Osisko Metals Incorporated (the “
Company” or
“
Osisko Metals”) (TSX-V: OM; OTCQX: OMZNF;
FRANKFURT: 0B51) is pleased to announce the 2024 Mineral Resource
Estimate Update (“
2024 MRE”) for the Pine Point
Project (“Pine Point” or “the Project”), located near Hay River, in
the Northwest Territories of Canada. The 2024 MRE was prepared by
BBA Inc. (“BBA”) and PLR Resources Inc. and will form the resource
base for a Feasibility Study (“FS”) that is planned to officially
start in Q3 2024. Cut-off grades are based on estimated long-term
metal prices, mining costs, metal recoveries, concentrate
transport, and smelter costs. The definition drill program
supporting the 2024 MRE was executed between 2018 and 2024.
Highlights:
-
Indicated Mineral Resources of 49.5Mt grading 4.22% zinc
and 1.49% lead (5.52% Zinc Equivalent (“ZnEq”)) containing
approximately 4.6 billion pounds of zinc and 1.6 billion pounds of
lead in situ (undiluted).
-
Inferred Mineral Resources of 8.3Mt grading 4.18% zinc and
1.69% lead (5.64% Zinc Equivalent (“ZnEq”)) containing
approximately 0.7 billion pounds of zinc and 0.3 billion pounds of
lead in situ (undiluted).
-
Compared to the previous MRE, the conversion of Inferred
Mineral Resources (see press release dated July
13, 2022) increased the tonnage of the current
Indicated Mineral Resources by 214% with an associated decrease in
the quantity of Inferred Mineral Resources.
- Mineral
Resources reported for the 2024 MRE used variable cut-off grades
between 1.41% and 1.51% ZnEq for open pit resources and between
4.10% and 4.40% ZnEq for underground resources.
- The
project's East Mill, Central, and North Zones now contain
approximately 36.2Mt of Indicated Mineral Resources grading 5.22%
ZnEq, or 3.2 billion pounds of zinc and 1.1 billion pounds of lead
in situ.
- New metallurgical test work
is in progress. Previous metallurgical test work described in the
2022 PEA (see press release August 29,
2022) highlighted Pine Point as a potential
producer of among the cleanest, high-grade zinc and lead
concentrates globally. This adds value to the project as any and
probably most smelter clients would want some Pine Point
concentrate for blending purposes.
A Technical Report supporting this 2024 MRE will
be filed within 45 days.
Robert Wares, CEO and Chairman of the Board,
commented, “We are very happy to have met a critical milestone with
this MRE that successfully converted the majority of the mineral
resources to the Indicated category. With our partner Appian
Capital Advisory LLP, we can now rapidly advance Pine Point to the
Feasibility Stage following finalization of trade-off studies.”
Jeff Hussey, CEO of Pine Point Mining Limited,
stated, “This represents the culmination of a multi-year definition
drill program that raised the confidence level in the mineral
resource base for the Feasibility Study. We will also continue
exploring for new deposits and should significant discoveries be
made this summer; they will be rapidly incorporated into the final
inventory.”
The project has significant supporting
infrastructure, including access by paved roads, a railhead in Hay
River, and an on-site hydroelectric substation. Additionally, the
project benefits from one hundred kilometres of pre-existing mine
haul roads from the original mining operations. These provide
access to most of the deposits in the 2024 MRE. The future
concentrator and camp location will be adjacent to the original
concentrator area.
The 2024 MRE is divided into five geographic
zones, each composed of one or more individual deposits (see Map 1
and Table 1).
