Halifax, NS, Canada – October 11, 2024 – TheNewswire – TSXV: ZON Zonte Metals is pleased to provide an update on the K6 drilling program at its Cross Hills Copper Project in Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

Terry Christopher, President and CEO comments; “Drilling at the K6 target continues to intersect copper mineralization, extending it along strike and depth. The mineralization remains open in several directions. Notably, mineralization at depth is broadening, with copper intersected in the previously discovered unit and the underlying adjacent unit. Along one N-S section, drilling has successfully traced mineralization over 170 meters, where it remains open at depth. The Company is planning a series of drill holes, which will include aggressive step-outs along strike and depth, as it continues to target potential higher-grade mineralization at the K6 target. The continued success at K6 highlights the value of the Company’s integrated dataset, developed over the past six years. Based on these results, additional exploration programs are being implemented across multiple targets, most of which will be drill-ready upon completion, pending results. An update on these activities will be provided shortly.”

A total of five drill holes, totalling 1,491 meters, were completed in the summer 2024 drill program and are hereafter designated by the CH24-0X number series. The program was designed to test extensions along strike and at depth from the previous drilling conducted in late 2023 (see results from February 28, 2023), as well as to explore several untested data signatures. Table 1 below contains the assay highlights from this phase with Figure 1 showing the drill hole plan map.

Mineralization remains open along strike to the northeast and at depth. To the northeast, drill hole CH23-01, drilled in late 2023, may have been collared too far south of the potential copper extension identified in CH24-01, possibly missing the target zone. It is currently unclear whether mineralization extends to the west, however, noted drill core alteration in holes CH24-04 and CH24-05 suggest further testing is needed, either stepping out to the north or at greater depth.

 

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Figure 1. Drill hole plan map with copper grades.

Figure 2 below is a cross section illustrating drill holes CH24-02 and CH23-06, 02, 03, and 05. CH24-02 was collared to test the depth extension from previous holes and successfully extended mineralization by approximately 60 meters deeper. Mineralization along this section has now been traced for over 170 meters.

Compared to results from the 2023 drill program, three significant changes in mineralization have been observed in the summer 2024 drill results:

1. The copper mineralization is now predominantly very finely disseminated throughout the mineralized zones, as opposed to a mix of fracture-controlled and disseminated mineralization. 

2. The copper mineralization consists of a mix of chalcocite and bornite, whereas most of the 2023 drill holes contained mainly chalcocite. 

3. Mineralization is now observed in two adjacent units, as opposed to a single unit. 

    

Table 1. Drill hole assay data from the K6 drilling.  

Drill Hole	From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)*	Copper (%)
CH24-01	203	214.5	11.5	0.22
incl	205	214	9.0	0.27
incl	210.5	214	3.5	0.44
CH24-02	199.6	218.83	19.23	0.10
incl	213.95	218.4	4.45	0.17
incl	199.6	202	2.4	0.19
and	236.61	237.1	0.49	0.49
CH24-03	202.53	202.9	0.37	0.13
CH24-05	33	41	8.0	0.15
and	138.06	143	4.94	0.17

*Note. The true width of the tabled intervals is currently unknown.

 

Figure 3 below is the cross-section for CH24-01 and 03. CH24-01 was positioned to test the possible strike extension of mineralization intersected in CH23-05 and was located on similar geophysical and geochemical signatures that DH23-05 tested. Mineralization in CH24-01, intermittent in nature, was observed over 50m, between 193 to 243m.  The single best mineralization interval, noted in the assay table shows 0.22% Cu over 11.5m, including 0.44% Cu over 3.5m. Mineralization in this drill hole exhibits similar characteristics noted for CH24-02 including increasing bornite with depth, increasing disseminated versus fracture-controlled mineralization and present in two units. The cross section also illustrates a possible increasing grade with depth, which will be tested in the upcoming drill program.

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Figure 2. Cross section through CH24-02 and CH23-06, 02, 03 and 05

 

Table 2. Drill collar summary table for the K6 drill holes.

Drill Hole	East	North	Depth	Azimuth	dip
CH24-01	668269	5292577	304	155	-63
CH24-02	668234	5292534	328	164	-72
CH24-03	668286	5292532	238	155	-65
CH24-04	668072	5292460	359	145	-65
CH24-05	668072	5292460	262	0	-90

 

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Figure 3. Cross-section CH24-01 – 03.

 

Additional information on the project can be found at the following link  https://www.zontemetals.com/projects/cross-hills-copper-property

Neither the 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 of accuracy of this release.

 

Qualified Person

Donald Blake, P.Geo. is the qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the contents and technical disclosures in this press release.

 

Rock and Protocol and Drill Sampling Protocol

All drill core was logged and prepared for shipment on site. Samples were delivered to Eastern Analytical in Springdale, NL under chain of custody.  QA/QC included the systematic insertion of certified standards and blanks. Samples were described, tagged and sealed prior to being transported to the lab  where the samples were analyzed at Eastern Analytical for the ICP-34 package (34 element 4 acid leach, ICP-OES finish) and the Fire Assay (30g) with AA. The lab also provides its own internal QA/QC protocol of blanks, duplicates and standards in each work order, which is supplied to the Zonte with the rock sample analysis.

 

About Zonte

Zonte Metals Inc. is a junior explorer focused on copper and gold. The Company owns 100% of the Cross Hills IOCG and the Wings Point projects in Newfoundland and Labrador and the MJ project, in the Tintina Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory. In Colombia; the company has a 25% carried interest in Project X where historic drilling intersected significant gold mineralization and the Company and partner have an application over open areas sitting on top of the open pit outline of the Gramalote Deposit in Colombia, which is held by AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) and B2Gold (TSX:BTO, NYSE:BTG). The title issuance is being contested by the state governing the application and the Company has started legal action to protect its rights.

 

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements which include statements regarding the Corporation’s future plans, as well as statements regarding financial and business prospects and the Corporation’s future plans, objectives or economic performance and financial outlooks. The Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in this news release are reasonable but actual results may be affected by a variety of variables and may be materially different from the results or events predicted in the forward-looking statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. In evaluating forward-looking statements readers should consider the risk factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Corporation does not intend nor does it undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

 

For further information contact:

 

Terry Christopher

CEO and President

902-405-3520

info@zontemetals.com

www.zontemetals.com