CALGARY, ALBERTA –May 5, 2023– West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) (TSXV: WHY) is pleased to provide an update on the next milestone achieved for obtaining its industrial mining permit (the “Permit“) for the Record Ridge Industrial Mineral Mine (“RRIMM” or the “Project“) magnesium deposit located 10 kilometers southwest of Rossland, British Columbia.
RRIM Permit – Final Technical Review
On May 3, 2023, the British Columbia Ministry of Mines (the “Ministry“), having completed the screening process of the Company’s initial RRIMM Permit application of February 14, 2019 (inclusive of the Company’s amended Permit application of February 15, 2022), accepted the Company’s screened Permit submissions and issued the “Terms of Reference and Work Plan” (the “TOR andProposedWorkplan“) required for the Company to proceed into the final review for the Permit. The TOR and Proposed Workplan timeline indicates a starting date on May 24, 2023. A final recommendations report will be submitted by the committee to the statutory decision-makers for a potential final Permit decision as early as August 24, 2023.
The following is a process-related excerpt from the Ministry’s TOR and Proposed Workplan:
The Mines Act [Mines Code s. 10.3.2] states the committee must provide advice to the Chief Permitting Officer within 60 days of application acceptance for the Mines Act permit Review. Although there are no statutory timelines for applications for other authorizations, a collaborative effort is being made by committee members and the proponent to complete the review within a reasonable timeframe (ideally 60 days). If further time is required, a request to the Chief Permitting Officer through the MDRC chair can be made for their consideration.
As previously disclosed in the Company’s news release dated March 31, 2023, the Company submitted all material information, mine site engineering designs, and corresponding reports requested by the Ministry in response to its questions and comments of July 2022, stemming from its amended Permit application for the Project.
While adhering to the established multi-step permit process by the Ministry, the Company initiated a formal “request for proposal” process to invite interested groundworks contracting companies with expertise in mine site development and on-site road construction to submit bids to the Company. The Company requested the submission of all bids by June 20, 2023. Upon the Permit being granted, the Company plans to expedite mine site development for the Project and begin mining the ore from RRIM to fulfill the terms contemplated in the letter of intent it signed with APA Galaxy Trade and Technology, LLC (as previously news released on December 7, 2021) and to generate cash flow.
“The Company is elated to have been notified by the Ministry of its decision to advance to the technical review stage. This is a major milestone for the Company, and we will vigilantly continue to satisfactorily complete and/or exceed all remaining aspects of the final permit review process. After years of exploration, detailed analysis, engineering, economic evaluation, consultation, and environmental due diligence, we believe that the Project at Record Ridge has the potential to deliver much-needed critical minerals that underpin modern society. Upon satisfying all requirements set forth by the Ministry and obtaining the Permit, the Company will move forward in mining ore from RRIM with the hope of providing economic stability with a robust and industry-standard level of safety and environmental stewardship. We also understand the importance of engaging the community, indigenous groups, stakeholders, partners, consultants, shareholders, and employees to ensure that the benefits of the Project are shared by all. We look forward to moving with the next phase of the Project, and serving the current and future generations with the utmost responsibility”, said Frank Marasco Jr., West High Yield’s Chief Executive Officer and President.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
As another step in the final review process, the Company will be holding community open house consultation sessions (collectively, the “Community Sessions“) in Rossland, British Columbia at the Prestige Mountain Resort from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Pacific Daylight Time) on May 17, 2023, and from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Pacific Daylight Time) on May 18, 2023.
The Company looks forward to the upcoming dialogue during the Community Sessions and completing the final steps of the Permit review process.
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge critical mineral magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
The Company’s Record Ridge magnesium deposit is located 10 kilometres southwest of Rossland, British Columbia has approximately 10.6 million tonnes of contained magnesium based on an independently produced preliminary economic assessment technical report prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. in accordance with the National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd.
Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE
Calgary, Alberta–(Newsfile Corp. – April 5, 2023) – West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (TSXV: WHY) (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) is pleased to provide an update on the status of its mining permit progress for the Record Ridge magnesium deposit located 10 kilometres southwest of Rossland, British Columbia (“Record Ridge” or the “Project“) and on the status of its nearby Midnight Gold drilling program (the “Midnight Gold Drilling Program“).
Record Ridge Mining Permit
As of March 31, 2023, the Company has submitted all material information, mine site engineering designs, and corresponding reports requested by the British Columbia Ministry of Mines (the “Ministry“) in response to its questions and comments of July 2022 stemming from its amended permit application for Record Ridge Industrial Critical mineral mine. The Ministry has a multi-step permit review process where major issues are identified upfront, followed by a detailed technical review. The Company and its consultants are scheduled to meet with the Ministry in the near future to discuss the Ministry’s feedback on the requested material that has been submitted by the Company and to determine the next steps forward.
While adhering to the established permit process, the Company is also initiating a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process to invite interested groundworks contracting companies with expertise in mine site development and on-site road construction to submit their bids. The Company has already received engineering drawings for mine site development from SRK Consulting (www.srk.com) and has held previous discussions with site development contractors and mining contractors. The Company is requesting the submission of bids by June 30th, 2023. Once the mining permit is granted, the Company plans to expedite mine site development and begin mining the ore to fulfill the terms as contemplated in the Galaxy Magnesium LOI of December 6, 2021, which aims to sell Record Ridge ore @ USD$ 500/tonne and generate cash flow.
“The Company has been diligent in addressing all requests from the Ministry and remains vigilant in seeing the Record Ridge Permit process through to completion. The Company in conjunction with the Consultants, is working persistently to successfully complete the Permit process as soon as possible,” said Frank Marasco Jr., West High Yield’s Chief Executive Officer and President.
Midnight Gold Drilling
As previously press released, the Midnight Gold Drilling Program of 2022 yielded positive results in multiple intervals and zones. While the 2022 Midnight Gold Drilling of all planned holes was completed, core cutting, logging, and assaying of approximately 800 meters could not be completed due to inclement weather that forced operations to cease earlier than expected. The Company plans to resume the core cutting, logging, and assaying as soon as site access is safe and weather conditions allow, with an expected start date of May and completion in 4-6 weeks. The Company will be releasing additional gold drilling results from the Midnight Gold Drilling Program as they become available.
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
The Company’s Record Ridge magnesium deposit is located 10 kilometres southwest of Rossland, British Columbia has approximately 10.6 million tonnes of contained magnesium based on an independently produced preliminary economic assessment technical report prepared by SRK in accordance with the National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (403) 660-3488 Facsimile: (403) 206-7159
Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE.
CALGARY, ALBERTA – February 1, 2023– West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) (TSXV:WHY) is pleased to announce the confirmation of additional high-grade gold assays (see Tables 1 and 2) and to provide a status update from its 6,000 metre exploration drilling program initiated in 2022 at its Midnight gold claim (“Midnight“) located in Rossland, British Columbia (the “2022 Drilling Program“). The Rossland Gold Camp historically produced over 2.76 million ounces of recovered gold and 3.52 million ounces of recovered silver.
HIGHLIGHTS
Additional high-grade gold assays including:
MN22-13 262.50-263.35 metres depth – 32.5 g/t Au over 0.85 metre
MN22-18 41.0-47.0 metres depth – 7.99 g/t Au over 6 metres
including MN22-18 45.5-47.0 metres depth – 13.55 g/t Au over 1.5 metres
41 holes completed and logged in 6,191 metre NQ2 diamond drilling program
Targets tested in historical Midnight, IXL and OK mining areas
24 drill holes sampled
2,865 sample assays including QAQC completed
693 samples in 17 holes marked for 2023 spring sampling program
We recently received the balance of the outstanding 2022 assay data which was focused specifically on the gold content. The Company intersected more structurally-controlled mineralization in high-grade assay intervals such as those in MN22-13 northwest and MN22-18 southwest of the central Midnight mineralization along the broad northeast trend of listwanite replacement and the high-grade Baker Vein. Assays using gravimetric protocols verified significant grades up to 32.5 g/t gold (“Au”) in intervals from 85 cm and composite intervals to 6 metres (see Tables 1 and 2)”, stated Greg Davison, P.Geo and the Company’s internal qualified person (the “Qualified Person” or “QP“) for Midnight. “We look forward to completing the assay sampling of seventeen (17) remaining holes in the 2023 Midnight drilling program”, Mr. Davison further noted.
