Vancouver, BC, Canada, Feb. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Tellurium Corp. (CSE: FTEL) (the “Company” or “First Tellurium”), put boots on the ground to reconfirm previous assay results in preparation for its 2022 drill program.
Tellurium (Te) is a very rare element that averages only .3 parts per billion. Previous exploration on the property yielded tellurium grades of up to 3.3% (33,000 ppm), along with high gold and silver grades. The Colorado Geological Survey (CGS), in collaboration with the Colorado School of Mines, published reports on First Solar’s exploration at Klondike in the 2015 Colorado Mineral and Energy Industry Activities 2014 to 2015 publication.
The Klondike property is situated in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado and was previously owned by First Solar, Inc. First Solar is one of the biggest solar panel manufacturers in the world with a market cap of 9.4 billion Canadian. First Solar originally eyed the property as a potential primary tellurium source for its cadmium-telluride (CdTe) solar panels. The company then decided to leave exploration and mining to the experts and First Tellurium was able to acquire the claim.
John Keller was First Solar’s previous exploration manager and has stated, “The Klondike property has by far the highest tellurium grades in rock samples of the hundreds of prospects and mines we examined in the U.S. and Canada from 2006 to 2011. Some samples at Klondike were an order of magnitude higher in tellurium grade than any others we collected in the U.S. or in Canada.”
In late January 2022, Mr. Keller was on the property and took samples from various areas of the claim. They have been sent out for testing and the company expects those results within 6 to 8 weeks.
In preparation of its drilling program, and based on the results of the various laboratory samples, the Company intends to implement the following:
- Produce an updated surface geology map of the claim.
- Create additional maps showing existing surface assays of tellurium, gold and silver.
- Illustrate cross section models to identify drilling targets,
- Prepare a detailed map of potential drill sites with proposed depths and angles.
- Begin the 2022 drill exploration program.
“In 2022, our continued development of both the Klondike and Deer Horn properties should increase their value and appeal to strategic partners,” explained Tyrone Docherty, CEO of First Tellurium. “We believe the Klondike property is one of the richest tellurium properties in the world and we anticipate a very successful drill program this year. Our drill results should bring additional value to our new and existing shareholders.”
What is Tellurium (Te)
Tellurium is a naturally occurring element found in the earth's crust, but is extremely rare.
The largest use of tellurium (Te) in the past decade or more has been in the manufacture of thin-film photovoltaic solar panels. Tellurium, along with cadmium, is an essential component of the thin photovoltaic layer which generates the electricity from solar radiation.
Increasingly used in thermoelectric devices, including solar panels. Tellurium is also used in vulcanization of rubber, percussion caps, battery plate protectors and electrical resistors.
About First Tellurium Corp.
First Tellurium’s unique business model is to generate revenue and value through mineral discovery, project development, project generation and cooperative access to untapped mineral regions in Indigenous territory with sustainable exploration.
Our polymetallic (tellurium, gold, silver copper, tungsten) Deer Horn Project in British Columbia and Klondike tellurium-gold property in Colorado anchor a diversified search for metals, working in alliance with Indigenous peoples, NGOs, governments and leading metals buyers. This is the future of mineral exploration: generating revenue by exploring responsibly and leveraging diverse partnerships.
First Tellurium proudly adheres to and supports the principles and rights set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in particular the fundamental proposition of free, prior and informed consent.
https://firsttellurium.com/
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/02/09/2381523/0/en/First-Tellurium-Initiates-2022-Exploration-Program-of-its-Colorado-based-Klondike-Claim.html