Lion One Drills 6.7 m of 25.45 g/t Gold in Zone 2 at Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji

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Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) (“Lion One” or the “Company“) is pleased to report significant new high-grade gold results from 3,791.3 metres of underground grade control drilling at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The drilling is focused on Zone 2 and targeted the URW and Murau lode systems.

All drilling was completed from existing near surface underground workings. The Company intersected high-grade mineralized structures in 25 holes. Most of the drill holes did not exceed 130 metres in length from underground drill stations. Drill results include multiple bonanza grade gold assays over narrow widths such as 168.3 g/t over 0.4 m, 158.0 g/t over 0.3 m, 145.5 g/t over 0.4 m, 123.5 g/t over 0.6 m, and 119.5 g/t over 0.4 m, all of which are located near existing underground workings. These bonanza grade gold results occur within larger intervals of high-grade mineralization, such as 6.7 m of 25.45 g/t gold, and 4.7 m of 26.89 g/t gold.

The Zone 2 drilling targeted two separate mineralized systems: the URW system and the Murau system.

The URW drilling primarily targeted the downdip extension of the URW1 stockwork zone below the 1101 level, while the Murau drilling primarily targeted mineralization below the 1095 level. Both programs intersected high grade mineralization, indicating that both systems extend down vertically below current mining levels. Due to the proximity of these results to active mining levels, these results are anticipated to be incorporated into the mine plan in the next six to twelve months. Notably, the headline intersect of 6.7 m of 25.45 g/t gold is located within the high-grade roscoelite zone, just 10 m below current mining activities in the 1095 level (see press releases dated November 12, 2024 and November 19, 2024 ).

Lion One Chairman and CEO Walter Berukoff commented: “We’re extremely pleased with the new results from our Zone 2 grade control drill program. These drill results are in close proximity to our active mine headings and we’re excited to incorporate them into our near-term mine plan. Together with the high-grade Zone 5 results released last week, we continue to advance Tuvatu on multiple fronts and we look forward to advancing the mine to new levels underground.”

Highlights of New Drill Results:

  • 25.45 g/t Au over 6.7 m (including 145.5 g/t Au over 0.4 m) (TGC-0276, from 45.1 m depth)
  • 26.89 g/t Au over 4.7 m (including 78.0 g/t Au over 0.85 m) (TGC-0264, from 36.8 m depth)
  • 36.94 g/t Au over 2.5 m (including 158.0 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0312, from 46.5 m depth)
  • 13.97 g/t Au over 6.6 m (including 54.5 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0260, from 31.45 m depth)
  • 45.95 g/t Au over 1.8 m (including 123.5 g/t Au over 0.55 m) (TGC-0308, from 43 m depth)
  • 168.25 g/t Au over 0.4 m (TGC-0276, from 18.5 m depth)
  • 29.23 g/t Au over 2.1 m (including 37.43 g/t Au over 0.9 m) (TGC-0353, from 27.9 m depth)
  • 21.48 g/t Au over 2.7 m (including 119.5 g/t Au over 0.42 m) (TGC-0344, from 70.2 m depth)
  • 12.47 g/t Au over 3.8 m (including 49.86 g/t Au over 0.45 m) (TGC-0264, from 57.2 m depth)
  • 10.82 g/t Au over 3.7 m (including 19.51 g/t Au over 0.6 m) (TGC-0276, from 39.9 m depth)

*Drill intersects are downhole lengths, 3.0 g/t cutoff. True width not known. See Table 1 for additional data.

Figure 1. Location of the Zone 2 drilling reported in this news release. Left image: Plan view of Tuvatu showing Zone 2 drillholes in relation to the mineralized lodes at Tuvatu, shown in grey. Right image: Section view of Zone 2 drilling looking northeast. Zone 2 drilling primarily targeted the Murau and URW lode systems below current mine levels.

Zone 2 Drilling

The Zone 2 area of Tuvatu is located in the northwest part of the deposit, near the main portal. The URW and Murau lode systems are the primary mineralized systems in Zone 2, and they are both actively being mined. A total of 35 drill holes are reported in this news release, including 23 targeting the URW system and 12 targeting the Murau system.

