Vancouver, B.C., Metallic Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: MMG; US OTC: MMNGF) (“Metallic” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in 36.4 square kilometres (“km2”) of mining rights (the “Property”) along the Australia Creek drainage, a tributary to the Indian River, in the Klondike gold district near Dawson City, Yukon. In parallel with this acquisition, Metallic has entered into a production royalty agreement with an experienced alluvial mining operator with respect to a 2.8 km2 portion of the Property (Lower Australia Creek). Under this agreement, the operators will have exclusive rights to mine the Lower Australia Creek property, in exchange for a 12% royalty on all gold production payable to Metallic. The property is road accessible and is permitted for alluvial gold production. Mining equipment has been mobilized to the site to commence test work in September for the remainder of the northern field season.
Australia Creek is part of the historic Klondike gold district that is estimated to have produced over 20 million ounces of gold since its discovery in 1898. Australia Creek and its benches are now recognized by Yukon Geological Survey as an eastern continuation of the highly-productive Indian River drainage, which is the largest placer gold producing area in the Yukon. Mining on the Indian River began in the late 1970s and has produced about 250,000 ounces or more than 40% of all placer production in the Yukon through 2015. With the expansion of larger-scale, open-pit operations, production on the Indian River has doubled since 2010 and accounted for 46% of the Yukon’s total placer gold production in 20151.
Despite extensive mining activity nearby, Australia Creek itself was never historically mined due to its importance as a source of water and hydro-electric power for supporting the broad scale, floating dredge operations that were being conducted in the area by Yukon Consolidated Gold Company (YCGC) which operated in the Klondike Region between 1920s and 1960s. The dams on Australia Creek have been removed with only the historic diversion channels now remaining. YCGC did limited exploration churn drilling at the mouth of Australia Creek, but no further exploration up the drainage. The mouth area is being actively mined at present and auger drill holes on Lower Australia Creek have returned values in the gravels similar to other parts of the Indian River, with initial test pits in 2015 to 2017 confirming the presence of alluvial gold.
1Yukon Geological Survey (“YGS”) Yukon Placer Mining Industry Report 2010-2014
At the beginning of September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Yukon Premier Sandy Silver announced a combined $360 million in federal and territorial funding for the improvement of existing road access in the territory as part of a demonstrated commitment to facilitating resource development. One portion of this initiative is the upgrading of the existing public road through the Klondike gold district that begins near Dawson City and travels along Hunker and Sulphur Creeks before reaching Australia Creek and continuing south to the Dawson Range in the central part of the Yukon Territory.
Greg Johnson, CEO and Chairman of Metallic Minerals, noted, "We are very pleased to have acquired the high-potential Australia Creek Property in the prolific Klondike gold district and to have entered into our first production royalty agreement on the lower 2.8 km2 of this package. We also support the commitment by the Federal and Territorial governments to improving infrastructure for resource development in the region, which will benefit development at Australia Creek. Though the core focus for Metallic will remain on exploration in the Keno Silver district, we see an opportunity to build a portfolio of production royalties from our holdings in the Klondike region, starting with this first one on Lower Australia Creek, and to increase the number of production royalties on the remaining large land position with additional experienced alluvial operators over time. Test work is anticipated to be conducted starting in September and continue throughout the remainder of the 2017 season. The alluvial mining operators are expected to make a decision regarding full-scale production, with respect to these Lower Australia Creek claims, in early 2018.”
Terms of the Australia Creek Property option agreement are as follows:
- Upon regulatory approval of the agreement, a total of $50,000 is to be paid by Metallic to the underlying claim holders upon signing for partial reimbursement of accrued expenditures.
- In December 2017, a further $25,000 is to be paid to the underlying claim holders for carrying out consulting and supervision activities in 2017 and 250,000 shares are to be issued based on a program of drilling, geophysics and test pitting, provided at least $75,000 has been spent on the ground by Metallic or its operating production royalty parties.
- In December 2018, another $50,000 is to be paid and 250,000 shares are to be issued based on follow-up exploration and test mining program producing gold and at least $100,000 spent on the ground by Metallic or its operating production royalty parties.
- In December 2019, a final $50,000 is to be paid and 400,000 shares are to be issued based on continued mining on the Australia Creek property with gold royalty production or a new mining lease agreement with another alluvial mining operator on additional claims.
Under the option agreement on the Australia Creek Property the underlying claim holders will receive a 4% royalty on all alluvial gold production from Metallic. Metallic can purchase each 2% of the underlying royalty for $250,000 in cash, gold or Metallic shares at a minimum price of $0.35 per share. One of the co-partners in this option agreement is a related party as a director of Metallic. The option agreement is subject to regulatory approval.
Update on Keno Silver and McKay Hill Projects
Metallic Minerals has been engaged in a two-phase exploration season at its flagship Keno Silver project, which commenced in May with targeted geophysical and geochemical surveys, stratigraphic mapping, and trenching to further refine the identified priority targets. Diamond drilling on the project commenced in August and is focused on testing down-dip and along-strike extensions of previously identified mineralization along the known mineralized trends, including at some of the historic producing mines on the property. Initial samples from drilling and continued surface work on the Keno Silver project have been submitted for assay and results are pending. In addition to work undertaken in the Keno Hill silver district, Metallic also engaged in a program of surface sampling and trenching at its McKay Hill silver-gold project 50 km northwest of Keno Hill. The Company expects to provide updates and results from these programs over the ensuing weeks.
About Metallic Minerals Corp.
Metallic Minerals Corp. is a growth stage exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of high-grade silver and gold in the Yukon within underexplored districts proven to produce top-tier assets. Our objective is to create value through a disciplined, systematic approach to exploration, reducing investment risk and maximizing probability of long-term success. Our core Keno Silver Project is located in the historic Keno Hill silver district of Canada's Yukon Territory, a region which has produced over 200 million ounces of silver and currently hosts one of the world’s highest-grade silver resources. The Company’s McKay Hill project northeast of Keno Hill is a high-grade historic silver-gold producer. Metallic Minerals is also building a portfolio of gold royalties in the historic Klondike gold district. Metallic Minerals is led by a team with a track record of discovery and exploration success, including large scale development, permitting and project financing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Website: www.metallic-minerals.com
Email: chris.ackerman@metallic-minerals.com
Phone: 604-629-7800
Toll Free: 1-888-570-4420
Qualified Person
Scott Petsel, P.Geo, Vice President, Exploration and an employee of Metallic Minerals Corp., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Petsel has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news release and approves the disclosure contained herein. Mr. Petsel has reviewed the results of the sampling program and confirmed that all procedures, protocols and methodologies used in the drill program conform to industry standards.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Metallic Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Metallic Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com.
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.