The 2022 Drilling Program was completed and closed for the winter season on November 15, 2022 at Midnight (see Figure 1). A total of 6,191 metres were completed (see Table 3) during the course of the 2022 Drilling Program.
Figure 1 shows the distribution and status of the 2022 permitted and active drill collar locations relative to the Company’s drilling activity from 2006 through to 2010. Assays received from 2,856 core and QA/QC samples are reported for twenty-three (23) completed holes and one partially sampled hole (see Tables 1 and 2). Seventeen (17) holes, currently with 693 samples and QAQC insertions, await core cutting and sampling in the spring 2023 program. Geological compilation and Leapfrog modelling of the current and historical drill and geological results is ongoing. Final LiDAR bare-earth maps are pending receipt in February 2023.
Figure 1. Location map of 2022 and post-2000 historical drilling on Midnight, IXL and OK mining claims and grants with mine portals and access trails. Current drilling completed at OK South and Upper Portal, IXL Upper and Lower Adit, and Midnight 3100 and 3200 Portals SSW of the Italian Tunnel. Sampling pending (purple) for 17 holes.
Table 1. Summary of recent 2022 drill core intersections with 2 gram-plus Au g/t values. Samples >10 g/t Au were finished using gravimetric analysis and/or screen metallics (highlighted).
Table 2. Summary of previously reported 2022 drill core intersections with 4 gram-plus Au g/t values. Samples greater than 10 g/t Au were finished using gravimetric analysis and/or screen metallics (highlighted).
2022 Exploration Summary
The 2022 Drilling Program was focused on identifying extensions to zones of known Midnight mineralization, areas with potential within and peripheral to the OK and IXL historical mines, and deep targets below the known footprint of mineralization (Figure 1). A total of 31 collar locations are fully permitted for the current program.
The drilling under the 2022 Drilling Program initially collared around the Midnight mine workings on targets from surface to 200 metres depth located to the southeast, east and north of the historical high-grade Baker Vein. These geological targets occurred within and peripheral to the Listwanite (quartz-carbonate-serpentine) zone which straddles the east-northeast trending fault contact between the OK ultramafic intrusion and the Jurassic-age andesite-dominant sequence to the north.
West High Yield brought in a second and third drill to expand the area of immediate interest outside the Midnight-Baker targets and to explore additional and deeper targets from 200 metres to more than 600 metres transecting the andesite-ultramafic contact and below the Baker Vein from the Midnight and neighbouring IXL claims.
The additional drills also targeted high-grade polymetallic Au-Ag-Cu-Pb, massive to stockwork-style silicified andesite-hosted mineralization with pyrrhotite and pyrite reported and observed from the OK Mine area historical drilling and is located between the OK Portal and the Upper Raise on the OK claim 50m east of the Cascade Highway.
Table 3. 2022 Midnight Drilling Program.
The high-grade gold intersections occurred mainly within variably deformed and serpentinized peridotite showing moderate to pervasive quartz-serpentine-carbonate replacement transected by discrete quartz-dominant veins to 50cm and sets of <1-10 mm veinlets with minor to sparse sulphides. The gold occurred within and peripheral to the multi-stage veins and irregular stockwork-style, locally with breccia textures. Massive, finer-grained, weakly altered black peridotite, with 5% to 10% disseminated to microfracture-controlled pyrite and/or pyrrhotite, intersected discrete core intervals of 10-60 metres, consistently west of the Midnight and in the IXL, generally reported lower Au grades (0.2-2.0 g/t Au). These intervals were distinct from the coarser-grained peridotite containing trace sulphides, commonly pyrrhotite, and gold values at or near detection limits (<0.005-0.01 g/t Au).
Coarse-grained pyrrhotite and polymetallic base metal sulphides (Pb, Cu, Mo), typically in vein arrays and breccias, was reported from the hanging wall andesite and basalt flows though gold showed limited values outside the contact zone with the north-easterly alteration trend.
Leapfrog compilation with 2D and 3D mapping, of current and historical drilling and underground workings, and recently-received high-resolution LiDAR orthophoto and bare-earth topographic control, will be used to evaluate structural features and geospatial significance of broad alteration, sulphidation and lithological controls in the mineralizing system.
Geochemical Analysis, Quality Assurance and Quality Control
All core handling was conducted at the secure logging facility on Midnight. All samples were bagged and sealed with numbered security tags under the supervision of the QP and delivered to Overland Transport in Rossland for delivery to ALS Global (“ALS“) in North Vancouver, British Columbia for gold and multi-element analysis. ALS is a facility certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada. Metal values disclosed herein are reported principally from sawn (1/2) drill core samples over intervals of 30cm to 1.6 metres. Certain friable and broken intervals were processed using a rotary wedge core splitter. The remaining half-core samples are cross stacked on site. Local chain of custody was monitored and maintained directly by the QP and Project Geologist under the direction of the QP.
The samples were crushed to 70% passing 2mm (PREP-31) and a split of up to 250 grams pulverized to 85% passing 75 micrometres (-200 mesh). Pulps (50gram split) were submitted for Au analysis by Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption finish (Au-AA23). The retained pulps also were analyzed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) multi-element analyses (ME-ICP61). Over-limit Au and Ag samples were analyzed by Fire Assay with Gravimetric Finish Ore Grade (Au-GRA21 or Au-GRA22, Ag-GRA21). Screen metallics assays were conducted on select ½ core samples to quantify gold distribution in the screen oversize (SCR-24B) and duplicate 50-gram pulps of the screen undersize (Au-GRA22). One 30cm sample of broken core with visible gold was sampled in its entirety through the SCR-24B protocol.
In-house quality control samples (blanks, standards, preparation duplicates) were inserted into the sample set using a protocol designed by the QP. ALS Global conducted its own internal QA/QC program of blanks, standards and duplicates, and the results are provided with the Company sample certificates. The results of the internal and ALS control samples were reviewed by the Company’s QP and evaluated for acceptable tolerances prior to disclosure. All sample and pulp rejects are stored at ALS Global pending full review of the analytical data, and future selection of pulps for independent third-party check analyses, as requisite.
The Company’s Qualified Person believes that the sampling documentation, analytical protocols and quantitative data will withstand scrutiny for inclusion.
Qualified Person
Greg Davison, MSc, PGeo, Senior Consulting Geologist to West High Yield, is the Company’s Qualified Person for Midnight and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, under TSX Venture Exchange guidelines.
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
The Company’s Record Ridge magnesium deposit located 10 kilometers southwest of Rossland, British Columbia has approximately 10.6 million tonnes of contained magnesium based on an independently produced preliminary economic assessment technical report prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd.
Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE.
CALGARY, ALBERTA – DECEMBER 20, 2022 – West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) (TSXV:WHY) is pleased to announce the confirmation of additional high- grade gold assays (see Table 1) including the identification of visible native gold in drill core from DDH MN22-13 (see Figures 1 and 2) and to provide an update from the 2022 6,000 metre exploration drilling program (the “2022 Program“). The 2022 Program was completed and closed for the winter season on November 15th at the Company’s Midnight Gold claim (“Midnight“) located in the Rossland Gold Camp area, British Columbia (see Figure 3). The three drills at Midnight demobilized in October and November. A total of 6,197 metres were completed (see Table 2) during the course of the Program. The Rossland Gold Camp historically produced over 2.76 million ounces of recovered gold and 3.52 million ounces of recovered silver.
HIGHLIGHTS
41 holes completed in 6,197 metre NQ2 diamond drilling program
Targets tested in historical Midnight, IXL and OK mining areas
Additional high-grade gold assays including:
MN22-13 72.35-72.65 metres depth – 154 g/t Au (visible gold)
MN22-13 185.7-186.20 metres depth – 21.4 g/t Au (visible gold)
MN22-08 38.7-39.4 metres depth – 15.85 g/t Au, and
MN22-09 205.1-206.6 metres depth – 37.9 g/t Au
Figure 1. NQ2 diameter core showing two visible gold occurrences in MN22-13 72.35-72.65m. Gold grains range from <1mm to 4mm as irregular particles and aggregates disseminated or along microfractures mainly in listwanized peridotite (quartz, serpentine and carbonate with Fr-Cr oxide relicts). Gold also was noted with fine to coarse-grained aggregates of brecciated pyrite and dark green chlorite, serpentine and quartz. Field of view approximately 60mm (Left) and 20mm (Right). Assay – 154 g/t Au. SCR- 24B coarse fraction 9% of weight, 58 wt.% of the gold.