The URW system consists of multiple closely spaced steeply dipping high grade mineralized lodes trending in a north-south direction. Within this system lies the URW1 stockwork zone, which consist of two steeply dipping lodes enveloped within a stockwork zone of gold-bearing veinlets. Four levels of underground mining have been completed within the URW1 stockwork zone; the 1161, 1141, 1121, and 1101 levels. Long hole open stope mining is taking place between these levels. The URW drilling reported here was conducted from the 1116 drill station underground and consists of a series of drill holes oriented in a fan from east to southeast. The drill program primarily targeted the down dip extension of the URW1 stockwork zone below the 1101 level along a 120 m strike length from north to south. High- and bonanza-grade results were intersected in multiple drill holes, indicating the continuation of the system below current mine workings (see Figure 2).

The Murau system consists of a series of high-grade flat to moderately flat mineralized structures located between the steeply dipping URW1 stockwork zone to the east and the steeply dipping Ura lode system to the west. The Murau structures are known as ‘’flatmakes’’[1] and have abundant roscoelite mineralization. They Murau flatmakes are a major component of the high-grade roscoelite zone that was identified in 2024. The first such flatmake is being actively mined along the 1095 level in Zone 2 where a 120 m strike length of the system has been exposed. The Murau drilling reported here was conducted from the 1121 drill station underground. Drilling consists of a series of drill holes oriented in a fan from the north to the northwest. The primary target of the drilling was mineralization below the 1095 level, with several drillholes also targeting mineralization above the 1095 level. High grade mineralization was intersected both above and below the 1095 level, with 6.7 m of 25.45 g/t gold intersected within 10 m below the 1095 level indicating the potential for additional flatmakes below the 1095 level (see Figure 3).

The purpose of the current Zone 2 URW and Murau grade control drill programs are to enhance the mine model and inform stope design in advance of mining in these areas. The majority of the high-grade intervals reported in this release are located within 30 m of underground developments and are anticipated to be included in the mine plan in 2025. Both the URW1 and Murau drill programs have successfully intersected high-grade gold mineralization in close proximity below current underground workings. Highlights of the Zone 2 drilling reported here are shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

Figure 2. Zone 2 URW grade control drilling with high-grade intersects highlighted, 3.0 g/t gold cutoff. Oblique view looking down to the north. The URW grade control drilling in Zone 2 was oriented in a fan from the east to the south and primarily targeted the down-dip extension of the URW1 stockwork zone below the 1101 level, as well as the extensions of the system to the north and to the south.

Figure 3. Zone 2 Murau grade control drilling with high-grade intersects highlighted, 3.0 g/t gold cutoff. Section view looking east-northeast. The Murau grade control drilling in Zone 2 targeted mineralization in the roscoelite zone below the 1095 level, as well as the gap between the Murau and URW1 lode systems. The headline drill intercept of 6.7 m of 25.45 g/t gold is located within 10 m below the 1095 level and is scheduled for mining in the near term.

Competent Persons Statement

The information in this report that relates to mineral exploration at the Tuvatu Gold Project is based on information compiled by the Lion One team and has been reviewed and approved by Melvyn Levrel, who is the company’s Senior Geologist. Mr Levrel is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity being undertaken, to qualify as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43- 101”). Mr Levrel consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on the information in the form and context in which it appears.

Lion One Laboratories / QAQC

Lion One adheres to rigorous QAQC procedures above and beyond basic regulatory guidelines in conducting its drilling, sampling, testing, and analyses. The Company operates its own geochemical assay laboratory and its own fleet of diamond drill rigs using PQ, HQ and NQ sized drill rods.

Diamond drill core samples are logged by Lion One personnel on site. Exploration diamond drill core is split by Lion One personnel on site, with half core samples sent for analysis and the other half core remaining on site. Grade control diamond drill core is whole core assayed. Core samples are delivered to the Lion One Laboratory for preparation and analysis. All samples are pulverized at the Lion One lab to 85% passing through 75 microns and gold analysis is carried out using fire assay with an AA finish. Samples that return grades greater than 10.00 g/t Au are re-analyzed by gravimetric method, which is considered more accurate for very high-grade samples.

Duplicates of 5% of samples with grades above 0.5 g/t Au are delivered to ALS Global Laboratories in Australia for check assay determinations using the same methods (Au-AA26 and Au-GRA22 where applicable). ALS also analyses 33 pathfinder elements by HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach and ICP-AES (method ME-ICP61). The Lion One lab can test a range of up to 71 elements through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), but currently focuses on a suite of 26 important pathfinder elements with an aqua regia digest and ICP-OES finish.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Walter Berukoff, Chairman & CEO

Contact Information

Email: info@liononemetals.com

Phone: 1-855-805-1250 (toll free North America)

Website: www.liononemetals.com

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility or the adequacy or accuracy of this release

This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “proposed”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

¹Flatmakes are flat-dipping mineralized vein structures. The term is a Fijian mining term commonly used at the Vatukoula gold mine northeast of Tuvatu. At Vatukoula, flatmakes have been reported to have hundreds of meters of strike length.

