VANCOUVER, British Columbia – may 17, 2022 – New Pacific Metals Corp. (“New Pacific” or the “Company”) (TSX: NUAG; NYSE American: NEWP), together with its local Bolivian partner, announce the assay results of the last ten drill holes from the Discovery Drill Program completed in 2021 at the Carangas Silver-Gold Project, Oruro Department, Bolivia (the “Carangas Project” or the “Project”). Assay results of all 35 holes drilled in 2021 (Figure 1) have now been received and released. Drill intercepts of mineralization and hole specifications of the last ten holes are presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Drilling is underway on the 2022 drilling program of up to an additional 40,000 metres (“m”).
Highlights
· Hole DCAr0031 was drilled on section 24 at the Central Valley and intersected 595.7 m (from 161.55 m to 757.25 m) grading 1.25 grams per tonne (“g/t”) gold (“Au”) and 7 g/t silver (“Ag”), including 98.9 m (from 457.3 m to 556.2 m) grading 2.58 g/t Au, 6 g/t Ag and 42.11 m grading 3.51 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag and 0.1% copper (“Cu”) (from 711.0 m to 753.11 m). This broad gold zone occurs beneath a silver horizon of 41.63 m grading 41 g/t Ag, 1% lead (“Pb”) and 1.72% zinc (“Zn”) from 62.37 m to 104 m. This hole was terminated in mineralization at a depth of 757.25 m due to difficult drilling conditions and capacity of the drill rig.
Gold mineralization intersected in hole DCAr0031, is hosted in strongly argillic-sericitized lithic tuff of dacitic composition with disseminated sulfides and cut by veinlets of pyrite and chalcopyrite, similar to the holes DCAr0020, DCAr0016 and DCAr0015 reported previously (Figure 2).
· Hole DCAr0032 was drilled at East Dome and intersected an interval of 194.70 m (from 18.3 m to 213.0 m) grading 33 g/t Ag, 0.37% Pb and 0.71% Zn, including a high-grade interval of 14.43 m (from 129.3 m to 143.73 m) grading 158 g/t Ag, 0.29% Pb and 0.25% Zn. This hole also intersected a high-grade interval of 10.25 m grading 1,213 g/t Ag, 1.2% Pb and 0.19% Zn from 319.89 m to 330.14 m.
· Hole DCAr0027 was drilled at the top of West Dome and intersected an interval of 72.7 m grading 116 g/t Ag and 1.34% Pb (from 1.78 m to 74.48 m) in the near-surface hydrothermal breccia horizon, including 35.73 m grading 213 g/t Ag and 1.46% Pb (from 12.95 m to 48.68 m).
· Hole DCAr0028 was drilled to the bottom of West Dome and intersected an interval of 190.97 m (from 10.47 m to 201.44 m) grading 65 g/t Ag, 0.48% Pb and 1.09% Zn, including high-grade intervals of 31.82 m (from 57.18 m to 89.0 m) grading 101 g/t Ag, 0.95% Pb and 2.59% Zn, and 17.03 m (from 178.9 m to 195.93 m) grading 347 g/t Ag, 1.01% Pb and 1.79% Zn.
· Hole DCAr0030 was drilled to the bottom of West Dome about 100 m to the north of hole DCAr0028 and intersected an interval of 160.10 m (from 35.57 m to 195.67 m) grading 65 g/t Ag, 0.32% Pb and 0.93% Zn, including a high-grade interval of 32.65 m (from 56.2 m to 88.85 m) grading 216 g/t Ag, 0.63% Pb and 1.65% Zn.
Nine holes in Table 1 were drilled at a shallow dip angle of -45 degrees targeting the near surface silver-rich polymetallic mineralization at various locations in Central Valley, West Dome and East Dome and intersected broad silver-rich mineralization near surface. The only deep hole, DCAr0031 was drilled at a higher dip angle of -68 degrees to a depth of 757.23 m, which intersected 595.7 m interval of gold. The gold mineralization may represent a feeder zone that is related to multi-stage rhyolitic/dacitic porphyry intrusive bodies.