“We continue to intersect structurally-controlled mineralization with visible gold (see Figures1 and 2) in high-grade assay intervals such as those in MN22-13 northwest of the central Midnight mineralization (see Tables 1 and 3). Assays using gravimetric and metallic screen protocols verified significant grades up to 154 g/t Au in narrow intervals from 30cm to 1.5 metres”, stated Greg Davison, P.Geo and QP for Midnight. “Screen metallics of the highest-grade interval confirmed 996 g/t Au in the coarse fraction which contributed 58% of the contained Au (MN22-13 72.4 metres).”
“The high-grade gold occurred mainly within variably deformed and serpentinized peridotite showing moderate to pervasive quartz-serpentine-carbonate (listwanite) replacement transected by discrete quartz- dominant veins to 50cm and sets of <1-10 mm veinlets with minor to sparse sulphides. Core intervals measuring up to 60 metres of massive, weakly altered peridotite, consistently with 5% to 10% disseminated to microfracture-controlled pyrite and/or pyrrhotite, intersected west of the Midnight and in the IXL, generally exhibited lower Au grades (0.2-2.0 g/t Au). Leapfrog 2D and 3D mapping, with current and historical drilling and underground workings, and recently flown high-resolution LiDAR topographic control, will be used to evaluate their geospatial significance in the mineralizing system”, said Mr. Davison. “Geological logging and 80% of the half-core sampling (2868 including QA/QC) were completed prior to the winter shutdown. The remaining core intervals will be processed in a Q2 2023 program. ”
Figure 2. Left – NQ2 diameter core showing visible gold occurrence in MN22-13 72.35-72.65m. Gold grains and aggregates range from <1mm to 4mm in quartz, serpentine and carbonate with abundant pyrite. Right – Close-up view with coarse gold grain. Field of view approximately 60mm (Left) and 15mm (Right). Assay – 154 g/t Au.
Figure 3 shows the distribution of the 2022 permitted and active drill collar locations relative to the 2006- 2010 drilling. A total of 31 collar locations are fully permitted for the current program. Assays received from 2077 core and QA/QC samples are reported to date for DDH MN22-01 through MN22-12, MN22- 19a and MN22-19B with partial results for MN22-13, MN22-14 and MN22-21. Results are pending for samples for DDH MN22-13 through MN22-18, MN22-20, MN22-21 and MN22-28. Fifteen holes (593 samples) await core cutting and sampling.
Geological compilation and Leapfrog modelling of the current and historical drill and geological results is underway while awaiting assay results from approximately 781 core samples.
Table 1. Summary of recent 2022 drill core intersections (MN22-05 to MN22-13 inclusive, MN22-19, MN22-21) with 2 gram- plus Au g/t values. Samples >10 g/t Au were finished using gravimetric analysis and/or screen metallics (highlighted).
Hole #
Sample #
From (m)
To (m)
Au g/t*
Ag g/t
MN22-05
225694
84.85
86.35
2.81
0.5
MN22-07
225845
44.25
45.30
5.39
3.8
225875
78.10
79.75
2.78
15
MN22-08
229012
38.70
39.40
15.85*
2.5
229013
39.40
40.10
6.88
1.9
MN22-09
229313
82.95
83.90
3.75
NA
229333
106.95
108.45
7.23
NA
229334
48.55
50.05
2.51
NA
229335-38
56.10
61.85
3.74
NA
229339
205.10
206.60
37.9*
3
MN22-10
229171
84.40
85.90
2.17
NA
229172
85.90
87.40
3.13
NA
MN22-11
227824
60.40
61.90
2.14
NA
MN22-13
228558
72.35
72.65
154**
NA
228657
185.70
186.20
21.4**
NA
MN22-14
229307
91.60
93.10
2.03
NA
MN22-19B
229348
77.00
78.50
2.92
NA
* Au GRA-21 FAA with gravimetric analysis for samples >10 g/t
**SCR24-B screen metallics, Au-AA26 FAA for samples with visible gold
Completed Holes Planned Holes Proposed Holes
Figure 3. Location map of 2022 and post-2000 historical drilling on Midnight, IXL and OK mining claims and grants with mine portals and access trails. Current drilling completed at OK South and Upper Portal, IXL Upper and Lower Adit, and Midnight 3100 and 3200 Portals SSW of the Italian Tunnel.
Table 2. 2022 Midnight Drilling Program – as of November 16, 2022.
Hole #
Easting
Northing
Azimuth (°)
Inclination (°)
Elevation (m)
Total Depth (m)
Area
22-01
438580
5435911
0
-90
960
352.6
Midnight
22-02
438537
5435808
350
-50
943
81.7
Midnight
22-03
438537
5435808
350
-75
943
197.5
Midnight
22-04
438531
5435792
295
-68
942
185
Midnight
22-05
438531
5435792
260
-50
942
113.4
Midnight
22-06
438531
5435792
260
-70
942
139.8
Midnight
22-07
438548
5435881
290
-50
962
245
Midnight
22-08
438561
5435855
260
-75
956
276
Midnight
22-09
438548
5435881
235
-50
962
241.85
Midnight
22-10
438548
5435881
295
-50
962
158
Midnight
22-11
438548
5435881
295
-70
962
218
Midnight
22-12
438277
5435786
11
-50
1038
230
OK
22-13
438443
5435828
220
-75
985
513
Midnight
22-14
438580
5435911
180
-60
960
135
Midnight
22-15
438291
5435798
11
-50
1051
36
OK
22-16
438291
5435798
340
-50
1051
208.8
OK
22-17
438291
5435798
340
-70
1051
226.6
OK
22-18
438461
5435739
340
-50
970
207
IXL south
22-19A
438461
5435739
320
-50
970
21
IXL south
22-19B
438461
5435739
290
-50
970
153
IXL south
22-20
438580
5435911
180
-60
960
117.6
Midnight
22-21
438306
5435835
345
-50
1044
230
OK
22-22
438375
5435710
330
-50
986
171
OK south
22-23A
438306
5435835
11
-60
1044
33
OK
22-23B
438306
5435835
20
-60
1044
32
OK
22-24
438375
5435710
330
-70
986
153
OK south
22-25
438375
5435710
345
-60
986
141
OK south
22-26
438443
5435828
220
-60
985
192
Midnight
22-27A
438551
5435796
260
-50
940
19.8
Midnight
22-27B
438551
5435796
260
-50
940
43.4
Midnight
22-28
438580
5435911
220
-50
960
124.35
Midnight
22-29
438443
5435828
190
-60
985
96.45
Midnight
22-30
438551
5435796
345
-50
940
26
Midnight
22-31
438443
5435828
240
-60
985
210
Midnight
22-32
438449
5435889
185
-60
996
25.5
IXL Lower
22-33A
438463
5435866
220
-50
975
51
Midnight
22-33B
438463
5435866
220
-60
975
72
Midnight
22-34
438449
5435889
220
-60
996
228
IXL Lower
22-35
438580
5435911
220
-70
960
124.35
Midnight
22-36
438548
5435881
220
-60
962
143
Midnight
22-37
438449
5435889
35
-60
996
24
IXL Lower
The 2022 Program was focused on identifying extensions to zones of known Midnight mineralization, areas with potential within and peripheral to the OK and IXL historical mines, and deep targets below the known footprint of mineralization (Figure 1). The drilling initially collared around the Midnight mine workings on targets from surface to 200 metres depth located to the southeast, east and north of the historical high- grade Baker Vein. These geological targets occurred within and peripheral to the Listwanite (quartz- carbonate-serpentine) zone which straddles the east-northeast trending fault contact between the OK ultramafic intrusion and the Jurassic-age andesite-dominant sequence to the north.
West High Yield brought in a second and third drill to expand the area of immediate interest outside the Midnight-Baker targets and to explore additional and deeper targets from 200 metres to more than 600 metres transecting the andesite-ultramafic contact and below the Baker Vein from the Midnight and neighbouring IXL claims.
The additional drills also targeted high-grade polymetallic Au-Ag-Cu-Pb, massive to stockwork-style silicified andesite-hosted mineralization with pyrrhotite and pyrite reported and observed from the OK Mine area historical drilling and is located between the OK Portal and the Upper Raise on the OK claim 50m east of the Cascade Highway.
