160 boulders with gold grades ranging from 0.1 g/t gold to 3,870 g/t gold, with an average of 74.9 g/t gold and median of 0.71 g/t gold
VANCOUVER, Sept. 5, 2017 /CNW/ - Mawson Resources Limited ("Mawson") or (the "Company") (TSX: MAW) (Frankfurt: MXR) (PINKSHEETS: MWSNF) announces the result of a systematic review of nine prospect areas at the 100% owned Rajapalot gold project in Finland. These prospect areas were discovered by the Mawson team as gold-bearing boulder fields, from which 160 gold mineralized boulders have now been identified within a 12 square kilometre area. The potential bedrock source of only three of the nine boulder fields have been located by drilling, with the remaining six boulder trains now planned for follow up exploration.
Key Points:
Mr Hudson, Chairman & CEO states, "With more than 99% of the gold prospective area at Rajapalot covered with a thin layer of glacial soil, tracing the source of boulders remains a key to further discoveries. The frequency of boulder discovery at Rajapalot over at least 12 sq km is impressive. Our field teams are regularly making new finds, including the exciting Palokas-style mineralized boulders at Hirvimaa, that present immediate drill targets. The bedrock source of only three of nine boulder fields are known to date, with all nine still providing excellent discovery opportunities.
Further discoveries at Rajapalot will come through rigorous exploration practices and a commitment to drilling. Given the high success rate of drilling during the last winter program where 28% of drill holes (39 out of a total of 137) recorded greater than 5 g/t-m intersections, we are looking forward to our upcoming programs."
A summary of sample statistics is shown in Table 1 and description of all boulder fields is shown in Table 2. Samples from boulders are grab samples, which are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades on the property. A lower cut-off for reporting of the boulders is 0.1 g/t Au, and the range, mean and median are all reported to give a more accurate representation of sample variation.
Compilation and re-examination of all the boulder information was conducted for comparison of the drill results of the 2016-17 winter drilling and base of till (BOT) results with previously held data. The geochemistry, mineral assemblages and the shape and size of all boulders was reviewed. Company geologists have determined that the grade distribution of boulders and their spacial association with outcrops and drill results indicate that the shallowly buried sources are close to the northwestern edges of the defined boulder fields.
The source of three boulder fields identified in Figure 1 (Palokas, South Palokas and Raja) have been located. The source of the largest boulder field, Rumajärvi, remains elusive, but as the boulders contain highly anomalous and disseminated gold with pyrrhotite, this remains a high-priority target for 2017-18 winter drill program. Geophysical studies, including distinguishing magnetic pyrrhotite-bearing metasediments from magnetic volcanic rocks is allowing more effective targeting of boulder sources.
Technical Background
The qualified person for Mawson's Finnish projects, Dr. Nick Cook, President for Mawson and Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining Metallurgy has reviewed and verified the contents of this release.
Boulder samples were assayed between 2012-2015 and transported by Mawson personnel from site to ALS Chemex Ltd's laboratory in Pitea, Sweden where the samples were prepared and sent to ALS Chemex Ltd's laboratory in Vancouver, Canada to be analyzed by Au-ICP21, GRA-21, ME-MS41u and ME-MS61u techniques. The QA/QC program of Mawson consisted of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content, with blanks at the beginning of each batch. In addition, ALS Chemex inserted a number of blanks and standards into the analytical process.
About Mawson Resources Limited (TSX:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, PINKSHEETS:MWSNF)
Mawson Resources Limited is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic Arctic exploration company with a focus on the flagship Rompas and Rajapalot gold projects in Finland.
On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson" |
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
Table 1: Summary of boulder data for the nine boulder fields at Rajapalot. Minimum cut-off for reporting is 0.1 g/t Au. Samples from boulders are grab samples, which are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades on the property.