Figure 1. Simplified geology map and drill holes of the 2021 Discovery Drill Program at Carangas Project
Figure 2. DCAr0031 on section 24 was terminated in gold mineralization due to drill difficulty
Update on the 2022 Drilling Campaign
The Company currently has four drill rigs turning at the Carangas Project and plans to complete up to 40,000 m drilling this year. Of the four drill rigs, two rigs are testing the shallow silver horizon and the other two rigs are testing the gold mineralization at depth. So far, approximately 10,000 m have been completed in 15 holes. Assay results of 15 drill holes completed in 2022 are pending.
The Company has attempted to drill beyond 1,000 m depth to follow gold mineralization and has encountered thermal water at around 900 m depth. The Company is seeking to have a fifth rig capable of 1,500 m depth to test potential mineralization of rhyolitic bodies.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
All samples in respect of the exploration program at the Carangas Project, conducted by the Company and discussed in this news release, are shipped in securely-sealed bags by New Pacific staff in the Company’s vehicles, directly from the field to ALS Global in Oruro, Bolivia for preparation, and ALS Global in Lima, Peru for geochemical analysis. ALS Global is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory independent from New Pacific. All samples are first analyzed by a multi-element ICP package (ALS code ME-MS41) with ore grade over specified limits for silver, lead and zinc further analyzed using ALS code OG46. Further silver samples over specified limits are analyzed by gravimetric analysis (ALS code of GRA21). Gold is assayed firstly by ICP method then by fire assay with AAS finish (ALS code of Au-AA25). Certified reference materials, various types of blank samples and duplicate samples are inserted to normal drill core sample sequences prior to delivery to laboratory for preparation and analysis. The overall ratio of quality control samples in sample sequences is around twenty percent.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Alex Zhang, P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration, who is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 — Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). The Qualified Person has verified the information disclosed herein, including the sampling, preparation, security and analytical procedures underlying such information, and is not aware of any significant risks and uncertainties that could be expected to affect the reliability or confidence in the information discussed herein.
ABOUT NEW PACIFIC
New Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company with precious metal projects, including the flagship Silver Sand Project, the Silverstrike Project and the Carangas Project, all of which are located in Bolivia. The Company is focused on progressing the development of the Silver Sand Project, exploring the Carangas broad silver-gold Project, recently discovered in 2021 and initiating the exploration of the historic silver mining district of the Silverstrike Project.
For further information, please contact:
New Pacific Metals Corp.
Phone: (604) 633-1368
U.S. & Canada toll-free: 1-877-631-0593
E-mail: investor@newpacificmetals.com
To receive company news by e-mail, please register using New Pacific’s website at www.newpacificmetals.com.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”, “is expected”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “projects”, “estimates”, “assumes”, “intends”, “strategies”, “targets”, “goals”, “forecasts”, “objectives”, “budgets”, “schedules”, “potential” or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Such statements include, but are not limited to: statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, and other activities or achievements of the Company; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; timing and content of the PEA, and estimates of the Company’s revenues and capital expenditures; and other future plans, objectives or expectations of the Company.
Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks relating to: global economic and social impact of COVID-19; fluctuating equity prices, bond prices, commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and mineralization, general economic conditions, foreign exchange risks, interest rate risk, foreign investment risk; loss of key personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, environmental risks, operations and political conditions, the regulatory environment in Bolivia and Canada; risks associated with community relations and corporate social responsibility, and other factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended June 30, 2021 and its other public filings.
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements or information.
The forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this news release that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and options include, but are not limited to, those related to the Company’s ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Company’s ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the stabilization of the political climate in Bolivia; the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain social license at its mineral properties; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits, including the ratification and approval of the Mining Production Contract with COMIBOL by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia; the ability of the Company’s Bolivian partner to convert the exploration licenses at the Carangas Project to AMC; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Other than specifically required by applicable laws, the Company is under no obligation and expressly disclaims any such obligation to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required by law. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release.
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US INVESTORS
This news release, including the documents incorporated by reference herein, has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. All mining terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in NI 43-101.
Accordingly, information contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein containing descriptions of the Company’s mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.