23 Nov 2021 07:00
("AEX" or the "Corporation")
AEX Gold Inc. Reports Positive Results from Geophysical Surveys Conducted Across its Tartoq Licence
TORONTO, ONTARIO - November 23rd, 2021 - AEX Gold Inc. (AIM: AEXG; TSXV: AEX), an independent gold company with a portfolio of exploration licences in Greenland, is pleased to announce the completion of its geophysical exploration programme conducted across its 100% owned Tartoq gold exploration licences in Southern Greenland.
The 248km2 Tartoq licences host mineralisation that is considered analogous to projects in Canada's Abitibi greenstone belt and AEX believe that the licence holds the potential to host a multi-million ounce Orogenic Gold deposit.
Historical drilling (460m of 'Winkie drilling' and 1,364m of core) across the Nuuluk & Iterlak sub blocks include intersections of 2.5 m @ 4.8 g/t Au at Nuuluk, 2.0 m @ 6.6 g/t Au at Nuuluk and 1.97 m @ 8.28 g/t Au at Iterlak, (2020 SRK CPR).
Highlights
· Successful completion of a 84km2 airborne magnetics and radiometrics survey across the prospective Tartoq Gold Belt
· Machine Learning aided interpretation from Goldspot, the Company's technical partners
· Clearer understanding of the controls to mineralisation within the Tartoq licence
· Identification of structures prospective for the hosting of mineralisation
· Programme materially improved AEX's structural understanding of the licence with identification of a series of priority targets for follow up exploration.
Airborne magnetics and radiometrics were flown over the Tartoq licences in the summer of 2021 (both the Nuuluk and Iterlak sub blocks) covering an area of 84km2 of prospective Archean greenstone belt (the Tartoq Gold Belt). This survey has been used by Goldspot and AEX's geological team to interpret the underlying geology and structural control to the mineralisation. This has identified a number of key potential Orogenic Gold hosting sites. This has greatly increased the geological understanding of the licence and has been used to refine the Corporation's exploration targets at Tartoq to allow AEX to focus its efforts on the most prospective ground for follow up exploration in 2022.
Eldur Olafsson, CEO of AEX, commented:
"I am pleased to report on the further development of one of our key gold exploration targets within our over 4000km2 licence portfolio within Southern Greenland. Tartoq is a highly prospective Archean terrain and has always been one of our primary exploration targets since we acquired the licence. This geophysical survey and associated interpretation (the first of three completed by AEX in 2021), which has been run by our geological team with the assistance of Goldspot, continues to increase our understanding of the geology and the controls to mineralisation, critical to refining our targets and concentrating our efforts towards further gold discoveries.
"Furthermore, the techniques used, including the use of machine learning assisted interpretation, is further evidence of our team utilising the latest advances in mineral exploration within their innovative discovery strategy.
"These results have increased our confidence and narrowed our targeting and I remain excited for the next phase of our exploration efforts over these licences."
Geological Detail
Background
During the summer field programme in Southern Greenland, AEX contracted New Resolution Geophysics (NRG) to conduct a high resolution XPlorer magnetic and radiometric survey between the 30 August and the 17 September 2021 across three licence blocks.
A total area of 84km2 was covered at Tartoq both at 100m and more detailed 50m line spacing in order to provide high resolution imaging over the key target areas of the Tartoq Gold Belt.
Figure 1: Location of the Tartaq licences in Southern Greenland
Figure 2: Outline of the geophysical surveys conducted at Nuuluk and Iterlak sub blocks
Geophysical Results
Following a calibration period for the equipment, NRG conducted the survey and provided AEX with a series of results which included new high resolution:
· Digital Terrain Models (DTM),
· Process Potassium, Thorium and Uranium radiometrics
· Process Radiometic Ternary plots
· Total Field Magnetics
· Analytical Signal (AS)
· Reduced to Magnetic Pole (RTP)
· First Vertical Derivative (VD1)
· Total Horizontal Derivative (TDR)
The survey design, raw data processing and final outputs have all been quality controlled by AEX's independent geophysical consultant Henrik Sabra of Vanguard Geophysics providing the Corporation with the confidence to use this data during its interpretation and future planning and targeting.