| Prospect |
Number |
Average Au g/t |
Median Au g/t |
Min Au g/t |
Max Au g/t |
> 5 g/t Au |
2-5 g/t Au |
0.5-2 g/t Au |
0.1-0.5 g/t Au |
| Hirvimaa |
23 |
15 |
0.6 |
0.1 |
253 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
10 |
| Palokas |
6 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
0.2 |
2.8 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| South Palokas |
4 |
4.5 |
0.7 |
0.1 |
17 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Boardwalk |
19 |
28.1 |
1.0 |
0.2 |
221 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
5 |
| Terry's Hammer |
22 |
1.6 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
14 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
17 |
| Rumajärvi |
55 |
184 |
0.6 |
0.1 |
3870 |
14 |
6 |
9 |
26 |
| Raja Prospect |
5 |
11 |
2.4 |
0.7 |
43 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| Joki |
7 |
50 |
6.3 |
0.1 |
151 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Raja Permit |
19 |
27 |
1.0 |
0.1 |
236 |
5 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
Table 2: Notes on each of the boulder fields; notes on relationship to outcrops and related drilling; 2017-18 drilling plans
| Prospect |
General boulder notes |
Targeting notes |
Relationship to outcrops, drilling |
Source drilled ? |
Drill holes (published grades noted) |
Comments & plans |
| Hirvimaa |
Palokas style and disseminated sulphidic albitic and muscovitic boulders; also Rompas style high grade boulders. |
Shallow drilling (2-5m into bedrock below till - LD drill holes) reveals anomalism with corresponding IP and magnetic anomalies equivalent to Palokas signature |
No Palokas style mineralized outcrops; small Rompas style dolomite veins (Au-U) hosted by mafic rocks |
NO |
7 NQ drill holes over 800 metre strike length have not found boulder targets; 4 of these drill holes were not focused on Palokas-style targets |
Drill testing of Palokas-style targets planned before end of Dec 2017. |
| Palokas |
Rare, small boulders related to Palokas mineralization within 150 m of outcrop |
Drill testing to continue of combined IP and magnetic anomaly |
Palokas outcrop drilled – mineralization present to > 100 metres; grab and channel samples have produced grades similar to those in drill results. |
YES |
PAL0027: 6.8 m @ 14.7 g/t Au from 34.4 metres |
Drilling next winter to define size and grade of mineralization; controls on grade distribution are now better understood |
| South Palokas |
Micaceous gold-bearing boulders |
Magnetic, IP and conductive anomaly evident in geophysics |
Tested in drilling in shallow hand-portable drilling (PRAJ) Intersected in PAL0016 – deepest >5g-m intersection |
YES |
Test further in winter 2017-18 drill program |
|
| Boardwalk |
Two types of large boulders present: grunerite-chlorite-pyrrhotite-magnetite boulders with <5 g/t Au and micaceous sulphidic boulders (up to 221 g/t Au) |
Both types of boulders are magnetic and sulphidic so can be tested with a combination of ground magnetics and gradient array IP. |
Magnetic ironstones have been intersected in early drilling, but the sulphidic and gold-bearing rocks are yet to be found. Micaceous sulphidic rocks are similar to those found at South Palokas, and may be derived from there (< 200 m) |
NO |
4 NQ drill holes have not intersected target |
Ground magnetics at <50 m spaced lines will be conducted before further drilling. |
| Terry's Hammer |
22 anomalous boulders spread across nearly 400 metres; boulders are large and angular (many 50 cm to 1 m diameter). They are inferred to be derived from the NW and W edges of the boulder field. |
This boulder field and Rumajärvi (below) are characterized by micaceous, sulphidic and magnetic boulders. As such, they form excellent combined magnetic and IP targets. |
Narrow intersections in outcrops do not appear representative of boulders; the 4 NQ drillholes within and adjacent to the boulder field have not intersected the source |
NO |
Limited drilling has not located source yet |
Drill testing in areas adjacent to early 2017 drill holes. Additional magnetic data indicates more targets to west and northwest of existing drilling |
| Rumajarvi |
The best-developed boulder field in Rajapalot with 55 boulders sampled over 0.1 g/t Au; highly variable in size and shape, with some over 2 m in diameter. Many are angular indicating close to source. |
Magnetic, sulphidic boulders form the bulk of the mineralized boulders. More detailed ground magnetics (<50 m line spacing) will be used in follow-up |
A few outcrops within the boulder field are identified, but only in the central and SE parts. Therefore, the up-ice source has not yet been located. |
NO |
A single drill hole (PAL0037) intersected some gold mineralization, but not of the major boulder type. |
Drilling of identified magnetic anomalies caused by pyrrhotite have been identified for drilling in 2017-18 winter season |
| Raja Prospect |
Micaceous and albitic sulphidic gold mineralized large local boulders in till |
Magnetic and disseminated sulphides can be matched with ground geophysics of drilled prospect |
The boulders occur on a small knoll southeast of Raja drill intersections (e.g. PAL0048) |
YES |
Drilling required winter 2017-18 to define size and grade of mineralized zone |
|
| Joki |
Gold-bearing, biotite-rich boulders derived from adjacent rocks |
Lower sulphide concentration and resultant low intensity geophysical response will make targeting more difficult below till |
Adjacent outcrops within biotite-rich mafic rocks |
NO |
Single hole did not test target |
Target for drill testing in 2017-18 winter over anomalous geochemical results in BOT |
| Raja Permit |
Angular boulders spread across large area, perhaps more spread from source than other boulder fields listed above |
A variety of boulder types, but predominantly of Rompas dolomite-calcsilicate vein hosted type |
Base of till drilling intersected anomalous metals and Au in NW part of boulder field ("up-ice") |
NO |
Limited drilling in NE part of boulder area |
Additional data compilation and ground geophysics before drill testing |
SOURCE Mawson Resources Ltd.
www.mawsonresources.com, 1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7, Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary, +1 (604) 685 9316, [email protected]
Share this article