Heron Pegs Tenements Over Peelwood District High-Grade Zinc-Copper Deposits North of Woodlawn

2017-11-15 / @nasdaq

Sydney, Australia, Nov.15, 2017(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heron Resources Limited (ASX:HRR TSX:HER, "Heron" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the Company has applied for additional tenements in the Peelwood area that cover previously defined high grade zinc-copper deposits, 105 km north of the Company's Woodlawn Zinc-Copper Project in New South Wales, Australia.

Heron has applied for two exploration licences over the Peelwood District zinc-copper deposits, 105km north of Woodlawn, NSW
Volcanongenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits with similar characteristics to Woodlawn have been defined by previous explorers
Peelwood contains previously reported JORC (2004) Mineral Resources at the John Fardy and Peelwood deposits and Heron is currently compiling the drill data to verify this estimate
There is excellent potential to define high-grade zones with reported drill results including:

Table 1 http://www.heronresources.com/tsximages/20171115/151117_table1.jpg

This is an exciting addition to the Heron project portfolio and represents the most advanced satellite development opportunity for Woodlawn's regional growth
These additional tenements remain highly prospective for further discoveries along strike of the known deposits

Commenting on the Peelwood Project, Heron's Managing Director, Mr Wayne Taylor said: "The pegging of these tenements at Peelwood is a fantastic and valuable addition to Woodlawn's regional growth plans. We have acquired ground that contains high-grade mineralisation with previous operators having worked through the definition of resources and reserves, undertaken a standalone feasibility study, and progressed development approvals.This provides Heron with an advanced development opportunity that would have taken at-least $5-10M of direct expenditure and two years of exploration work to replicate. Within the existing John Fardy and Peelwood deposits there appears to be excellent potential to extend and define high-grade zones that could be trucked to Woodlawn for processing, with further upside from depth extensions. These tenements also have an abundance of high grade sulphide occurrences to potentially expand the currently defined deposits."

Peelwood Project¹

The Peelwood Project is located 165km west of Sydney, and 105 kilometres north from the Company's Woodlawn Zinc-Copper Project in New South Wales, Australia. (Figure 1).It lies within undulating, mostly forested country 800m above sea level, and is underlain by Silurian aged rocks consisting of the shales and other fine grained sedimentary rocks of the Cuddyong Formation, and the felsic volcanic rocks of the Kangaloolah Volcanics.VMS style deposits were first mined here in 1890's with three key centres occurring on the tenements newly pegged by Heron, namely the Peelwood, John Fardy and Cordillera deposits (Figure 2).Each of these historical deposits includes a number of massive sulphide lenses located at, or adjacent to, the sheared contact between the Cuddyong Formation and the Kangaloolah Volcanics.

John Fardy Deposit

The John Fardy VMS deposit, located 1km northwest of the Peelwood mine, was discovered in the early 1950s.It is hosted by a steeply west-dipping sequence of shales (Cuddyong Formation) at the contact with rhyodacitic crystal tuffs of the Kangaloolah Volcanics.

The mineralisation at John Fardy comprises disseminated and massive sulphides up to 20m thick within two lenses separated by a 0.5-5m zone of altered shale and a pyritic and cherty exhalate which also occurs above and below the mineralised horizon.The massive sulphides are commonly banded and consist of fine to coarse grained pyrite and sphalerite with minor galena, chalcopyrite and traces arsenopyrite and tetrahedrite.A JORC (2004) Mineral Resource for the John Fardy deposit was released on the ASX by Sultan Corporation Ltd on the 12 November 2008.However, Heron has not, as yet, been able to source and verify the open-file or other data for this estimate and so cannot state resource numbers at this stage.

At John Fardy there appears to be excellent potential to delineate a high-grade resource and some of the better, higher grade results include²:

Table 2: http://www.heronresources.com/tsximages/20171115/151117_table2.jpg

A drilling cross-section with assay results for the John Fardy deposit is shown in Figure 3.