Table 1: 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate
for Pine Point
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Indicated |
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Inferred |
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Method |
Zone |
Cut-off Grade |
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Tonnage |
ZnEq |
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Pb |
Zn |
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Tonnage |
ZnEq |
|
Pb |
Zn |
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(ZnEq %) |
|
(kt) |
(%) |
|
(%) |
(%) |
|
(kt) |
(%) |
|
(%) |
(%) |
Pit Constrained Mineral Resources |
Central |
1.41 |
|
7,400 |
6.21 |
|
1.50 |
4.91 |
|
498 |
4.50 |
|
0.75 |
3.84 |
East Mill |
1.41 |
|
10,047 |
4.69 |
|
1.11 |
3.72 |
|
1,051 |
3.54 |
|
0.73 |
2.90 |
North |
1.41 - 1.44 |
|
18,763 |
5.10 |
|
1.47 |
3.82 |
|
680 |
4.08 |
|
0.65 |
3.52 |
N204 |
1.51 |
|
8,923 |
4.05 |
|
0.90 |
3.27 |
|
3,027 |
4.20 |
|
0.92 |
3.40 |
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Underground Mineral Resources |
Central |
4.40 |
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121 |
6.66 |
|
0.81 |
5.95 |
|
63 |
5.62 |
|
1.44 |
4.37 |
West |
4.10 - 4.40 |
|
4,215 |
11.21 |
|
3.69 |
8.00 |
|
2,934 |
8.44 |
|
3.55 |
5.35 |
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Total Pit Constrained |
1.41 - 1.51 |
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45,133 |
4.99 |
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1.28 |
3.87 |
|
5,256 |
4.08 |
|
0.65 |
3.52 |
Total Underground |
4.10 - 4.40 |
|
4,336 |
11.08 |
|
3.61 |
7.94 |
|
2,997 |
8.38 |
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3.51 |
5.33 |
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Total Combined |
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49,469 |
5.52 |
|
1.49 |
4.22 |
|
8,253 |
5.64 |
|
1.69 |
4.18 |
Notes: |
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1) |
All tonnages are rounded to the nearest thousand tonnes. |
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2) |
ZnEq percentages are calculated
using metal prices, forecasted metal recoveries, concentrate
grades, transport costs, smelter payable metals and charges. |
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3) |
Pit-constrained cut-off grades
vary primarily due to variable transportation distances to the
presumed concentrator location. |
The weighted average
strip ratio for all modelled pit-constrained mineralization is
5.8:1. |
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Compared to the 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate,
there is a decrease in overall tonnage, however grades remain
similar. The key factors include:
- Tighter
parameters guiding reasonable prospects for eventual economic
extraction driven by increased knowledge on project OPEX and mining
parameters.
- Open Pit:
Whittle optimization parameters as well as the increased cutoff
grade (+13%) and an increase in tonnage [+0.4%], due to the
conversion of the Underground Central zone that is now being
declared as Open Pit resources.
- Underground
(West): Tighter stope optimization parameters; decrease in tonnage
[-29%]
- Underground
(Central): Tighter stope optimization parameters and most of the
2022 underground material that is now tonnage declared inside pit
shells [-93%]
The in-pit MRE is constrained within pit shells
that were developed from a pit optimization analysis that was done
with Geovia Whittle 2022 software using the economic and operating
parameters presented below:
Table 2: Pit Optimization
Parameters
Parameter |
Unit |
Input |
Mine Site Costs |
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|
Mining Cost – Overburden1 |
C$/t mined |
2.63 |
|
Mining Cost - Mineralized Material1 |
C$/t mined |
3.85 |
|
Mining Cost – Waste1 |
C$/t mined |
3.85 |
|
Transport Mineralized Material to Mill |
C$/t mined |
0.13 |
|
Processing Cost |
C$/t milled |
11.00 |
|
Power Cost2 |
C$/t milled |
5.00 |
|
Waste and Water Management Cost |
C$/t milled |
2.00 |
|
G&A Cost |
C$/t mined |
8.50 |
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Recoveries |
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Average Zinc |
% |
87 |
% |
Average Lead |
% |
93 |
% |
Zinc Concentrate Grade |
% |
60 |
% |
Lead Concentrate Grade |
% |
65 |
% |
Zinc Concentrate Costs |
|
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Transport from mine to Smelter |
C$/wmt |
215.80 |
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Smelter Cost |
C$/dmt |
266.50 |
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Lead Concentrate Costs |
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Transport from mine to Smelter |
C$/wmt |
261.30 |
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Smelter Cost |
C$/dmt |
152.10 |
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Metal Prices |
