2021 Exploration Program Results Update on the District Scale Qiqavik Gold Property

TORONTO, Dec. 8, 2021 /CNW/ - Orford Mining Corp. ("Orford") (TSXV: ORM) is very pleased to provide an update on its 2021 exploration activities at its Qiqavik Gold Property. In September 2021, Orford had announced it had completed its 2021 exploration program on Qiqavik. The 2021 exploration program was focused around the seven kilometer plus IP-Lake Shear Corridor (IPLS) which is associated with several high-grade gold boulder trains of up to 648 g/t Au and high gold grains anomalies in glacial till samples of up to 560 grains per 10kg. In addition to 2,030 metres of diamond drilling focused along a three kilometer strike length of the IPLS, a 1,323 line kilometer airborne Electromagnetic (EM) and Magnetic survey was completed, and 716 additional glacial till samples were collected for gold grain analysis. To-date Orford has only received 15% of Drill core sample analyses, 41% of grab sample analyses, and 13% of glacial till sample analyses.  The vast majority of sample analysis is still outstanding due to very slow turnaround of sample results at assay laboratories.

Figure 1: Map of the IPLS showing the 2021 Grab Sample Results, 2021 Drill hole locations and outstanding data (till & grab) (CNW Group/Orford Mining Corporation)

Highlights of Results received to date:

• Drill hole assays received to date show anomalous gold results (Table 1 & 2, Figure 1) of up to 0.9 g/t Au associated with mineralized shear zones and quartz veining. 85% of drill hole assay results are outstanding (Table 1).
• Grab samples received to date further define the high grade Annick gold trend and report up to 97.5 g/t Au (Table 3, Figure 1). 59% of grab sample assay results are outstanding.

Highlights of the 2021 Exploration Program Include:

• Very high gold grain in till anomalies to the north of the IPLS were successfully cut off to the south providing further evidence the IPLS is the potential host of gold mineralization indicated by the gold in glacial till samples and high-grade boulder trains to the north of the IPLS.
• The Annick high grade gold in grab sample trend has now been traced for 3.7 kilometres at surface. The linear nature of this trend suggests that it is more likely associated with a North-Northeast trending structure rather than a boulder dispersion train. New grab samples sent for rush assay reported up to 97.5 g/t Au. A high density till grid for gold grain counts was collected to help define targets along this trend. Results are outstanding.
• A sulphidic iron formation within the IPLS has been intersected in several drill holes over 1.6 kilometres E-W strike of the IPLS. Interaction between the sulphidic iron formation and the IPLS may be one possible source of the gold grain in glacial till anomalies to the North of the IPLS.
• Drilling has intersected several shear-parallel and horizontal extensional quartz veins which are variably mineralized. The horizontal extensional veins intersected in drilling show alteration and geochemical signatures similar to some high-grade boulder trains at surface. 

Complete drill hole descriptions can be found on the news release dated September, 28, 2021.

David Christie, President and CEO of Orford, commented, "The Summer 2021 exploration program at Qiqavik has been successful in intersecting alteration and mineralization across nearly 3 kilometres of IPLS strike length.  We also believe we are much closer to understanding the source to the very high-grade Annick boulder train which is now 2.6 kilometres long.  We eagerly await the complete set of analytical results and the return to Qiqavik in 2022".

Note that grab samples are selective by nature and values reported may not be representative of mineralized zones. Till gold grain results from IOS Geoscientific, total gold grain is coarse(+50um) plus fine (-50um).

To date analytical results have been received for only a very small portion (1.5% or 22 of 1,426 samples) of the samples taken in the drill program (Table 1). To-date we have received 15 %   of  the drill core samples,  and 41% of  the surface grab sample analysis results.  In general we would estimate that sample analysis turn around is at least 3 times longer than normal due to  heightened global exploration activity.Table 1: 2021 Drill holes with percentage of assays reported.

