First Cobalt Completes a Second Cobalt Transaction in Idaho

TORONTO, May 25, 2021 /CNW/ - First Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: FCC) (OTCQX: FTSSF) (the "Company") announced that it has expanded its land position in Idaho for the second time in a month, increasing its position around its Iron Creek cobalt-copper project in Idaho, USA. The Company announced an earn-in agreement with Phoenix Copper Limited for 224 hectares of property, expanding its land position to over 1,820 hectares covering the strike extent of strata hosting mineralization.

Located in the Idaho Cobalt Belt, the Iron Creek Project is one of the few primary cobalt deposits in the world. The deposit remains open to the east and west along strike as well as down-dip. To date, cobalt and copper resources have been defined by drilling over a 900-metre strike extent. The Idaho Cobalt Belt contains the largest primary resources of cobalt in the United States according to the US Geological Survey.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Redcastle property is immediately east of the Iron Creek property consisting of 31 claims covering 224 hectares, expanding the total size of First Cobalt's land position to over 1,820 hectares
  
  
• The Ruby Zone cobalt-copper prospect is exposed 750 metres west of the Redcastle property and the host rock sequence to the sulfide mineralization is interpreted to extend in the Redcastle area cover, therefore prospectivity is considered high
  
  
• Geophysical surveys will be conducted at Ruby and within the Redcastle property to test for cobalt and copper mineralization extensions

"The Redcastle property is directly adjacent to our Iron Creek Project and just east of our Ruby Zone cobalt-copper prospect, which is exposed at surface. We believe this area shows great promise for cobalt and copper mineralization, which would complement our strategy of expanding the Iron Creek deposit and its extensions." said President and CEO, Trent Mell

The United States Government has announced several initiatives in support of reducing the reliance on imports of critical minerals such as cobalt. The Idaho Cobalt Belt can provide a significant and secure domestic cobalt supply for the US market. First Cobalt has made it its mission to produce the world's most sustainable cobalt."

First Cobalt Idaho Property

Iron Creek is a high grade primary cobalt deposit on patented property in the United States. The property consists of mining patents and exploration claims. Historic underground development at Iron Creek includes 600 metres of drifting from three adits. An all-weather road connects the property to a state highway and the nearby towns of Challis and Salmon. Significant infrastructure is in place to support multiple drills and underground activity. The setting for mineralization is well suited for underground mining development.

Iron Creek is one of many cobalt-copper resources and prospects within the Idaho Cobalt Belt. Mineralization-style throughout the Belt is considered to be stratabound meta-sedimentary rock hosted. The United States Geological Survey deems these resources in Idaho to be strategically important as a domestic supply of cobalt.

Redcastle Property

The Redcastle property consists of 31 exploration claims to the east of the Iron Creek resource, an area that is particularly enriched in cobalt and is open along strike. New geological interpretations reflect extensions or structural repetition of the host rock sequence toward the Ruby Zone and Redcastle property (Figure 1). Cobalt and copper mineralization at the Ruby Zone is exposed over a 500m strike extent. Surface channel sampling at the Ruby Zone returned continuous intervals of cobalt grades comparable to the Iron Creek resource (Table 1). The style of cobalt mineralization at the Ruby Zone is similar to the Iron Creek deposit. Copper grades were low but are considered to be preferentially leached and removed by weathering.

The host rocks to mineralization at Iron Creek are interpreted to extend eastward within the Redcastle property. Future geophysical surveys using the same methods as used over Iron Creek are planned along with bedrock mapping and geochemical surveys being conducted this summer.

Under the terms of the agreement, First Cobalt can earn a 51% interest by an initial payment of US$50,000, incurring US$1.5 million in expenditures over 3 years, issuing 200,000 shares and making staged payments of US$100,000. Ownership can increase to 75% upon incurring an additional $1.5 million in expenditures and making a payment of US$150,000 over an additional two years.

Iron Creek Mineral Resource

Iron Creek currently has an Indicated Resource of 2.2 million tonnes at 0.32% cobalt equivalent (0.26% cobalt and 0.61% copper) for 12.3 million pounds of contained cobalt and 29 million pounds of contained copper, as well as an Inferred Resource of 2.7 million tonnes at 0.28% cobalt equivalent (0.22% cobalt and 0.68% copper) for an additional 12.7 million pounds of contained cobalt and 40 million pounds of contained copper. The resource estimate used a 0.18% cobalt equivalent cutoff grade.

Drilling has outlined the strike extent of mineralization to over 900 metres and down-dip to over 650 metres. Mineralization remains open along strike and down-dip, suggesting strong potential for significant future resource growth. Thick mineralized zones of up to 30 metres of true thickness reflect broad stratabound lithological controls.

Iron Creek mineralization occurs as lenses and pods of pyrite, the dominant phase hosting cobalt, that are primarily concordant to the sedimentary layering in the host rocks. Chalcopyrite, the only copper mineral phase, is disseminated and also occurs as stringers cutting pyrite mineralization within the zone of mineralization.

The host rocks to mineralization are a finely inter-bedded sequence of siltstone and argillite with intermittent, less than 30cm thick, quartzite layers. Ripple and dune sedimentary structures are well-preserved throughout the mineralized sequence. A higher proportion of quartzite layers have been mapped above and below the mineralized zone at surface marking the stratigraphic hangingwall and footwall to mineralization.

Table 1. Assay results from Ruby zone sampling program

Note: sampling was conducted using a rock saw along the near-vertical exposures at a consistent height. Sampling was started in gossanous rock and individual samples were separated every 5 feet from the start point. Analytical methods and results previously reported October 29, 2019 

Qualified Person Statement

Dr. Frank Santaguida, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Dr. Santaguida is employed as Vice President, Exploration for First Cobalt.

About First Cobalt

First Cobalt's mission is to be the most sustainable producer of battery materials. The Company owns North America's only permitted cobalt refinery, a critical asset in the development and manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles. First Cobalt also owns the Iron Creek cobalt-copper project in Idaho, USA as well as several significant cobalt and silver properties in the Canadian Cobalt Camp.

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and analysis and other disclosures of risk factors for First Cobalt, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although First Cobalt believes that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, First Cobalt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE First Cobalt Corp.

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