Artemis Resources Exercises Option Over Tenements in the Pilbara for Conglomerate Gold


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Macarthur Minerals Limited (TSX-V:MMS) (the “Company” or “Macarthur Minerals”) is pleased to announce that Artemis Resources Limited (“Artemis”) has exercised its option to earn-in up to 80% interest in two of the Company’s tenements located 265km south-south-east of Karratha in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. Artemis are specifically interested in the conglomerate gold potential of these 2 large tenements covering a total of 265km2, as previously announced on October 8, 2017.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65864c63-e15a-44fa-a61b-02773a02e113

Under the terms of the binding term sheet, Artemis has paid the amount of A$170,000 to the Company to exercise its option to earn up to 80% interest in Exploration Licence E45/4779 and Exploration Licence Application E45/4732 (“Tenements”), as shown on Figure 1.

The Tenements are located 42km west-southwest of Marble Bar and 265km east-south-east of Karratha, in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.

The tenements have been mapped by the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) with Mt Roe Basalt covering a significant portion of Exploration Licence E45/4779, and also being mapped on Exploration Licence Application E5/4762. The target for the conglomerate gold prospective horizon is below the Mt Roe Basalt.

Artemis will shortly commence a stream sediment sampling program with a focus on identifying a prospective conglomerate hosted gold horizon.

David Taplin, Joint CEO and Director of Macarthur Minerals commented;

“Macarthur Minerals has significant exploration exposure in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.  We have a sizeable 1,300 km2 tenement position in the Pilbara that we will now focus on with respect to identifying new conglomerate gold targets. Artemis has extensive experience in this new style of gold mineralisation in the Pilbara and we are pleased to be working with them on this exciting gold play going forward. The Macarthur Minerals tenements have evidence of extensive Mt Roe Basalts across both tenements and the rock sequences under this sequence appear to be the main exploration target in the area. We have a lot of additional tenements in the Pilbara and we look forward to advancing these projects as speedily as possible in our own right.”

About Artemis

Artemis is a resources exploration and development company with a focus on its prospective Karratha (gold, cobalt, base metals, platinum group elements and iron ore) and the Mt Clement Paulsens (gold) project in Western Australia.

Artemis owns the fully permitted 425,000tpa Radio Hill nickel and copper operations and processing plant located 25 km south of Karratha. JORC 2004 compliant resources of Gold, Nickel, Copper PGE's and Zinc, all situated within a 40km radius of the Radio Hill plant and on 1,536km2 form the newly consolidated assets of Artemis.

Artemis have signed definitive agreements with Novo Resources Corp. (“Novo”), whereby Novo can farm-in to 50% of gold (and other minerals necessarily mined with gold) in conglomerate and/or paleoplacer style mineralization in Artemis’ tenements within 100km of the City of Karratha, including at Purdy’s Reward (“the Gold Rights”). The Gold Rights do not include (i) gold disclosed in Artemis’ existing (at 18 May 2017) JORC compliant Resources and Reserves or (ii) gold which is not within conglomerate and/or paleoplacer style mineralization or (iii) minerals other than gold. Artemis’ Mt Oscar tenement is excluded from the definitive agreements.

The farm-in commitment now requires Novo to expend A $2 million on exploration within two years of satisfying conditions precedent in the definitive agreements.

The definitive agreements cover 38 tenements/tenement applications that are 100% owned by Artemis. On completion of the farm-in commitment, three 50:50 joint ventures will be formed between Novo’s subsidiary, Karratha Gold Pty Ltd (“Karratha Gold”) and three subsidiaries of Artemis. The joint ventures will be managed as one by Karratha Gold. Artemis and Novo will contribute to further exploration and mining of the Gold Rights on a 50:50 basis. Further definitive agreements covering approximately 19 Artemis tenements/tenement applications that are already subject to third party interests are expected to be signed once all necessary third-party consents have been obtained.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

Mr Andrew Hawker, a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, is a full-time employee of Hawker Geological Services Pty Ltd and is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.  Mr Hawker has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

ABOUT MACARTHUR MINERALS LIMITED (TSX-V:MMS)

Macarthur Minerals Limited is an exploration company that is focused on identifying high grade gold and lithium. Macarthur Minerals has significant gold, lithium and iron ore exploration interests in Australia and Nevada. Macarthur Minerals has two iron ore projects in Western Australia; the Ularring hematite project and the Moonshine magnetite project.

Company Contact:
David Taplin, Joint CEO and Director
dtaplin@macarthurminerals.com
Tel: +61 407470044

Joe Phillips, Joint CEO and Director
jphillips@macarthurminerals.com
Tel: +61 448899247
www.macarthurminerals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

MACARTHUR MINERALS LIMITED

Cameron McCall

Cameron McCall, Executive Chairman

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

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.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the current expectations, assumptions or beliefs of the Company based upon information currently available to the Company. With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this press release, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the timely receipt of required approvals, the reliability of information, including historical mineral resource or mineral reserve estimates, prepared and/or published by third parties that are referenced in this press release or was otherwise relied upon by the Company in preparing this press release. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct as actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in exchange rates and certain commodity prices, uncertainties related to mineral title in the project, unforeseen technology changes that results in a reduction in iron ore demand or substitution by other metals or materials, the discovery of new large low cost deposits of iron ore, uncertainty in successfully returning the project into full operation, and the general level of global economic activity. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Such statements relate to future events and expectations and, as such, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and except as may otherwise be required pursuant to applicable laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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