Hole Number	Total Number of Core Samples	Total Number of Sample analysed	Ratio of analysed sample
QK-21-001	146	56	38.4%
QK-21-002	257	96	37.4%
QK-21-003	213	16	7.5%
QK-21-004	42	0	0.0%
QK-21-005	19	0	0.0%
QK-21-006	205	0	0.0%
QK-21-007	124	6	4.8%
QK-21-008	130	0	0.0%
QK-21-009	217	33	15.2%
QK-21-010	91	18	19.8%
QK-21-011	82	11	13.4%
Total	1526	236	15.5%

Table 2:  Anomalous gold assays from drilling received to date (MShrz-mineralized shear zone, Aspy-Arsenopyrite, Vqtz-Quartz Viens, Py-pyrite). Note that 85% of core assays are still outstanding as per Table 1. All drilling intervals are down-hole lengths. True thicknesses cannot be estimated with available information. Hole QK-21-007 was previously reported.

Au (g/t) Results for Core Samples. (0.5 g/t cut off)
Hole number	From	To	Sample Number	Sample Type	Comments	Au g/t	As ppm	Cu ppm	Pb ppm	S %	Zn ppm
QK-21-007	77	78	D00163722	Core	MShrZ	0.89	270	210	10	9.54	100
QK-21-011	109.18	109.65	B00393705	Core	Aspy 0.5% Vqtz 30cm grinded	0.79	2710	90	10	0.43	110
QK-21-010	144.58	145.21	B00393180	Core	Vqtz 50% Aspy/Py	0.65	3280	40	10	0.38	80
QK-21-010	68.91	69.28	B00393137	Core	Vqtz 30% Aspy/Py 0.5%	0.52	1890	40	10	0.65	90

Table 3: New Anomalous Gold Results in Grab Samples. Note that 41% of grab sample assays have been reported. Note that grab samples are selective by nature and values reported may not be representative of mineralized zones

Au (g/t) Results for Grab Samples. (1.0 g/t cut off)
Point number	Northing	Easting	Sample Number	Sample Type	Au g/t	Ag g/t	Cu ppm	Pb ppm	S %	Zn ppm
21JL0010	6820570	477545	D00167010	Grab	97.5	23	70	7430	8.52	670
21JL0020	6820115	477350	D00167021	Grab	90	29	30	4020	8.09	90
21JL0047	6820146	477344	D00167039	Grab	70	34	140	9300	3.78	280
21JL0008	6820576	477519	D00167008	Grab	53.1	18	230	1090	4.55	700
21JL0050	6820126	477342	D00167042	Grab	50.6	13	20	650	0.16	40
21JL0049	6820291	477412	D00167041	Grab	49.5	26	30	10300	3.3	110
21JL0021	6820183	477359	D00167022	Grab	19.95	17	50	4730	1.72	110
21JL0084	6821155	480131	D00167071	Grab	8.49	1	40	10	5.47	40
21JL0009	6820573	477536	D00167009	Grab	4.31	2	70	690	1.24	210
21MC0004	6821003	480002	D00167404	Grab	3.34	1	788	1	3.2	101
21JL0034	6820617	478035	D00167034	Grab	3.04	1	10	10	1.26	30
21JL0028	6818551	476389	D00167028	Grab	2.86	2	390	10	0.87	140
21NB0026	6819220	477055	D00167610	Grab	2.5	2	120	10	0.97	80
21JL0018	6819946	477275	D00167018	Grab	1.87	6	215	132	0.35	129
21MC0069	6824555	483296	D00167457	Grab	1.53	174	40	200000	3.07	40
21JL0023	6819196	477000	D00167023	Grab	1.29	1	140	30	0.8	110
21JL0029	6819484	476992	D00167029	Grab	1.1	1	94.3	1	0.64	84

Table 4: Summary of 2021 Drillhole Locations and Parameters

Hole Number	Northing	Easting	Azimuth	Collar Dip	Length (m)	# samples	# Received
QK-21-001	6821250	480024.6	180	-45	198	146	0
QK-21-002	6821164	480419.7	192	-45	303	257	0
QK-21-003	6820533	477564.1	310	-45	219	213	16
QK-21-004	6820288	477424.3	293	-45	84	42	0
QK-21-005	6820312	477371.1	113	-45	51	19	0
QK-21-006	6820830	478689.5	130	-45	217	205	0
QK-21-007	6820731	478807.3	130	-45	196.7	124	6
QK-21-008	6820748	477318.8	130	-45	213	130	0
QK-21-009	6820730	479233.3	340	-45	261	217	0
QK-21-010	6820722	478980	180	-45	159	91	0
QK-21-011	6820722	478980	180	-65	129	82	0
				total(m)	2030.7

