Original News Release
Idex Metals drills 182.25 m of 0.32% Cu at Freeze
Mr. Clayton Fisher reports
IDEX METALS DRILLS 182.25M OF 0.32% CU FROM SURFACE AT THE KISMET TOURMALINE BRECCIA, FREEZE PROJECT, IDAHO
Idex Metals Corp.'s first ever drill hole completed by Idex on the Freeze property intersected 182.25 metres of 0.32 per cent Cu (copper) from surface. The drill hole, KSMT25001, intersected variable intervals of oxide copper mineralization beginning at 1.5 metres down hole, with malachite, chalcocite and chrysocolla occurring as supergene replacement of primary chalcopyrite and minor bornite.
KSMT25001 was targeting the Kismet Tourmaline breccia and intervals of historical copper mineralization drilled in 1965. The first drill hole at Kismet has expanded the historical mineralization to a minimum depth of three to four times the historical drilling, and has confirmed the existence of a mineralized, near-surface, magmatic-hydrothermal copper system.
Key highlights
Significant highlights from drill hole KSMT25001 include:
182.25 m grading 0.32 per cent Cu (copper), 1.08 g/t (grams per tonne) Ag (silver), from 1.5 m:
Including 3.2 m grading 1.44 per cent Cu, 1.11 g/t Ag from 109.0 m;
Including 1.0 m grading 1.41 per cent Cu, 8.34 g/t Ag from 140.0 m.
89.34 m grading 0.26 per cent Cu, 2.25 g/t Ag, from 189.0 m:
Including 7.0 m grading 1.00 per cent Cu, 10.84 g/t Ag from 217.0 m;
Including 5.0 m grading 1.39 per cent Cu, 8.85 g/t Ag from 243.0 m.
278 m grading 0.29 per cent Cu across the entire length of the hole, and not accounting for internal dilution;
Variable oxide copper mineralization (malachite, chrysocolla and chalcocite replacing primary chalcopyrite) was intersected from surface and persisted throughout the entire 278 m length of KSMT25001.
The ground-based magnetotelluric (MT) geophysical survey outlined a northwest-southeast-trending structural corridor with three major high-resistivity anomalies, interpreted as potential intrusive centers, spatially associated with Kismet and Cuddy mine (CM) targets.
The second drill hole at Kismet, KSMT25002, has been completed to a depth of 422.7 m, with assays expected in October, 2025.
Field programs continue to generate new targets across the broader Freeze project area, setting the stage for a pipeline of future drill testing.
Clayton Fisher, chief executive officer of Idex Metals, commented: "From the very first meter, hole KSMT25001 has confirmed a mineralized breccia and delivered continuous copper mineralization over its entire length. This result highlights the potential of the Freeze property, and the Idaho copper belt, to host large, near-surface copper mineralization in a Tier 1 jurisdiction."
Drill hole summary
Hole KSMT25001 was collared in a tourmaline breccia unit with mixed clasts of porphyritic granodiorite, tonalite, diorite and early gabbro intrusives. The breccia is matrix supported with secondary tourmaline and magnetite overprint which transitions to a tourminalized monzonite intrusive matrix at depth. The tourmaline bearing matrix displays patchy weak-moderate potassic alteration, which is associated with tourmaline infill and secondary copper oxide overprint. Oxide copper mineralization in the tourmaline breccia matrix occurs as secondary malachite, chrysocolla and chalcocite. The copper oxides are interpreted to be derived from primary chalcopyrite. There is an overall transition from the oxide copper assemblage to sulphide-dominant chalcopyrite mineralization down hole; however, localized oxide copper intervals are preserved at depths exceeding 200 m. Structurally controlled chrysocolla and malachite also occur as fracture coatings throughout the entirety of the hole. The mineralized breccia interval was encountered over broader intercepts in hole KSMT25002.
KSMT25001 transitions to an early tonalite intrusive that contains intermittent 10 to 20 m intervals of mineralized magmatic breccia. The hole bottomed in an earlier phase of diorite intrusive, which showed malachite and chrysocolla as fracture coating mineralization
MT results
Idex is also pleased to announce the results of the ground-based magnetotelluric (MT) geophysical survey at the Freeze property. The survey was completed by Moombarriga USA Ltd., over the course of five days with a total of 31 MT stations taken across the property. The primary goal of the MT survey was to gain an understanding of the geophysical responses of the Kismet and CM target areas in the subsurface, and to expand the known footprint of the targets into the subsurface.
