ExGen: Phoenix Reports Drill Assays for the Navarre Creek Target of the Empire Mine, Idaho

 

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ExGen Resources Inc. (TSX.V: EXG; OTC: BXXRF) (“ExGen”, the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update in respect of Phoenix Copper Ltd.’s (“Phoenix”) exploration and development activities at the Empire Mine Project in Custer County, Idaho, USA, further to Phoenix’s news release of May 15, 2024. ExGen owns 20% and Phoenix owns 80% of Konnex Resources, Inc. (“Konnex”), which holds the leases and claims to the Empire Mine Project, which includes all of the Navarre Creek claim block. ExGen further owns 1,330,000 common shares of Phoenix.

Jason Riley, CEO of ExGen commented: “I am encouraged that seven holes in Target 1 encountered a continuous zone/band of low-grade gold mineralization at shallow depths and open along strike and down-dip. The drilling results are representative of a relatively shallow, near-surface portion of the mineralized system. I look forward to further testing down-dip and further along strike.”

On May 23, 2024 Phoenix announced the drilling results from the 2023 Navarre Creek exploratory drilling program in Idaho, USA and an update on feasibility engineering activities at the Empire Mine and noted the following highlights:

• 28 reverse-circulation drill holes into four target areas within 4,000 acre (16.18 sq km) claim block
• Two of four target areas identify mineralization of significance
• All seven drill holes into the Lehman Creek target identify a continuous zone of anomalous, low-grade gold mineralization ranging from 4.5 meters to 22.9 meters thick
• Mineralized zone is open along strike and down-dip
• 20 unpatented mining claims totaling 400 acres staked on the southwest end of the contiguous Navarre Creek claim block

Ryan McDermott, Chief Executive Officer, said, "Further to our announcement on 24 October 2023, I am pleased to confirm that we have now received and assessed the assay results from the 28 exploratory reverse-circulation drill holes completed at our Navarre Creek project in 2023. Navarre Creek is a vast exploration zone, multiple times larger than the Empire Mine open- pit area. We initially selected four target areas, and it is very encouraging to note that two of those areas have returned mineralization of significance, worthy of further follow-up.

"Holes NC23-01 through NC23-07 were drilled to test Target Area 1 on the southwest end of the claim block specifically targeting the mineralized Lehman Creek fault Holes. NC23-08 through NC23-11 were drilled in Target Area 2, 4.77 kilometers northeast of Target Area 1. Target Area 2 tested a surface geochemical anomaly identified during previous field mapping and surface sampling in 2020. Target Area 3, holes NC23-12 - NC23-18, tested a gold-antimony geochemical anomaly identified during field mapping, and Target Area 4, holes NC23-19 - NC23-28, tested a jasperoid exposure identified during field mapping.

"I am pleased to report that all seven of the Target Area 1 holes encountered a continuous zone/band of low-grade gold mineralization. Each of the drill holes NC23-01 to NC23-07 were angled and drilled perpendicular to the strike of the Lehman Creek fault and cross dip. The seven holes were widely spaced at various angles along 580 meters of the fault. The mineralized zone was encountered between 19.2 meters and 44.2 meters true vertical depth along strike, indicating that the zone is open along strike and down-dip. The mineralized zone is clearly defined geochemically, and the consistency along the strike is important in that it demonstrates the fault as a conduit for gold-bearing fluids and at least one volcanic unit in the hanging-wall as a suitable host for mineralization. The drilling results are representative of a relatively shallow, near-surface portion of the mineralized system. I am very much looking forward to further testing down-dip and further along strike. The initial drilling results in Target Area 1 were considered significant enough that we expanded the Navarre Creek claim block to the southwest by an additional 400 acres, bringing the total claim block size to 3,977 acres (16.09 km²).

"The assay results from the four drill holes NC23-13 through NC23-16, which targeted an area with a gold-antimony surface anomaly identified during field work, returned anomalous low-grade silver and silver-antimony. 1.5 meters of 1.10% (10,100 parts per million ('ppm')) antimony was present at a depth of 4.6 meters. Antimony can be an important trace element in mineralized systems as it can be associated with precious metals. While the four drill holes tested a relatively small area, we now have a better understanding of the subsurface geology and mineral potential in that specific area. The remainder of the 28 drill holes showed little to no significant gold mineralization.

