ExGen Announces Results of Sulphide Zone Exploration Drilling

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ExGen Resources Inc. (TSX.V:EXG) (OTC:BXXRF) ("ExGen") is pleased to provide an update in respect of Phoenix Global Mining Ltd.’s (“Phoenix”) exploration and development activities at the Empire Mine Project in Idaho, USA. Further to previous ExGen news releases, ExGen owns 20% and Phoenix owns 80% of Konnex Resources, Inc. ("Konnex"), which holds the leases to the Empire Mine Project. ExGen further has a 2.5% NSR royalty on the Empire Mine Project and owns 11,300,000 Phoenix common shares.

ExGen is pleased to report that Phoenix has received the analytical results from deep core drilling at its Empire Project in Custer County, Idaho.

As a prelude to the underground sampling program below the oxide zone at Empire two scout diamond drill holes totalling 534 metres were completed in early December. These were drilled from surface to determine geological structure beyond the old workings and specifically to locate the skarn structures which host the mineralisation. 

Highlights

• The two scout holes have demonstrated that favourable primary sulphide ore hosting geology is present below the proposed open pit oxide zone and confirms the presence of the predicted larger sulphide zone beneath the present oxide zone
• Both holes intersected the skarn structures over much of their length
• Much of the core is mineralised throughout its length, with higher grade polymetallic values being returned, including significant occurrence of tungsten values
• Mineralized intercepts underlying the Empire oxide zone:
  • 4.6 m @ 2.45% Cu Equivalent
  • 10.7 m @ 1.02% Cu Equivalent

Drilling Program
The Company’s drilling contractor, AK Drilling Inc., completed the deep core hole program in early December 2017. HQ-diameter drill holes KXD17-8, KXD17-9 and KXD17-10 were angle drilled to depths of 314m, 67m, and 266m, respectively. Hole KXD17-9 encountered underground workings and was abandoned at 67m depth and re-collared as KXD17-10.

The following is a summary of the analytical results for drill holes KXD17-8 and KXD17-10.

Copper Equivalent (CuEq) is used for illustrative purposes, to express the combined value of copper and gold as a percentage of copper. No allowances have been made for recovery losses that would occur in a mining scenario. CuEq is calculated on the basis of $3.18 per pound of copper, $1.56 per pound of zinc, $14.43 per pound of tungsten, $17.11 per troy ounce of silver, and $1,336.83 per troy ounce of gold.

The wolfram (tungsten) assays confirm that these skarns do contain tungsten mineralization and what has been intersected are probably plutonic “feeders” the source of which have yet to be discovered.

Mr. Jason Riley, CEO of ExGen commented: “ExGen is pleased to see that the results from the two deep exploration core holes have confirmed the favourable mineral hosting geology which we were seeking does exist below the current oxide zone and that higher grade polymetallic mineralization is present in the skarn structures at depth. Both of the core holes intersected mineralised skarn over much of their length and, as we can see from the analytical data, both drill holes intersected numerous intervals of significant copper, gold, silver, zinc, lead, and tungsten. We believe that these results together with the recent addition of the Horseshoe Block and the northern extension of strike by approximately 1.2km represent a considerable potential tonnage target for continued exploration. ExGen is also awaiting the final 43-101 report on the Empire Mine and it is expected to be released shortly.”

Qualified Person
Roger Turner A.C.S.M., M.Sc., M.I.M.M.M., C.Eng., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and Chief Technical Officer and a Director of Phoenix Global Mining, has reviewed and verified the technical mining information provided in this release. Mr. Turner is a graduate mining engineer from the Camborne School of Mines with an MSc in Economic Geology from Leicester University with more than 40 years’ experience in mine development, construction and operation.

About ExGen Resources Inc.

ExGen, formerly Boxxer Gold Corp, is a project accelerator that seeks to fund exploration and development of our projects through joint ventures and partnership agreements. This approach significantly reduces the technical and financial risks for ExGen, while maintaining the upside exposure to new discoveries and potential cash flow. The company intends to build a diverse portfolio of projects across exploration stages and various commodity groups. ExGen currently has 6 projects in Canada and the US.

For more information on ExGen please contact ExGen Resources Inc.

Jason Tong
Chief Financial Officer
Email: jason@catapultgroup.ca

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 or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains certain forward-looking information. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the Empire Mine Project and the exploration and development of the Empire Mine Project; the earning of the Option by Phoenix and the potential transfer back to ExGen of the Konnex shares; the exploration and development strategy of the Empire Mine Project, including the exploration program, drilling, mine development, completion of a potential NI 43-101 resource calculation and a potential pre-feasibility study in compliance with NI 43-101, and the timing for completion of these events; the timing for the completion of exploration drilling and the receipt of exploration information and drill assays; the potential of the underground sulphide mineralization and the potential re-opening of the 700 and 1100 level portals to assist in the analysis of the potential sulphide mineralization. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. There can be no assurance that the development of the Empire Mine Project will be completed, and if development is completed, that such development will result in a producing mine. In the forward looking information contained in this news release, ExGen has made numerous assumptions, based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with the mineral industry. In addition, ExGen has assumed: the continued market acceptance of its joint venture partnership model; the ability of ExGen to raise future equity financing, if needed, at prices acceptable to ExGen; ExGen's current and initial understanding and analysis of the Empire Mine Project; the ability of ExGen or third parties to discover viable exploration targets and the results of exploration on the Empire Mine Project; the ability of Phoenix to explore and develop the Empire Mine Project; the cost of exploration, including sampling, drilling and assaying, on the Empire Mine Project, the costs of developing the Empire Mine Project and the costs and the ability of Phoenix to produce a NI 43-101 compliant resource calculation and pre-feasibility study; the costs and work required to re-open the 700 and 1100 level portals; and ExGen's general and administrative costs remaining constant. While, ExGen considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause ExGen's observations, actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: there is no certainty that the Option will result in significant exploration of the Empire Mine Project or development of the Empire Mine Project into a producing mine; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineralization and uncertainty as to the actual results of exploration and development or operational activities; uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; ExGen may not be able to comply with its ongoing obligations regarding its properties; the early stage development of ExGen and its projects, and in particular, the Empire Mine Project; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; capital market conditions and market prices for securities, junior market securities and mining exploration company securities; commodity prices, in particular copper, gold, silver, and zinc prices; competition; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents and other risks inherent in the mining industry; lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting ExGen; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. A description of additional assumptions and risk factors used to develop such forward-looking information that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in ExGen's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although ExGen has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. ExGen does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.