Hole KSMT25001 was drilled to the north at a steep angle, through moderately resistive features ranging from 200 to 600 Ohm-m. This moderate feature was on the flank of a major greater than 800 Ohm-m body. This major resistive body will be tested in future drilling; however, the focus remains on intersecting the moderately resistive features between the main resistive bodies, as these units may correlate with zones of moderate silicification and disseminated sulphides.
Regionally, results of the survey indicate three major high-resistivity anomalies that trend along a northwest-southeast corridor. A fourth, smaller high-resistivity anomaly can be found at depth, protruding from the northwestern-most major feature. It was found that both the Kismet and CM targets occur along the margins of the resistive centres. This may indicate the possibility that the resistive features are unaltered or potentially potassically altered cores of a shallow intrusive body. It should be noted that the resolution of the MT survey is decreased in the east and south of the property due to a lack of station data.
The existence of a third anomaly to the south of the Kismet and CM targets was believed to be under basalt cover. However, through follow-up fieldwork, this area was found to be a large body of quartz-diorite/tonalite. Currently the exposed MT corridor is 11 kilometres in length and four km in width, and occurs along a northwest-trending axis. The exposure varies and can often be covered in a moderate veneer of soil, which obscures the underlying geology; however, tonalite/diorite can be mapped and linked in several areas, and an inference can be made on the underlying geology between these areas. Basalt cover exists to the east and west of the MT corridor and can be highlighted by intermediate to high MT responses.
The tonalite-to-diorite is locally mineralized; however, these mineralized zones are currently discrete. Large sections of the tonalite/diorite have been overprinted by tourmaline, which replaces primary hornblende in the tonalite/diorite. The intensity of the tourmalinization increases toward the northwest and Kismet. This overprinting pattern encourages the thesis of a large magmatic hydrothermal event linked to the Kismet breccia or the large MT anomalies seen at depth.
Upcoming catalysts
Idex is advancing exploration at Freeze designed to generate steady news flow through the fall and winter:
KSMT25002 was completed to a depth of 422.70 m. Drill core has been processed and assays are expected in October.
KSMT25003 is currently in progress and is a 75 m stepout from hole KSMT25001. The hole was drilled to the north and parallel to KSMT25002. At the time of writing the hole has a current depth of 281.33 m.
KSMT25004 is planned as a 150 m stepout from hole KSMT25001, and the drill orientation is currently unconstrained.
Field exploration at Freeze continues, with new drill targets identified and to be disclosed in upcoming press releases.
Sample analysis and QA/QC (quality assurance/quality control)
All drill core samples were prepped and analyzed at AGAT Labs Analytical in Calgary, Alta., and Thunder Bay, Ont., an ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 certified laboratory. Samples were dried and crushed to two millimetres, from which a 250 g subsample split was then pulverized to 85 per cent passing a 75-micron sieve. Following preparation, a 48-element four-acid digestion (method 201-071) was conducted. For this, a 0.25 g aliquot of the prepared pulp was digested in a four-acid solution consisting of hydrochloric, nitric, perchloric and hydrofluoric acids. Four acid is a near total digest and only the most highly resistant minerals are not dissolved. The resulting solution was analyzed via ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Lower detection limits for this procedure are 0.01 ppm (part per million) for silver, 0.5 ppm for copper and 0.05 ppm for molybdenum.
Gold was analyzed by 202-051, a 30-gram fire assay fusion with AAS finish. No significant results were reported.
Samples with initial results beyond the upper detection limit of the 201-071 method were analyzed by overlimit 201-470 procedure (ICP-OES and/or ICP-MS) for copper. For copper, the threshold is greater than 1 per cent.
AGAT Labs Analytical employs internal quality control standards, duplicates and blank samples at set frequencies. Blind certified reference materials (CRMs), blank samples and duplicate one-fourth core samples were systematically inserted by the company into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the company's quality assurance/quality control protocol.
Qualified person
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by David Hladky, PGeo (registered in Alberta), vice-president of exploration of Idex Metals. Mr. Hladky is a qualified person for Idex Metals within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Idex Metals Corp.
Idex Metals is a mineral exploration company focused on advancing a portfolio of base and precious metal projects in Idaho, United States. Idex is primarily focused on the exploration and development of the Freeze copper-gold porphyry prospect located in the newly discovered Idaho copper belt, Washington county, Idaho. With a strategic land position in a top-tier mining jurisdiction and surrounded by major industry players, Idex is committed to redefining district-scale exploration in Idaho.
We seek Safe Harbor.
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