Peelwood Deposit

The Peelwood deposit was discovered in 1868 and mined between 1874 to 1895 and has produced in excess of 600t Cu and 4,000t Zn with significant Pb, Ag and Au, principally from the Cornish and Magazine lenses.Some of the mined lenses were reportedly very high grade: 25 % Zn, 2.7% Cu, 14% Pb, 232g/t Ag³ some remnant material is still believed to exist in the historical underground positions.Comprehensive exploration of the area began in the 1950's with the majority of drilling taking place in the mid to late 1970s.As with the John Fardy deposit, a JORC (2004) Mineral Resource for the Peelwood deposit was released on the ASX by Sultan Corporation Ltd on the 12 November 2008.However, Heron has not, as yet, been able to source and verify the open-file or other data for this estimate and so cannot state the resource numbers at this stage.

The Peelwood deposit is located adjacent to the contact between a tuffaceous unit of the Kangaloolah Volcanics and a shale unit of the overlying Cuddyong Formation, the sequence being overturned and dipping steeply to the west.Sulphide mineralogy at Peelwood is similar to John Fardy but tends to be fine grained and finely laminated.The Magazine lens is conformable and closely associated with a black shale unit, whereas the Cornish lens is discordant, hosted within volcanic tuff and dips 45^?E. A number of other discrete mineralised zones are also present (e.g., Paddy's Lens) and the Company will define a detailed exploration plan to test these prospects.

CordilleraDeposit

The Cordillera VMS deposit is located 3km NNW of the main Peelwood mine and hosts four sulphide lenses within a siliceous shale unit enclosed within a coarse-grained fragmental unit of the Kangaloolah Volcanics.The lenses are described as overlapping, discontinuous, up to 5m thick and overlain by a 3m thick yellow-green shale, interpreted to be conformable to bedding and cross-cut by later quartz-scheelite (tungsten) veins. The sulphide lenses occur approximately 20m below the steeply dipping contact with tuffaceous shales of the Cuddyong Formation. Sparse drilling has been undertaken at Cordillera; further work is warranted to better understand the economic potential of the deposit.

Other Prospects

A number of other significant base-metal prospects exist on the Heron tenure in the Peelwood area including:

Single Tree Hill - historic copper/silver mine 5km SSE of Peelwood where drilling has intersected weak mineralisation down dip from the mine.An historic off-hole EM conductor suggests the possible presence of a massive sulphide lens occurs at depth and warrants further drill testing.
Black Springs Prospect - 8km south of Peelwood where historic drilling has intersected potentially economic grade mineralisation including: 4m @ 9.7% Zn, 3.6% Pb and 31g/t Ag.
Central Hill and Aurora Prospects - poorly described base-metal prospects such as Central Hill and Aurora occur along the line of the Peelwood lode to the NW of Peelwood.Little exploration has been undertaken on these areas and reconnaissance drilling and DHEM is warranted to assess their potential.

Future Work

The Company is progressing the tenement applications through the grant process which is expected to be completed in approximately 8 weeks.The drilling database is being compiled and validated.The potential for high-grade zones within the existing Mineral Resources will be assessed as they hold the potential to deliver an extra source of shallow, high-grade ore to the Woodlawn processing plant.If accessible, the existing feasibility study, including environmental and community liaison will be reviewed and, if warranted, used as a starting point for Heron's own further project assessment studies.

About Heron Resources Limited:

Heron's primary focus is the development of its 100% owned, high grade Woodlawn Zinc-Copper Project located 250km southwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.In addition, the Company holds a significant high quality, gold and base metal tenements regional to the Woodlawn Project.

¹ The geological description for the Peelwood deposits are adapted from the publication: Downes, P.M., 2017.

² Results have been taken: Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX release, 5 June 2007: High Grade Zinc Intersections at John Fardy, Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX release, 6 February 2008: Near surface, high grade intersected at John Fardy and Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX release, 19 February 2008: Another significant zinc and copper intersection.

³ Taken from report: GS1983/395 Australian Pacific Resources Ltd, 1984.

References used in the text plus other relevant ASX releases related to the Company's Peelwood Acquisition:

Downes P.M., 2012, Metallic Mineral Systems: In Thomas O & Pogson D.J. (compilers), Goulburn 1:250,000 Geological Sheet SI/55-12, 2^rd edition, Explanatory Notes prepared by Geological Survey of New South Wales, Maitland, pp 148-225.

GS1983/395 Australian Pacific Resources Ltd, 1984 Peelwood Six Monthly Report, Prospecting Licences PL331 and PL619, Peelwood NSW.Geological Survey of NSW, DIGS reporting system.

Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 21 May 2007: Acquisition of Peelwood Zinc/Copper Project.

Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX release, 5 June 2007: High Grade Zinc Intersections at John Fardy.

Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 27 August 2007: Presentation.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 12 September 2007: JORC Code Compliant Resource at John Fardy Zinc Deposit.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 4 December 2007: Commencement of Drilling at John Fardy Zinc / Copper Deposit.

Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX release, 6 February 2008: Near surface, high grade intersected at John Fardy

Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX release, 19 February 2008: Another significant zinc and copper intersection
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 18 March 2008: Further high grade zinc and copper intersections.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 5 June 2008: Investor Presentation.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 11 June 2008: High Grade Copper Discovered at Peelwood.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 17 July 2008: Completion of Drilling Program at Peelwood.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 3 September 2008: High Grade Near Surface Resource at Peelwood.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 12 November 2008: Feasibility Study - Market update.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 20 August 2009: Sultan Proceeding with Mine Development.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 18 December 2013, Farm-In Deal Signed for Peelwood Project with CEB Resources.
Sultan Corp Ltd, ASX Release, 3 January 2014, Amended Announcement - 18/12/2013.

Figure 1: Peelwood Project Location Diagram http://www.heronresources.com/tsximages/20171115/151117_fig1.jpg

Figure 2: Geological map of the Peelwood area showing key deposits and other prospectshttp://www.heronresources.com/tsximages/20171115/151117_fig2.jpg

Figure 3: Cross section through a portion of the John Fardy deposit (adapted from Sultan Resources ASX release 27^th August 2007)

http://www.heronresources.com/tsximages/20171115/151117_fig3.jpg

Compliance Statement (JORC 2012 and NI43-101)

The technical information in this report relating to the exploration results is based on information compiled by Mr. David von Perger, who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (Chartered Professional - Geology). Mr. von Perger is a full time employee of Heron Resources Limited and has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results and "qualified person" as this term is defined in Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). Mr. von Perger has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This report contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this report. This forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon, without limitation, estimates, forecasts and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the timing and amount of funding required to execute the Company's exploration, development and business plans, capital and exploration expenditures, the effect on the Company of any changes to existing legislation or policy, government regulation of mining operations, the length of time required to obtain permits, certifications and approvals, the success of exploration, development and mining activities, the geology of the Company's properties, environmental risks, the availability of labour, the focus of the Company in the future, demand and market outlook for precious metals and the prices thereof, progress in development of mineral properties, the Company's ability to raise funding privately or on a public market in the future, the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend", "may" and similar expressions have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is given, and on information available to management at such time. Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in currency markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, the ability of the Company to access sufficient capital on favourable terms or at all, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations, political or economic developments in Canada, Australia or other countries in which the Company does business or may carry on business in the future, operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration or development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities and grades of mineral reserves, contests over title to properties, especially title to undeveloped properties, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other geological data, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding, limitations of insurance coverage and the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, and should be considered carefully. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Although the forward-looking information contained in this report is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective purchasers that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.No stock exchange, regulation services provider, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this report.

JORC 2012 Table 1(Peelwood Project)

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section applies to all succeeding sections)

Criteria	JORC Code explanation
Sampling techniques	Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.	The assays described in this report have been taken from historical reports submitted to the NSW Department of Mines or equivalent department over a broad period of time.There is limited opportunity to check the assay results.However, the assays did form the basis of a JORC (2004) Mineral Resource estimate published in 2009 and signed off by Cube Consulting.On this basis the assays results are believed to be reasonable, but further checking will be required prior to any economic assumption being applied. The level of QAQC control samples for the historical drilling assays is not well documented, but was believed to have been undertaken.
Drilling techniques	Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details.	The majority of the historical drillholes were diamond drill core, drilled by various operators over a broad period of time.
Drill sample recovery	Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.	Drillhole sample recovery has been recorded in the historical drill logs and has clearly been taken into consideration with earlier assessments of the prospect.Sample recover is quite low in some mineralised zones (eg as low as 25%) but generally is above 80%.
Logging	Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.	It is apparent that the majority of the historical drill holes have been geologically logged by professional geologists.
Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation	For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.	The nature of the sampling procedures for the historical drill holes is quite limited.However, it was carried out by various reputable mining groups, employing exploration and mining professionals that would have employed the practises of the day.
Quality of assay data and laboratory tests	The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established.	Assay techniques and procedures for the historical drill holes is quite limited.However, it was carried out by various reputable mining groups, employing exploration and mining professionals that would have employed the practises of the day.
Verification of sampling and assaying	The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data.	No independent verification was undertaken at this stage. At this stage the historical reports, including various data compilations are the primary source of the data and no attempt has been made to add the data to Heron's primary drillhole database. No adjustments to assay data has been undertaken by Heron.
Location of data points	Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.	The exact actual survey pick method for the historical holes is not known at this stage.However it is apparent that the holes were picked up by the exploration surveying teams along established local grid lines.
Data spacing and distribution	Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. Whether sample compositing has been applied.	Drilling was performed on a variety of drill spacings with closest spacing (approx. 15 x 15m) in the top part of the John Fardy deposit.
Orientation of data in relation to geological structure	Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.	It is clear the drilling and sampling was undertaken to intersect, as much as possible, the mineralisation as close to perpendicular as possible.
Sample security	The measures taken to ensure sample security.	Sample security for the historical drillholes is not known.
Audits or reviews	The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data.	No audits or reviews were undertaken due to the early stage of exploration.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)

