One step closer to showing Arctic open-pit mine viability

Trilogy Metals Inc. Oct. 27 provided an update from its 2016 summer field program at the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects in the Ambler mining district of Northwest Alaska.

"We are pleased to announce another highly successful and safe field season at our high grade Arctic deposit. We had zero loss time incidents, no environmental incidents and maintained a high percentage of local NANA shareholder hire," said Trilogy President and CEO Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse.

NANA is the Alaska Native regional corporation in Northwest Alaska and a partner in the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects.

This year's US$5.5-million program focused primarily on 3,058 meters of drilling the Arctic volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit, the most advanced of the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects.

Three holes were designed to collect geotechnical and hydrological data within the proposed Arctic open-pit as outlined in a preliminary economic assessment completed in 2013; four holes collected samples to support a metallurgical test program currently underway; and six holes evaluated the vertical and lateral continuity of the high-grade polymetallic mineralization, and support upgrading and expanding inferred resources to the higher confidence measured and indicated resource classification within the area of the proposed Arctic open-pit.

Highlights from the drilling include: AR16-0155 cut three mineralized intervals, including 36.36 meters of 2.27 percent copper, 0.27 grams per metric ton gold, 25.3 g/t silver, 0.36 percent lead, and 2.54 percent zinc, and 8.48 meters of 6.14 percent copper, 1.32 g/t gold, 96.6 g/t silver, 1.93 percent lead, and 8.27 percent zinc; AR16-0148 cut four mineralized intervals, including 21.22 meters of 3.79 percent copper, 0.85 g/t gold, 69.1 g/t silver, 0.99 percent lead, and 5.78 percent zinc; AR16-0150 cut five mineralized intervals, including 16.6 meters of 5.4 percent copper, 0.2 g/t gold, 46 g/t silver, 1.23 percent lead, and 6.69 percent zinc; and AR16-0153 cut 12.59 meters of 2.49 percent copper, 0.86 g/t gold, 56.6 g/t silver, 2.17 percent lead, and 9.64 percent zinc.

"The results demonstrate the continuity of multiple high-grade zones of copper, zinc and precious metals," said Nieuwenhuyse.

In addition to drilling, Trilogy Metals conducted aquatics, avian, habitat, archaeological, and wetlands delineation surveys, and continued ongoing baseline environmental data collection in 2016.

"By completing an array of studies, including geotechnical for pit-slope stability, hydrology, waste rock characterization, environmental and metallurgy, we continue to advance Arctic towards a pre-feasibility level of study which will demonstrate that Arctic is one of the highest grade, open pit-able copper deposits in the world," explained Van Nieuwenhuyse. "By having exposure to copper, zinc and precious metals, the company maintains its flexibility as we advance this project up the value chain. Meanwhile, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority continues to advance permitting of the Ambler Mining District Industrial Access Project - a road connecting the Ambler mining district to a year-round port at Port Mackenzie."

-SHANE LASLEY