Churchill Resources Inc. [TSXV-CRI] provided an operational update for its Taylor Brook Ni-Cu-Co (nickel-copper-cobalt) project in western Newfoundland. Fieldwork has been near constant since early June and is continuing into November with a 5,000-metre program of deeper holes at Layden that is expected to continue through the winter. Up-to-date results from work, including those from shallow Winkie drilling at Layden and property-wide soil sampling, are reported herein.
Presently, the company has commissioned expanded CSAMT (controlled- source audio-frequency magnetotellurics) surveys at Layden, along with first coverage at the LIT-1 and TBSL-1 soil anomalies; line-cutting is in progress at TBSL-1. Mobile MT (magnetotellurics) surveying has also been commissioned along the entire Layden/TBGC corridor, which will augment previous detailed Heli-GT magnetic and VTEM (versatile time domain electromagnetics) coverage to map potential low resistivity/conductor target areas at depth as have been identified at Layden. A 5,000-metre drill program will commence in early November to test previously undetected CSAMT Layden targets at depths of minus-175 metres to minus-675 metres.
A ten-hole, cumulative 534.5m, program was completed using an innovative drill rig fabricated by MCL Drilling of Deer Lake, NL. The rig consists of a Winkie drill, set-up for 45-degree holes, on a tracked vehicle that has a very small footprint and is suitable for ATV trails. An array of 10 holes were drilled south of the Layden Showing to better delineate the gabbronorite-Western Dyke area as well as high-grade intersections in holes TB-22-20 and TB-22-30. Winkie hole WD-04 was targeted on the Layden horizon and intersected 3.12% Ni, 0.68% Cu and 0.05% Co over 2.61 metres, consistent with the high metal tenors defined in previous Layden intersections. Holes WD-01 and WD-02 intersected narrow mineralized zones that loosely correlate with previous intersections in holes TB22-20 and 22-30 and are likely mapping a fold nose. All other holes, drilled to better map the Layden Gabbronorite, were barren of mineralization.
Drill hole WD-01 returned 0.66 metres of 1.22% nickel and 0.13% copper. WD-02 returned 0.20 metres of 3.82% nickel and 0.13% copper; 0.32 metres of 4.94% nickel and 0.74% copper. WD-04 returned a weighted average of 2.61 metres of 3.12% nickel and 0.68% copper.
The Layden CSAMT survey is presently being expanded by Geophysique TMC Inc. to better delineate marginal anomalies that were detected in the original 800m x 800m survey. Following completion at Layden, the crew will move to survey the LIT-1 Ni Anomaly Grid, and thence the TBSL-1 grid, as line-cutting is completed. Expert Geophysics Limited will commence a Mobile MT survey over the entire Layden-Taylor Brook South Lobe corridor in early November, following completion of a calibration test-survey over the Layden CSAMT survey area. As well the Company is pleased to report that SHA Geophysics has completed the detailed Heli-GT expansion survey to cover the rest of the Taylor Brook Gabbro South Lobe.
MCL Drilling will be mobilizing to Taylor Brook on November 6 to commence the drill program, which is expected to run through the winter. Thus far five holes have been planned, targeting compelling resistivity low features at depths between -175m and -625m below surface.
As the Layden CSAMT expansion data is received and interpreted, more holes will be planned. Each hole, including the extension of TB-21-06, will be comprehensively surveyed with BHEM and televiewer equipment by Eastern Geophysics Limited.
Soil Sampling Results: 3,224 samples have thus far been collected in 2023 and results have been received for 2,969 samples, which include the TBSL-1 follow-up grid around original sample 884693 (584ppm Ni, 1172ppm Cu, 665ppm Co). The nickel anomaly at TBSL-1 has been extended to ~600m in length based on the soils, and line-cutters have commenced cutting a grid for geophysical follow-up.
Soil sampling has also advanced southerly along the Layden Intrusive Trend and over the South Lobe of the TBGC, with several new Ni, Cu and Co anomalies defined as shown on Figure 3 below. 50m x 25m follow-up grids will be sampled over a number of these to better refine whether geophysical, trenching, or drill targets are present.
The Taylor Brook Project consists of nine 100%-owned map-staked licenses containing 705 claims totalling 176.25 km2. Altius retains a 1.6% gross sales royalty on seven licenses, and a 2.0% NSR is retained by local prospectors on two small licenses totalling 4.75 km2. Churchill’s 2023 program at Taylor Brook includes property-wide soil sampling and prospecting, a CSAMT survey over the Layden Gabbronorite, completion of the high-resolution detailed aeromagnetic coverage of the South Lobe area, stripping/trenching, and diamond drilling.
Churchill Resources is focused on developing high-grade, magmatic nickel sulphide mineralization, principally at its prospective Taylor Brook and Florence Lake properties in Newfoundland & Labrador.
