Surface sampling returns multiple high-grade results up to 92.55 g/t gold
North Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – August 24, 2023) – Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) (ASX: LLO) (“Lion One” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the discovery of a new mineralized structure carrying bonanza grade gold 1 km to the north of the company’s 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji.
The new mineralized structure was discovered on surface by Lion One’s regional exploration team and has been named the Lumuni occurrence. The structure is located 1 km north of Tuvatu, approximately along strike from lodes UR1, UR2, and UR3. The Lumuni structure exhibits a width at surface of approximately 0.5 m to over 1 m and is manifested as two mapped zones of what may be a single continuous feature. This includes a north-south striking zone that dips steeply to the west, and a northwest-southeast striking interval that dips steeply to the southwest. High-grade gold results were returned from close-spaced channels and outcropping zones separated by up to 30 m strike length. The overall feature was traced on surface for a length of over 150 m and remains open to the south-east where it is obscured under vegetation. The high-grade mineralized structure also appears to be coincident with a large steeply-dipping CSAMT resistivity low, which may be indicative of a deeply-rooted structure.
Highlights of Lumuni channel sampling:
- 66.83 g/t Au over 0.7 m (CH3850)
- 48.45 g/t Au over 0.7 m (including 92.55 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (CH3851)
- 15.18 g/t Au over 1.1 m (including 31.25 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (CH3849)
- 14.66 g/t Au over 1.1 m (including 16.78 g/t Au over 0.7 m) (CH3855)
- 17.04 g/t Au over 0.6 m (including 30.59 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (CH3853)
- 10.30 g/t Au over 0.9 m (including 13.89 g/t Au over 0.6 m) (CH3852)
- Strike length of over 150 m observed on surface
Lion One Chairman and CEO Walter Berukoff commented: “We’re very pleased with the discovery of the Lumuni occurrence. This discovery was made as part of our ongoing regional mapping and sampling program throughout the Navilawa Caldera. What makes this discovery so outstanding is the continuity of the high-grade material. It is not a single bonanza-grade sample, but rather a traceable lode of high to very-high grade material that can be followed along at surface. The fact that these high-grade samples coincide with a steeply dipping resistivity low is even more compelling as it provides us with immediate drill targets to pursue. We can now add Lumuni to our growing list of high-priority regional exploration targets.”
Table 1. Highlights of channel sampling in the Lumuni area. For full results see Table 2 in the appendix.
| Channel ID | From | To | Interval (m) | Au (g/t) | |
| CH3848 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 4.24 | |
| CH3849 | 1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 15.18 | |
| including | 1 | 1.45 | 0.45 | 4.54 | |
| and | 1.45 | 1.75 | 0.3 | 31.25 | |
| and | 1.75 | 2.1 | 0.35 | 15.09 | |
| CH3850 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 66.83 | |
| including | 0.6 | 1 | 0.4 | 64.62 | |
| and | 1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 69.77 | |
| CH3851 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 48.45 | |
| including | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 15.38 | |
| and | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 92.55 | |
| CH3852 | 0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 10.3 | |
| including | 0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 13.89 | |
| and | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 3.13 | |
| CH3853 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 17.04 | |
| including | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 30.59 | |
| and | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 3.48 | |
| CH3855 | 0.9 | 2 | 1.1 | 14.66 | |
| including | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 10.95 | |
| and | 1.3 | 2 | 0.7 | 16.78 | |
| CH3903 | 1 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 2.32 |
Figure 1. Location of Lumuni surface samples in relation to Tuvatu. The Lumuni discovery is approximately 1 km NNE of Tuvatu. Underground developments at Tuvatu are shown in red and the Lumuni surface samples are identified by the black dots. Background colours represent surface geology, with Navilawa Monzonite in pink, Nadele Breccia in green, and Sabeto volcanics in dark purple.
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Figure 2. Location of Lumuni channel samples. Composite results of channel sampling in the Lumuni area in g/t gold. The dashed line represents the trace of the mineralized lode on surface.
