*Intersected width. True widths of stratiform, semi-massive sulphide and volcanic-equivalent styles are interpreted to be 60-70% of intersected widths. Vein-hosted mineralization is considered to be a stockwork with a true width equal to the intersected width.
Photo 1: Illustrating laminated high-grade mineralization from the stratiform zone: grey sphalerite and brassy pyrite within black mudstone cut by pink sphalerite veinlets. From NB21-009, 241.5 m depth, scale bar 20 mm.
Hole NB21-010 intersected lead-rich mineralization in silicified diamictites that correlate laterally to the massive sulphide zone at Boundary West, confirming the presence of this barium-rich stratigraphic interval for a strike length of over 400 metres across Boundary West. Whilst NB21-010 extended the footprint of Boundary West, the potential stratigraphic and structural link between zinc mineralization at Boundary West and Boundary Zone remains an untested yet geologically plausible target.
Mineralization Style: MS= massive sulphide; SM= semi massive sulphide; V= vein; R= replacement; L= laminated/stratiform
Tom East 2021 Drilling Tom East is one of the highest grade zones discovered on the property to date with current Mineral Resources of 0.81 Mt at 8.74% Zinc, 8.62% Lead, and 110.0 g/t Silver Indicated in addition to 1.68 Mt at 9.86% Zinc, 12.86% Lead and 170.0 g/t Silver Inferred (see Fireweed news release dated 10th January 2018, and reports filed on www.sedar.com for details). Results from an infill hole drilled in 2021 are in Table 4 and a second hole tested the limits of the zone (see Figure 5 & Table 5). These infill results provide information that will inform geological modelling for a new resource calculation and guide further exploration. Tom East is open for expansion at depth.
Table 4: 2021 Tom East Zone Drill Results
Field Work Field work in 2021 consisted of geophysical surveying, geological mapping, and geochemical sampling mainly at and west of the Boundary area, and successfully identified several additional targets for drilling (see Figure 1). A total of 91 line kilometres of ground gravity surveys and 1,305 line kilometres of airborne magnetic-electromagnetic (VTEM) were carried out in the Boundary area and beyond. A cutting edge muon downhole geophysics survey was attempted but crews were unable to deploy the muon detectors down the holes. Currently, interpretation of results from the 2021 mapping, geochemistry and geophysics work are being carried out toward planning of the 2022 work program. Future Plans On December 8, 2021, Fireweed announced closing of a C$5.18 million financing toward an active 2022 exploration program. The financing was completed well before the next field season to allow the Company to secure drillers and contractors who are expected to be in short supply again next season. Final plans for the 2022 exploration program will be announced when the interpretation of 2021 field work is completed and budgets are approved. The main goal of the 2022 program will be to complete sufficient work to update the NI43-101 mineral resource to include Boundary zones and other results collected since 2018, and then update the PEA economic study next year. Notes on sampling, assaying, and data aggregation: The diamond drill core logging and sampling program was carried out under a rigorous quality assurance / quality control program using industry best practices. Drill intersections in this release are all HQ3 (split tube) size core (61.1mm / 2.4-inch diameter) with recoveries typically above 85% unless otherwise noted in the tables of results. After drilling, core was logged for geology, structure, and geotechnical characteristics, then marked for sampling and photographed on site. The cores for analyses were marked for sampling based on geological intervals with individual samples 1.5 m or less in length. Drill core was cut lengthwise in half with a core saw; half-core was sent for assays reported in this news release, and the other half is stored on site for reference. Bulk density was determined on site for the entire length of each sample assayed by measurement of mass in air and mass in water. Sample duplicate bulk density determinations and in-house bulk density standard determinations were each made at a rate of 5%. Since 2017, four in-house bulk density standards (mineralized drill core from the Tom deposit that span a range of densities) have been used and show an acceptable long-term precision. Certified standard masses are used to calibrate the scale balance used for bulk density determinations. A total of 5% assay standards or blanks and 5% core duplicates are included in the sample stream as a quality control measure and are reviewed after analyses are received. Standards and blanks in 2021 drill results have been approved as acceptable. Duplicate data add to the long-term estimates of precision for assay data on the project and precision for drill results reported is deemed to be within acceptable levels. Samples were sent to the Bureau Veritas preparation laboratory in Whitehorse, Yukon, where the samples were crushed and a 500 g split was sent to the Bureau Veritas laboratory in Vancouver, B.C to be pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh size pulps. Clean crush material was passed through the crusher and clean silica was pulverized between each sample. The pulps were analyzed by 1:1:1 Aqua Regia digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-ES/ICP-MS) multi-element analyses (BV Code AQ270). All samples were also analyzed for multiple elements by lithium borate fusion and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) finish (BV Code LF725). Over-limit Pb (>25.0%) and Zn (>24.0%) were analyzed by lithium borate fusion with XRF finish (BV Code LF726). Silver is reported in this news release by method AQ270, and zinc and lead are reported by LF725 or LF726. Bureau Veritas (Vancouver) is an independent, international ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited laboratory. Results in this news release are length and bulk-density weighted averages as would be used in a Mineral Resource estimate. Readers are cautioned that in Fireweed news releases prior to 2020, only length weighted assay averages were reported which may result in slightly lower (under-reported) average values. Length and bulk-density weighted averages have been reported as these most accurately represent the average metal-content of the intersections. Qualified Person Statement Technical information in this news release has been approved by Jack Milton, P.Geo., Ph.D., Chief Geologist and a ‘Qualified Person’ as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Oro Property Option Exercised Fireweed is pleased to announce that it has exercised its option on the Oro Property covering the western extension of the Fertile Corridor and exploration targets west of Boundary Zone (see Fireweed news release dated 23rd November 2020 for details). With this exercise, Fireweed is now 100% owner of all claims comprising the 940 km2 Macmillan Pass Project.
Figure 1: Location of Macmillan Pass deposits and exploration targets.
Figure 2: Boundary area 2021 drilling map and location of cross sections A-A’ (Figure 3) and C-C’ (Figure 4).
Figure 3, Cross Section A-A’: Boundary Zone geology and drill assay results
Figure 4, Cross Section C-C’: Boundary West geology and drill assay results.
Figure 5: Tom East Zone 2021 drill hole location map.
Corporate Presentation Corporate Factsheet 43-101 Resource Report 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment Yukon Geoscience 2022 Presentation