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Zinc |
US$/lb |
1.30 |
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Lead |
US$/lb |
1.00 |
|
Exchange Rate |
|
1.30 |
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1 – Includes dewatering costs2 - Process plant
power cost is included in Power Cost
Table 3: Underground
Parameters
Parameter |
Unit |
Input |
Mine Site Costs |
|
|
Mining Cost – LHS1 |
C$/t mined |
54.22 |
|
Mining Cost - R&P1 |
C$/t mined |
59.99 |
|
Processing Cost |
C$/t milled |
11.00 |
|
Power Cost2 |
C$/t milled |
5.00 |
|
Waste and Water Management Cost |
C$/t milled |
2.00 |
|
G&A Cost |
C$/t mined |
8.50 |
|
Recoveries |
|
|
Average Zinc |
% |
87 |
% |
Average Lead |
% |
93 |
% |
Zinc Concentrate Grade |
% |
60 |
% |
Lead Concentrate Grade |
% |
65 |
% |
Zinc Concentrate Costs |
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Transport from mine to Smelter |
C$/wmt |
215.80 |
|
Smelter Cost |
C$/dmt |
266.50 |
|
Lead Concentrate Costs |
|
|
Transport from mine to Smelter |
C$/wmt |
261.30 |
|
Smelter Cost |
C$/dmt |
152.10 |
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Metal Prices |
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Zinc |
US$/lb |
1.30 |
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Lead |
US$/lb |
1.00 |
|
Exchange Rate |
|
1.30 |
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1 – Includes dewatering costs.2 - Process plant
power cost is included in Power Cost
Open Pit and Underground
Mineralization
Prismatic-style deposits are defined by greater
than 10 metres of greater than 10% zinc + lead, with a distinct
vertical aspect of the deposit outline that crosscuts stratigraphy.
Vertical thicknesses of mineralization can exceed 70 metres, and
they have horizontal cross-sections of less than 200 by 200
metres.
Tabular-style deposits comprise sub-horizontal,
stratabound mineralization extending over a significant strike
length at varying lateral widths from 50 to 200 metres wide. The
strike extent can be in the order of kilometres. Mineralization
thickness averages about 3 metres and can range from 1 metre to,
very locally, greater than 10 metres.
The open pit portion of the 2024 MRE includes
mostly shallow tabular-style deposits, with the remainder being
shallow prismatic-style deposits. The underground portion of the
2024 MRE includes deeper prismatic-style mineralization and easily
accessible tabular-style mineralization found adjacent to the pit
wall boundaries of certain deposits.
Metallurgy
Metallurgical test work is in progress and will
provide data to support the flow-sheet design for the process
plant, including comminution tests, pre-concentration tests (Ore
Sorting and Dense Media Separation (DMS)), flotation tests and
dewatering tests. The Company is also investigating concentrations
of the critical metals Indium (In), Germanium (Ge), and Gallium
(Ga) in the Zinc concentrate produced from flotation tests and in
sphalerite mineralization within the various Zones.
2024 Drill Program
A brownfield exploration campaign is underway.
The program is focused on discovering high-grade prismatic-style
deposits. One drill was active in March and tested three
high-potential target areas. Results are pending. Additional
targets are ready for drilling, and new targets are continually
being developed. The plan is to diligently test these exploration
targets this summer.
Induced polarization and magnetic surveys are
best suited for geophysical targeting of these types of deposits.
Surveys over in situ prismatic-style deposits were used for
calibration purposes for these geophysical methods. Targets are
generated by using a combination of airborne gravity gradiometry
data, LiDAR, AeroTEM survey, structural lineament interpretation,
and trend analysis. The search has been expanded to adjacent
carbonate formations that the Company believes are fertile for
discovery.
Notes Regarding This Mineral Resource
Estimate
Mineral Resource Estimate
- The
independent qualified person for the 2024 MRE, as defined by
National Instrument (“NI”) 43-101 guidelines, is Pierre-Luc
Richard, P.Geo., of PLR Resources Inc and subcontracted by BBA Inc.
The effective date of the 2024 MRE is May 31, 2024. Mr. Richard has
also approved the technical contents of this press release.
- These
mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they have not
demonstrated economic viability. The quantity and grade of reported
Inferred Resources in this MRE are uncertain in nature, and there
has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred
Resources as Indicated or Measured. However, it is reasonably
expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be
upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued
exploration.
-
Resources are presented as undiluted and in situ for an open-pit
and underground scenario and are considered to have reasonable
prospects for economic extraction.