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Lumuni Channel Sampling
A total of 16 channel samples were collected in the Lumuni area. The channel samples were collected by taking rock chip samples along a line oriented perpendicular to the observed structure, with overlap into the wall rock (see Figure 3).
The Lumuni structure is composed of two intervals; a northern portion trending approximately north-south and dipping sub-vertically to steeply to the west, and an eastern portion trending approximately northwest-southeast and dipping steeply to the southwest. The area between the two sections is covered in thick vegetation. It is hypothesized that the two portions are part of the same curvi-linear structure, though the eastern portion may be a splay off the northern section. The northern section is located on the margins of the Sabeto River while the eastern portion climbs up a dry creek bed to the top of a ridge, where it becomes obscured by overburden. While the northern portion appears to pinch out to the north where a series of channel samples failed to return any grade, the eastern portion may remain open to the east with mineralization observed along its entire length. The mineralized strike length of the entire Lumuni structure is currently >150 m, including both portions.
The Lumuni structure has an average estimated true width of 0.6 m, though it pinches and swells locally with observed widths reaching approximately 1 m. It is hosted in monzonite and is composed of variably white to gray chalcedonic banded and locally recrystallized quartz, with abundant heavily oxidized sulphides, giving the lode a bright red, gossanous appearance. Pyrite is the most dominant sulphide, with trace sphalerite (zinc sulphide) and galena (lead sulphide) visible locally. Alteration is intense and consists predominantly of white clays and micas. Coarse roscoelite (a vanadium mica observed in high-grade parts of Tuvatu) is also observed locally. The north-south portion of the lode is structurally controlled forming sinistral, sigmoidal shapes suggesting a north-south strike-slip foliaton as well as northwest-southeast foliations.
Figure 3. Example Lumuni channel samples. Left: Channel samples CH3848 to CH3849. Red arrows represent the approximate location of channel samples (sample lines CH3850 and CH3851 are obscured by boulders). The approximate location of Lumuni structure is represented by the yellow lines. North is up. Right: Channel sample CH3850. The Lumuni lode is visible as the reddish-brown oxidized structure in the middle of the photo. Sample bags indicate the location of samples along the channel, which is marked with yellow spray paint. North is to the right.
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Figure 4. Example of Mineralization from the Lumuni Outcrop. Chalcedonic, locally banded and recrystallized comb quartz forming on the walls of open vugs, and abundant strongly oxidized sulphides in intensely altered medium-grained monzonite. Pen for scale.
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CSAMT
The newly discovered Lumuni structure overlies a prominent resistivity gradient identified in the 2019 CSAMT survey as a potential drill target (Figure 5). CSAMT is a ground geophysical method that measures the electrical resistivity of rocks down to depths of several kilometers. It is highly efficient in identifying subsurface structures, such as lithological contact zones, faults, fracture systems, and potential upflow zones especially if these are deep-rooted structures. In alkaline gold deposits such as Tuvatu, such deep-rooted structures provide the principal conduits for hydrothermal fluid flow from which gold and other metals are deposited.
The fact that the Lumuni structure not only appears to be sub-vertically dipping but that it also corresponds to a steeply-dipping resistivity gradient provides credence to the suggestion that the mineralization observed at surface may be associated with a deep-rooted structure, in similar fashion to the mineralized lodes at Tuvatu. The CSAMT survey data thereby provides viable drill targets to follow up the bonanza-grade surface sampling described in this news release. Note that the CSAMT data shown here is based on the 2019 CSAMT survey. As reported on June 20, 2023, additional CSAMT lines were completed in 2023, the results of which once interpreted, will provide higher resolution imaging of the resistivity characteristics of the survey area. Due to some delay in processing, the 2023 CSAMT data is not yet available. Once it is available, the higher resolution data will be beneficial in further refining drill targets to follow up the Lumuni occurrence.
Figure 5. CSAMT gradient underlying bonanza grade Lumuni surface samples. Line 08 from the 2019 CSAMT survey. The Lumuni channel samples overly a steeply dipping resistivity gradient that was identified in the 2019 CSAMT survey as a potential drill target. Once available, results from the 2023 CSAMT survey will provide enhanced resistivity data in this area and further refine drill targeting in the Lumuni area.
