Discussion of exploration target, Paradox Project

CALGARY, Alberta, June 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Voyageur Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V:VM) (the “Company”) advises that its JV partner Anson Resources Ltd (“Anson”) has established an exploration target on the Paradox project.

Highlights:

• The brine volume calculations together with ongoing geological and geophysical studies will help to determine the drilling targets
• The Project is located in Utah with road access and in close proximity to rail, gas and power infrastructure.
• The Project sits on Roberts Rupture within the Paradox Basin:
  • 1,700ppm lithium assayed from Clastic Zone 31, a mere 800m away.
  • Clastic Zone 31 (containing lithium  brines) possibly replenished from aquifers below, and an additional 20 untested Clastic Zones possibly containing brines
  • Evidence suggests that brines from Clastic Zone 31 which are adjacent to the Roberts Rupture are at higher temperature (600C compared to 400C) and pressure (twice) than expected

Cautionary Statement: The potential quantity (volume) and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resources and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of Mineral Resources.

Voyageur’s partner Anson Resources Limited (“Anson or the Company”) has calculated a Conceptual Exploration Target volume of the brine within Clastic Zone 31 of Anson’s Paradox Brine Project.  Lithium grades of  500 ppm and 1,700ppm from two historic wells drilled within 800 m of the ULI claims property boundary.

The volume was calculated by an independent geologist, Henkle & Associates, from downhole geophysical logs and geological logs of historic oil wells drilled just west of the project area. From these logs the Clastic Zone 31 horizon dimension and geological data was determined, see Table 1.

Table 1: Stratigraphic data obtained from the geophysical drill logs*

* Source: Potential In-Place Brine Volume Estimate, Henkle & Associates

• The horizon was identified in each well log by correlating it’s geophysical signature across the study area, see an example in Figure 1.

A chart accompanying this announcement is available at 
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/967b6560-cdbd-4a07-ac6a-e0c3fc830899

Additional clastic zone horizons both above and below Clastic Zone 31 have been identified on down hole geophysical logs of wells drilled nearby.. Select brine zones are highlighted in Figure 1.

Geologically, the clastic zones consist of black shales, dolomite and anhydrite layers. While all clastic horizons are prospective for lithium, only Clastic Zone 31 has previously been assayed for lithium in 5 wells.

The additional brine zones are also prospective for lithium and other minerals, which Anson intends to sample in an upcoming drilling program. Should lithium be identified, there is potential for the calculated brine volume for the Paradox Brine Project to be increased.

The locations of the historical oil wells from which the geophysical logs were obtained to calculate the volume of the Clastic Zone 31 brine horizons are shown in Figure 2.

A chart accompanying this announcement is available at 
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/122c14c2-cd90-4b92-8e33-3f405800c7d2

Paradox Brine Project Ownership and Claims:

Anson’s Paradox Brine Project covers 283 placer claims (see Figure 2), consisting of:

• 89 claims in which Anson holds a 10% interest and is earning a up to 70% in two phases with the option to then acquire the remaining 30% interest; and
• 194 claims staked by Anson at a cost of US$43,068 (US$222 per claim).

Under the earn-in agreement for the original 89 claims Anson has offered the original holder  of the 89 claims the opportunity to include the new claims in the joint venture. Discussions in this regard are ongoing.

Paradox Brine Project Overview:

The Paradox Brine Project is a subterranean pressurized brine (SPB) project with Anson targeting brines from Clastic Zone 31, approximately 6,000 to 7,000 feet below the surface, and 20 additional brine zones above and below Clastic Zone 31.

The Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation has been defined in numerous oil wells drilled throughout the region. See Figure 2. Over pressurized brines were encountered in a unit of the Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation named the Clastic Zone 31.

While most wells were not analyzed for lithium, the Clastic Zone 31 horizon in 2 wells within 1km of the south end of the claims (Long Canyon No.1 and Robert’s Well) were assayed and showed lithium values of  500 ppm and  1,700ppm, Li respectively., Available well data from the play area indicates that the higher lithium values are found in close proximity to the Robert’s Rupture geological formation which runs through the Project claims. In addition, magnesium, bromine, boron and iodine were also found to be in high concentrations.

Clastic Zone 31, which hosts the pressurized brines, consists of  an estimated 15.9 feet of interbedded shale, anhydrite and dolomite, and is not part of any known oil reservoir. The brines found near the Roberts Rupture, are under pressure (approximately twice the expected pressure of 4,953 psi and at a higher temperature than would be expected (600C compared to 400C). This resulted in the brines flowing to the surface when intersected by historic drilling.

Engineering reports from the 1960’s conclude that the brine reservoir is extensive and is likely recharged from fresh in-flows of artesian water as indicated by well pressure measurements and draw-down tests.

Paradox Brine Project Test Work:

Phase 1 of a testing program on a synthetically prepared brine with a composition based on the brine composition of samples assayed from Clastic Zone 31 (800m south of the Project area) has been undertaken.

The result of the test work found that magnesium could be removed to <10ppm with a lithium loss of less than 3%.

The composition of the synthetic brine used in the test work is shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Composition of the synthetic lithium brine solution used in the test work

The test work is aiming to identify if a processing plant could be used to extract lithium and other valuable minerals and avoid the use of evaporation ponds to enable processing time to be reduced to hours compared to multiple months using traditional evaporation ponds followed by processing.

Paradox Brine Project Infrastructure:

With the additional area, access to existing infrastructure improves. This includes highways and sealed roads, a railway, a gas line and a power line. See Figure 3.

A chart accompanying this announcement is available at 
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11d9fb2f-4e60-49cb-9229-0112a0453ada

A power line, gas pipeline, road and rail line can be seen in the north east corner of the additional claims, enhancing project logistics. Note the road is an paved, multi lane  highway providing access to potential customers. The town of Moab 12km away can be easily accessed by road.

Voyageur’s Additional Projects:

Lithium King Property

• Voyageur has completed its initial sampling program on its 100% owned Lithium King project located near Bonneville Utah.
• Lithium King brine water is undergoing process testing for extraction of lithium from the brine water without having to concentrate the  brine or remove magnesium as an initial processing step.

Frances Creek Barite Property

• Voyageur has begun preparations for its 2000m drilling program on its high grade barite project Frances Creek, located in British Columbia.
• Upon completion of drilling Voyageur will begin a feasibility study to bring the project into production in 2018 to establish near term cash flow.              

About Voyageur Minerals 

• Voyageur is a Calgary based company which owns 100% interest in three Barium Sulfate ("Barite") deposits including two properties which initial work suggests are suitable in grade for the industrial barite market place, and interests in two high grade lithium brine projects in Utah, USA. Voyageur's business plan is to develop its barite deposit at Frances Creek, BC, Canada, for potential near term cash flow, while it continues exploration for critical and strategic minerals.               

Qualified Person Statement
The Company’s qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, Mr. Randy Henkle, has reviewed this news release and approved it.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Qualifying Transaction, including statements regarding the acquisition of future assets, the discovery and commercialization of commercial quantities of industrial minerals, the successful commercialization of the Company’s assets, expected operational activities, other statements that are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the risk that the assets do not provide commercial quantities or grades of marketable minerals, that even if they do contain commercial quantities of marketable minerals that the Company will not be able to economically produce such discoveries, the existence of commercial grades of commercial minerals, timing of obtaining required approvals,  state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, investor interest in the business and future prospects of the Company.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

The information in this announcement that relates to exploration results and geology is based on information compiled and/or reviewed by Mr Greg Knox, a member in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Knox is a geologist who has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a “Competent Person”, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves and consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on information in the form and context in which they appear.