Criteria	JORC Code explanation
Mineral tenement and land tenure status	Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area.	The mineralisation described in this report is held under exploration applications (ELAs), by Ochre Resources Ltd (Ochre), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Heron Resources Ltd.A granted Exploration Licence (EL) covers the area to the south of the main line of mineralisation. The ELAs and the EL are held 100% by Ochre. Heron is progressing the grant of the ELAs as quickly as possible and it is expected to take a minimum of 45 days.
Exploration done by other parties	Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties.	There has been significant exploration under taken by various exploration and mining groups since the 1960s - these include: Dundee Palliser Resources Exploration Pty Ltd (1972-77): drilling and "reserve definition" at the John Fardy prospect. Newmont JV (1977-78) PEM surveys and limited drilling to test extensional targets at John Fardy. BHP JV (1980-82): limited drilling. Australian Pacific Res Ltd JV (mid 80s): 4 diamond drillholes. Sultan Corporation Ltd who changed their name to Balamara Resources Ltd (2007-17): additional diamond drilling, resource estimation, metallurgical testwork feasibility studies. Not released to open-file as yet and therefore much of this work is not currently available.
Geology	Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralization.	The Peelwood Project is located 165km west of Sydney and 76km north of Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia.It lies within undulating, mostly forested country 800m above sea level. It is underlain by Silurian aged rocks consisting of the shales and other fine grained sedimentary rocks of the Cuddyong Formation and the felsic volcanic rocks of the Kangaloolah Volcanics. VMS style deposits were first mined here in 1890's with 3 key centres occurring on the new tenements pegged by Heron, namely Peelwood, John Fardy and Cordillera.Each of the historical deposits includes a number of massive sulphide lenses located at, or adjacent to, the sheared contact between the Cuddyong Formation and the Kangaloolah Volcanics.
Drill hole Information	A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes:	All the drilling information contained in this report has been compiled from open-file historical reports and none has been generated by Heron.
Data aggregation methods	In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.	Assays results for the various programs are reported in summary form only, which is considered appropriate for this early stage of exploration. Only relevant elements are reported here, however, a larger suite of elements were assayed for.
Relationship between mineralization widths and intercept lengths	These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.	A selection of the mineralised intercepts are shown in cross-section in the body of the report and show the relationship between the drilled widths and mineralisation widths.
Diagrams	Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.	Maps and a cross section relevant for current phase of exploration are included in the release.
Balanced reporting	Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Results.	The reporting is considered to be balanced and all relevant/material results have been disclosed for this current phase of exploration.
Other substantive exploration data	Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances.	Open-file aeromagnetic data, geological maps, and other geological datasets are being compiled and used where possible.Good quality geological and geophysical (eg aeromagnetics) datasets are available from the NSW Division of Resources and Geoscience.
Further work	The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).	Heron will progress the ELAs through to grant as quickly as possible. Compilation of historical data is underway and will be used to generate future exploration targets with the view to identifying high-grade underground resources that have the potential to be trucked to Woodlawn as an additional satellite feed source.

For further information, please visit www.heronresources.com.au or contact:
Australia:
Mr Wayne Taylor
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +61 2 9119 8111 or +61 8 6500 9200	
Email: heron@heronresources.com.au

Canada:
Tel: +1 647-862-1157 (Toronto)