Appendix 1: Full Drill Results and Collar Information

Table 1. Collar coordinates for drillholes reported in this release. Coordinates are in Fiji map grid.

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth
TGC-0253 1876320 3920738 123 10.3 -35.7 110.6
TGC-0258 1876320 3920738 122 10.1 -50.1 85.0
TGC-0260 1876320 3920739 122 10.6 -15.9 100.0
TGC-0262 1876320 3920739 123 10.5 0.0 101.0
TGC-0264 1876320 3920740 125 11.2 21.1 105.2
TGC-0266 1876319 3920738 123 353.8 -24.3 106.2
TGC-0270 1876317 3920736 121 295.7 -54.9 75.0
TGC-0272 1876317 3920736 121 295.5 -70.6 55.3
TGC-0274 1876316 3920737 122 300.6 -39.1 100.0
TGC-0276 1876316 3920729 121 320.2 -39.3 75.6
TGC-0280 1876317 3920728 121 322.8 -50.8 75.0
TGC-0283 1876317 3920729 121 339.1 -50.4 75.3
TGC-0285 1876298 3920812 121 103.6 10.9 90.2
TGC-0290 1876298 3920813 121 83.7 13.2 91.7
TGC-0293 1876298 3920813 120 90.0 -5.7 275.4
TGC-0298 1876298 3920812 120 107.0 -13.9 275.0
TGC-0305 1876289 3920808 119 157.3 -30.0 41.4
TGC-0308 1876287 3920806 119 157.9 -28.7 150.0
TGC-0312 1876287 3920806 119 156.4 -24.8 165.3
TGC-0314 1876288 3920807 119 149.6 -26.1 146.4
TGC-0317 1876288 3920808 120 135.1 -11.3 63.2
TGC-0320 1876288 3920807 119 135.5 -24.2 127.0
TGC-0322 1876288 3920807 119 132.1 -28.9 127.0
TGC-0324 1876288 3920808 120 129.3 -22.7 122.7
TGC-0328 1876288 3920807 120 134.2 -6.3 71.5
TGC-0329 1876287 3920806 118 166.1 -35.1 148.3
TGC-0334 1876287 3920806 118 102.0 -9.0 10.6
TGC-0337 1876292 3920809 119 118.1 -23.3 118.7
TGC-0340 1876292 3920809 119 117.4 -28.4 122.5
TGC-0344 1876295 3920810 119 109.2 -27.0 117.3
TGC-0348 1876298 3920811 120 103.3 -8.3 7.8
TGC-0350 1876298 3920811 119 102.7 -19.2 110.0
TGC-0353 1876298 3920811 120 102.3 -8.7 108.0
TGC-0357 1876298 3920811 119 106.9 -34.5 121.0
TGC-0362 1876298 3920812 119 98.3 -31.0 116.1


Table 2
. Composite intervals from drillholes reported in this news release (composite grade >3.0 g/t Au, with <1 m internal dilution at <3.0 g/t Au).