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About Tuvatu
The Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project is located on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. The January 2018 mineral resource for Tuvatu as disclosed in the technical report “Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Tuvatu Gold Project, Republic of Fiji”, dated September 25, 2020, and prepared by Mining Associates Pty Ltd of Brisbane Qld, comprises 1,007,000 tonnes indicated at 8.50 g/t Au (274,600 oz. Au) and 1,325,000 tonnes inferred at 9.0 g/t Au (384,000 oz. Au) at a cut-off grade of 3.0 g/t Au. The technical report is available on the Lion One website at www.liononemetals.com and on the SEDAR website at www.sedarplus.ca.
Qualified Person (NI43-101)
In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43- 101”), Sergio Cattalani, P.Geo, Senior Vice President Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and is responsible for the technical and scientific content of this news release.
QAQC Procedures
Lion One adheres to rigorous QAQC procedures above and beyond basic regulatory guidelines in conducting its sampling, drilling, testing, and analyses. The Company utilizes its own fleet of diamond drill rigs, using PQ, HQ and NQ sized drill core rods. Drill core is logged and split by Lion One personnel on site. Samples are delivered to and analyzed at the Company’s geochemical and metallurgical laboratory in Fiji. Duplicates of all samples with grades above 0.5 g/t Au are both re-assayed at Lion One’s lab and delivered to ALS Global Laboratories in Australia (ALS) for check assay determinations. All samples for all high-grade intercepts are sent to ALS for check assays. All samples are pulverized to 85% passing through 75 microns. Gold analysis is carried out using fire assay with an AA finish. Samples that have returned grades greater than 10.00 g/t Au are then re-analyzed by gravimetric method. For samples that return greater than 0.50 g/t Au, repeat fire assay runs are carried out and repeated until a result is obtained that is within 10% of the original fire assay run. Lion One’s laboratory can also assay for a range of 71 other elements through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), but currently focuses on a suite of 9 important pathfinder elements. All duplicate anomalous samples are sent to ALS labs in Townsville QLD and are analyzed by the same methods (Au-AA26, and Au-GRA22 where applicable). ALS also analyses 33 pathfinder elements by HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach and ICP-AES (method ME-ICP61).
About Lion One Metals Limited
Lion One’s flagship asset is 100% owned, fully permitted high grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project, located on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. Lion One envisions a low-cost high-grade underground gold mining operation at Tuvatu coupled with exciting exploration upside inside its tenements covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, an underexplored yet highly prospective 7km diameter alkaline gold system. Lion One’s CEO Walter Berukoff leads an experienced team of explorers and mine builders and has owned or operated over 20 mines in 7 countries. As the founder and former CEO of Miramar Mines, Northern Orion, and La Mancha Resources, Walter is credited with building over $3 billion of value for shareholders.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Lion One Metals Limited
“Walter Berukoff“, Chairman and CEO
Contact Investor Relations
Toll Free (North America) Tel: 1-855-805-1250
Email: info@liononemetals.com
Website: www.liononemetals.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “proposed”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited 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. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Appendix 1: Full Sample Results and Collar Information
Table 2. Channel and rock sample results from the Lumuni area
| Channel ID | Sample ID | From | To | Interval (m) | Au (g/t) |
| CH3848 | TUS025730 | 0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.51 |
| CH3848 | TUS025732 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 4.24 |
| CH3848 | TUS025733 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.32 |
| CH3848 | TUS025734 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.5 | <0.01 |
| CH3849 | TUS025735 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.04 |
| CH3849 | TUS025736 | 1 | 1.45 | 0.45 | 4.54 |
