Voyageur Announces Issuance of 2018 NI 43-101

CALGARY, Alberta, July 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Voyageur Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V:VM) (the "Company" or "Voyageur") is pleased to announce the results from the 2018 NI 43-101 on its 100% owned properties in British Columbia, Canada.

The summary of barite resources contained in the Report are as follows:

(1) Mill Tonnes are the mineralized rock  that goes to the mill

(2) Barite tonnes is the barite in place within the mineralized rock

To review the report, 2018 Ni 43-101, please refer to www.sedar.com

Highlights

Diamond drilling completed on the Frances Creek high grade barite project has discovered significant mineralization of high grade hosted by structurally controlled barite breccia veins. The grade of the crystalline barite ranges from 96%-99% BaSO₄ which is one of the highest-grade discoveries made worldwide in recent years.

The combined indicated strike on the zones of barite is 230m with the deepest intercept of barite vertically at -80m from surface.  The barite zones are outcropping on surface and are open on strike to the NW and the SE.  Drill site selection was based on previous soil geochemistry surveys, surface mapping and historical drilling.  The geochemistry survey indicates that there are other areas to explore and geochemistry has proven to be a useful exploration tool.  There are outcrops of barite as far as 350m to the east of the current area which suggests a second breccia vein system. Geochemistry will be used on those areas to outline near surface barite. 

Pharmaceutical Barium Contrast Suspension

Voyageur has begun due diligence on the manufacturing of barium contrast suspension products. The pharmaceutical industry is currently experiencing shortages of pharmaceutical grade barite due to the shut down of mines in China. China has been implementing more stringent environmental reforms which is negatively effecting exports of barite for the North American markets. 

As owners of a rare high grade barite source in Western Canada, Voyageur will be able to enter  the market with a very low cost product.

Barium contrast solutions, also referred to as contrast agents or contrast media, are used to improve internal imagery of the body produced by x-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and ultrasound. Barite contrast materials allow the radiologist to distinguish normal from abnormal conditions. 

High grade barite is the primary product used in the contrast medium market, a market that is currently controlled by one company in the North American market place, with no alternative affordable or competing  product.  

Barite makes up 98% of the ingredients in dry contrast.  The producer of contrast with the lowest barite costs will be the most competitive. This should provide an advantage to Voyageur as the Company owns its own barite source.

Voyageur is currently in on-going discussions with pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and FDA / Heath Canada consulting firms, as it moves forward with exploration of this project.

Issuance of Options

The board of directors has approved the issuance of 250,000 options to a recently appointed director. The options are issued in accordance with the Company’s Option Policy, and are exercisable at $0.10 for a period of five years. The options vest 50% upon issuance the balance one year from date of issuance.

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 barite market place, and 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. Brad Willis, P.Eng, 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.