Expansion drilling consolidates RAM deposit extension at Jervois' ICO – Junior Mining Network

Criteria

JORC Code explanation

Commentary

Sampling techniques

• Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. 

• In cases where ‘industry standard’ work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg ‘reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay’). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. 

All drill core was sampled contingent on geology and core recovery:

Core was collected directly from the core barrel into core boxes, and drill core was cut in half by diamond saw, with one half of the core collected for laboratory analysis and the other half retained as reference core in the tray. Core trays were clearly labelled with the hole number, tray number and depth intervals marked.

A “cut-line” was drawn by the logging geologists along the length of the drill core as a guide for the core sawing.  The half-core was sampled, ensuring that the same side is consistently sampled, and placed into sample bags labelled with the assigned sample number.  Downhole measurements are recorded using a Reflex OMNI Gyro at 30 metre intervals down each hole and at 1.5 metre intervals continuously at the end of every hole.  

Field sampling followed Jervois protocols including industry standard quality control procedures.

Samples were sent to: ALS Geochemistry-Vancouver, an independent and fully accredited laboratory in Vancouver, Canada (“ALS”) for analysis for gold by 30g Fire Assays with wet chemical finish (ICP) and by multi-element Induction Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy (“ICP”).  Jervois also has a regimented Quality Assurance, Quality Control (“QA/QC”) program where at least 10% standards and blanks are inserted into each sample shipment.

Diamond Core: core samples are “representative” (and not “selective”) in that each sample comprised half (cut) core that was collected along the entire length of each sample interval.

Handheld XRF instruments were used to spot check drill core for mineralization, however those results were not relied on.  All sample results reported on are from ALS, an independent laboratory.

All of the drilling was diamond drill core (HQ/NQ).  Typically, drill core was sampled on nominal 3 foot (~1m) half core samples for HQ/NQ.

All sample analyses were completed at ALS .  ALS operates independent laboratories globally, which are ISO accredited.

Samples are received at the laboratory:  Bar codes are scanned and logged; samples are weighed and dried; samples are crushed to 70% less than 2mm, the crushing product is riffle split to collect a 250g split, which is pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 microns; aliquots from the pulverized split (the sample “pulp”) are analysed for 34 elements using ICP analysis and for gold by 30 gram Fire Assay with ICP-AES finish.  Any samples with initial “over-limit” results for specific metals, including gold, copper, cobalt and arsenic are re-analysed accordingly to achieve complete results.    

Drilling techniques

• Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). 

The 2022 underground drilling comprised HQ and NQ sized core, with reduction of hole size where appropriate.

Holes were generally angled from -55 to -90 degrees at varying azimuths.

Drill sample recovery

All holes are logged for basic geotechnical characteristics including measurements and calculations for core recovery and RQD values.  Core recovery is recorded as a percentage equivalent to the length of core recovered, as a percentage of the drill run (interval length).

Excellent recoveries were obtained from the 2022 diamond drilling.

There is no bias noted between sample recovery and grade.  Excellent recoveries were obtained from Diamond drilling other than in faulted zones which were not sampled.

Logging

• Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. 

Diamond drilling:

Drill core is photographed and logged prior to sampling;

Core has been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail appropriate to support mineral resource estimation and mining studies.

Logging has been conducted both qualitatively and quantitatively; full description of lithologies, alteration and comments are noted, as well as percentage estimates on veining and sulphides.

The total length of all holes drilled in 2022 was 10,302m.  All depths of relevance to this release are listed in the table in the body of the text.  All drill holes are logged in their entirety.  

Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation

• If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry. 

• For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. 

All core was half-cut lengthwise using a diamond saw.  The HQ/NQ core half-core was sampled.

Samples are received at the laboratory: sample ID bar codes are scanned and logged; samples are weighed and dried; samples are crushed to 70% less than 2mm, the crushing product is riffle split to collect a 250g split, which is pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 microns; aliquots from the pulverized split (the sample “pulp”) are analysed for 34 elements using ICP analysis and for gold by 30 gram Fire Assay with ICP-AES finish.  Any samples with initial “over-limit” results for specific metals, including gold, copper, cobalt and arsenic are re-analysed accordingly to achieve complete results.

For core sampling the same side is consistently sampled, half-core is retained in the tray for HQ/NQ.  The assay sub- sample is placed into sample bags labelled with the assigned sample number.