Figure 3: RTP imagery of the Nuuluk and Iterlak sub blocks
Figure 4: Ternary Radiometics imagery of the Nuuluk and Iterlak sub blocks
Interpretation
AEX contracted Goldspot to assist in the interpretation of these results towards a clear understanding of the location and controls to gold mineralization. During this process Goldspot produced a number of additional images such as a Ternary RTP-VD1-VD2 image as well as a unsupervised machine learning clustering map used to assess similarities in RTP responses toward a better geological assemblage map.
Figure 5: Goldspot produced Ternary RTP-VD1-VD2 imagery of the Nuuluk and Iterlak sub blocks
From these images AEX along with Goldspot have produced a set of interpretations and recommendations.
Nuuluk
The Nuuluk sub block hosts a volcano sedimentary belt within a regional NE striking dextral shear corridor bordered by a set of thrust faults. These highly sheared lithologies host an interpreted positive flower structural pattern derived from a WNW-ESE compressional regime. These structures as well as sheared hinges and limbs of a series of antiform and synform folds identified, exist as potential antiformal culmination trap sites ideal for Orogenic Gold mineralisation and are possibly linked to pre-existing deep seated architecture that could act as the fluid conduit for such a system. They also hold a strong correlation to rock chip samples >1.0g/t Au.
Iterlak
This sub block hosts a similar volcano sedimentary belt and a similar structural and Orogenic Gold hosting potential has been interpreted. In addition, a strong NE to ENE axial trace is observed as a potentially significant fluid trap site.
Figure 6: Structural Interpretation of the Nuuluk and Iterlak sub blocks
Future Targeting
Following these interpretations a series of prioritized targets have been identified for follow up ground work and geological verification. This has greatly narrowed down AEX's exploration targeting and increased the structural understanding of the licence area which allow the Corporation's geological team to focus its exploration efforts on the most prospective Orogenic Gold trap sites in subsequent field programmes.
Figure 7: Prioritized Target Sites across the Nuuluk and Iterlak sub blocks
References to figures and tables relate to the version visible in PDF format on the website by clicking the link below: https://www.aexgold.com/investors/regulatory-news-alerts/#tsx-news
Enquiries:
AEX Gold Inc.
Eldur Olafsson, Director and CEO
+354 665 2003
eo@aexgold.com
Eddie Wyvill, Investor Relations
+447713126727
ew@aexgold.com
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Callum Stewart
Simon Mensley
Ashton Clanfield
+44 (0) 20 7710 7600
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (Joint Broker)
John Prior
Hugh Rich
Dougie Mcleod
+44 (0) 20 7886 2500
Camarco (Financial PR)
Gordon Poole
Emily Hall
+44 (0) 20 3757 4980
Further Information:
About AEX
AEX's principal business objectives are the identification, acquisition, exploration and development of gold properties in Greenland. The Corporation's principal asset is a 100% interest in the Nalunaq Project, an advanced exploration stage property with an exploitation license including the previously operating Nalunaq gold mine. The Corporation has a portfolio of gold assets covering 3,870km2, the largest portfolio of gold assets in Southern Greenland covering the two known gold belts in the region. AEX is incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and wholly owns Nalunaq A/S, incorporated under the Greenland Public Companies Act.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Corporation's current expectations regarding future events and the future growth of the Corporation's business. In this press release there is forward-looking information based on a number of assumptions and subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Corporation's control, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Final Prospectus available under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking information included in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Corporation and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Corporation assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new circumstances or events. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. 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.
Inside Information
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the UK version of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 on Market Abuse ("UK MAR"), as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 on Market Abuse ("EU MAR").
Qualified Person Statement
The technical information presented in this press release has been approved by James Gilbertson CGeol, VP Exploration for AEX Gold and a Chartered Geologist with the Geological Society of London, and as such a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.