TORONTO, Oct. 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV:ARU) (“Aurania” or the “Company”) is pleased to report that its on-the-ground exploration on the Lost Cities – Cutucu Project in southeastern Ecuador is advancing well. Progress on the project includes:
- Completion of acquisition of geophysical data from 70% of the planned survey area. The geophysical program is expected to be completed in late October;
- A field office has been established in the town of Macas from which the field teams are being deployed to mobile fly-camps that are to be moved every few days as the exploration advances;
- The exploration team has been expanded to include seven field geologists working closely with a specialist environmental and community relations team of four; and
- The first batch of stream sediment samples has been submitted to the laboratory and analyses are expected in late October.
Airborne Geophysics Program
The heliborne geophysics program is over two-thirds complete and the program is expected to be concluded in late October. The program has been affected by unusually cloudy weather, and since the helicopter undertakes the survey at a ground clearance of only 60 metres, the survey must be conducted in near-perfect weather conditions. However, we remain on-budget. Data from the survey are being processed and analyzed by an independent consultant working directly for Aurania as well as by MPX Geophysics Ltd, the Canadian company that has been contracted to undertake the survey.
Logistical Base Established
Logistical support for the exploration program has been established in the town of Macas, the seat of local government, located 13 kilometres from the project area. The exploration teams are being provisioned in Macas and then transported to the river basin where the stream sediment sampling and geological reconnaissance is to be done. Each team will move up-river as sampling progresses, relocating its mobile tented camp every few days. Additional provisions will be sourced from local communities where possible, or from the logistics base using mules to transport the goods.
Exploration Team
The on-site exploration team has been increased to seven geologists, six of whom are Ecuadorian. The entire exploration team is involved in the stream sediment sampling program at this time. As targets are identified from the combination of historical data, geophysics, satellite image interpretation and stream sediment sampling and mapping, the three senior geologists will undertake the more detailed exploration of those sites. The foreign geologist in the team, Bart Wilson has over 17 years of exploration in South America and was involved in the early-stage exploration that led to the discovery of the Fruta Del Norte gold deposit in the geologically contiguous belt in southeastern Ecuador.
The exploration team is working in close association with two local environmental scientists and two local community relations specialists whom have already proven to be very effective in building a local team as well as developing open communication with local communities.
The first batch of stream sediment samples from the concession area has been delivered to the preparation laboratory in Quito, Ecuador, before being sent for analysis in Lima, Peru. These samples will be analyzed for metal enrichment that can be indicative of mineralization located upstream of the sample point.
About Aurania
Aurania is a junior exploration mining company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities – Cutucu Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador.
The technical information contained in this news release has been verified and approved by Jean-Paul Pallier, MSc.. Mr. Pallier is a designated EurGeol by the European Federation of Geologists and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators.
Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at www.aurania.com and www.sedar.com, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auranialtd/, Twitter at https://twitter.com/auranialtd, and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurania-resources-ltd-.
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 release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond the control of Aurania. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe Aurania’s future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that Aurania or its management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, or “plan”. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to Aurania, Aurania provides no assurance that actual results will meet management’s expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, Aurania’s company’s objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the corporation’s portfolio, treasury, management team and enhanced capital markets profile, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, regulatory, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other indigenous peoples, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in Aurania’s public documents filed on SEDAR. Although Aurania believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Aurania disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.