"The Navarre Creek project covers nearly 4,000-acres. As we have reported in the past, surficial evidence of mineralization is widespread and pervasive. While the overall gold assay grades were low, the presence, location, depth, and host lithology of the mineralization is important and will be used as a tool for further stages of exploration. The activities at Navarre Creek are very much grassroots, very early-stage exploration, not development drilling, and we are satisfied to initially encounter this low-grade mineralization early in the program as we continue to develop an understanding of the dynamics of the system and explore for more substantial quantities of mineralization.

"Given the latest bond funding news, we are clearly focusing our resources on the development of the open-pit and will be for the foreseeable future. However, our Idaho team will continue field work at Navarre Creek, Redstar, and the Horseshoe area for the purposes of developing drill targets. We will update as appropriate as to progress on our exploration programs.

"In addition to reporting the Navarre Creek drilling results, I would like to provide a brief update on the feasibility engineering for our Empire Open-Pit Mine. We recently reported that the Company's corporate copper bond issue has been fully subscribed for a principal value of US$80,000,000, which will be drawn down and used for the construction of the open pit mine and processing facility. While this funding will not have an impact on the mineral reserve estimate or the metallurgical and design engineering completed to date, it will provide the Company with the opportunity to outfit the open pit operation with lower-cost, pre-owned equipment. Much of this equipment has already been identified and is currently located within a 550-mile radius of the Empire Mine. The purchase of this equipment is expected to have a material impact on overall initial and sustaining capex, as well as on certain aspects of the process design detail, construction logistics, and the overall equipment procurement schedule. We have already procured pre-owned ball mills, assay laboratory equipment and disk filtration units, at an estimated capex reduction of US$8 million. These items all form an important part of the feasibility work, which is now being updated accordingly."

Gold Mineralised Zone

Tables 1a - 1g highlight a consistent zone of gold mineralisation evident in each of the seven reverse-circulation drill holes, NC23-01 through NC23-07, completed in the southwest Target Area 1 along approximately 580 metres of the Lehman Creek fault. In each of the seven angled drill holes, a distinct zone of low-grade gold mineralisation was consistently encountered in the hanging-wall of the fault. While the individual gold values in the mineralised zone are low- grade, the zone itself is clearly defined and appears to be laterally continuous along strike and open down dip.

Table 1a

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag
Above mineralised zone	0	33.5	33.5	<0.01
NC23-01	33.5	35.1	1.5	0.06	0.6
NC23-01	35.1	36.6	1.5	0.13	0.9
NC23-01	36.6	38.1	1.5	0.14	1.2
NC23-01	38.1	39.6	1.5	0.09	0.6
NC23-01	39.6	41.1	1.5	0.05	0.7
NC23-01	41.1	42.7	1.5	0.10	0.9
Below mineralised zone	42.7	61.0	18.3	<0.01
NC23-01 Summary of Intercept	33.5	42.7	9.1	0.10	0.82

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Table 1b

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag
Above mineralised zone	0	36.6	33.5	<0.01
NC23-02	36.6	38.1	1.5	0.02	0.5
NC23-02	38.1	39.6	1.5	0.02	0.25
NC23-02	39.6	41.1	1.5	0.04	0.25
NC23-02	41.1	42.7	1.5	0.12	0.8
NC23-02	42.7	44.2	1.5	0.04	0.5
NC23-02	44.2	45.7	1.5	0.02	0.25
Below mineralised zone	45.7	62.5	16.8	<0.01
NC23-02 Summary of Intercept	36.6	45.7	9.1	0.04	0.43

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Table 1c

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag
Above mineralised zone	0	47.2	33.5	<0.01
NC23-03	47.2	48.8	1.5	0.06	0.5
NC23-03	48.8	50.3	1.5	0.14	1.1
NC23-03	50.3	51.8	1.5	0.04	0.25
NC23-03	51.8	53.3	1.5	0.02	0.25
Below mineralised zone	45.7	73.2	27.5	<0.01
NC23-03 Summary of Intercept	47.2	53.3	6.1	0.07	0.53

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Table 1d

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag
Above mineralised zone	0	38.1	33.5	<0.01
NC23-04	38.1	39.6	1.5	0.10	1.0
NC23-04	39.6	41.1	1.5	0.03	1.0
NC23-04	41.1	42.7	1.5	0.02	1.0
Below mineralised zone	42.7	65.5	22.8	<0.01
NC23-04 Summary of Intercept	38.1	42.7	4.5	0.05	1.00