About Orford Mining Corporation
Orford Mining is a gold explorer focused on highly prospective and underexplored areas of Northern Quebec. Orford's principal assets are located in two areas the Cape Smith Belt in the Nunavik region and the Joutel region of the Abitibi district. The Qiqavik and West Raglan projects comprise 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 50 km mineralized trend. Orford has acquired four property positions (Joutel – Eagle, McClure East, Joutel - South and Joutel – Omega) totaling 26,815 hectares 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. Orford continually seeks new gold exploration opportunities in North America. Orford's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ORM. This information from neighbouring properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on Orford Mining's properties.

To view further details about the Orford's 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.  

2021 Grab & Drill Core samples

Two labs were used during the 2021 Qiqavik program. ALS Geochemistry, Val-d'Or, Québec was used for the rush dispatch and SGS Canada Inc. in Val-d'Or, Québec was used for regular dispatch. Sample shipments were sealed and shipped to ALS Geochemistry or SGS Canada Inc., both in Val-d'Or, Québec.

For the samples send to ALS Geochemistry, all gold assays reported were obtained by standard fire-assaying-AA finish on 50-gram nominal weight for core samples and 30-gram nominal weight for grab samples or by gravimetric finish in the case of overlimits (method Au-AA26, Au-AA25 and Au-GRA22) at ALS Geochemistry, Val- d'Or, Quebec. All samples are also analyzed for multi-elements, including copper and silver, using a four-acid method with an ICP-AES finish (method ME-ICP61a) at ALS Geochemistry, Vancouver, British Colombia. Overlimits were analyzed by four-acid method with an ICP-OES or AAS finish (Method OG62). 

For the samples analyzed to SGS, all gold assays reported were obtained by fire-assaying-AA finish or gravimetric finish on 50-gram nominal weight for core samples and 30-gram nominal weight for grab samples (method GE_FAA50V5, GE_FAA30V5 and GO_FAG30V5). All samples are also analyzed for multi-elements, including copper and silver, using a four-acid method with an ICP-OES (method GE_ICP40Q12) and an additional analysis for the element tellurium is added to the suite using a four-acid method with ICP-MS finish (method GE_IMS40Q12) at SGS Canada Inc. in Lakefield, Ontario. Overlimits were analyzed by four-acid with ICP-OES finish (GO_ICP42Q100).

Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") and interpretation of results is performed by qualified persons employing a QA/QC program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best practices. Standards and blanks are inserted at a minimum of 10% for core and 5% for grab samples respectively for QA/QC purposes in addition to those inserted by the lab. A subset of samples has not yet been sent for a verification assay at another lab. ALS Geochemistry and SGS Canada Inc. are accredited by the Standards Council of Canada and found to comply with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005.

Till Samples (IOS)

Till samples were collected on Qiqavik by collecting 7kg of till from frost boils. Samples were sent to IOS Chicoutimi where samples are described, logged and photographed. Wet sieving is applied along with a falcon concentrator. Gravimetric separation is applied using ARTGoldTM fluidized bed to recover gold grains. The > 50 µm material is examined using a research grade Leica M205C apochromatic stereomicroscope to count gold grains and other minerals of interest. Grains of interest are picked and are mounted on a glass slide using a double-sided adhesive tape to confirm their nature with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Although identification success rate is in excess of 95%, a second visual sorting is systematically performed on one in every ten samples as part of the quality assurance program. As part of the quality control, a second concentrate is collected from the fluidized bed tails and processed for gold grain counts, for 10.5% of the sample population. The analytical results of these replicates were added with the initial microconcentrates. The finer fraction of the superconcentrates (< 50 µm) is dusted on a 4 x 4 cm double sided tape to form a monolayer of grains, to be submitted to ARTGold™ counting by an automated SEM to detect gold particles in the fine fraction (< 50 μm) of the concentrate.

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 Corporation

David Christie, President and CEO, 2 St. Clair Avenue West, 18th Floor, Toronto, ON M4V 1L5, T: 647-255-8037, www.orfordmining.com

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