Table 3. Summary of previously reported 2022 drill core intersections (MN22-01 to MN22-05 inclusive) with 4 gram-plus Au g/t values. Samples greater than 10 g/t Au were finished using gravimetric analysis and/or screen metallics (highlighted).
Hole #
Sample #
From (m)
To (m)
Au g/t*
Ag g/t
MN22-02
212571
48.50
50.00
36.1
3.7
212583
65.00
66.50
7.94
1.4
212584
66.50
68.00
17.9
9.6
212585
68.00
69.50
8.61
2.3
212587
69.50
71.00
22.6
31.2
MN22-03
212605
39.10
41.50
12.15
2.1
212606
39.10
41.50
13.6
1.6
212621
60.00
61.50
20.7
6
MN22-04
225511
54.05
55.25
38.4
6.5
MN22-05
225662
54.50
54.75
4.59
1.2
225664
55.65
57.15
8.44
1.9
225666
58.65
60.15
15.7
2.9
225667
60.15
61.65
14.3
1.6
225674
68.40
69.45
33.7
3.5
225677
69.95
70.25
311**
94.9
225681
70.25
71.30
4.37
4
* Au GRA-21 FAA with gravimetric analysis for samples >10 g/t
**SCR24-B screen metallics, Au-AA26 FAA for sample with visible gold
Gold mineralization in the Rossland area is reported to depths exceeding 750 metres and several faults transecting the area are interpreted to have significant vertical displacement. Fault repetition or imbricate stacking of the principal lithologies is indicated by the current drilling. The abundance of surface and underground workings, including adits and stopes, and the intense brittle deformation and serpentine-rich alteration of the peridotite, provided significant challenges for collaring and completing several holes in the program.
Geochemical Analysis, Quality Assurance and Quality Control
All core handling was conducted at the secure logging facility on Midnight. All samples were bagged and sealed with numbered security tags under the supervision of the QP and delivered to Overland Transport in Rossland for delivery to ALS Global (“ALS“) in North Vancouver, British Columbia for gold and multi- element analysis. ALS is a facility certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada. Metal values disclosed herein are reported principally from sawn (1/2) drill core samples over intervals of 30cm to 1.6 metres. Certain friable and broken intervals were processed using a rotary wedge core splitter. The remaining half-core samples are cross stacked on site. Local chain of custody was monitored and maintained directly by the QP and Project Geologist under the direction of the QP.
The samples were crushed to 70% passing 2mm (PREP-31) and a split of up to 250 grams pulverized to 85% passing 75 micrometres (-200 mesh). Pulps (50gram split) were submitted for Au analysis by Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption finish (Au-AA23). The retained pulps also were analyzed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) multi-
element analyses (ME-ICP61). Over-limit Au and Ag samples were analyzed by Fire Assay with Gravimetric Finish Ore Grade (Au-GRA21 or Au-GRA22, Ag-GRA21). Screen metallics assays were conducted on select ½ core samples to quantify gold distribution in the screen oversize (SCR-24B) and duplicate 50-gram pulps of the screen undersize (Au-GRA22). One 30cm sample of broken core with visible gold was sampled in its entirety through the SCR-24B protocol.
In-house quality control samples (blanks, standards, preparation duplicates) were inserted into the sample set using a protocol designed by the QP. ALS Global conducts its own internal QA/QC program of blanks, standards and duplicates, and the results are provided with the Company sample certificates. The results of the internal and ALS control samples are reviewed by the Company’s QP and evaluated for acceptable tolerances prior to disclosure. All sample and pulp rejects will be stored at ALS Global pending full review of the analytical data, and future selection of pulps for independent third-party check analyses, as requisite.
The Company’s Qualified Person (as hereinafter defined) believes that the sampling documentation, analytical protocols and quantitative data will withstand scrutiny for inclusion.
Qualified Person
Greg Davison, MSc, PGeo, Senior Consulting Geologist to West High Yield, is the Company’s internal qualified person (the “Qualified Person“) for Midnight and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, under TSX Venture Exchange guidelines.
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
The Company’s Record Ridge magnesium deposit located 10 kilometers southwest of Rossland, British Columbia has approximately 10.6 million tonnes of contained magnesium based on an independently produced preliminary economic assessment technical report prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd.
Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (403) 660-3488 Facsimile: (403) 206-7159 Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE.
Key Pre-feasibility Study (“PFS” or the “Study”) highlights:
Robust Project Economics: Post-tax net present value (“NPV”) (discount rate 5%) of $871.8 million and post-tax internal rate of return (“IRR”) of 72.03% using a long-term magnesia (“MgO”) baseline price of $1,500/metric tonne (“Mt”) and an exchange rate of CAD$1.00 = US$0.73.
Production profile: Annual average production of 86,500 tonnes of 98% purity MgO product at capacity.
Low capital intensity: Initial capital expenditures (“CAPEX”) of $205.4 million including mine preproduction, processing, and infrastructure (access roads and site preparation)
Competitive cost profile and rapid payback: All-in-Sustaining Cost (“AISC”) of $375/Mt of MgO product, a post-tax payback of 1.5 years, with $1,489 million cumulated cash flow and $871 million discounted cumulated cash flow over 20-year projected life of the project for the purposes of the PFS.
*Based on 250K tonnes per annum of ore throughout.
CALGARY, ALBERTA – November 29, 2022 – West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) (TSXV:WHY) is pleased to announce the results from its PFS for its high-purity MgO industrial production plant (“the Project“), prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101“) with cost accuracy of +/- 20% for the Company’s Record Ridge property located 10 kilometers southwest of Rossland, British Columbia (the “Record Ridge Property“), which is an intermediate-advanced exploration-stage project and is 100% owned by the Company. All figures are expressed in the currency of the United States of America unless otherwise stated.
Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. (“KPM“), a company based out of Kingston, Ontario, in consultation with KON Chemical Solutions and Tenova (both companies are based in Austria), was mandated to establish the technical viability of a MgO production facility, to prepare plan and capital estimates of the Project, and to provide detailed design and economic evaluation of a semi-commercial demonstration plant, in addition to a high-level design and economic evaluation of a commercial plant at a location to be determined in southern British Columbia, Canada. The financial model of the Project was prepared by Bumigeme Inc., a company based out of Montreal, Quebec based on (i) information provided to them by
the Company, as received from KPM, and (ii) MgO market study prepared for the Company by TAK Industrial Mineral Consultancy (existing under the laws of the United Kingdom). The findings from the aforesaid assessments and models are highlighted in the Study.
Frank Marasco, President and CEO of the Company, reports: “The MgO production Project described by the Study represents extremely positive news for West High Yield and its shareholders. The Study’s completion is a significant milestone on the pathway to production. The results as outlined in this news release make a compelling case for the economic viability of the Project. The Company’s high-purity MgO plant would create a carbon-free alternative to the currently dominating operations in China that are based on the calcination of carbonate ores (mainly magnesite), thus providing U.S. and European end users a green, secure and independent Canadian source of high purity MgO products. The PFS demonstrates the economic benefit of developing magnesium compounds operation in southern B.C. – a mining-friendly jurisdiction with deep mining talent and exceptional infrastructure.”
Study Overview
The Study considered a MgO commercial plant of 250,000 Mt/year ore capacity (the “Plant“), which is based on the installation of five (5) processing modules of 50,000 Mt/year ore capacity (each module called a “Unit“). The Study produced the following information,
a detailed design and economic evaluation including capital and operating costs of a demonstration plant;
a high-level design and economic evaluation including capital and operating costs of the Plant; and
economic analysis of the Plant.
Table 1 below includes excerpts from Table 14 (page 34) of the Study with respect to the capital cost of each Unit.
Table 1: Capital Cost Estimate for the Commercial Plant Unit of 50,000 t/y ore.
Major Units
CAD$
US$
Leaching
6,320,000
4,613,600
Precipitation
5,692,000
4,155,160
Pyrohydrolysis
13,897,000
10,144,810
Tank farm
4,306,000
3,143,380
Balance of plant
2,591,000
1,891,430
Buildings
5,120,000
3,737,600
Total Direct Capital Cost
37,926,000
27,685,980
Indirect Costs
EPCM & Start-up services
5,408,200
3,947,986
Freight
2,305,800
1,683,234
Field indirect & first fill
1,249,000
911,770
Total indirect Capital Cost
8,963,000
6,542,990
Total Direct and Indirect Costs
46,889,000
34,228,970
Contingency (20%)
9,380,000
6,847,400
Total Installed Capital Cost
56,270,000
41,077,100
Table 2 below includes excerpts from Table 16 (page 36) of the Study with respect to the operating costs of the Plant.
