1983 (the "Clear Mines
Survey"). These results show a 2.8km long linear broadly east-west
striking zone of elevated nickel in soil coinciding with a mapped
ultramafic / gabbro intrusive unit and a distinct geophysical
anomaly.
The Clear Mines Survey consisted of
577 soil samples analysed for 27 elements, collected on a series of
north-south lines directly to the east of the Panther 2021 soil
survey area. Nickel is elevated across the prospect area defined by
highs ranging 137 - 235 ppm Ni and peaking at 614ppm Ni in the
eastern end. Other soil anomalies across the Ni Target include
cobalt (Co) up to 214 ppm Co and copper (Cu) up to 861 ppm
Cu.
The western end of the ultramafic
intrusive is shown on government mapping to lie beneath the lake,
however the geophysics survey and the Panther soil survey data
indicates that the intrusive rocks extend further to the west and
may underlie the soil survey Anomaly A and Anomaly C as reported 9
November 2021.
Panther's Ni Target is located 9km
west of a new zone of massive nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation
drilled by GT Resources (TSXV: GT) at their Tyko Project, West
Pickle Lake joint venture property with First Class Metals
(LSE:FCM).
Figure 4:
Panther Soil Nickel Results and Clear Mines Survey Historical Soil
Assay Results
Reference
1
Company announcement dated 22 February 2021
(
https://polaris.brighterir.com/public/panther_metals/news/rns/story/xpp329x
)
For further information please
contact:
Panther Metals PLC:
Darren Hazelwood, Chief Executive
Officer:
+44(0)
1462 429 743
+44(0) 7971 957 685
Brokers:
Tavira Financial
Limited
Christopher James
Kipling
+44(0) 203
833 3743
SI Capital Limited
Nick
Emerson
+44(0) 1438 416 500
Axis Capital Markets
Limited
Ben Tadd
Lewis
Jones
+44 (0)20 3026 0449
Notes to Editors
Panther Metals PLC is an exploration
company listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.
Panther is focussed on the discovery of commercially viable mineral
deposits. The Company's operational focus is on established mining
jurisdictions with the capacity for project scalability. Drill
targets are assessed rapidly utilising a combination of advanced
technologies and extensive geological data to decipher potential
commercial viability and act accordingly. Panther's current
geological portfolio comprises of three highly prospective
properties in Ontario, Canada while the developing investment wing
focuses on the targeting of nickel and gold in
Australia.
Obonga Project
Panther Metals acquired the Obonga
Greenstone Belt in July 2021 and have already identified five
prospective primary targets: Wishbone, Awkward, Survey, Ottertooth
and Silver Rim. A successful Phase 1 drilling campaign at Wishbone
in Autumn 2021 revealed the presence of significant VMS-style
mineralised systems on the property - the first such discovery
across the entire greenstone belt. Intercepts include 27.3m of
massive sulphide in hole one, and 51m of sulphide-dominated
mineralisation in hole two. Both drill holes contained multiple
lenses. Anomalous high-grade copper in lake sediment close to the
target area has also been identified, increasing confidence in the
prospectivity of the location.
Awkward is a highly anomalous
magnetic target, interpreted to be a layered mafic intrusion and
magmatic conduit based on mapped geology and airborne geophysics.
Historic sampling in the area returned anomalous platinum and
palladium (Pt, Pd) values, while historic drilling on the periphery
of the target intersected non-assayed massive sulphide and copper
(assumed to be chalcopyrite), non-assayed disseminated pyrite and
chalcopyrite in coarse gabbro, and non-assayed 'marble cake' gabbro
(matching the description of the Lac des Iles Mine varitexture
gabbro ore zone).
Two additional named targets, Survey
and Ottertooth, both displays further coincident magnetic and
electromagnetic anomalies and are adjacent to the contact between
intrusive and extrusive mafic rocks. Historic drilling at Survey
intersected several meters of massive sulphides in multiple
intersections (main parts of the anomaly remain untested) while
Ottertooth remains untested in its entirety.
Dotted Lake Project
Panther Metals acquired the Dotted
Lake Project in July 2020, it is situated approximately 16km from
Barrick Gold's renowned Hemlo Gold Mine. An extensive soil
programme conducted in 2021 identified numerous gold and base metal
targets, all within the same geological footprint. Following the
installation of a new trail providing direct access to the target
location, an initial drilling programme in Autumn 2021 confirmed
the presence of gold mineralisation within this system with
anomalous gold continuing along strike and present within the
surrounding area.
Manitou Lakes Project
The Manitou Lakes gold project is
located approximately 300km's east of Thunder Bay, Ontario and
covers a total area of around 98sq km's.
There are over 200 known gold
occurrences on the Manitou Lakes project area with the wider
Eagle/Manitou Lakes greenstone belt hosting numerous historic gold
producers and is prospective for Archean age orogenic gold and
associated base metal deposits.
Exploration work conducted by Shear
Gold on the Project to date has identified numerous gold bearing
structures and favourable geological host rocks through early-stage
mapping and surface sampling. The work has focussed on two target
areas, being the West Limb Gold Property and the Glass Reef Gold
Property, both of which host historic gold mines which have never
been systematically explored using modern techniques or drill
tested
Fulcrum Metals Plc
Fulcrum Metals PLC (LON: FMET) is an
AIM listed exploration company which finances and manages
exploration projects focused on Canada, widely recognised as a top
mining jurisdiction.
FMET currently holds a beneficial
100% interest in highly prospective gold and base metals projects
in Ontario and Uranium projects in Saskatchewan.
Fulcrum's strategy is to focus on
discovery and commercialisation of its Projects through targeted
exploration programmes. The primary focus is to make an economic
discovery on the flagship Schreiber-Hemlo Properties and
establishing the prospectivity of its wider Ontario and
Saskatchewan portfolio with a view to securing potential joint
venture and/or acquisition interest.
Panther Metals Plc own 15% of the
issued share capital of Fulcrum Metals Plc and a 2% NSR on the Big
Bear project.
Panther Metals Australia
Following the listing of Panther
Metals' Australian assets on the Australian Securities Exchange
("ASX") in December 2021. The ASX listing has provided the
Australian projects with the necessary capital to advance
drill-ready targets focused on nickel and gold (within the Tier 1
Mining Districts of Laverton WA and in the NT). Through this
spin-out Panther holds an attractive investment prospect, without
any disruption to the Company's capital structure and without any
financial obligations.
Conclusion
Panther Metals understand that the
commercial realities of building an exploration company requires
expertise in geology, finance, and the markets within which they
operate. The Company's extensive network of industry leaders allows
it to meet these objectives. Ultimately however, drilling success
is the only route to discovery: the fundamental objective of any
exploration company. Once Panther's world-class geological team
identify the anomalies, they work hard to get drilling. The drill
hole is the only place where substantial and sustained capital
growth originates and it's with that operational focus Panther
Metals will continue to advance.