VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanatana Resources Inc. (“Sanatana” or the “Company”: TSX-V: STA) is pleased to provide the details of the acquisition of the Tirua project to its shareholders.
The Tirua project, hosted in the 15km wide (68 square kilometres in area) Tirua volcanic caldera, is located on New Georgia Island, in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, part of the South Pacific archipelago of volcanic islands around the Ring of Fire. This chain of islands is renowned for hosting large copper and gold deposits, extending from Papua New Guinea ("PNG") in the northwest to Fiji to the southeast, most notably the giant epithermal Ladolam Gold Deposit on Lihir Island and the copper-gold porphyry Panguna deposit on Bougainville, immediately west of New Georgia Island.
Pursuant to a prospecting agreement, which is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval ("the Agreement"), signed with Trevor Wright, Sol Mar Por Pty Ltd, Brian D Edgar and Stadnyk and Partners (collectively, "the Vendors"), the Company, through its Solomon Islands wholly owned subsidiary ExSol SI Ltd, has received notice of a letter of intent (the "LOI"), from the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification to issue a Prospecting License (the "PL") subject to the completion of surface access agreements ("SAA"), which will allow for exploration of the Tirua Project.
A presentation outlining and detailing the Tirua project will be posted shortly on Sanatana's website, www.sanatanaresources.com.
Sanatana will be working with Trevor Wright, MSc Geology, who has some 20 years experience in gold and copper projects in the Southwest Pacific. Trevor, and his team, who bring expertise in community relations, support and logistics will partner with Sanatana's Buddy Doyle, who spent 8 years in PNG and was instrumental in the discovery, definition, and decision to mine phases of the world class Lihir Gold Mine.
Mr. Wright undertook surface and geophysical studies at Tirua that led to a six hole drill program being conducted. This and other limited work has demonstrated that the Tirua caldera has gold and copper mineralization, much of which, including significant targets developed by Mr. Wright, remains untested and underexplored.
Highlights of Past Exploration:
- Drilling: The best intervals from 11 drill holes ran 62m @ 0.45% Cu from surface and 3m @ 2.52 g/t Au from 98m.
- Trenching: 15m @ 1.16 g/t Au (open).
- Maximum rock chip float samples of 37.7 g/t Au, 201 g/t Ag, and 0.25% Cu.
- Maximum soil samples of 10.7 g/t Au, 322 g/t Ag and 0.29% Cu.
- Completion of airborne magnetic and radiometric survey over the entire caldera highlighting a distinct ring structure.
- Wide spread alteration and porphyry Cu-Au and epithermal Au mineralisation associated with geophysical / structural interpretations.
Note that previous exploration was conducted between 1983 and 2013 and the data has been verified by Mr. Trevor Wright from open file reports obtained from the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification. These samples may not be indicative of future results.
Peter Miles, President and CEO states, "We are excited to acquire the Tirua project. In our opinion the limited work done at Tirua to date has shown it to have extensive and significant mineralization in a world class underexplored geological setting. Sanatana is in a unique position to maximize the potential of the project by combining Buddy's knowledge of caldera geology and logistics gained through his experience at Lihir, and Trevor's similar experience at Tirua".
Buddy Doyle, VP Exploration states, "The Tirua project is in a geological setting with a large mineralized alteration system that has seen only minimal historic drill testing, leaving many high priority exploration areas and specific targets untested. I look forward to helping with the future exploration of this exciting opportunity".
Sanatana's exploration and management team are planning to visit the Tirua project shortly in order to plan exploration and to begin the process to acquire the necessary SAAs, which are expected to be in hand before Christmas.
The terms of the Agreement, are:
- Within 10 business days of the issuance of the PL, 25,000,000 shares of the Company will be issued to the Vendors;
- Within 10 business days of the receipt by the Company of a resource report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) indicating a minimum resource of 1,000,000 ounces of gold (or gold equivalent if other metals are considered to be economic), 3,750,000 additional shares of the Company will be issued to the vendors;
- Within 10 business days of the receipt by the Company of a resource report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 indicating a minimum resource of 2,000,000 ounces of gold (or gold equivalent if other metals are considered to be economic), 3,750,000 additional shares of the Company will be issued to the vendors;
- Within 10 business days of the receipt by the Company of a resource report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 indicating a minimum resource of 3,000,000 ounces of gold (or gold equivalent if other metals are considered to be economic), 3,750,000 additional shares of the Company will be issued to the vendors; and
- Within 10 business days of the receipt by the Company of a resource report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 indicating a minimum resource of 4,000,000 ounces of gold (or gold equivalent if other metals are considered to be economic), 3,750,000 additional shares of the Company will be issued to the vendors.
The information in this news release was prepared under the supervision of Buddy Doyle, BAppSc (Geol.), MAusIMM, VP Exploration for Sanatana. Mr. Doyle is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release.
About the Company
Sanatana Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company with an experienced management team and board of directors. Sanatana is based in Vancouver and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: STA).
SANATANA RESOURCES INC.
(signed) “Peter Miles”______________
Peter Miles
President and Chief Executive Officer
For additional information on the Company, please contact:
Mr. Peter Miles, President and Chief Executive Officer at (604) 408-6680 or email investor@sanatanaresources.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding “Forward-Looking” Information
Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “intends”, “is expected”, “potential”, “suggests” or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond Sanatana’s control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.