Strongbow Reports New Discovery of High Grade Copper + Tin Mineralisation in Drilling from the United Downs Project, Cornwall, UK

GWDD-002 Intersects 14.69m Grading 7.46% Cu and 1.19% Sn and 0.15% Zn

Strongbow Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: SBW) (“Strongbow” or the “Company”) is pleased to report the discovery of a new zone of high grade copper-tin mineralisation located between the historic United Mine and Consolidated Mines at Strongbow’s United Downs exploration project, Cornwall UK. The discovery was made in drill hole GWDD-002, drilled by Cornish Lithium. Cornish Lithium has the right to explore Strongbow’s mineral rights in Cornwall for lithium in brine occurrences while Strongbow retains the rights to any hard rock mineralisation.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Diamond drill hole GWDD-002 was drilled by Cornish Lithium to test the potential for lithium in brine at United Downs, within the historic Gwennap copper and tin mining district;
• Gwennap was the richest copper producing region in Cornwall (and the world) in the 18^th and early 19^th centuries, and at that time was referred to as “the richest square mile on earth”;
• GWDD-002 intersected semi-massive sulphide mineralisation between 90.60m and 105.29m downhole depth;
• Assays returned 14.69m grading 7.46% Cu, 1.19% Sn, and 0.15% Zn from 90.60m to 105.29m downhole length;
• Further drilling is required to confirm true width, as well as the strike and dip of the mineralised zone;
• Three individual sample intervals returned assays greater than 20% Cu – final results for these overlimit assays are pending, and will be reported when received;
• The semi-massive sulphide mineralisation is similar in style to that mined at Wheal Jane and Mount Wellington mines, located 1.5km along strike to the east; and
• Copper grades reflect recorded historical mine production from United Mines located approximately 200m to the south.

BACKGROUND

Strongbow completed the acquisition of the South Crofty tin project plus additional mineral rights located in Cornwall, UK, in July 2016 (see Company news release dated July 12, 2016). The additional mineral rights cover an area of approximately 15,000 hectares and are scattered throughout Cornwall. Some of these mineral rights cover old mines that were historically worked for copper, tin, zinc, and tungsten.

In January 2017, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement with Cornish Lithium, a private exploration company, whereby Cornish Lithium was granted the right to explore Strongbow’s mineral rights in Cornwall for lithium in brine occurrences (see Company news release dated January 19, 2017).

In 2019 Cornish Lithium provided notice of its intention to conduct diamond drill testing for lithium in brine on Strongbow’s United Downs mineral rights. United Downs is located approximately 8km east of South Crofty and lies within a densely mined district, historically referred to as Gwennap (see location Map 1 below). Two diamond drill holes have been completed, for a total length of 1,858m. See Map 2, which shows the collar locations of these two diamond drill holes. Results from part of diamond drill hole GWDD-002 are reported herein. The Company is in the process of logging and sampling the remaining drill core from both GWDD-001 and GWDD-002, and is applying for a drill permit to drill test the strike extension of the lode structure intersected in GWDD-002.

UNITED DOWNS PROJECT

The United Downs project covers, or is located immediately adjacent to, four former copper and tin producing mines: Consolidated Mines and United Mines to the west; and, Mount Wellington and Wheal Jane Mines to the east – see Map 2. The main mineralised structures in all four mines trend ENE and dip steeply to the north. All of the mineralisation exploited historically is related to either quartz veins or quartz-tourmaline veins hosted within “killas”, the local name for metasedimentary rocks that overlie granite intrusions. 

At the nearby South Crofty Mine, copper-tin-zinc-tungsten mineralisation hosted within the killas passes into tin mineralisation at depth as the mineralised vein-like structures pass into the underlying granitic host rock.  The same zonation potentially exists at United Downs, where only the killas-hosted mineralisation has been exploited to date. The underlying granite, which is a target for further tin mineralisation, was encountered in GWDD-002 between 300 and 600m and again at 700m vertical depth.

The nearby Wheal Jane mine was discovered and developed into a modern mine in the late 1960s, initially by Consolidated Goldfields, and thereafter by Rio Tinto Zinc. Mining activities at Wheal Jane ceased in early 1991, due largely to the Tin Crisis of 1985, but processing of South Crofty ore continued until March 1998 when ongoing low tin prices forced its eventual closure.

As part of the intense exploration period that Cornwall enjoyed between the 1960s and 1985, an underground exploration drive was developed during the 1980s westwards from Wheal Jane through Mount Wellington mine at 6 level elevation, whilst an exploration decline (the Wheal Maid decline) was developed to explore for tin mineralisation similar in style to that which was exploited in Mount Wellington and Wheal Jane mines. This exploration work was stopped after the tin price collapse in 1985, despite the great promise for the discovery of polymetallic mineralisation.   

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

GWDD-002 was drilled by Priority Drilling Company Ltd using an Epiroc Christensen CT20 Diamond Drill Rig. The part of the hole in which this intersection was encountered was drilled in PQ (122.6mm diameter) with a triple tube core barrel to recover an 83mm diameter drill core. Core recovery was greater than 95%. The core was logged, split and sampled by Strongbow Exploration personnel. The samples, comprising quarter core, were sent for assay at ALS Minerals, Loughrea, Ireland. Sample preparation involved crushing to 70% less than 2mm, riffle split and pulverised to 85% less than 75 microns. The analytical method used was X-ray fluorescence (XRF) following a lithium borate fusion. Samples were assayed for As, Cu, Fe, Pb, S, Sn, W, and Zn. A comprehensive Quality Assurance / Quality Control programme using duplicates and blanks was included within the sampling programme.

The technical information in this news release has been compiled on behalf of Strongbow Exploration Inc. by Mr. Owen Mihalop. Mr. Mihalop has reviewed the data on behalf of Strongbow Exploration Inc. and takes responsibility for the data and geological interpretation. Mr. Owen Mihalop (MCSM, BSc (Hons), MSc, FGS, MIMMM, CEng) is Chief Operating Officer for Strongbow Exploration Inc. and has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined under the JORC Code (2012) and as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Mihalop consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

For additional information please contact: Irene Dorsman at (604) 210 8752 or by e-mail at idorsman@strongbowexploration.com or Sherman Dahl of Pretium Communications at (250) 558 8340.

Blytheweigh (Financial PR/IR-London)    Tel:                               +44 207 138 3204

                                                                 Tim Blythe                    tim.blythe@blytheweigh.com

                                                                 Camilla Horsfall            camilla.horsfall@blytheweigh.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“Richard D. Williams”

Richard D. Williams, P.Geo

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 or accuracy of this release.

Caution regarding forward looking statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" including but not limited to statements with respect to Strongbow's plan to conduct drill testing at United Downs.  There is no guarantee that Strongbow will be successful in obtaining the necessary permissions to drill.  Further, the timing for a drill programme is being impacted by the COVID-19 situation and restrictions related to movement of people.  In the event future drilling is conducted there is no guarantee that results will be of similar nature to those presented in this news release.

 
Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to receipt of regulatory approvals, risks related to general economic and market conditions; risks related to the availability of financing; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; actual results of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in Mineral Resources or grade; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations.

Although Strongbow has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Strongbow undertakes no obligation or responsibility to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

The technical information in this news release has been compiled on behalf of Strongbow Exploration Inc. by Mr. Owen Mihalop. Mr. Mihalop has reviewed the data on behalf of Strongbow Exploration Inc. and takes responsibility for the data and geological interpretation. Mr. Owen Mihalop (MCSM, BSc (Hons), MSc, FGS, MIMMM, CEng) is Chief Operating Officer for Strongbow Exploration Inc. and has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined under the JORC Code (2012) and as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Mihalop consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Additionally, the technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Mr. Mark Owen. Mr. Owen has reviewed the data and takes responsibility for the data and geological interpretation. Mr. Mark Owen (MCSM, BSc (Hons), MSc, EurGeol, FGS, CGeol) is a Consultant to Strongbow Exploration Inc. and former Chief Geologist of both Wheal Jane and South Crofty mines. Mr. Owen has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined under the JORC Code (2012) and as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Owen consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.