One in 20 samples is duplicated where the core is quartered and a quarter cut sample is analysed as a duplicate.  The remaining quarter samples is retained in the tray.

Sample sizes of 2-3 kg are appropriate for the grain size of material.  The sample preparation technique and sample sizes are considered appropriate to the material being sampled.

Quality of assay data and laboratory tests

• For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. 

• Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established. 

The ICP-AES and Fire Assay (30 gram) analytical techniques are considered total and are high quality and appropriate for the mineralization being tested.

Jervois has a regimented Quality Control protocol which has consisted of systematic submission of blanks, standards and duplicates in addition to those conducted at the laboratory.

Precision levels for all blanks, standards and duplicate samples fell within acceptable ranges.  

Verification of sampling and assaying

• Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. 

Significant intersections are alternatively verified by the CP and QP of the company.

No holes have been twinned in this drill programme.

Data is collected using a PostGRE SQL database custom-built for Idaho Cobalt Operations and incorporates historic MS Excel templated data.  The database software includes data validation algorithms.  The database software also allows for the direct importation of digital data files from the laboratory.  Data is backed up on the cloud hosted server on and off site.

All assay/analytical data returning “below detection limit” results have been entered in the project database as one half of the detection limit value.

Samples received damaged at the laboratory, or with insufficient sample weight for analysis had the interval or location left blank.  

Location of data points

• Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. 

All surface drilling collars were surveyed by licensed surveyors and by trained geologists in the underground.  Down-hole surveys were routinely carried out on all holes using a Reflex OMNI Gyro at 30 metre intervals down each hole and at 1.5 metre intervals continuously at the end of every hole.  Holes were setup on collar using a Reflex TN14 Gyro.

All datum is collected and recorded in a localized ICO Mine Grid.

The 3D location of the individual samples is considered to be adequately established, consistent with accepted industry   standards.

Data spacing and distribution

To date, due to the exploratory nature of the drilling, the spacing is wide. Assay results for only two holes have been received.  Further intervals have been sampled but the assays are not yet available.

The intervals released are proximal to the existing RAM deposit MRRE and are interpreted as representing an extension of the RAM deposit.  As a result, this data, along with the results from the 4 remaining holes with pending analyses, will be used in a planned mineral resource update later this year.

The reported drillhole data comprises length-weight averaged core interval grade values.  Data compositing is completed during Mineral Resource Estimation, but has not been applied to the data reported in this release.

Orientation of data in relation to geological structure

• If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. 

Drilling sections are orientated perpendicular to the strike of the host rocks.  Drill holes were inclined between -55° and -90° to optimize intercepts of mineralisation with respect to thickness and distribution.

Drilling with angled holes in most instances provides a representative sample across the stratigraphy.

Sample security

All individual samples are placed in plastic sample bags sealed with a cable tie.  Then groups of samples are bagged in poly-woven sacks also sealed with a cable tie.  The samples are sent by courier to the lab and tracked.  To date, no sample shipments have had reported problems and/or a breach in security.  

Audits or reviews

Jervois protocols consist of a regimented internal QA/QC which match or exceed global industry standards.  APEX Geoscience Ltd. has been retained as independent geological consultants and have reviewed and approved the ICO sampling protocols and procedures and will be conducting a thorough review of the drill data, including the QA/QC data, prior to the initiation of resource update.

Criteria

JORC Code explanation

Commentary

Mineral tenement and land tenure status

• Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. 

ICO consists of 358 unpatented mineral claims totalling 7390 acres.  The claims are 100% owned by Jervois subsidiary Jervois Mining USA Ltd. and are in good standing.

Unpatented Mineral Claims:

Ownership of unpatented mining claims in the U.S. is in the name of the holder, with ownership of the minerals belonging to the United States of America, under the administration of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Under the Mining Law of 1872, which governs the location of unpatented mining claims on federal lands, the locator has the right to explore, develop and mine minerals on unpatented mining claims without payments of production royalties to the federal government.  Annual claim maintenance and filing fees paid before September 1st each year are the only federal encumbrances to unpatented mining claims.  Exploration plans are permitted and administered by the Unites States Forestry Service.

The United States Department of Agriculture Salmon Challis National Forest (the Forest Service) issued a revised Record of Decision (the “ROD”) for the ICO in January 2009. The ROD described the decision to approve a Mine Plan of Operations (“MPO”) for mining, milling and concentrating mineralized material from the ICO.  The ROD was subsequently affirmed by the Forest Service in April 2009.  The Plan of Operations at the ICO mine and mill remained unchanged and the ROD remains in place.  In December 2009, the Forest Service approved the MPO allowing for the commencement of ICO construction.

