Mar 24 2017
- NI 43-101 compliant resource of 16.9 million tonnes (Measured and Indicated); 8.9 million tonnes (Inferred).
- Altitude/JOGMEC Initiate Third Farm-In Period for 2017 Field Program.
Altitude Resources Inc. ("Altitude") (TSX VENTURE: ALI) is pleased to announce the results of the 2016 Palisades field program and the initiation of the 2017 field program.
2016 Exploration Results
The summer/autumn 2016 exploration program included a total of 25 conventional rotary air hammer drill holes and eight 3½" core holes. In addition, 22 drill holes and 24 surveyed roadcuts from the 2015 Palisades program; 30 drill holes and 25 trenches from the 2013 program; and 28 historic drill holes and 10 historic trenches were relied on for geologic interpretation and modelling for the NI 43-101 resource estimate. Palisades coking coals are typically in low to medium volatile bituminous coal with its Ro ranging between 1.33 and 1.55.
Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. ("Dahrouge") of Edmonton, Alberta was contracted to oversee the drilling program in 2016 as well as the preparation of the NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report.
Resource Summary (million tonnes)
Commenting on the 2016 Palisades drill program, Altitude President and CEO Gene Wusaty stated, "We are very pleased with the 2016 program results and by the opportunity to partner with JOGMEC again in 2017. The program was completed successfully on time and within the $1.5 million 2016 exploration budget."
To view "Figure 1 Palisades Project Property Map," please view the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/altitude_resources_g133916_figure01.pdf
JOGMEC Commitment to Third Farm-In Period and 2017 Palisades Exploration Plan
By March 31, 2017 it is anticipated that JOGMEC will have fulfilled its obligations under the Second Farm-In Period under the April 2015 Joint Exploration Agreement ("JEA"). At that stage JOGMEC will have invested a total of $3.0 million in the Palisades Project and will have satisfied the requirement to earn a 31.875% interest in the Palisades Project. JOGMEC can earn an additional 19.125% (bringing its cumulative interest in the Palisades Project to 51.0%) by investing an additional $1.8 million in exploration expenditures during the Third Farm-In Period.
At a meeting of the joint representatives of the JOGMEC/Altitude Joint Venture held in Edmonton in late February, JOGMEC confirmed its commitment to the Palisades Project and its funding of the Third Farm-In Period. It is anticipated that JOGMEC will invest $1.1 million in exploration expenses in 2017, followed by an additional $700,000 in work in 2018. It is expected that a Scoping Study on the Palisades Project will be completed by the end of the Third Farm-In Period.
Further drilling and additional mapping is planned for 2017. This program will use some of the existing access constructed in 2015 and 2016, as well as some new access constructed as part of logging operations by West Fraser Mills Ltd. A 2,500 meter drill campaign is planned to evaluate and constrain the selected drill and mapping targets. This work includes approximately 2,000 meters of reverse circulation drilling and up to 500 meters of wireline coring in target areas identified by the 2016 program. The 2017 program will also include drilling on the Palisades Extension for the first time.
The program will focus on acquiring additional coal quality information. A portion of conventional drilling will also follow up on exploration targets, if budget allows. The permitting process is now underway and, depending on weather in the Hinton area, it is expected that access construction and drilling work will commence in late July/early August.
The estimated cost of the 2017 exploration program is $1,100,000. Dahrouge has been contracted to oversee both the field reconnaissance and drill program.
Gene Wusaty, President and CEO of Altitude, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this release.