Table 2: Operating Cost Estimate for the Commercial Plant unit of 50,000 t/y ore.
Item
Annual Quantity
Unit
Unit Cost (CAD$)
CAD$/year
US$/year
Sodium hydroxide
72
t
700
51,000
37,230
Sodium thirosulfate
115
t
800
93,000
67,890
Chlorine
2,160
t
500
1,080,000
788,400
Process water
262,800
t
1
316,000
230,680
Electrical power
14,904
t
57
996,000
727,080
Natural gas
684,000
t
4
2,501,000
1,825,730
Labour
21
t
78,002
1,639,000
1,196,470
Solid wast disposal
200
t
500
100,000
73,000
Product bags
8,640
t
15
130,000
94,900
Maintenance materials
1,138,000
830,740
General and Administration
410,000
299,300
Total Annual Operating Cost
8,454,000
6,171,420
Total Annual Operating Cost per tonne of MgO product
489
375
The Study considered the capital costs of the Plant to be about $205 million with operating costs of $375/Mt of MgO product, which included mining costs, processing costs, and mine and plant levels general and administrative expenses.
Project Economics
The economic analysis of the Project in the PFS was performed assuming a 5% discount rate. On a pre- tax basis, the NPV is $993.5 million, the IRR is 80.1% and the payback period is 1.34 years. On a post-tax basis, the NPV is $872 million, the IRR is 72.0% and the payback period is 3.5 years. A summary of the Project economics is listed in Table 3 below.
Table 3:Project economics for the commercial plant of 250,000 t/y ore
Business Results
Project Vlaue
Conditions
Decision
NPV of Cash Flow
$871,774,903
>0
Yes
IRR
72.00%
>5%
Yes
Simple Payback
1.43
<5
Yes
Discounted Payback
1.50
<5
Yes
Profitability Index
15.50
>4
Yes
Sensitivity Analysis
A sensitivity analysis was conducted on the base case after-tax NPV and IRR of the Project, using the following variables: MgO price, total CAPEX and total operating cost. The figure and table below (found on page 47 of the Study) provide a summary.
Two-factor sensitivity price and discount rate shows a positive valuation is maintained across a wide range of sensitivities on key assumptions such as MgO prices and discount rate, as in Table 4 below (found on page 47 of the Study).
Table 4: Two-factor NPV (in $M) sensitivity – product price and discount rate
871 774 903
$
1050 $
1200 $
1350 $
1500 $
1650 $
1800 $
1950 $
3.50%
527 859 780
$
690 024 438
$
852 189 097
$
1 014 353 756
$
1 176 518 414
$
1 338 683 073
$
1 500 847 732
$
4.00%
498 407 986
$
653 474 697
$
808 541 408
$
963 608 119 $
1 118 674 830
$
1 273 741 540
$
1 428 808 251
$
4.50%
470 901 899
$
619 323 495
$
767 745 090
$
916 166 686 $
1 064 588 282
$
1 213 009 877
$
1 361 431 473
$
5.00%
445 190 452
$
587 385 269
$
729 580 086
$
871 774 903 $
1 013 969 720
$
1 156 164 537
$
1 298 359 354
$
5.50%
421 135 594
$
557 490 414
$
693 845 234
$
830 200 054 $
966 554 874 $
1 102 909 695
$
1 239 264 515
$
6.00%
398 611 079
$
529 483 798
$
660 356 517
$
791 229 235 $
922 101 954 $
1 052 974 673
$
1 183 847 391
$
6.50%
377 501 374
$
503 223 423
$
628 945 473
$
754 667 522 $
880 389 571 $
1 006 111 620
$
1 131 833 669
$
Plant Design
The Study provided detailed design of the demonstration plant and a high-level design of the Plant, which included detailed process flow diagrams and process description, and plant mass and energy balance for both plants.
More Information
For additional information, please refer to the Study available on the Company website and filed on SEDAR under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com which contains more comprehensive technical information.
Qualified Person
Kevin Watson is an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101 and has reviewed and approved Sections 17 and 21 of the Study..
Florent Baril is an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101 and has reviewed and approved Section 22 of the Study..
Next Steps
Following the release of this PFS, the Company will move the semi-commercial demonstration project forward, which is a crucial step to provide the necessary bridging work for the commencement of the feasibility-level studies for the successful development of the Plant.
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
The Company’s Record Ridge magnesium deposit located 10 kilometers southwest of Rossland, British Columbia has approximately 10.6 million tonnes of contained magnesium based on an independently produced preliminary economic assessment technical report prepared by SRK in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd.
Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (403) 660-3488 Facsimile: (403) 206-7159 Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE.
CALGARY, ALBERTA – October 25, 2022 – West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) (TSXV:WHY) is pleased to announce that it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (the “MOU“) with Big Blue Technologies LLC (“BBT“), a U.S. based technology company that has developed a green process to produce magnesium (“Mg“) ingots from magnesium oxide (“MgO“) and Mg ores, that contemplates, among other things, working towards entering into a definitive exclusive license agreement (the “License Agreement“) with BBT.
The MOU contemplates that the License Agreement shall, among other things, grant the Company an exclusive license (the “License“) to BBT’s intellectual property to build and operate a demonstrative magnesium processing facility in Canada (the “Demo Processing Facility“). Upon West High Yield’s successful completion of the Demo Processing Facility during the initial portion of the term of the License Agreement, the MOU contemplates that BBT will extend the exclusive License to West High Yield during the remaining term of the License Agreement in order to build, operate and/or sublicense one or more commercial magnesium processing facilities (the “Commercial Processing Facilities“), either by itself or through joint ventures with third parties, in North America, Central America, and South America.
In consideration of BBT granting the License to West High Yield, the MOU states that the License Agreement will provide BBT with a two (2%) percent royalty on West High Yield’s gross revenues derived from each of the Commercial Processing Facilities constructed by West High Yield during a specified time period to be set forth in the License Agreement.
The Company will issue a news release updating this information and providing more detail on the parties and finalized terms once the License Agreement has been entered into.
Frank Marasco Jr., President, and CEO of West High Yield states: “The Company has been looking for a green and economic technology to produce magnesium metal, and we are excited about working with the BBT team on the further development of their aluminothermic reduction process using West High Yield’s high-purity magnesia product to produce magnesium ingots, as shown in Figure 1. Magnesium as a strategic and critical metal is in high demand by onshore North American manufacturers who are seeking a safe, secure and reliable supply chain. The Unites States currently imports over 50% of their magnesium requirements, and the Company’s partnership with BBT will support its plans to be a supplier of choice for the underserviced demand.”
Figure 1. High-purity magnesium ingot sample that was produced using bench testing of BBT’s process using West High Yield’s MgO samples that were produced using the Company’s proprietary process from its Record Ridge Magnesium deposit located 10 kilometers southwest of Rossland, British Columbia
Aaron Palumbo, CEO of BBT, states: “The West High Yield team has demonstrated exceptional persistence to develop its Record Ridge magnesium property in Canada. The magnesia produced from its proprietary process on serpentine ore is an ideal feedstock for our technology to produce magnesium metal. With West High Yield’s magnesia and our electrified aluminothermic process, we have the potential to demonstrate the first net-zero magnesium metal production process. Our team is eager to press forward and be a part of West High Yield’s effort to establish magnesium metal production operations in North America and beyond.”
About Big Blue Technologies LLC
BBT is a Colorado-based limited liability company focused on developing high-temperature chemical processing solutions to aid in the production of magnesium ingots from magnesia feeds and other magnesium-bearing ores using aluminothermic reduction.
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
The Company’s Record Ridge magnesium deposit located 10 kilometers southwest of Rossland, British Columbia has approximately 10.6 million tonnes of contained magnesium based on an independently produced preliminary economic assessment technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd.
Frank Marasco Jr., President, and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (403) 660-3488 Facsimile: (403) 206-7159 Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE.