- The 2024
MRE was prepared using Leapfrog Edge v.2023.2.1 and is based on
20,682 surface drill holes and 181,313 samples, of which 17,428
drill holes and a total of 92,652 assays were included in the
modelled mineralization. The drill hole database includes recent
drilling of 148,026 metres in 2,258 drill holes since 2017 and also
incorporates Cominco Ltd.’s historical drill holes, the use of
which was partially validated by a drill hole collar survey,
twinning programs and a partial core resampling program. The
cut-off date for the drill hole database was April 30, 2024.
- The 2024
MRE encompasses 103 zinc-lead-bearing zones, each defined by a
series of individual wireframes with a minimum true thickness of
2.5 metres.
-
High-grade capping was done on the composited assay data and
established on a per-zone basis for zinc and lead. Capping grades
vary from 15% to 45% Zn and 5% to 40% Pb.
- Density
values were calculated based on the formula established and used by
Cominco Ltd. during their operational period between 1964 and 1987.
Density values were calculated from the density of dolomite,
adjusted by the amount of sphalerite, galena, and marcasite/pyrite
as determined by metal assays. A porosity of 5% was assumed. Waste
material was assigned the density of porous dolomite.
- Grade
model resource estimation was calculated from drill hole data using
an Ordinary Kriging interpolation method in a sub-blocked block
model using blocks measuring 5 m x 5 m x 2.5 m in size and
sub-blocks down to 1.25 metres x 1.25 metres x 0.625 metres.
- Zinc
equivalency percentages are calculated using long-term metal prices
indicated below in (10), forecasted metal recoveries, concentrate
grades, transport costs, smelter payable metals and charges.
- The
estimate is reported using a ZnEq cut-off varying from 1.41% to
1.51% for open-pit resources and 4.10% to 4.40% for underground
resources. Variations consider trucking distances from the
pit-constrained mineralization to the mill and metallurgical
parameters for each area. The cut-off grade was calculated using
the following parameters (amongst others): zinc price = USD1.30/lb;
lead price = USD1.00/lb; CAD:USD exchange rate = 1.30. The cut-off
grade will be re-evaluated considering future prevailing market
conditions and costs.
- The
Inferred Mineral Resource category is constrained to areas where
drill spacing is less than 100 metres, and where reasonable
geological and grade continuity is shown. The Indicated Mineral
Resource category is constrained to areas where modern drilling has
been completed, where drill spacing is less than 30 metres, and
where reasonable geological and grade continuity is shown. When
needed, a series of clipping boundaries were created manually in
plan views to either upgrade or downgrade classification. The
maximum drill spacing judged acceptable when creating these
clipping boundaries was 50m for the indicated category.
- The pit
optimization used to develop the Mineral Resource-constraining pit
shells was done using Geovia Whittle 2022. The constraining pit
shells were developed using overall pit slopes per area and by
individual pits based on a preliminary geotechnical report. The
rock slopes range from 38° to 52° with an average of 49°, and the
overburden slopes range from 33° to 45° with an average of
38°.
-
Calculations used metric units (metre, tonne). Metal contents are
presented in percentages or pounds. Metric tonnages were rounded,
and any discrepancies in total amounts are due to rounding
errors.
- CIM
definitions and guidelines for Mineral Resource Estimates have been
followed.
- The QP
is unaware of any known environmental, permitting, legal,
title-related, taxation, socio-political or marketing issues or any
other relevant issues that could materially affect this MRE.
Other Inputs to the 2024
MRE
- The
independent qualified person providing the pit shells, and cut-off
grades for the 2024 MRE is Alexandre Dorval, ing., of G Mining
Services. Mr. Dorval has approved the technical contents of this
press release.
- The
independent qualified person providing the underground mining
shapes and cut-off grades for the 2024 MRE is Carl Michaud, ing.,
of G Mining Services. Mr. Michaud has approved the technical
contents of this press release.
- The
independent qualified person providing the metallurgical components
relating to the 2024 MRE is Colin Hardie, P. Eng., of BBA Inc. Mr.
Hardie has approved the technical contents of this press
release.
