Harfang Releases High-Grade Gold Intervals in Trenches on its Lake Ménarik Property (James Bay, Québec)

MONTREAL, Jan. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harfang Exploration Inc. (“Harfang”) (TSX-V: HAR) is proud to announce results of its exploration campaign completed during Summer 2018 on its Lake Ménarik Property located in the La Grande Sub-province (James Bay, Québec). Recent work confirms the high-grade gold potential of quartz veins hosted in monzonitic intrusions and adjacent volcano-sedimentary units.

TRENCHING HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE (see Table 1 below):

-12.46 g/t Au and 25.5 g/t Ag over 3.60 m (Gordie showing);

-18.75 g/t Au, 31.1 g/t Ag and 0.41% Cu over 0.88 m and 5.38 g/t Au, 6.3 g/t Ag over 0.80 m (David showing);

-18.99 g/t Au, 7.0 g/t Ag over 0.35 m (near Ekomiak showing).

These high-grade gold occurrences are predominantly associated to deformed and submetric quartz veins hosted in a monzonite intrusion (e.g. David, Nova, Ben-Gord, Amy, Giaro and Benoît showings) and its adjacent volcano-sedimentary host rock (e.g. Gordie, Ekomiak, Massé and Greco showings) (Figures 1 to 3). This mineralization style, possibly related to deformation along regional structures, needs further fieldwork investigation as the potential of high-grade gold in quartz veins (>10 g/t Au) has been disregarded in the project history. Historical exploration was more guided towards the low-grade potential of the monzonite. Figures 2 and 3 show the abundance of high-grade gold occurrences on the property.

The lateral extension of such quartz veins is generally less than 10 m, striking into a northerly direction. The more extensive veins mapped over 50 m in length (e.g. Gordie and Ben-Gord showings) are mainly oriented into an easterly direction, subparallel to the regional deformational structures (shear zones and faults). These veins and their selvages commonly contain disseminated pyrite (<2%) and alteration minerals such as calcite, chlorite and hematite. Albite, sericite and K-feldspar also occur in the most altered monzonite.

Summer 2018 fieldwork was mainly focussed on mechanical trenching and rock sampling on the gold-bearing monzonite and its surroundings. During this campaign, Harfang continued the geological mapping in strategic sectors of the property in order to improve its understanding of the ore genesis in relation with the overall geological scheme.

Additional prospecting led to the discovery of the Bing showing located in the eastern part of the property (Figure 1). This new mineralized occurrence corresponds to a 100 m x 75 m wide zone made up of altered mafic volcanics and monzonitic dykes injected by abundant quartz veins. Best grab samples returned 1.61, 1.75 and 2.61 g/t Au. Silver and lead are anomalous in a few quartz veins grading up to 235 g/t Ag and 0.15% Pb. Grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of the mineralization enclosed on the property. This discovery, located 7 km northeast of the main monzonite intrusion, supports the idea that ENE-WSW regional structures associated to gold-bearing quartz veins extend across the entire property towards the Ménarik East Property (100% owned by Harfang).

Tables 1 and 2 list all mineralized intervals (>0.5 g/t Au) and grab samples (>1.0 g/t Au) collected in the different trenches.

Table 1. All mineralized intervals from trenches (>0.5 g/t Au). Intervals refer to lengths perpendicular to the mineralized strike.

Table 2. All mineralized grab samples from trenches (>1.0 g/t Au).

About the Lake Ménarik Property

The Lake Ménarik Property, 100% owned by Harfang, is made up of 93 claims covering 4,779 ha. Most claims are subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty which Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. is retaining. The property is located 45 km SSE of the Radisson locality and 5 km east of the James Bay Road. Lithologies dominantly includes volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Yasinski Group and the Ekomiak Formation, and intermediate intrusions associated to the Duncan Suite. Archean lamprophyres cut across all lithologies except the Proterozoic diabases.

More than 20 gold-rich showings (up to 1,918 g/t Au) were discovered since the beginning of exploration inside the limits of the actual property. Seventeen historical drillholes were done on the project. The best interval returned 0.89 g/t Au over 68.25 m in the monzonite. Mineralization styles, alteration minerals, and spatial relationships between lithologies, deformational features and alteration suggest that gold transportation and precipitation may have a magmatic-hydrothermal origin (monzonite-hosted gold deposit) coupled with structural deformation (orogenic gold deposit).

Quality Control

Rock samples were collected by the Harfang team. Each of the 466 channel and grab samples was placed in a plastic bag which was securely sealed with fibertape. These individual samples were then placed in larger bags that were sent in two separate batches to Laboratoire Expert Inc. in Rouyn-Noranda (Québec). These samples included nine standards and nine blanks inserted as part of the QAQC protocol. All samples were systematically analyzed for gold and silver. Copper, lead and zinc concentrations were determined on specific samples suspected to have anomalous content in these metals. These elements were analyzed by atomic absorption following pyroanalysis for gold and four acid total digestion for other metals. Samples with gold values above 1 g/t were reanalysed by gravimetry. For channel samples, the results obtained following these methods were used for the calculation of mineralized intervals. The sampling procedure and interpretation of the results were done by Harfang employees using a QAQC protocol conformed to the best practices in the industry.

About Harfang

Harfang is a mining exploration company whose primary mission is to discover new gold districts in the province of Québec. Harfang's development model is based on the generation of new mining projects and on the establishment of partnerships with major exploration and mining companies to advance its exploration projects.

This press release has been prepared and approved by François Goulet, P.Geo., President and CEO, a "qualified person" as defined by NI 43-101. For further information, please consult Harfang's website: www.harfangexploration.com.

François Goulet, President and Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 514 940-0670 #339
Email: fgoulet@harfangexploration.com
Web: www.harfangexploration.com 

Neither 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.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Harfang’s periodic reports including the filings made by Harfang from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.