CALGARY, ALBERTA – October 18, 2022 – West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) (TSXV:WHY) is pleased to provide an update on the status of its permit application at its Record Ridge magnesium deposit located 10 kilometers southwest of Rossland, British Columbia (“Record Ridge” or the “Project“) and on the progress of the pre-feasibility study (“PFS“) semi- commercial/commercial plant design and its updated economics. The Company further updates the progress and status of its nearby Midnight Gold drilling program (the “Midnight Gold Drilling Program“).
Record Ridge Mining Permit
The Company continues to work with SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and Greenwood Environmental Inc. (together, the “Consultants“) in pursuit of the industrial mineral mine permit (the “Permit“) at Record Ridge. The Consultants assisted the Company in the submission of its Permit to the British Columbia Ministry of Mines (the “Ministry“) in February 2019.
In July of 2022, the Ministry requested as part of the Permit application screening process, additional geotechnical work to characterize the foundation conditions at the proposed waste rock storage facility, soil stockpile, and sediment pond, as well as to characterize soil conditions and the overburden thickness along the crest of the quarry. The test pit field investigation was completed in August and September, and the results are currently used by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. to complete (i) detailed design drawings (issued-for- construction ready) for the sedimentation pond and associated ditches (clean and contact water), and (ii) an operations, maintenance, and surveillance manual as required by the Ministry. Results are expected within weeks.
The Ministry has established a multi-step permit review process where major issues are identified upfront, followed by a detailed review. To date, the Company has complied with and delivered all information for requests from the Ministry and continues in compliance with the Permit process as outlined and under the timeline given by the Ministry in order to ensure that the Permit will be timely issued and approved.
The Company is holding discussions with site development contractors and mining contractors in preparation to begin site development and mining as soon as the permit is awarded, weather permitting.
PFS – Plant Design and Economics
The Company re-engaged Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc. (“KPM“) in January 2022 to conduct “Stage-3 PFS” with the support of Tenova and KON Chemical (Austria) with the objective of preparing a detailed design and economic evaluation of the semi-commercial demonstration plant and a high-level and economic evaluation of the commercial plant.
PFS completion was delayed due to (i) market conditions and global supply shortage that triggered inflated equipment prices, and (ii) the Company commissioned a market study that was conducted by TAK Industrial Minerals Consultancy (based in UK) to cover magnesium compounds market conditions and pricing, as advised by KPM. The PFS is currently in the last stage pending conducting financial and economic analysis of the commercial project.
Midnight Gold Drilling
The Midnight Gold Drilling Program is winding down with one diamond drill currently ready to collar DDH MN22-38, the last of the planned 2022 holes. A total of 6,202 metres were completed as of October 17, 2022, in 41 drill holes to a maximum depth of 513 metres. Logging and core cutting remains in progress and expects to be completed in two to three weeks.
The Company has released gold results previously (see August 30, 2022 and September 20, 2022 news releases for more information) that reflect positive results for a number of identified intervals from the early holes located in the listwanized ultramafic rocks hosting the high-grade Baker Vein. These results only represent six (6) of the 41 holes. A total of 1,240 samples await processing at ALS Labs. .
“We were excited to identify visible gold in high-grade assay intervals in MN22-05″, said Greg Davison, P.Geo and Qualified Person (QP) for the Midnight Gold Drilling Program. The assays using gravimetric and metallic screen protocols verified the significant gold grades from 14 g/t Au to 33.7 g/t Au, and 311 g/t Au, respectively, in four sample intervals contained within a 17.5 metre core intersection.”
Mr. Davison continued to say: “Screen metallics confirmed elevated gold in the coarse fraction (1,460 g/t Au), which contributed 20% of the contained gold and an average of 277 g/t Au for the fine fraction for the 0.3 metre interval for 69.95m to 70.25m. In addition, anomalous silver (Ag) values for the interval were reported at 94.9 g/t.”
The Company will be releasing additional gold drilling results from the Midnight Gold Drilling Program as the information becomes available.
Statement from the Company
“The Company has been diligent in addressing all requests from the Ministry and remains vigilant in seeing the Record Ridge Permit process through to completion. The Company in conjunction with the Consultants is working persistently to complete the PFS as soon as possible. The changing landscape of supply chains is impacting key input parameters being factored into the PFS and as a result, has caused unexpected delays. With respect to the Company’s Midnight Gold Drilling Program, it is on its final hole #42 and it only has assays (results) back from the first six (6) holes with more than 30 holes of assay results to come. The Company expects to issue future news releases as soon as results become available. Early results have been positive, and the Company looks forward to this trend continuing” said Frank Marasco Jr., West High Yield’s Chief Executive Officer, and President.
Mr. Marasco Jr. continued to say: “West High Yield is very thankful for the dedication of its team, and its partners in the advancement of this important work and the loyalty of its shareholders and stakeholders.”
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd.
Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (403) 660-3488 Facsimile: (403) 206-7159 Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE.
CALGARY, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 – West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) (TSXV:WHY) is pleased to announce the confirmation of additional multiple high-grade gold assays following the identification of visible native gold in drill core from DDH MN22-05 and to provide an update from the 2022 6,500 metre exploration drilling program (the “2022 Program“). The 2022 Program is ongoing at the Company’s Midnight Gold claim (“Midnight“) located in the Rossland Gold Camp area, British Columbia (Figure 1). A total of 3,080 metres were completed as of September 16, 2022. Three drills currently are active on the 15th to 17th holes of the program (Table 1). The Rossland Gold Camp historically produced over 2.76 million ounces of recovered gold and 3.52 million ounces of recovered silver.
“We were excited to identify visible gold (Figure 2) in high-grade assay intervals in MN22-05 and the assays using gravimetric and metallic screen protocols verified the significant Au grades from 14 g/t Au to
33.7 g/t Au, and 311 g/t Au, respectively, in four sample intervals contained within a 17.5 metre core intersection (Table 2, Figure 3),” stated Greg Davison, P.Geo and QP for Midnight. “Screen metallics confirmed elevated Au in the coarse fraction (1,460 g/t Au) which contributed 20% of the contained Au and an average of 277 g/t Au for the fine fraction for the 0.3 metre interval for 69.95m – 70.25m. Anomalous silver values for the latter interval were reported at 94.9 g/t Ag. Of note, the assays for the MN22-05 core intervals immediately below the noted mineralization are pending from ALS Global.”
“The high-grade Au within the variably listwanized ultramafics occurred as discrete particles and linear arrays within moderate to pervasive quartz-serpentine replacement, simple to deformed crackle breccia textures and intersecting sets of multi-stage, commonly zoned, 1-10 mm veinlets and locally disseminated to vein-hosted pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena,” said Mr. Davison. “We look forward to receipt of Au and multi-element assays pending for the remaining 40 metres of MN22-05 and for an additional three holes submitted for analysis (MN22-06 to MN22-08) in the targets to the south, east and below the Baker Vein. Logging and sampling are underway for MN22-09 to MN22-14.”
MN22-06 was drilled to undercut the observed MN22-05 mineralization southwest of the MN22-04 intersections and the Baker Vein. Six intervals from MN22-02 and MN22-03, both east of the Baker Vein, and MN22-04 (directed northwest from the MN22-05 collar) previously reported intersections ranging from
12.8 g/t Au to 38.4 g/t Au (see Press Release of August 30, 2022). Leapfrog modelling of the current and historical drill and geological results is underway concurrent with the drilling program.
The 2022 Program is focused on identifying extensions to zones of known Midnight mineralization, areas with potential for targets within and peripheral to the OK and IXL historical mines, and deep targets below
the known footprint of mineralization (see the Company’s press releases dated September 24, 2020 and December 30, 2021 for more information on the foregoing). Figure 1 shows the distribution of the 2022 permitted and active drill collar locations relative to the 2006-2010 drilling. A total of 31 collar locations are fully permitted.
Table 1. 2022 Drilling Program – as of September 16, 2022.