| CH3849 | TUS025737 | 1.45 | 1.75 | 0.3 | 31.25 |
| CH3849 | TUS025738 | 1.75 | 2.1 | 0.35 | 15.09 |
| CH3849 | TUS025739 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.02 |
| CH3850 | TUS025740 | 0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.04 |
| CH3850 | TUS025741 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.4 | 64.62 |
| CH3850 | TUS025742 | 1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 69.77 |
| CH3851 | TUS025743 | 0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.72 |
| CH3851 | TUS025744 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 15.38 |
| CH3851 | TUS025745 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 92.55 |
| CH3851 | TUS025746 | 1.6 | 2 | 0.4 | 0.69 |
| CH3852 | TUS025747 | 0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 13.89 |
| CH3852 | TUS025748 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 3.13 |
| CH3853 | TUS025749 | 0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.24 |
| CH3853 | TUS025851 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 30.59 |
| CH3853 | TUS025852 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 3.48 |
| CH3854 | TUS025853 | 0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.23 |
| CH3854 | TUS025854 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.56 |
| CH3855 | TUS025855 | 0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.15 |
| CH3855 | TUS025856 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 10.95 |
| CH3855 | TUS025858 | 1.3 | 2 | 0.7 | 16.78 |
| CH3856 | TUS025859 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.1 |
| CH3856 | TUS025860 | 1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.09 |
| CH3892 | TUS025887 | 0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | <0.01 |
| CH3892 | TUS025888 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | <0.01 |
| CH3892 | TUS025889 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | <0.01 |
| CH3893 | TUS025890 | 0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | <0.01 |
| CH3893 | TUS025891 | 0.7 | 1 | 0.3 | <0.01 |
| CH3893 | TUS025892 | 1 | 1.7 | 0.7 | <0.01 |
| CH3894 | TUS025893 | 0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | <0.01 |
| CH3894 | TUS025894 | 0.7 | 1 | 0.3 | <0.01 |
| CH3894 | TUS025895 | 1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | <0.01 |
| CH3894 | TUS025896 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.3 | <0.01 |
| CH3903 | TUS023003 | 0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.24 |
| CH3903 | TUS023004 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.4 | <0.01 |
| CH3903 | TUS023005 | 1 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 2.32 |
| CH3903 | TUS023006 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.6 | <0.01 |
| CH3904 | TUS023008 | 0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | <0.01 |
| CH3904 | TUS023009 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | <0.01 |
| CH3904 | TUS023010 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | <0.01 |
| CH3904 | TUS023011 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.3 | <0.01 |
| CH3905 | TUS023012 | 0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | <0.01 |
| CH3905 | TUS023013 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | <0.01 |
| CH3905 | TUS023014 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.9 | <0.01 |
| CH3905 | TUS023015 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 1.28 |
| CH3906 | TUS023019 | 0 | 1 | 1 | <0.01 |
| CH3906 | TUS023020 | 1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.62 |
Table 3. Collar coordinates (channel start) for channel samples reported in this release. Coordinates are in Fiji Map Grid.
| Channel ID | Easting | Northing | Elevation | Length (m) |
| CH3848 | 1876644 | 3922070 | 167.2 | 2.2 |
| CH3849 | 1876643 | 3922072 | 167.3 | 2.8 |
| CH3850 | 1876642 | 3922075 | 166.3 | 1.3 |
| CH3851 | 1876640 | 3922079 | 165.4 | 2.0 |
| CH3852 | 1876694 | 3922043 | 205.5 | 0.9 |
| CH3853 | 1876689 | 3922045 | 199.5 | 1.2 |
| CH3854 | 1876682 | 3922048 | 196.0 | 0.9 |
| CH3855 | 1876677 | 3922048 | 193.5 | 2.0 |
| CH3856 | 1876674 | 3922050 | 190.5 | 1.6 |
| CH3892 | 1876640 | 3922082 | 166.5 | 1.2 |
| CH3893 | 1876639 | 3922087 | 166.5 | 1.7 |
| CH3894 | 1876638 | 3922089 | 166.8 | 1.6 |
| CH3903 | 1876664 | 3922049 | 183.5 | 2.3 |
| CH3904 | 1876704 | 3922033 | 218.0 | 1.7 |
| CH3905 | 1876726 | 3922024 | 231.0 | 2.7 |
| CH3906 | 1876756 | 3922009 | 256.0 | 1.6 |
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