Imperial Mining drills 311 g/t scandium oxide over 79.7 metres at Crater Lake, Quebec
Imperial Mining Group Ltd. [IPG-TSXV; IMPNF-OTCQB] completed its summer 2022 exploration and definition diamond drill program on the tantalum-niobium target and the TG zone at the 100%-owned Crater Lake project 1,080 km northeast of Quebec City, Quebec. Early results are encouraging and give inference to grade and tonnage increases to the TG North Lobe Deposit resource.
The TG scandium mineralized Zone continues to return substantial intersection widths of scandium-bearing Olivine and Pyroxene Ferrosyenite. The drilling program was performed from July 8 to September 8, with a total of 8 drillholes having tested the different targets. Partial analytical results were received but due to longer turnaround processing by our laboratory service, several analyses have yet to be received. All core samples from boreholes CLE22001 and from CL22056 to CL22062 have been sent out for analyses. Results for the remaining drillholes are anticipated to be delivered within eight to 10 weeks of receipt at the lab.
At the summer drill program, a total of 8 drillholes for 1,663.0 metres have been completed. All drillholes at the TG Zone have intersected the target mafic intrusive host rock (Ferrosyenite), host to all scandium-rare earth mineralization on the property. The drilling indicates that the TG scandium Zone is doubly dipping between 830 west to 700 east, with a north-northeast strike direction. The widths of the mineralized intersections observed from the program vary between 78 and 105 metres in true thickness. Mineralization remains open at depth below the 250 metres vertical level and along strike and appears as a thickening, conical-shaped body in cross-section.
At the TG Zone definition drilling program, the program completed seven diamond drill holes totaling 1,588.0 metres. The intent of the program was to complete sufficient infilling drillholes to undertake a review of the NI 43-101 Preliminary Resource Estimate of the TG Zone and to convert most of all Inferred Mineral Resources into the Indicated Mineral Resources category.
To date, assays have been received for borehole CL22057, which returned 79.7 metres (261.5 feet) grading 311 g/t scandium oxide (Sc2O3) and 0.326% Total Rare Earths and Yttrium (TREO+Y). This hole was drilled as a deep cut on Section 650N and intersected a cumulative thickness of 83.7 metres of Sc-bearing Olivine-rich Ferrosyenite (OLFESYN) commencing at 55.5 metres in the hole.
Of particular interest was the appearance of higher frequency of higher-grade PXFESYN (Pyroxene-rich Ferrosyenite) in the deeper intersections into the TG Zone.
Crater Lake Extension Tantalum-Niobium Target Drilling
CLE22001 – The hole was drilled vertically (-900) to the north of the scandium target area and intersected a few 10 to 30 cm thick felsic dikes cross-cutting the Mistastin Rapakivi Granite. Alteration zones of up to 10 and 20 cm thick are encountered within the vicinity of the dikes. These dikes are mostly observed at the top of the hole.