Drill Hole
Easting
Northing
Azimuth (°) Inclination (°)
Elevation (m)
Total Depth (m)
22-01
438580
5435911
0
-90
960
352.6
22-02
438537
5435808
350
-50
943
81.7
22-03
438537
5435808
350
-75
943
197.5
22-04
438531
5435792
295
-68
942
185
22-05
438531
5435792
260
-50
942
113.4
22-06
438531
5435792
260
-70
942
139.8
22-07
438548
5435881
290
-50
962
242
22-08
438561
5435855
260
-75
956
276
22-09
438548
5435881
235
-50
962
242
22-10
438548
5435881
295
-50
962
158
22-11
438548
5435881
295
-70
962
178
22-12
438277
5435786
11
-50
1038
230.3
22-13
438443
5435828
220
-75
985
450
22-14
438580
5435911
180
-60
960
76
22-15
438291
5435798
11
-50
1051
36
22-16
438291
5435798
340
-50
1051
124
Figure 1. Location map of current and pending 2022, and post-2000 historical drilling on Midnight, IXL and OK mining claims and grants with mine portals and access trails. Current drilling at OK Upper Portal, IXL Lower Adit and northeast of Midnight 3100 and 3200 Portals.
Table 2. Summary of 2022 drill core intersections with gram-plus Au g/t values. New assays from MN22- 05 are listed above assays previously reported from MN22-02 to MN22-04. Samples greater than 10 g/t Au were finished using gravimetric analysis and/or screen metallics (highlighted).
Hole # From (m)
To (m)
Sample #
Au g/t*
Ag g/t
MN22-05 54.50
54.75
225662
4.59
1.2
55.65
57.15
225664
8.44
1.9
58.65
60.15
225666
15.7
2.9
60.15
61.65
225667
14.3
1.6
68.40
69.45
225674
33.7
3.5
69.95
70.25
225677
311**
94.9
70.25
71.30
225681
4.37
4
reported August 30, 2022
MN22-02 48.50
50.00
212571
36.1
3.7
65.00
66.50
212583
7.94
1.4
66.50
68.00
212584
17.9
9.6
68.00
69.50
212585
8.61
2.3
69.50
71.00
212587
22.6
31.2
MN22-03 39.10
41.50
212605
12.15
2.1
39.10
41.50
212606***
13.6
1.6
60.00
61.50
212621
20.7
6
MN22-04 54.05
55.25
225511
38.4
6.5
* Au GRA-21 FAA with gravimetric analysis for samples >10 g/t.
**SCR24-B screen metallics assay for sample with visible gold
***Preparation Duplicate, core loss est. 1 metre
The current area of drilling is focused on the targets from surface to 200 metres depth located to the southeast and east of the historical high-grade Baker Vein within and peripheral to the Listwanite (quartz- carbonate-serpentine) zone (Figure 3) which straddles the east-northeast trending fault contact between the OK ultramafic intrusion and the Jurassic age andesite-dominant sequence to the north. The second drill is now exploring deeper targets from 200 metres to more than 600 metres transecting the andesite-ultramafic contact and below the Baker Vein between the Midnight and IXL claims. The third drill is targeting high- grade polymetallic Au-Ag-Cu-Pb, andesite-hosted mineralization reported and observed from the OK Mine area drilling and is located between the OK Portal and the Upper Raise on the OK claim 50m east of the Cascade Highway. Gold mineralization in the Rossland area is reported to depths exceeding 750 metres and several faults transecting the area are interpreted to have significant vertical displacement. Fault repetition of the principal lithologies is indicated by the current deep drilling.
Geochemical Analysis, Quality Assurance and Quality Control
All core handling is conducted at the secure logging facility on Midnight. All samples are bagged and sealed with numbered security tags under the supervision of the QP and delivered to Overland Transport in Rossland for delivery to ALS Global (“ALS”) in North Vancouver, British Columbia for gold and multi- element analysis. ALS is a facility certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada.
Metal values disclosed herein by WHY are reported principally from sawn (1/2) drill core samples over intervals of 30cm to 1.6 metres. Certain friable and broken intervals were processed using a rotary wedge
core splitter. The remaining half-core samples are cross stacked on site. Local chain of custody was monitored and maintained by the Project Geologist under the direction of the QP.
Assays from 682 core and QA/QC samples were reported currently for DDH MN22-01 through MN22-04 with partial results for MN22-05. Results are pending for an additional 382 samples for DDH MN22-06 through MN22-08.
Figure 2. Visible gold occurrence MN22-05 70.2m. Gold grains range from <1mm to 3mm as irregular particles disseminated or along microfractures mainly within quartz and serpentine in listwanized peridotite. Gold was noted with fine to coarse-grained brecciated pyrite, chalcopyrite with pyrrhotite and galena. Field of view approximately 15mm. Right – core sample and QAQC for visible gold interval 69.95-70.25m.
Figure 3. NQ2 diameter core showing section of MN22-05 66–72 metre interval with serpentinization and silicification of peridotite, multi-stage deformation and veining with quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, chlorite and carbonate. Lower left – broken core in visible gold interval with light to very dark green serpentine from 69.95m. Right – intense alteration and textural styles in mineralized zone.
The samples were crushed to 70% passing 2mm (PREP-31) and a split of up to 250 grams pulverized to 85% passing 75 micrometres (-200 mesh). Pulps (50gram split) were submitted for Au analysis by Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption finish (Au-AA23). The retained pulps also were analyzed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) multi- element analyses (ME-ICP61). Over-limit Au and Ag samples were analyzed by Fire Assay with Gravimetric Finish Ore Grade (Au-GRA21 or Au-GRA22, Ag-GRA21). Screen metallics assays were conducted on select samples to quantify gold distribution in the screen oversize (SCR-24B) and duplicate 50-gram pulps of the screen undersize (Au-GRA22).
In-house quality control samples (blanks, standards, preparation duplicates) were inserted into the sample set using a protocol designed by the QP (Figure 2). ALS Global conducts its own internal QA/QC program of blanks, standards and duplicates, and the results are provided with the Company sample certificates. The results of the internal and ALS control samples are reviewed by the Company’s QP and evaluated for acceptable tolerances prior to disclosure. All sample and pulp rejects will be stored at ALS Global pending full review of the analytical data, and future selection of pulps for independent third-party check analyses, as requisite.
The Company’s Qualified Person (as hereinafter defined) believes that the sampling documentation, analytical protocols and quantitative data will withstand scrutiny for inclusion.
Qualified Person
Greg Davison, MSc, PGeo, Senior Consulting Geologist to WHY Resources, is the Company’s internal qualified person ( the “Qualified Person”) for the Midnight Gold Project and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), under TSX Venture Exchange guidelines.
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd.
Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (403) 660-3488 Facsimile: (403) 206-7159 Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the
statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE.
CALGARY, ALBERTA – AUGUST 30, 2022 – West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) (TSXV:WHY) is pleased to announce the presence of visible native gold in several drill core intervals from two of the first five holes and to present highlights of its initial round of Au-Ag assay results from the 2022 6,500 metre exploration drilling program (the “2022 Program“). The 2022 Program is ongoing at the Company’s Midnight Gold claim (“Midnight“) located in the Rossland Gold Camp area, British Columbia. The Rossland Gold Camp historically produced over 2.76 million ounces of recovered gold and 3.52 million ounces of recovered silver.
The 2022 program is focused on identifying extensions to zones of known Midnight mineralization, areas with potential for targets within and peripheral to the OK and IXL historical mines, and deep targets below the known footprint of mineralization (see Press Releases of September 24, 2020 and December 30, 2021). Many promising drill targets were identified after review of the 1993-2010 drilling programs and historical workings. Figure 1 shows the distribution of the 2022 permitted and active drill collar locations relative to the 2006-2010 drilling. A total of 31 collar locations are fully permitted. Two drills currently are active on the seventh and eighth holes of the program with a third rig to be added in early September (Table 1).
The current area of drilling is focused on the targets from surface to 200 metres depth located to the southeast and east of the historical high-grade Baker Vein within and peripheral to the Listwanite (quartz- carbonate-serpentine) zone (Figure 2) which straddles the east-northeast trending fault contact between the OK ultramafic intrusion and the Jurassic age andesite-dominant sequence to the north. The second drill is exploring deeper targets from 200 metres to more than 600 metres below the Baker Vein. Gold mineralization in the Rossland area is reported to depths exceeding 750 metres and several faults transecting the area are interpreted to have significant vertical displacement.
“We are excited to identify visible gold (Figure 3) in high-grade assay intervals in MN22-02 and look forward to receipt of Au and multi-element assays pending for three additional holes, including an intersection in MN22-05 with visible gold which was submitted for Au by metallic screen protocols. Six intervals (Table 3) from MN22-02, MN22-03 and MN22-04 (5 samples measuring 1.5 metres, 1 sample at 1.2 metres) reported gold by gravimetric analysis ranging from 12.8 g/t Au to 38.4 g/t Au”, stated Greg Davison, P.Geo and QP for Midnight. “The presence of high-grade Au over standard sample intervals without discrete, narrow Au-quartz-ankerite vein control is significant for our exploration efforts and potential future development.”