There are no known encumbrances.  

Exploration done by other parties

The ICO came under Jervois management following the merger with eCobalt in 2019.  Prior to this merger, the area has a long history of copper and cobalt exploration and mining.  Copper mineralization in the Blackbird Creek area was discovered in 1892, and the area was soon explored as both a copper and gold prospect.  The area was first mined by Union Carbide at the Haynes-Stellite Mine located south of the present ICO claim block, during World War I.  Union Carbide mined approximately 4,000 tons of cobalt-bearing ore before ceasing operations. From 1938 to 1941, the Uncle Sam Mining and Milling Company operated a mine at the south end of the present Blackbird mine and reportedly mined about 3,600 tons of ore.

Calera Mining Company, a division of Howe Sound Company, developed and mined the Blackbird deposit between 1943 and 1959 under a contract to supply cobalt to the U.S. government.  Calera stopped mining when the government contract was terminated in 1960.

Machinery Center Inc. mined from the district between 1963 and 1966, when Idaho Mining Company (owned by Hanna Mining Company) purchased the property.  Noranda optioned the property from Hanna in 1977 and carried out extensive exploration, mine rehabilitation and metallurgical testing.  In 1979 Noranda and Hanna formed the Blackbird Mining Company (BMC) to develop the property.  BMC completed an internal feasibility study of their property at the time, including material from the Sunshine deposit in 1982.  BMC allowed perimeter claims to lapse in 1994, and eCobalt restaked much of that ground.  From 1995 to the present, eCobalt completed surface geochemical sampling and drilled 158 diamond drill holes on the ICO ground.

Geology

Deposit Types:

Whilst the deposits in the Idaho Cobalt Belt have been studied over many years the deposit types are still a subject of debate.  Prior to 2005 the overriding opinion was that the deposits are sedimentary exhalative and are referred to as the Blackbird Sediment Hosted Cu-Co.  And have been described as stratabound iron-, cobalt-, copper-, and arsenic-rich sulphide mineral accumulations in nearly carbonate-free argillite/siltite couplets and quartzites

Post 2005 the discovery of high concentrations of rare earth elements (“REE”) lead to the postulation that the deposits are not volcanogenic massive sulphide or sedimentary exhalative deposits but instead are iron oxide-copper-gold (“IOCG”) deposits

Geological Setting:

The ICO is situated in the Idaho Cobalt Belt, a 50- to 55-kilometre long metallogenic district characterized by stratiform/tabular copper-cobalt deposits.  The deposits are hosted by a thick, dominantly clastic sequence of Middle Proterozoic age sandwiched between late Proterozoic quartz monzonitic intrusions.  The clastic sediments were deposited in a large fault-bounded basin, probably as large submarine fan complexes and/or deltaic aprons that were frequently “drowned” by continuing subsidence within the basin.  All significant copper-cobalt deposits and occurrences are found in the Proterozoic Apple Creek Formation, which constitutes the base of this sequence.  This formation was originally correlated with Pritchard Formation metasediments of the Belt supergroup to the north, its age being constrained by dates of 1.37 Ga for adamellites intruding the sequence and 1.7 Ga from mafic dykes and sills emplaced along the basin margin faults.

The structure of the Apple Creek Formation is dominated by the regional rift structure.  Cobalt-copper-gold mineralization occurs along a northwest-southeast trending structure parallel to and west of the central axis of the rift.

There is a series of northerly trending faults that are considered to represent initial growth faults, reactivated by Laramide and younger events.  The district has also been affected by north-easterly structures of the Trans-Challis Fault Zone.

The ICO is hosted in Proterozoic age meta-sediments found on the east side of the central Idaho Batholith comprising granitic-to-granodioritic rocks.  The Idaho Cobalt Belt represents a distinct district dominated by stratabound cobalt + copper ± gold mineralization, with a remobilized constituent.  The district is underlain by strata of the middle Proterozoic-age Apple Creek Formation, which is an upward-thickening, upward-coarsening clastic sequence at least 14,900 metre thick that represents a major basin-filling episode and was formerly considered part of the Yellow Jacket Formation.