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Table 1e

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag
Above mineralised zone	0	54.9	33.5	<0.01
NC23-05	54.9	56.4	1.5	0.06	0.7
NC23-05	56.4	57.9	1.5	0.08	1.5
NC23-05	57.9	59.4	1.5	0.02	1.0
NC23-05	59.4	61.0	1.5	0.03	1.0
NC23-05	61.0	62.5	1.5	0.04	0.7
NC23-05	62.5	64.0	1.5	0.03	1.0
NC23-05	64.0	65.5	1.5	0.07	1.7
Below mineralised zone	44.2	80.8	36.6	<0.01
NC23-05 Summary of Intercept	54.9	65.5	10.7	0.05	1.09

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Table 1f

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag
Above mineralised zone	0	27.4	33.5	<0.01
NC23-06	27.4	29.0	1.5	0.06	0.8
NC23-06	29.0	30.5	1.5	0.07	0.6
NC23-06	30.5	32.0	1.5	0.06	0.5
NC23-06	32.0	33.5	1.5	0.15	1.5
NC23-06	33.5	35.1	1.5	0.06	0.7
NC23-06	35.1	36.6	1.5	0.15	1.1
NC23-06	36.6	38.1	1.5	0.14	1.6
NC23-06	38.1	39.6	1.5	0.20	1.3
NC23-06	39.6	41.1	1.5	0.08	0.9
NC23-06	41.1	42.7	1.5	0.09	1.2
NC23-06	42.7	44.2	1.5	0.05	0.7
NC23-06	44.2	45.7	1.5	0.23	1.3
NC23-06	45.7	47.2	1.5	0.10	1.2
NC23-06	47.2	48.8	1.5	0.05	0.25
NC23-06	48.8	50.3	1.5	0.06	0.25
Below mineralised zone	50.3	76.2	25.9	<0.01
NC23-06 Summary of Intercept	27.4	50.3	22.9	0.10	0.93

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Table 1g

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag
Above mineralised zone	0	30.5	33.5	<0.01
NC23-07	30.5	32.0	1.5	0.11	1.9
NC23-07	32.0	33.5	1.5	0.08	1
NC23-07	33.5	35.1	1.5	0.06	0.7
NC23-07	35.1	36.6	1.5	0.03	0.25
NC23-07	36.6	38.1	1.5	0.06	0.9
NC23-07	38.1	39.6	1.5	0.11	2
NC23-07	39.6	41.1	1.5	0.08	1.8
NC23-07	41.1	42.7	1.5	0.10	1.4
NC23-07	42.7	44.2	1.5	0.11	1.2
NC23-07	44.2	45.7	1.5	0.12	1.1
NC23-07	45.7	47.2	1.5	0.10	1.2
NC23-07	47.2	48.8	1.5	0.07	0.8
Below mineralised zone	44.2	106.7	62.5	<0.01
NC23-07 Summary of Intercept	30.5	48.8	18.3	0.09	1.19

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Figure 1

Figure 1 is a cross-section illustrating the mineralised zone described in tables 1a-1g. Cross- sections represented by individual drill holes can be seen at https://phoenixcopperlimited.com/NavarreCreek.

Tables 2a to 2d highlight anomalous silver + antimony values above a 0.25 ppm detection limit. There is geological evidence suggesting that elevated silver and antimony values are hosted within a specific geological unit located in the central portion of the Navarre Creek claim block. The geological unit is capped by younger rocks on the west and south, limiting surface exposure. Further geochemical characterisation and study is warranted to the west and south to determine, if possible, the source of mineralisation.

Table 2a

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag	Sb
Above mineralised zone	Surface
NC23-13	0.0	1.5	1.5	0.01	1.9	453
NC23-13	1.5	3.0	1.5	0.01	1.9	600
NC23-13	3.0	4.6	1.5	0.01	1.9	666
NC23-13	4.6	6.1	1.5	0.02	2.2	10100
NC23-13	6.1	7.6	1.5	0.005	0.25	468

