Aurelius Minerals Continues to Intersect Extensive Near Surface Gold at Aureus West - 61.3m at 1.33 g/t Gold including 0.6m at 50.60 g/t Gold and 0.8m at 34.00 g/t Gold, and Provides Summary of Aureus West 4,600m Phase 1 Drilling Program

Toronto, ON - Aurelius Minerals Inc. (TSX.V:AUL) (OTCQB:AURQF) (the “Company” or “Aurelius”) is pleased to report assay results from four additional holes from its Aureus West Gold Project and announce the successful completion of its Phase One exploration campaign at the Aureus Gold Project  located in Nova Scotia, Canada. The four holes were drilled from the second and third pads of the Phase One program. Holes AW-20-007 from Pad 2 and AW-20-008, AW-20-009 and AW-20-010 are from pad 3, which is approximately 215 metres (“m”) east of pad 2 along the main Aureus West gold trend. All holes intersected strongly mineralized broad intervals of near surface gold mineralization. The Aureus West Gold Project is located approximately one kilometre south of the Aureus East Gold Project. Ten holes were completed, totaling approximately 4,600m, in the 2020 drilling program at Aureus West.

 

Highlights of Phase 1 Final Holes’ Assays:

 

 

Aureus West Phase 1 Summary

 

 

The Phase Two program at Aureus West, consisting of up to 10,000m in 2021, will focus on defining the higher-grade gold domains which are hosted within wide lower grade zones. The drilling will aim to expand the mineralized envelope along strike and down to a depth of 300m from surface while systematically testing the deeper extents of the gold mineralization within this extensive system. Data compilation and preliminary ground exploration suggests the presence of parallel gold systems to the south which the company intends on drill testing during the current campaign. The exploration team will also develop targets to the north of the Aureus West deposit, towards the Aureus East project and will also look to identify new gold mineralization and to close the 900m gap between the two gold systems.

 

Mark N.J. Ashcroft, P.Eng, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aurelius said, “We are very pleased with the results of our Phase One program at the Aureus West project.  Our goal was to confirm the presence of high-grade intervals and confirm the presence of mineral haloes, which we have done. Furthermore, the experience gained drilling both Aureus West and Aureus East, provides the opportunity to continually refine the geological model, and improve our drill targeting and selection based on an improved understanding of the orientation and structure of the mineralization.” Ashcroft continued, “I want to highlight the fact that this entire program was completed without the benefit of having assay results, so our excellent hit rate is a complete testament to the quality of the geological team operating at site.”

 

Figure 1. Long section of Aureus West showing grade shells and open ground proximal to limited drilling.

 

Figure 2. Plan map showing Phase 1 drilling along Aureus West gold trend.

 

"When we acquired these assets, we were excited about the opportunities at Aureus West to both confirm the presence of high-grade gold and to grow the existing gold mineralization. The Phase One drilling has exceeded our expectations,” said Jeremy Niemi, VP, Exploration. "We have revealed additional pathways to grow the deposit, and our team has done an exceptional job of delivering on our goals during the global pandemic. We have set the stage for an extremely exciting future at Aureus West.”

 

The Aureus West gold exploration program is focused on growing and developing large near surface bulk tonnage gold resources which not only occur in the series of stacked saddle reef quartz veins, but also in the folded sedimentary host rocks surrounding them.  The gold mineralization tends to exhibit thicker intersections along the fold axis of the anticlines. The system extends approximately 6km in an east-west direction and is replicated in a series of horizons to a depth of at least 500m where the system remains open. Historical drilling indicates that the Aureus West gold mineralization continues for over 1.9km toward the west, and historical surface trenches evidence visible gold approximately 5.8km along strike to the south-west of the 2020 drilling program. The eastern margin of the gold mineralization is constrained by the Harrigan-Cove fault, a significant regional structure. From the Aureus West gold trend, the Harrigan-Cove fault extends to the northwest and separates the Aureus West and East gold systems, which are offset by approximately one kilometre of displacement.