About Osisko Metals
Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian
exploration and development company creating value in the critical
metals space, more specifically copper and zinc. The Company is in
a joint venture with Appian Capital Advisory LLP for the
advancement of one of Canada's premier past-producing zinc mining
camps, the Pine Point Project, located in the Northwest
Territories, for which current mineral resources have been
calculated for the 2024 MRE (as defined herein). The Project is
held under the joint venture company Pine Point Mining Limited. The
current mineral resource estimate consists of 49.5Mt
grading 5.52% ZnEq of Indicated Mineral Resources and 8.3Mt grading
5.64% ZnEq of Inferred Mineral Resources (in accordance
with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects). A technical report will follow
this press release within 45 days. The Pine Point Project is
located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest
Territories, near infrastructure, with paved highway access, an
electrical substation, and 100 kilometres of viable haulage
roads.
In addition, and outside of the Pine Point JV,
the Company acquired in July 2023, from Glencore Canada
Corporation, a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspé Copper
Mine, located near Murdochville in the Gaspé peninsula of Québec.
The Company is currently focused on resource evaluation of the
Copper Mountain Expansion Project that hosts a current mineral
resource consisting of an Indicated Mineral Resource
of 495Mt grading 0.37% CuEq and
an Inferred Mineral Resource of 6.3Mt grading 0.37% CuEq
(in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects); see May 6, 2024 news release of
Osisko Metals entitled “Osisko Metals announces updated mineral
resource estimate at Gaspé Copper – indicated resource of 495 mt
grading 0.37% copper equivalent". Gaspé Copper hosts the largest
undeveloped copper resource in Eastern North America, strategically
located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly
province of Québec.
About Appian Capital Advisory
Appian Capital Advisory LLP is a
London-headquartered investment advisor to long-term value-focused
private capital funds that invest solely in mining and
mining-related companies.
Appian is a leading investment advisor in the
metals and mining industry, with global experience across South
America, North America, Europe, Australia and Africa and a
successful track record of supporting companies to achieve their
development targets, with a global operating portfolio overseeing
nearly 6,300 employees. Appian has a global team of 65 experienced
professionals with presences in London, Toronto, Vancouver,
Montreal, New York, Lima, Belo Horizonte, Perth, Mexico City and
Dubai. The Appian team, through its private capital funds, has a
long history of successfully bringing mines through development and
into production, having completed 9 mine builds in the last 6
years.
For more information, please visit
www.appiancapitaladvisory.com.
For further information on this news release,
visit
www.osiskometals.com or
contact:
Robert Wares, Chairman & CEO of Osisko
Metals IncorporatedEmail: IR@osiskometals.com Phone:
514-861-4441
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at
the date of this news release. Any statement that involves
predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans,
projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance
are not statements of historical fact and constitute
forward-looking information. This news release may contain
forward-looking information pertaining to the Pine Point and Gaspé
Copper Projects, including, among other things, the results of the
2022 PEA on Pine Point and the IRR, NPV and estimated costs,
production, production rate and mine life; the ability to identify
additional resources and reserves (if any) and exploit such
resources and reserves on an economic basis; the expected high
quality of the metal concentrates; the potential economic impact of
the projects on local communities, including but not limited to the
potential generation of tax revenues and contribution of jobs; the
timing and ability for Projects to reach construction decision (if
at all); the estimated costs to take the Projects to construction
decision (if at all) and the impact to the Company of the
disposition of ownership interest and control in the Pine Point
Project, which is a material property of the Company; Gaspé Copper
hosting the largest undeveloped copper resource in Eastern North
America and Glencore becoming a Control Person of the Company.
Forward-looking information is not a guarantee
of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions of management, in light of management’s experience and
perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments,
as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant
and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation,
assumptions about: favourable equity and debt capital markets; the
ability and timing for the Pine Point joint-venture parties to fund
cash calls to advance the development of the Pine Point Project and
pursue planned exploration and development; future spot prices of
copper, zinc, lead and molybdenum; the timing and results of
exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource
estimates; production costs; political and regulatory stability;
the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and
permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour
stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability
of mining equipment and positive relations with local communities
and groups. Forward-looking information involves risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events,
results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the
Company’s public disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under
Osisko Metals’ issuer profile. Although the Company believes that
the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking
information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance
should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of
the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that
such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The
Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by
law.
Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or
other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the
information contained herein.
Map 1: Pine Point Project
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5baec6c5-cf0b-4929-ae56-d25c5b53c0cd
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