Calgary, Alberta – TheNewswire - December 13, 2021 - Guardian Exploration Inc. (TSXV:GX) (“Guardian”) is pleased to announce that it has received all geochemical results from its summer work program at its 100% owned Mount Cameron Property, located in the Mayo Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada.  Early in 2021 Guardian contracted Aurora Geosciences Ltd. (Aurora), based at Whitehorse, Yukon, to perform a desktop study, followed by a helicopter-supported field program focusing on extending known mineralized zones within the project area.

 

Guardian gratefully acknowledges that the project received significant funding from the Yukon Mineral Exploration Program (YMEP), provided by the Yukon Geological Survey (YGS), Department of Energy, Mines and Resource, Government of Yukon.

 

Mineralized Settings

Mineralization at Mount Cameron falls into two categories: structurally controlled polymetallic lead-zinc-silver ± copper (Pb-Zn-Ag ± Cu) veining, and “Manto-style” carbonate replacement Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization (“CRDs”).  The “Cameron” lead-zinc-silver (Pb-Zn-Ag) prospect in the southern property area is an example of polymetallic veining. The “Clark” prospect, located within two claims held by a separate interest but surrounded by the Mount Cameron claim block, is an example of manto-style (CRD) mineralization.  The metallogenic signature of both prospects is similar to that of nearby polymetallic Ag-Pb-Zn deposits within the Keno Hill Silver District.

 

The Mount Cameron property is underlain mainly by Neoproterozoic Hyland Group quartzite and limestone, lying in contact with Devono-Mississippian Earn group fine clastic rocks in the extreme southern property area (Figure 1). Historic grid soil sampling in 1970 and 1971, northwest of the Clark prospect, identified several Pb-Zn soil geochemical anomalies along or proximal to a contact between limestone and quartzite*.  Historic diamond drilling in 1974, targeting the Cameron prospect in the southern Mount Cameron property area, returned values up to 6.1 meters grading 287.3 g/t Ag, 26.5% Zn, and 5.78% Pb*.  The Cameron prospect occurs along a fault contact, offsetting Hyland Group limestone to the east against quartzites to the west.  Previous workers determined that the fault extends to the north and south beyond the drilled area.

 

Property Geology

The Mount Cameron Property is underlain primarily by an aerially extensive assemblage of Hyland Group sediments mapped as quartzite with lesser schist and limestone. Limestone units commonly host CRD mineralization, comprised mainly of carbonaceous limestone breccia with lesser graphitic limestone.  Within both limestone settings, breccia clasts are cobble-sized and angular, hosted by a fine-grained calcite matrix with minor quartz, with pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite (zinc sulphide) and galena (silver-bearing lead sulphide) in mineralized intervals.

 

Stratigraphy of the Mount Cameron Property area has undergone NNE-directed faulting determined from historic detailed mapping of the Cameron Prospect area. At the Cameron Prospect, a zone of intense polymetallic brecciation occurs along a NNE trending fault zone within the upper Scougale Creek drainage that exhibits ~140-metres of sinistral movement, offsetting limestone to the east against quartzite to the west. Mineralization along the structure is comprised mainly of galena and sphalerite, with accessory chalcopyrite (copper sulphide), arsenopyrite and pyrite that is estimated to extend for ~300 m, as interpreted from historic work.

 

Satellite photo interpretation reveals several other north-south to NNE-SSW trending features at the Mount Cameron prospect that may indicate other coeval faults. Historic drilling in 1974 at the Cameron prospect returned significant intervals of Pb-Zn-Ag sulphide mineralization from five of six angle holes (Table 1)*.  It is unknown whether these intervals represent true widths.

  

Table 1: Significant Intercepts, 1974 drilling, Cameron prospect*

DDH ID	Easting	Northing	From	To	Width (m)	Zn (%)	Pb (%)	Ag (g/t)
Hole 74-1	499404	7107042	32.61	39.62	7.01	7.20	0.23		38.4
Hole 74-2	499392	7107010	31.7	45.72	14.02	8.40	0.09		9.9
Hole 74-3	499429	7106938	37.49	48.77	11.28	4.60	3.50		120
Hole 74-4	499420	7107048	20.12	33.53	13.41	20.40	0.57		36.3
Hole 74-5	499472	7107065	14.94	21.03	6.10	26.50	5.78		287.3
Hole 74-6	499497	7107142	29.26	30.18	0.91	7.68	0.08		4.1

 

Local historic rock sampling in the area returned several high-grade values, with up to 26.4% Zn, 0.134% Pb, 8.47 g/t Ag and 239 ppb (0.239 g/t) gold (Au) from “greenstone” and tuff, respectively.  A float grab sample of “weakly altered greenstone” returned 1.3 g/t Au, 3.39 g/t Ag, 212 ppm antimony (Sb) and >10,000 ppm (1.0%) arsenic (As)*.

 

2021 Highlights

The 2021 work program, which commenced in August, had several objectives: to conduct due-diligence style grid soil geochemical sampling across the northwestern Pb-Zn anomalies identified in 1970*; to visit and conduct due-diligence soil sampling across the Cameron prospect; and to perform stream silt geochemical sampling across the three main drainages across the property.  The program included collection of 169 grid soil samples, 16 reconnaissance soil samples, and 41 silt samples. Also, 9 rock grab samples from prospective sites or of potential mineralization were taken.