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Table 2b

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag	Sb
Above mineralised zone	Surface
NC23-14	0.0	1.5	1.5	0.01	1.9	1930
NC23-14	1.5	3.0	1.5	0.01	1.2	612
NC23-14	3.0	4.6	1.5	0.01	1.7	489
NC23-14	4.6	6.1	1.5	0.01	1.4	343
NC23-14	6.1	7.6	1.5	0.005	0.25	92
NC23-14	7.6	9.1	1.5	0.005	1.2	140
NC23-14	9.1	10.7	1.5	0.01	1.5	272
NC23-14	10.7	12.2	1.5	0.01	2.2	619
NC23-14	12.2	13.7	1.5	0.02	2.5	485
NC23-14	13.7	15.2	1.5	0.02	2.1	450
NC23-14	15.2	16.8	1.5	0.02	1.3	218
NC23-14	16.8	18.3	1.5	0.01	0.5	109
NC23-14	18.3	19.8	1.5	0.02	0.8	140
NC23-14	19.8	21.3	1.5	0.01	0.25	55
NC23-14	21.3	2.29	1.5	0.16	0.25	42

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Table 2c

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag
NC23-15	129.5	131.1	1.5	0.05	0.25
NC23-15	131.1	132.6	1.5	0.53	4.3
NC23-15	132.6	134.1	1.5	0.26	1.7
NC23-15	134.1	135.6	1.5	0.16	2.8
NC23-15	135.6	137.2	1.5	0.02	0.25

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Table 2d

Drill Hole	Intersection Metres			g/tonne
Number	From	To	Interval	Au	Ag
NC23-16	0.0	1.5	1.5	0.03	4.2
NC23-16	1.5	3.0	1.5	0.06	4.7
NC23-16	3.0	4.6	1.5	0.04	3.3
NC23-16	4.6	6.1	1.5	0.005	0.5

*drilling is measured in feet, multiplied by 0.3048, and reported in metres to one significant digit

Assay results for the remainder of the 28 drill holes showed little to no significant gold mineralisation.

Background on Navarre Creek

During the 2021 field season, Phoenix contracted Magee Geophysical Services to acquire approximately 169 line-kilometres of total field magnetic measurements at the Company's Navarre Creek project and SpecTIR, LLC of Reno, Nevada to complete an airborne hyperspectral survey of the same Navarre Creek area to identify prospective exploration targets in an area, many of which are largely concealed by glacial till.

The ground magnetics survey looked specifically for magnetite and magnetic-bearing minerals, some of which have been identified in limited outcroppings, while the hyperspectral imaging helps to identify alteration minerals often associated with precious metal deposition.

Hyperspectral imaging incorporates a small airplane with mounted infrared lights and sensors to detect a wide range of wavelengths, mineral absorption and reflectance within the target area. The wavelength data collected in this survey are VNIR (Visible and Near- Infrared), SWIR (Short-Wave Infrared), and LWIR (Long-Wave Infrared). The human eye can detect wavelengths (colours) from 390 nanometers ('nm') to 700nm. The VNIR and SWIR sensors collected wavelength data from 390nm to 2,450nm, while the LWIR sensors ranged from 8,000nm to 12,000nm.

The Navarre Creek project is located within an intrusive dome complex, where the magnetic components in overlying volcanic lithologies are destroyed by silicic alteration associated with steam-heated, acidic, and oxidised hydrothermal fluids. The survey highlighted several such areas including the Lehman Creek fault, one or more porphyry plugs, and several contacts/faults.

The survey identified volcanic-associated alteration that is both acidic and of fairly high temperature as evidenced by pyrophyllite and dickite. As would be expected in the Challis Volcanic Field, the white mica is Al-rich (paragenetic) and also shows zoned crystallinity patterns, typical of intermediate-to-high sulfidation systems, and is likely proximal to a magmatic heat source. The presence of iron oxide associated with some of these zones adds prospectivity. The alteration pattern is useful in developing an exploration model to optimise future drill targets.

During the summer of 2020, Konnex Resources' exploration team previously mapped and sampled the Company's Navarre Creek gold property, which was then comprised of 2,420 acres of unpatented mining claims, located approximately 5km north-northwest of the Empire Mine. 90 rock chip and grab samples were collected in the hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks that make up the Navarre Creek claims and sent to ALS Laboratories in Reno, USA for geochemical analysis.

Of the 90 samples, 53 were above the detection limit for gold with a high of 0.569 grammes per tonne ('g/t'), and 25 above the detection limit for silver.

The Navarre Creek claim block now covers 3,977 acres (16.09 km²), representing over 6 km of prospective strike length, including an area of secondary alteration thought to be epithermal in nature, with over 2.5 km of highly brecciated, west trending jasperoid intersecting argillically and silicically altered Eocene Challis volcanics

Qualified Person

The foregoing technical information in this news release has been reviewed and verified by Dennis Thomas, ACSM, FIMMM,FGS, CEng, Eurlng, co-founder of Phoenix Copper Limited and Member of the Company's Advisory Board. Mr. Thomas has held both executive and non-executive roles in a number of international private and public natural resources companies and is a chartered mining engineer from the Camborne School of Mines. He is a Qualified Person under the AIM Rules and consents to the inclusion of the information in the form and the context in which it appears.

Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling was conducted by Midnight Sun Drilling, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, and was supervised by the Konnex exploration team. All assays reported are uncut unless otherwise stated. Samples reported herein were assayed by ALS USA, Inc. of Reno, Nevada which is independent of Phoenix. All Reverse Circulation assays reported were obtained using a four-acid digestion and ICP-AES finish with overruns completed on values exceeding 10,000 ppm for Cu, Zn, and Pb and 100 g/t for Ag. The only exception being that Au assays reported were obtained using a fire assay with AA-finish or using gravimetric finish for values over 100 g/t Au.

Intercepts cited do not necessarily represent true widths, unless otherwise noted, however, drilling is generally intersecting interpreted mineralised zones at angles between ±30°. True width determinations are not estimated due to the irregular shape of the skarn mineralisation.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Kieran Downes, Ph.D., P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified the technical information provided in this release.

ABOUT EXGEN RESOURCES INC.

ExGen, formerly Boxxer Gold Corp, is a project accelerator that seeks to fund exploration and development of our projects through joint ventures and partnership agreements. This approach significantly reduces the technical and financial risks for ExGen, while maintaining the upside exposure to new discoveries and potential cash flow. The company intends to build a diverse portfolio of projects across exploration stages and various commodity groups. ExGen currently has 6 projects in Canada and the US.

For more information on ExGen please contact ExGen Resources Inc.

Jason Tong Chief Financial Officer Email: jason@catapultgroup.ca

Phone: 604-889-7827

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains certain forward-looking information. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the observations made on drill core from the diamond drilling program on the Empire Mine Project; the further exploration and development of the Empire Mine Project; the exploration and development strategy of the Empire Mine Project, including the exploration program, drilling, mine development, and permitting. The results of the sampling and geophysical survey at Navarre Creek, the markers of Carlin style deposits and the potential for such deposits to exist at Navarre Creek. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. There can be no assurance that the development of the Empire Mine Project will be completed, and if development is completed, that such development will result in a producing mine. In the forward looking information contained in this news release, ExGen has made numerous assumptions, based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with the mineral industry. In addition, ExGen has assumed: the continued market acceptance of its joint venture partnership model; the ability of ExGen and its partners to raise future equity financing, if needed, at prices acceptable to ExGen or its partners; ExGen's current and initial understanding and analysis of the Empire Mine Project; the ability of ExGen or third parties to discover viable exploration targets and the results of exploration on the Empire Mine Project; the ability of Phoenix to explore and develop the Empire Mine Project; the cost of exploration, including sampling, drilling and assaying, on the Empire Mine Project, the costs of developing the Empire Mine Project and the costs and the ability of Phoenix to produce a feasibility study in compliance with NI 43-101; and ExGen's general and administrative costs remaining sustainable. While, ExGen considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause ExGen's observations, actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the possibility that the analytical results from future core sampling does not return significant grades of copper, gold, silver, zinc, lead or any other molybdenum by-products; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology; continuity and grade of mineralization; there is no certainty that the ongoing work programs will result in significant or successful exploration of the Empire Mine Project or development of the Empire Mine Project into a producing mine; uncertainty as to the actual results of exploration and development or operational activities; uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; ExGen may not be able to comply with its ongoing obligations regarding its properties; the early stage development of ExGen and its projects, and in particular, the Empire Mine Project; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; capital market conditions and market prices for securities, junior market securities and mining exploration company securities; commodity prices, in particular copper, gold, silver, and zinc prices; competition; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents and other risks inherent in the mining industry; lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting ExGen; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. A description of additional assumptions and risk factors used to develop such forward-looking information that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in ExGen's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although ExGen 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. ExGen does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d5f2d603-e55a-481a-8820-15c2134e91a5