The 2023 program achieved 22,500 m of drilling mostly focused on Boundary, Tom, and Jason zones in addition to five metallurgical drill holes at Mactung (Map 1). Use of directional drilling, in which multiple angled drill holes are initiated at depth from one primary hole, saved an estimated 1,800 m of drilling compared to traditional drilling of multiple new holes from surface for a total equivalent metreage of 24,300 m in 2023, making this Fireweed’s largest ever program and the biggest exploration program in Yukon this year.
About Fireweed Metals Corp. (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQB: FWEDF; FSE:M0G): Fireweed Metals is a public mineral exploration company on the leading edge of Critical Minerals project development. Fireweed is well-funded, with a healthy balance sheet, and has three projects located in Canada:
- Macpass Project (Zinc-Lead-Silver): Fireweed owns 100% of the district-scale 940 km2Macmillan Pass (“Macpass”) Project in Yukon, Canada, which is host to one of the largest undeveloped zinc resources in the world*. The Tom and Jason zinc-lead-silver deposits have current Mineral Resources1 (11.21 Mt Indicated Resource at 6.59% zinc, 2.48% lead, and 21.33 g/t silver; and 39.47 Mt Inferred Resource at 5.84% zinc, 3.14% lead, and 38.15 g/t silver) and a Preliminary Economic Assessment2 (PEA). In addition, Boundary Zone, Tom North and End Zone have significant zinc-lead-silver mineralization drilled but not yet classified as mineral resources. The Project also includes large blocks of adjacent claims with known showings and significant upside exploration potential.
- Mactung Project (Tungsten): The Company owns 100% interest in the 37.6 km2 Mactung Project located adjacent to the Macpass Project. Recently announced mineral resources for Mactung (41.5 Mt Indicated Resource at 0.73% WO3 and 12.2 Mt Inferred Resource at 0.59% WO3)3 make it the world’s largest high-grade resource of the Critical Mineral tungsten*. Located in Canada, it is one of the rare large tungsten resources outside of China*.
- Gayna Project (Zinc-Lead-Gallium-Germanium): Fireweed owns 100% of the 128.75 km2 Gayna Project located 180 km north of the Macpass Project. It is host to extensive mineralization including Critical Minerals zinc, gallium and germanium as well as lead and silver, outlined by 28,000 m of historical drilling. A recent reevaluation of the geology indicates the potential for high-grade Kipushi-style massive sulphide mineralization.
- Boundary Zone delivers multiple near-surface wide, high-grade zones of zinc-lead-silver mineralization in step-out holes within breccia and vein mineralization, as well as stratiform and massive sulphides.
- Hole NB23-019 intercept is the broadest, high-grade intercept on the eastern side of the stratiform body to date, establishing high-grade continuity over at least 350 m of strike within this zone alone.
- Hole NB23-019 intersected 57.43 m of 8.42% zinc, 1.77% lead, and 51.8 g/t silver (estimated true width 20 m), including 7.9 m of 16.4% zinc, 5.25% lead, and 150.8 g/t silver, and also including 6.74 m of 15.1% zinc, 2.56% lead, and 44.7 g/t silver. This hole also intersected a separate interval of 54.0 m of 7.05% zinc, and 10.3 g/t silver, including 23.5 m of 10.88% zinc, and 14.6 g/t silver.
- Hole NB23-023 intersected 76.77 m grading 6.78% zinc, 0.63% lead, and 17.5 g/t silver including 12.20 m of 16.38% zinc, 2.8% lead, and 44.2 g/t silver.
- Hole NB23-027 intersected 49.9 m grading 10.1% zinc and 14.4 g/t silver including 23.85 m of 13.95% zinc and 20.3 g/t silver.
- Assays are pending for 14 remaining drillholes from Boundary Zone, 10 holes from the Tom deposit and two holes from the Jason deposit.