Heliostar Metals Ltd. report additional drill results from the Ana Paula Project in Mexico (“Ana Paula” or the “Ana Paula Project”). These two holes complete the drilling results that will be included in the resource update planned for November 2023. The holes form a detailed cross-section through the deposit. The regularly spaced and oriented holes show the remarkable grade consistency in the High Grade Panel within the Ana Paula deposit.
“Ana Paula continues to outperform our expectations and is growing more quickly than we expected when we acquired the project. The current two holes are 26% and 225% higher than predicted in the resource model and, in total, twelve of the thirteen holes targeting the High Grade Panel delivered intercepts with better grades or widths than the existing resource model. These results are encouraging for the resource update planned for November 2023. The Company’s biggest near-term catalysts will come in rapid succession. Imminent metallurgical results, growth target drilling results, and a resource update are all expected in Q4, 2023.”
Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk
Drill Results
Results from this press release are infill holes within the High Grade Panel at Ana Paula. Drillholes AP-23-306, AP-23-307 and AP-23-291 (previously released) form a tightly spaced fence of holes that form a north-south section through the High Grade Panel (Figure 1). This data is a key component of the upcoming resource estimate. The fence spacing will set the confidence in the continuity of grade between drill holes.
The drill results show remarkably consistent gold mineralization across the section. The high-grade mineralization remains open beneath hole AP-23-306. The Company plans additional drilling to define the full extent of the high-grade gold mineralization beneath this intercept.
The upper part of hole AP-23-306 also crossed the Parallel Panel target. The hole overlapped an intersection in the previously reported hole AP-23-299. It returned a strong intersection of gold mineralization (35.9 metres grading 8.2 g/t gold) further re-enforcing the potential of this target area.
Drill Results Impact
Drill results from twelve of the thirteen holes targeting the High Grade Panel delivered increased gold grades or thicknesses when compared to the existing model. One of the twelve holes (AP-23-302) intersecting gold mineralization where none was previously estimated. Results with increased grades or thicknesses are expected to positively impact future resource models.
- AP-23-291 is a 30% increase
- AP-23-292 is a 2% increase
- AP-23-293 is a 139% increase
- AP-23-297 is a 33% increase
- AP-23-298 is a 38% increase
- AP-23-300 is a 480% increase
- AP-23-301 is a 63% decrease
- AP-23-302: 52.0m @ 5.0 g/t where none previously estimated
- AP-23-303 is a 14% increase
- AP-23-304 is a 3% increase
- AP-23-305 is a 307% increase
- AP-23-306 is a 26% increase
- AP-23-307 is a 225% increase
The potential impact of these drill results on future resource models can be inferred by comparing the actual grades to those predicted by the existing model (as reported in the 2023 prefeasibility study1). Drilling that outperforms (i.e. is higher grade or wider) the model may be expected to improve the grade and size of future resource and reserve estimates. Using a 5 g/t cut-off grade provides a useful benchmark to the most financially impactful ounces in an underground mining scenario.
The improved results are across the entire High Grade Panel (the infill drilling, the up-plunge extension, and the down-plunge extension). The current program has delivered on all three target concepts for resource growth. This sets a solid foundation for the gold resource in the November 2023 planned update.
Drilling Results Table
| HoleID | From (metres) | To (metres) | Interval (metres) | Au (g/t) | Comment |
| AP-23-306 | 27.5 | 63.4 | 35.9 | 8.17 | Parallel Panel Target Includes geotech samples. Note 1 |
| Including | 51.6 | 63.4 | 11.8 | 13.55 | Includes geotech samples. Note 2 |
| And | 82.5 | 166.1 | 83.6 | 8.57 | Includes geotech samples. Note 3 |
| Including | 102.2 | 165.2 | 63.0 | 10.41 | Includes geotech samples. Note 4 |
| Including | 122.2 | 134.2 | 12.0 | 18.36 | |
| AP-23-307 | 36.0 | 93.0 | 57.0 | 6.03 | Includes geotech samples. Note 5 |
| Including | 76.75 | 81.75 | 5.0 | 45.44 | |
| And | 125.0 | 139.6 | 14.6 | 32.98 | Includes geotech samples. Note 6 |
| And | 125.0 | 139.6 | 14.6 | 18.60 | When cut to 100g/t gold |
1. includes 0.92 metres of sample removed for geotechnical studies and assumed to have 0 g/t gold
2. includes 0.39 metres of sample removed for geotechnical studies and assumed to have 0 g/t gold
3. includes 0.93 metres of sample removed for geotechnical studies and assumed to have 0 g/t gold
4. includes 0.57 metres of sample removed for geotechnical studies and assumed to have 0 g/t gold
5. includes 0.40 metres of sample removed for geotechnical studies and assumed to have 0 g/t gold
Drill Hole Information Table
| Hole ID | Northing (WGS84 Zone 14N) | Easting (WGS84 Zone 14N) | Elevation (metres) | Azimuth (°) | Inclination (°) | Length (metres) |
| AP-23-306 | 410,177 | 1,998,073 | 904 | 180 | -55 | 208.5 |
| AP-23-307 | 410,175 | 1,998,033 | 917 | 180 | -55 | 150.0 |
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Santiago Queretaro, Queretaro for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS Laboratories in North Vancouver. The North Vancouver ALS facility is ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish and overlimits were analysed by 50g fire assay with gravimetric finish.
Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analysed as part of the Company’s quality assurance / quality control protocol.
Statement of Qualified Person
Stewart Harris, P.Geo., a Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101“), has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein.
About Heliostar Metals Ltd.
Heliostar is a junior mining company with a portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Mexico and Alaska.
The Company is focused on developing the 100% owned Ana Paula Project in Guerrero, Mexico. In addition, Heliostar is working with the Mexican federal and local government to permit the San Antonio Gold Project in Baja Sur, Mexico. The Company continues to explore the Unga Gold Project in Alaska, United States of America.
The Ana Paula Project deposit contains proven and probable mineral reserves of 1,081,000 ounces of gold (630,000 proven and 451,000 probable ounces) at 2.38 grams per tonne (“g/t”) gold and 2,547,000 ounces of silver (1,322,000 proven and 1,226,000 probable ounces) at 5.61 g/t silver. Ana Paula hosts measured and indicated resources of 1,468,800 ounces of gold (703,800 measured and 765,000 indicated ounces) at 2.16 g/t gold and 3,600,000 ounces of silver (1,637,000 measured and 1,963,000 indicated ounces) at 5.3 g/t silver. The asset is permitted for open-pit mining and contains significant existing infrastructure including a portal and a 412-metre-long decline.
References
1 An updated prefeasibility study titled “Ana Paula Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Feasibility Study Update” was filed on SEDAR on April 6, 2023, with an effective date of February 28, 2023, prepared for the Company by Daniel H. Neff, PE, Art S. Ibrado, PhD, PE, Richard K. Zimmerman, RG, SME-RM, Craig Gibson, PhD, CPG, Andrew Kelly, P.Eng., Gordon Zurowski, P.Eng., Paul Daigle, P.Geo., Gilberto Dominguez, PE and James A. Cremeens, PE, PG.
For additional information please contact:
Charles Funk
Chief Executive Officer
Heliostar Metals Limited
Email: [email protected]
Rob Grey
Investor Relations Manager
Heliostar Metals Limited
Email: [email protected]