 

In 2021, a single due diligence-style soil geochemical survey line across the Cameron prospect returned moderately elevated Zn and Pb values (Figures 2 and 3), with weakly elevated Ag and Cu values (Figures 4 and 5).  Silt sampling, extending along a stream directly to the west, returned strongly anomalous Zn, Pb and Ag values, and moderately elevated Cu values, for much of its downstream extent.  High Zn, Ag, Cu and Pb values commence roughly 200 metres upstream of the Cameron showing, indicating bedrock-hosted mineralization occurs in this area.  This is interpreted as signifying the southern extension of the Cameron showing. The results also indicate the efficacy of soil and silt geochemical sampling within the Mount Cameron property.

 

A second significant Ag-Cu-Zn geochemical anomaly was identified along the upper extent of a separate east-flowing drainage about 1.25 km southeast of the Cameron showing.  Strongly anomalous Cu-Zn-Ag values were returned from a short soil sampling traverse extending from the east side of a plateau to the stream headwaters, and from the upper stream course. Values for Zn remain elevated throughout the sampled extent, and include a very high value directly upstream of a confluence in the extreme southeast property area. The mineralogy differs somewhat from the Cameron prospect area, indicated by near-background Pb values.  This indicates the bedrock source differs from the Cameron prospect, and may represent a subset of the polymetallic setting model.

 

Results from the northwestern soil grid revealed Pb-Zn anomalies of similar tenor to the 1970 survey values.  The 2021 survey returned five consecutive anomalous Zn ± Pb ± Ag values along a 250-metre portion of one NNW soil line, indicating a potentially sizable target.   Numerous other anomalous Zn ± Pb ± Cu values were returned from this area, indicating potential for several mineralized prospects.  The 2021 results confirm the results of earlier workers. The similar stratigraphic and lithological settings to that of the nearby Clark prospect indicate these anomalies may represent manto-style mineralization, rather than polymetallic veins.    

 

“I took the opportunity to join the field crew on site this summer,” says Graydon Kowal, President and CEO of Guardian. “I’m pleased with our progress and optimistic about the potential for this property,” adds Kowal.

 

Sampling Protocol

All rock, soil and silt samples were labelled, including a sample tag with a unique Sample ID number, and sealed on site with a cable tie to ensure sample quality.  Samples were organized in Mayo and Whitehorse, Yukon by Aurora personnel and delivered in person to the respective analytical labs in Whitehorse.

 

An early shipment, comprising 3 rock, 16 soil and 29 silt samples, was submitted to the Whitehorse prep laboratory of Bureau Veritas Minerals, an analytical lab with ISO/IEC 17025 certification.  All rock samples underwent crushing so that 80% of material passed through a 2 mm screen, then a 250-gram subsample was pulverized to 75 microns (µm).  All samples underwent aqua regia digestion followed by 34-element “Inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy” (ICP-ES) analysis of a 0.5-gram subsample.  All samples also included 50-gram fire assay analysis for gold.  Soil and silt samples were treated identically, commencing with drying to 60oC, followed by sieving to 80 mesh (-180 µm).  Soil samples underwent the same ICP-ES and fire assay analysis as rock samples.

 

The remaining samples were submitted as a single shipment of 6 rock, 12 silt and 169 soil samples to the Whitehorse prep and analytical lab of ALS Minerals, with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certification. At the Whitehorse prep lab, all rock samples were weighed, and underwent fine crushing so that 70% of the material could pass through a 2 mm screen.  The resulting crushed material was split by riffle splitter, followed by pulverization of a 250-gram subsample so that 85% could pass through a 75 µm screen.  All samples underwent aqua regia digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis of a 25-gram sample for 43 elements including Au.  Soil and silt samples were treated identically, commencing with drying to 60oC, followed by sieving to 80 mesh (-180 µm).  This was followed by aqua regia digestion and “Ultra Trace ICP-MS” analysis of a 0.5-gram subsample for 53 elements, as well as 30-gram fire assay analysis with atomic absorption finish for Au.

 

This News Release was prepared by Guardian in cooperation with Jesse C. Grady, MSc. Geology, CPG #11592. Jesse C. Grady is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical disclosure included in this news release.

 * This information is historic in nature and is based on sampling and drilling results reported in 1970 and 1971 by Bullion Mountain Mining Ltd. and in 1974 by Scury-Rainbow Oil Ltd. Guardian believes this information is reliable and relevant as it was completed by reputable companies that use industry standard drilling and sampling practices.   Guardian or its Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to verify this information.

About Guardian Exploration Inc.

Guardian is a TSX-V listed company (GX) engaged in oil and gas exploration, as well as mineral exploration and development.  Guardian’s first prospect is the Mount Cameron Property located in the Yukon’s Mayo Mining District.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Graydon Kowal

President and CEO

(403) 730-6333

 

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.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the commencement, timing and scope of the work program outlined above and that it will be conducted as expected.  Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: operational matters, historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances.  There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Figure 1: Geology map, Mount Cameron property

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Figure 2: Zinc (Zn) assay ranges, 2021 Program

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Figure 3: Lead (Pb) assay ranges, 2021 program

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Figure 4: Silver (Ag) assay ranges, 2021 program

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Figure 5: Copper (Cu) assay ranges, 2021 program