Hole ID   From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t)
TGC-0260   30.0 30.4 0.4 26.50
  31.5 38.0 6.6 13.97
including 31.5 31.8 0.3 17.06
and 31.8 32.4 0.7 5.68
and 32.4 33.6 1.2 16.99
and 33.6 33.9 0.3 54.50
and 33.9 34.7 0.8 47.20
and 34.7 35.4 0.7 0.04
and 35.4 36.0 0.7 4.13
and 36.0 36.8 0.8 1.93
and 36.8 38.0 1.2 5.33
  39.3 40.0 0.7 3.75
TGC-0262   24.0 24.3 0.3 3.46
  45.0 45.3 0.3 6.94
  46.5 47.2 0.7 5.04
TGC-0264   36.8 41.5 4.7 26.89
including 36.8 37.1 0.3 10.85
and 37.1 38.3 1.2 16.77
and 38.3 39.5 1.2 13.50
and 39.5 40.0 0.5 0.08
and 40.0 40.9 0.9 78.00
and 40.9 41.5 0.7 31.47
  44.4 47.2 2.8 7.94
including 44.4 45.0 0.6 9.77
and 45.0 45.3 0.3 2.23
and 45.3 45.9 0.6 3.22
and 45.9 46.2 0.3 18.99
and 46.2 46.9 0.7 9.37
and 46.9 47.2 0.3 5.31
  57.2 61.0 3.8 12.47
including 57.2 57.8 0.6 9.37
and 57.8 58.4 0.6 0.62
and 58.4 58.9 0.5 49.86
and 58.9 59.2 0.3 0.40
and 59.2 59.5 0.3 8.59
and 59.5 59.8 0.3 33.44
and 59.8 60.4 0.7 5.13
and 60.4 61.0 0.6 4.83
TGC-0270   45.4 46.6 1.2 19.55
TGC-0274   29.0 29.7 0.7 27.68
including 29.0 29.4 0.4 26.54
and 29.4 29.7 0.3 29.20
  38.3 39.2 0.9 3.90
  44.7 45.7 1.0 4.12
  53.8 56.2 2.4 5.36
including 53.8 54.6 0.8 8.78
and 54.6 54.9 0.3 1.52
and 54.9 55.4 0.5 1.63
and 55.4 55.8 0.4 8.29
and 55.8 56.2 0.4 3.64
  58.1 59.0 0.9 7.02
including 58.1 58.4 0.3 6.88
and 58.4 59.0 0.6 7.09
  60.1 64.1 4.0 4.38
including 60.1 60.4 0.3 7.87
and 60.4 61.3 0.9 0.36
and 61.3 61.6 0.3 3.70
and 61.6 62.2 0.6 9.13
and 62.2 62.9 0.7 4.65
and 62.9 63.3 0.4 0.25
and 63.3 64.1 0.8 6.12
TGC-0276   18.5 18.9 0.4 168.25
  39.9 43.6 3.7 10.82
including 39.9 40.8 0.9 9.00
and 40.8 41.1 0.3 12.00
and 41.1 41.7 0.6 19.51
and 41.7 42.7 1.0 0.44
and 42.7 43.6 0.9 17.99
  45.1 51.8 6.7 25.45
including 45.1 45.4 0.3 66.44
and 45.4 46.2 0.8 8.25
and 46.2 46.5 0.3 67.29
and 46.5 46.9 0.4 13.36
and 46.9 47.2 0.3 12.58
and 47.2 47.6 0.4 23.10
and 47.6 48.0 0.4 145.50
and 48.0 48.6 0.6 13.66
and 48.6 49.6 1.0 4.04
and 49.6 50.1 0.5 47.73
and 50.1 50.8 0.7 6.76
and 50.8 51.8 1.0 5.48
TGC-0285   13.8 14.4 0.6 52.57
  63.1 63.4 0.3 12.39
TGC-0290   41.7 43.0 1.3 10.85
including 41.7 42.0 0.3 20.38
and 42.0 42.7 0.7 5.93
and 42.7 43.0 0.3 12.79
  45.4 46.0 0.6 6.18
  58.4 61.0 2.6 10.76
including 58.4 59.2 0.8 24.33
and 59.2 60.4 1.2 4.97
and 60.4 61.0 0.6 4.24
  62.2 62.5 0.3 6.90
TGC-0293   48.0 49.2 1.2 9.43
including 48.0 48.6 0.6 14.89
and 48.6 49.2 0.6 3.97
  128.0 130.2 2.2 3.02
including 128.0 129.0 1.0 3.09
and 129.0 129.6 0.6 2.10
and 129.6 130.2 0.6 3.83
  162.8 165.2 2.4 5.22
including 162.8 163.1 0.3 21.04
and 163.1 163.6 0.5 0.40
and 163.6 164.4 0.8 3.46
and 164.4 165.2 0.8 4.07
  169.1 170.0 0.9 5.18
TGC-0298   23.8 24.2 0.4 19.57
  56.6 57.5 0.9 8.50
  65.4 65.7 0.3 8.48
TGC-0305   5.1 6.7 1.6 11.76
including 5.1 5.4 0.3 4.24
and 5.4 6.0 0.6 26.29
and 6.0 6.3 0.3 1.41
and 6.3 6.7 0.4 3.38
  8.8 9.7 0.9 11.85
TGC-0308   4.6 4.9 0.3 3.30
  5.6 5.9 0.3 3.15
  10.1 10.5 0.4 5.58
  11.6 12.5 0.9 6.81
including 11.6 12.0 0.4 9.95
and 12.0 12.5 0.5 4.30
  43.0 44.8 1.8 45.95
including 43.0 43.3 0.3 6.21
and 43.3 43.6 0.3 0.18
and 43.6 44.2 0.6 123.50
and 44.2 44.5 0.3 29.20
and 44.5 44.8 0.3 6.03
  52.6 53.8 1.2 5.70
  57.2 58.4 1.2 4.78
  122.6 122.9 0.3 7.08
TGC-0312   4.5 5.4 0.9 3.58
  9.3 10.5 1.2 4.07
  37.4 37.7 0.3 6.15
  46.5 49.0 2.5 36.94
including 46.5 47.2 0.7 17.52
and 47.2 47.5 0.3 48.99
and 47.5 47.8 0.3 158.00
and 47.8 48.4 0.6 25.72
and 48.4 49.0 0.6 4.27
  53.5 54.7 1.2 31.28
  59.6 59.9 0.3 3.36
TGC-0314   3.4 3.7 0.3 8.36
  4.9 6.0 1.1 4.07
  51.6 51.9 0.3 3.20
  57.8 59.7 1.9 11.67
including 57.8 58.7 0.9 17.99
and 58.7 59.4 0.7 2.32
and 59.4 59.7 0.3 15.36
TGC-0317   2.1 2.5 0.4 4.39
  6.1 6.4 0.3 8.93
  41.6 41.9 0.3 6.27
  47.9 48.2 0.3 4.56
  55.9 56.7 0.8 8.12
TGC-0320   3.8 5.8 2.0 4.27
including 3.8 4.3 0.5 7.36
and 4.3 4.6 0.3 1.05
and 4.6 5.3 0.7 <0.01
and 5.3 5.8 0.5 9.10
  54.2 56.0 1.8 6.22
including 54.2 55.1 0.9 8.98
and 55.1 56.0 0.9 3.46
  82.4 83.0 0.6 9.95
  113.9 114.5 0.6 8.48
including 113.9 114.2 0.3 12.79
and 114.2 114.5 0.3 4.16
TGC-0322   123.8 125.6 1.8 6.67
including 123.8 124.1 0.3 3.70
and 124.1 124.4 0.3 0.01
and 124.4 124.7 0.3 2.16
and 124.7 125.0 0.3 9.82
and 125.0 125.6 0.6 11.98
TGC-0324   95.5 95.8 0.3 72.59
TGC-0328   20.0 21.0 1.1 6.16
including 20.0 20.4 0.4 3.65
and 20.4 21.0 0.6 7.77
  42.6 44.5 1.9 4.98
including 42.6 43.8 1.2 5.20
and 43.8 44.5 0.7 4.63
  53.7 56.3 2.6 11.14
including 53.7 54.0 0.3 6.20
and 54.0 54.3 0.3 1.41
and 54.3 55.0 0.7 23.57
and 55.0 55.3 0.3 9.03
and 55.3 56.0 0.7 6.71
and 56.0 56.3 0.3 10.26
  67.4 68.3 0.9 4.98
TGC-0329   11.2 11.5 0.3 3.32
  31.7 32.3 0.6 5.00
  57.5 58.6 1.1 8.91
  133.9 134.2 0.3 14.65
TGC-0344   70.2 72.9 2.7 21.48
including 70.2 71.0 0.8 5.60
and 71.0 71.5 0.5 0.10
and 71.5 71.9 0.4 119.50
and 71.9 72.9 1.0 3.27
TGC-0350   62.3 63.5 1.2 10.43
including 62.3 62.6 0.3 23.99
and 62.6 63.5 0.9 5.91
TGC-0353   27.9 30.0 2.1 29.23
including 27.9 28.8 0.9 37.43
and 28.8 30.0 1.2 23.08
  33.3 33.6 0.3 3.46
  38.7 39.1 0.4 3.53
  54.3 55.3 1.0 7.38
including 54.3 54.6 0.3 9.95
and 54.6 55.0 0.4 0.85
and 55.0 55.3 0.3 14.38
  64.0 65.0 0.9 9.72
including 64.0 64.4 0.3 3.16
and 64.4 65.0 0.6 13.45
TGC-0357   75.1 75.4 0.3 6.30
TGC-0362   68.7 69.3 0.6 30.10
including 68.7 69.0 0.3 23.75
and 69.0 69.3 0.3 36.44

 


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