The Apple Creek can be divided into three units.  The lower unit of the Apple Creek Formation is over 4,500 metre thick and consists mainly of argillite and siltite, with lesser occurrences of fine-grained quartzite and carbonates.  Graded bedding and planar to wavy laminae are common in the lower unit, which is locally metamorphosed to phyllite.  The middle unit of the Apple Creek Formation is up to 1,100 metres thick and comprises several upward-coarsening sequences of argillite, siltite, and quartzite, with distinctive biotite-rich interbeds that generally have a direct correlation to mineralization.  The middle unit hosts the majority of the known cobalt, copper and gold occurrences in the Idaho Cobalt Belt.  The upper unit exceeds 3,000 metres in thickness and is predominantly composed of thin- to thick bedded, very fine- to fine-grained quartzite.

Mafic tuffs within the Apple Creek Formation are the oldest igneous rocks exposed in the Sunshine-Blackpine district.  They are accompanied by felsic tuffs and carbonatitic tuffs. Some mafic dikes and sills intrude the Apple Creek Formation and may be comagmatic with the mafic tuff beds.  Several small lamproitic diatremes may also be coeval with mafic volcanism.

The Apple Creek Formation has undergone varying degrees of regional metamorphism, ranging from greenschist facies in the southern part of the district to amphibolite grade facies in the northern part of the district.  Several types of mafic dikes and sills, ranging from 1m to 30m thick, intrude the Apple Creek Formation and are interpreted as feeders to the exhalative mafic tuffs, which are most abundant in areas of intrusive activity

Style of Mineralization:

Mineralization at the ICO is characterized as syngenetic, stratiform/tabular exhalative deposits within, or closely associated with, the mafic sequences of the Apple Creek Formation.  This mineralization is dominantly bedding concordant and the deposits range from nearly massive to disseminated.  Some crosscutting mineralization is present that may be in feeder zones to the stratiform mineralization or may be due to remobilization locally into fracture quartz veins and/or crosscutting structures.

Dominant minerals include cobaltite (CoAsS) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), with lesser, variable occurrences of gold. Other minerals present in small quantities are pyrite (FeS2), pyrrhotite (FeS), arsenopyrite (FeAsS), linnaeite ((Co Ni)3S4), loellingite (FeAs2), safflorite (CoFeAs2), enargite (Cu3AsS4) and marcasite (FeS2).

Recently, rare-earth minerals have been identified in samples from the deposit as monazite, xenotime and allanite.  At this time, these minerals have not been considered for potential recovery as by-products of the Co-(Cu-Au).

The RAM is the largest and best-known deposit in the ICO area.  It consists of a Hanging-wall Zone with 3 primary and 4 minor horizons, a Main Zone comprising 3 horizons, and a Footwall Zone with 3 horizons.  These sub-parallel horizons generally strike N15oW and dip 50o – 60o to the northeast.  Most of the significant Co mineralization is associated with exhalative lithologies i.e. biotitic tuffaceous exhalate (BTE), siliceous tuffaceous exhalate (STE), and quartzite with impregnations of biotitic tuffaceous exhalate (QTZ/BTE) or siliceous tuffaceous exhalate (QTZ/STE).

Drill hole Information

• A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: 

  • ooeasting and northing of the drill hole collar 

  • ooelevation or RL (Reduced Level – elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar 

  • oodip and azimuth of the hole 

  • oodown hole length and interception depth 

  • oohole length. 

• If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. 

No Exploration data is being reported in this release.

Data aggregation methods

• In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. 

• Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. 

• The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. 

In previous reports weighted averaging has been used in reported composite intervals and individual results are also listed, no grade truncations etc. has been used.

Aggregate intercepts are reported using a grade metre calculation.  For example: ((assay x meter interval sampled) + (assay x meter interval sampled) + (assay x meter interval sampled) / divided by total number of meters in the interval).  Individual sample intercepts are also shown.

Calculated true widths determined for the composited intercept mid-point, perpendicular to the down-dip projection of the RAM deposit.

No metal equivalent values have been reported.

Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths

• These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. 

• If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. 

• If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg ‘down hole length, true width not known’). 

Downhole lengths are reported.

Diagrams

• Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. 

Refer to figures and tables in the body of the text.

Balanced reporting

• Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. 

Calculated true widths determined for the composited intercept mid-point, perpendicular to the down-dip projection of the RAM deposit.

Other substantive exploration data

• Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples – size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. 

There is no other substantive exploration data.

Further work

• The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). 

• Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive.