Voyageur implements purity testing of the crystalline barite contained within the Frances Creek Barite Breccia Vein

CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Voyageur Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:VM) (the “Company”), is pleased to announce that it has completed the 2017 drilling program. Further laboratory results and project reports are pending.

The breccia vein is composed of varying percentages of country rock (argillaceous dolomite) and white crystalline barite, which was injected into the Frances Creek fault zone. 

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61a5a2b0-78f3-4a90-b8de-118dfd7b706e

Eight drill holes were selectively re-sampled. These samples were selected from previously reported intersections of barite breccia. The pure barite zones within the breccia intercepts were then split from the vein to determine the nature of the purity of the barite.

The highlights of the sampling:-

Crystalline barite in varying percentage concentrations is consistent though out the breccia zone of the vein. The sampling shows a very high grade for the crystalline barite. This select sampling of the crystalline barite to date indicates that it is exceptionally pure and is possibly pharmaceutical grade.

During 2017 Voyageur completed a 1,230.79 metre drilling program (25 drill holes) with further assays pending. Management is very excited with the results to date.

The next phase of work on the project will consist of magnetic and gravity geophysical surveys to pin point possible large barite zones at depth along the fault zone. In addition, a bulk sample application will be submitted this winter for a 10,000 tonne metallurgical test sample. Also, further drilling will begin next spring with the objective being to extend the Frances Creek breccia vein along strike and to drill test any geophysical targets at depth.

The select sampling to date indicates that the crystalline barite is chemically and physically consistent throughout the explored strike length of the breccia vein. A sample of pure barite from drill hole FC17-15 29.6m-30.1m assayed at 99.09% BaSO₄. This is suggestive of the purity of the barite matrix within the breccia. Assays were performed at Loring Labs of Calgary, AB., an ISO – 9001 -2017 accredited commercial laboratory.

These sample results indicate that the barite breccia vein contains crystalline barite with grades up to 99.12% BaSO₄ in the breccia matrix.  Testing to date indicates that the crystalline barite is exceptionally pure and may qualify for either the industrial filler market or possibly the pharmaceutical market. Additional select samples will be taken from the core of other drill holes to test the purity of the crystalline barite throughout the vein.

This and previous select sampling indicates that the crystalline barite within the Frances Creek breccia vein has a specific gravity in the 4.33 – 4.5 range. The specific gravity of the argillaceous dolomite country rock is in the 2.5 – 2.75 range, Voyageur’s management believes that due to this contrast in the specific gravity of the two components of the breccia vein, a high quality predominately crystalline barite product can be produced from the Frances Creek vein by gravity separation and milling. Future metallurgical testing will be conducted to test management’s theory.

About Voyageur Minerals 

Voyageur is a Calgary based company which owns 100% interest in three barium sulfate ("Barite") deposits including two properties which initial work suggests are suitable in grade for the industrial and pharmaceutical barite market place.

The Company also has interests in two high grade lithium brine projects in Utah, USA. Voyageur's business plan is to develop its Barite deposit at Frances Creek, BC, Canada, for potential near term cash flow, while it continues exploration for critical and strategic minerals.

Qualified Person Statement

The Company’s qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, Mr. Randy Henkle, P.Geol, has reviewed this news release and approved it.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Qualifying Transaction, including statements regarding the acquisition of future assets, the discovery and commercialization of commercial quantities of industrial minerals, the successful commercialization of the Company’s assets, expected operational activities, other statements that are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the risk that the assets do not provide commercial quantities or grades of marketable minerals, that even if they do contain commercial quantities of marketable minerals that the Company will not be able to economically produce such discoveries, the existence of commercial grades of commercial minerals, timing of obtaining required approvals,  state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, investor interest in the business and future prospects of the Company.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.