Mr. Davison added, “Those intervals, occurring mainly in intensely listwanized ultramafic units, exhibited surrounding haloes of multiple gram-plus Au values and lower grade mineralization ranging from 3 to 18
metres with aggregate intersections to 36 metres (Table 2). Silver values typically reported <10 g/t Ag to a maximum of 31.2 g/t Ag. Of principal importance, the high-grade Au intersections are located spatially outside the 2009 10-metre drilling grid. Leapfrog modelling of the current and historical drill results is ongoing. We anticipate that the 2022 program will better define the gold mineralization leading to a mineral resource estimate pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.”
Table 1. 2022 Drilling Program – as of August 27, 2022.
Drill Hole
22-01
Easting
438580
Northing Azimuth (°)
5435911 0
Inclination (°)
-90
Elevatio
954
22-02
438537
5435808
350
-50
943
22-03
438537
5435808
350
-75
22-04
438531
5435792
295
22-05
438531
5435792
260
22-06
438531
5435792
22-07
438548
54
22-08
438
n (m) Total Dept
* in pr
Figure 1. Location map of current and pending 2022, and post-2000 historical drilling on Midnight, IXL, and OK mining claims and grants with mine portals and access trails.
Figure 2. NQ2 diameter core from MN22-02 49.5m showing intense serpentinization and silicification of ultramafic host. Multi-stage brittle deformation and veining with quartz, pyrite, chlorite, carbonate, and visible native gold.
Table 2. Summary of select drill core intersections with gram-plus Au g/t values. Samples greater than 10 g/t Au were finished using gravimetric analysis (highlighted).
Hole #
From (m)
To (m)
Sample #
Au g/t*
Ag g/t
MN22-02
48.50
50.00
212571
36.1
3.7
MN22-02
59.00
60.50
212578
1.98
<0.5
MN22-02
65.00
66.50
212583
7.94
1.4
MN22-02
66.50
68.00
212584
17.9
9.6
MN22-02
68.00
69.50
212585
8.61
2.3
MN22-02
69.50
71.00
212587
22.6
31.2
MN22-02
71.00
72.50
212588
2.88
1
MN22-03
39.10
41.50
212605
12.15
2.1
MN22-03
39.10
41.50
212606**
13.6
1.6
MN22-03
51.00
52.50
212614
2.56
0.6
MN22-03
55.50
57.00
212617
2.13
<0.5
MN22-03
60.00
61.50
212621
20.7
6
MN22-03
72.00
73.50
212631
5.77
7.2
MN22-04
16.76
18.02
212727
1.56
<0.5
MN22-04
18.02
19.28
212728
3.68
1.1
MN22-04
48.70
49.25
225505
1.68
1
MN22-04
54.05
55.25
225511
38.4
6.5
MN22-04
55.25
56.45
225512
2.18
<0.5
MN22-04
64.95
66.03
225523
1.63
1.9
MN22-04
88.95
90.20
225545
2.18
0.5
MN22-04
111.20
112.70
225565
1.295
<0.5
* Au GRA-21 FAA with gravimetric analysis for samples >10 g/t.
**Preparation Duplicate, core loss est. 1 metre.
Figure 3. Selection of visible gold occurrences identified in MN22-02 60.3m (3), MN22-05 70.2m (1). Gold grains range from <1mm to 3mm as irregular particles with very fine-grained particles disseminated or along microfractures within quartz, serpentine group and minor carbonate in variably listwanized dunite and peridotite. Spatial association of gold was noted locally with fine to coarse-grained brecciated pyrite with pyrrhotite and galena. Field of view is approximately 15mm.
Geochemical Analysis, Quality Assurance, and Quality Control
All core handling is conducted at the secure logging facility on Midnight. All samples are bagged and sealed with numbered security tags under the supervision of the QP and delivered to Overland Transport in Rossland for delivery to ALS Global (“ALS”) in North Vancouver, British Columbia for gold and multi- element analysis. Metal values disclosed herein by WHY are reported principally from sawn (1/2) drill core samples over intervals of 30cm to 1.6 metres. Certain friable and broken intervals were processed using a rotary wedge core splitter. The remaining half-core samples are cross stacked on site. Local chain of custody was monitored and maintained by the Project Geologist under the direction of the QP.
Assays from 428 core samples and 87 QA/QC samples were reported currently for DDH MN22-01 through MN22-03 with partial results for MN22-04.
ALS is a facility certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada.
The samples were crushed to 70% passing 2mm (PREP-31) and a split of up to 250 grams pulverized to 85% passing 75 micrometres (-200 mesh). Pulps (50gram split) were submitted for Au analysis by Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption finish (Au-AA23). The retained pulps also were analyzed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) multi- element analyses (ME-ICP61). Over-limit Au and Ag samples were analyzed by Fire Assay with Gravimetric Finish Ore Grade (Au-GRA21 or Au-GRA22, Ag-GRA21). Screen metallics assays were conducted on select samples using the SCR-24B method to quantify gold distribution in the screen oversize and duplicate pulps.
In-house quality control samples (blanks, standards, preparation duplicates) were inserted into the sample set using a protocol designed by the QP. ALS Global conducts its own internal QA/QC program of blanks, standards and duplicates, and the results are provided with the Company sample certificates. The results of the internal and ALS control samples are reviewed by the Company’s QP and evaluated for acceptable tolerances prior to disclosure. All sample and pulp rejects will be stored at ALS Global pending full review of the analytical data, and future selection of pulps for independent third-party check analyses, as requisite.
The Company’s Qualified Person believes that the sampling documentation, analytical protocols and quantitative data will withstand scrutiny for inclusion.
Qualified Person
Greg Davison, MSc, PGeo, Senior Consulting Geologist to WHY Resources, is the Company’s internal Qualified Person for the Midnight Gold Project and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), under TSX guidelines.
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd.
Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (403) 660-3488 Facsimile: (403) 206-7159 Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE.
CALGARY, ALBERTA – February 15, 2022 – West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (“West High Yield” or the “Company“) (TSXV:WHY) is pleased to announce that it has submitted its amended Joint Mines Act/Environmental Management Act Permit Application (the “Amended Application“) to the British Columbia Ministry of Mines (the “Ministry“) for the development and operation of its Record Ridge Industrial Mineral Mine Project near Rossland, British Columbia (the “Project“). The additional information provided to the Ministry in the Amended Application is in response to feedback received from the Ministry stemming from its review of the Company’s initial Joint Mines Act/Environmental Management Act Permit Application (the “Joint MA/EMA Application“) submitted to the Ministry on February 14, 2019.
The Company initially retained Greenwood Environmental Inc. and SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (together, the “Consultants“) in 2019 to be co-lead consultants in pursuit of an industrial mineral mine permit (the “Permit“) for the Project. The Consultants assisted the Company in the submission of the Joint MA/EMA Application. For applications such as the one submitted by the Company, the Ministry has established a multi-step application review process where major issues are identified upfront, followed by a detailed review. West High Yield has worked with the Consultants to address the Ministry’s information requests and to work towards the submission of the Amended Application. The Ministry will review the Amended Application and determine if it meets the requirements to commence the detailed technical review phase, or if the Company needs to provide additional information.
Frank Marasco Jr., President and CEO of West High Yield, stated: “The Company has been working diligently with the Ministry, Consultants and stakeholders to complete the permit process so that the Company is able to fulfill its commitments of mining and selling ore from the Project, and having adequate feedstock in place for its planned semi-commercial plant. We consider this milestone as a critical step for the commercialization of the Company in its efforts to facilitate sustainable job creation, generate cash flow and secure future markets for high purity magnesium and silica products that have the potential to be produced from the Record Ridge project.”
About West High Yield
West High Yield is a publicly traded junior mining exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada with a primary objective to develop its Record Ridge magnesium, silica, and nickel deposit using green processing techniques to minimize waste and CO2 emissions.
Contact Information:
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd.
Frank Marasco Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (403) 660-3488 Facsimile: (403) 206-7159 Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada and globally; industry conditions, including governmental regulation; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; and other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
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 OF THIS RELEASE.