Gold mineralization associated with a major fault extending 21 km at Courcy

QUÉBEC, Nov. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stelmine (STH-TSXV). Following the exploration work completed on its Courcy flagship property over the last two years, Stelmine can correlate the gold mineralization with a major fault zone (the Couteau fault) which extends 21 km. Best gold assays are provided by pyrrhotite-rich amphibolite and iron formation samples within or near this major fault.

“The association between gold mineralization and a 21 km-long fault bodes well for the development of the potential on this zone. In fact, the most interesting assays provided from earlier drilling (4.27 g/t Au on 42 m) and a mean value of 0.74 g/t Au on 42 m from channel samples are located on the trace of this fault.” says Isabelle Proulx, president.

During its 2018 exploration campaign, Stelmine investigated:

• 124 outcrops;
• 37 overburden stripping exposing outcrops that were later mapped;
• 568 linear m of channels generating 578 samples analyzed for gold;
• 111 grab samples collected principally from the Soulard Formation near the Couteau fault were analyzed for gold. 

A detailed structural mapping campaign conducted simultaneously by Dr. Normand Goulet on 13 gold-bearing showings allowed the definition and a better knowledge of the structural context in which gold was deposited. In order to prepare its future drilling campaign, Stelmine build-up a 3D model illustrating the various rock assemblages and geological formations composing the Courcy property (Figures 1, 2). The model was constructed by integrating the geological and structural data and the interpretation of the geophysical surveys.

Figure 1 (shown on https://stelmine.com/fr/projets/propriete-courcy/) illustrates the presence of a large, strongly deformed (meta-) sedimentary basin composed of greywackes, mudstones, arenites, quartzites monogenic/polygenic conglomerates interlayered with amphibolites:

• To the north, the Courcy Formation is mainly characterized by a gneissic volcanic assemblage of meta-andesites, tuffs, and migmatitic paragneiss invaded by tonalite or diorite sills;
   
• To the south, a series of tonalitic, granodioritic and monzogranitic rocks belonging to the Atticoupi Suite define the contact with the metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks.

The Couteau fault is a major thrust fault extending 21 km and carrying gold mineralization. At the core of the property, the fault subdivides the Soulard Formation into two volcanic sub-units crosscutting iron-rich garnet and sulphide-bearing amphibolites and silicate-facies iron formations. The 3D model shows the best gold assay results located principally within the upper Soulard Formation along or near the Couteau fault. The 8 drill holes completed by SOQUEM in 2006 are presented on the 3D map (Figures 1, 2). The short drill holes are westward-dipping and appear to intersect the Couteau fault.

In fact, it is on or near the Couteau fault where the best gold intervals provided by two of the eight SOQUEM drill holes were found at the Courcy 2.4 showing (i.e.: 4.27 g/t Au on 42 m (including 12.15 g/t Au on 13.5 m); DDH no. 8 and 0.94 g/t Au on 10.50 m, DDH no. 4).

This well-exposed showing underwent extensive work underlined by channel sampling by Stelmine. One 47-m channel recently yielded excellent gold values which are presented below with the data provided by other channel samples:

Stelmine expects to receive shortly the results of the remaining samples analyzed at the Actlabs laboratory.

The 3D model indicates the Couteau fault was associated with a first deformation event and, conjointly with the two other thrust faults limiting the contact with other rock assemblages, was refolded during a second deformation episode generating ENE-folds dipping moderately toward the east (Figure 1). The general view of the property shows the Couteau thrust fault defining the gold-mineralized contact between the Lower and Upper Soulard volcanic formation along with the zone of highest gold potential. The Soulard Formation is mainly composed of amphibolites (metabasalts), occasionally pillowed, of intermediate tuffs, cherts/quartzites and of iron formations. The gold mineralization infiltrates the Couteau fault and adjacent units on a 5 to 20-m estimated thickness in structural traps (fold hinges, strongly folded and mylonitized zones). It is contained within highly deformed and metamorphosed layers rich in semi-massive to massive sulphides associated with garnet porphyroblasts, quartz, plagioclase, hornblende and pyroxene. Stelmine geologists have identified the Couteau fault on several stripped outcrops at the core of a large antiform exposed near lac Couteau principally at the site of a fold hinge at the Courcy site. A Close-up view of the principal gold-mineralized zone at Courcy (Figure 2) displays the eastward - plunging Couteau thrust fault. and zone of highest gold potential following the contact between the Lower and Upper Soulard Formation. The localization of surface mineralized samples collected during the 2017 exploration campaign are on or near the trace of the fault principally within the Upper Soulard Formation.

Figure 2 (shown on https://stelmine.com/fr/projets/propriete-courcy/)

The occurrence of the folded Couteau fault produced during a second deformation event generating structural traps, its association with sulphide-rich and auriferous iron-rich metavolcanic/iron formations and its extension on 21 km strengthen Stelmine confidence in the potential of the Courcy property and encourage the Company to pursue the exploration work. The Courcy gold property is located in the eastern portion of the Opinaca Sub-province near the Quebec/Labrador boundary.

QA/QC Protocol

Stelmine implemented a strict QA/QC protocol in processing all rock samples collected from the Courcy property. The protocol included the insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials, in this case high concentration (OREAS-210) and low concentration (OREAS-252) certified gold standards, blanks and duplicates, to validate the accuracy and precision of the assay results. All collected rock samples were put in sturdy plastic bags, tagged and sealed in the field under the supervision of professional geologists. The sample bags were then put in rice pouches and kept securely in a field tent before being sent by floatplane to the city of Wabush. Transport to Actlabs laboratories in Ancaster, Ontario was made by truck from reliable transport companies. Gold was analyzed by fire assay method (Au-FA_ICP).

The technical contents of this release were approved by Michel Boily, PhD, geo; a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Follow us on www.Stelmine.com and on our Facebook page (Stelmine Canada) where we uploaded pictures of the Courcy camp and of our crew at work.

About Stelmine

Stelmine is a junior mining exploration company which concentrates its activities in the Province of Québec. Stelmine holds 955 claims spanning 497 km² on the eastern part of the Opinaca metasedimentary basin, which contains zones with a high potential for gold deposit discovery in geological contexts similar to the one leading to discovery of the Éléonore Mine. Its capital stock consists of 29,648,645 issued and outstanding shares for a current market capitalization of $4.6 million.

Forward-looking statements

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