Victory Metals' JV Partner Ethos Gold Commences Drilling of Carlin-type Target at Iron Point, Nevada, and Adds Fourth Hole to Test Southern Extension of Target

VANCOUVER, June 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Victory Metals (((", TSXV:VMX, ))) ("Victory" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its joint venture partner, Ethos Gold (((", TSXV:ECC, ))) ("Ethos"), has commenced drilling at the Iron Point project 22 miles east of Winnemucca, Nevada. Ethos' primary target is Carlin-type gold mineralization hosted in Lower Plate stratigraphy below the Roberts Mountain thrust fault. Some of the world's largest and highest grade gold deposits are found in this Lower Plate stratigraphy. The Lower Plate drill target at Iron Point is immediately west of a north-south striking range front fault at between 500m and 800m depth (see Figures 1 – 5 below).

Highlights:

• The Ethos gold-focused drilling at Iron Point is now underway, supervised by Dr. Quinton Henningh. This drilling is in addition to the ongoing vanadium shallow drill program (up to approximately 200m depth) being conducted by Victory as was announced on May 27, 2019 (click here). Between both the vanadium and gold programs there are now three RC rigs and one core rig turning at Iron Point.
• Iron Point is located at the intersection of the Cortez/Battle Mountain Gold Trend and the Getchell Gold Trend, and on trend from several high-grade, world-class gold mines including Twin Creeks, Getchell/Turquoise Ridge, Lone Tree-Stonehouse, and Marigold.  
• The Ethos drill  program will comprise approximately 3,200m of drilling (see collar locations in Figure 1). This includes a fourth vertical hole that has been added to the previously announced three-hole program which will test the extension of the gold target area south of Interstate 80. Three of these holes will be drilled with a reverse circulation ("RC") rig to depths of approximately 300m, then continued with a core rig to total depths of approximately 850m (Holes 1, 2 and 4 in Figure 2). A fourth hole will be drilled as a core hole from surface to approximately 600m (Hole 3 in Figure 2).
• Ethos can earn a 50% undivided interest in the gold rights at Iron Point from Victory by spending C$5.0 million over three years, including a minimum expenditure of C$1.0 million in the first year.
• Previous drilling at Iron Point by Dr. Quinton Hennigh in the 1990s intersected anomalous Carlin-type gold mineralization across Upper and Lower Plate stratigraphy near an interpreted recumbent fold hinge as well as along a range front fault. Significant anomalous gold has been sampled in surface trenches and is interpreted to be leakage from deeper levels in the system. Further, some of the strongest Carlin-type gold pathfinder element geochemistry in Nevada is present at Iron Point.
• Based on this work, a 5 km long, 1 km wide north-south trending Carlin-style gold target has been identified by Dr. Hennigh at Iron Point. The current drill program will test for Lower Plate-hosted gold mineralization beneath Upper Plate Vinini Formation sedimentary rocks that host Victory' vanadium mineralization.

Collin Kettell, CEO of Victory, stated: "Iron Point was initially acquired by Casino Gold for its gold potential with the project representing one of the most historically active gold exploration targets in Northern Nevada. Coincidentally, dialogue with Dr. Henningh in middle of 2018 regarding deeper gold targets led to the recognition of the presence of shallow vanadium mineralization at Iron Point and the formation of Victory Metals as a North American vanadium company. We are ecstatic to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Henningh and test for deeper gold targets at Iron Point, while keeping Victory's focus squarely on vanadium."

Stated Craig Roberts, P.Eng., President & CEO of Ethos: "Our deal with Victory Metals was announced May 17 and we are very pleased to have advanced to the point of having drills turning by June 17. While there is considerable historic exploration work at Iron Point including multiple drill programs resulting in the definition of strong indicator element and gold geochemistry over 5 km north-south along the range front fault, to date Iron Point has not received any significant drilling to deeper levels into Lower Plate stratigraphy to test for Carlin-type gold mineralization. This drill campaign will be the first to systematically test for a deeper Carlin-type target in the Lower Plate at Iron Point. Fortunately we are able to benefit from  this substantial previous nearer-surface work in locating and orienting our planned deeper drilling. Carlin-type targets have potential for significant size and  we are excited to have now initiated this drill campaign." 

Stated Dr. Quinton Hennigh: "We have a robust drill plan prepared for testing the 5 km long gold target at Iron Point. The first two vertical holes will test the central part of the target area by cutting through highly geochemically anomalous Upper Plate rocks in search of Carlin-style gold mineralization in Lower Plate rocks beneath. Our third hole tests for similar mineralization in the northern part of the target area where an erosional window has cut down into the recumbent Zed-fold exposing targeted Lower Plate rocks. Our newly added fourth hole, vertical, is positioned in the southern part of the target area and will drill through basalt, gravel and Upper Plate rocks to test the underlying prospective Lower Plate stratigraphy. I am very happy to have this opportunity to test what is perhaps one of the best remaining Carlin-style gold targets left in Nevada."

Extension of Target Area to the South of Interstate 80

Previous mapping, sampling, and drilling along the extension of the range front fault south of Interstate 80 has identified a significant gold and pathfinder element anomalism. There has been no deep drilling in this area to date.  The target model here is similar to, and a continuation of, the target model north of the highway. Ethos has decided to test this target with a vertical hole (Hole 4) to a planned depth of 850m (see location on Figure 2), targeting Lower Plate stratigraphy beneath Upper Plate rocks. Since this area has already been permitted and bonded by Victory in preparation for drill testing the extent of vanadium mineralization in this area, drilling of the deeper gold target can commence immediately.

Overview of the Iron Point Target

Iron Point is located at the intersection of the prolific Getchell and Cortez/Battle Mountain Trends:

At Iron Point, Upper Plate Ordovician Vinini Formation overlies interpreted Lower Plate Silurian-Devonian Roberts Mountain and Popovich Formations, separated by the Roberts Mountain thrust fault dipping shallowly to the west (see Figures 2, 3 and 4 below). North-south striking normal faulting subsequent to the Roberts Mountain thrust activity has down-dropped stratigraphy to the east forming a range front fault, infilled by alluvium and gravels to the east. Some of the strongest Carlin-type gold pathfinder element geochemistry in Nevada is present at Iron Point in footwall rocks immediately west of the range front fault over an approximately 5 km strike distance (see Figure 5 below). Anomalous gold mineralization in geochemical sampling and trenching coincident with this pathfinder geochemistry is also present along this 5 km trend. Historic drilling at Iron Point has encountered multiple intervals of significantly anomalous gold mineralization in Upper Plate rocks and into Lower Plate stratigraphy also immediately west of the range front fault. This includes an interval of Carlin-type gold mineralization along the range front fault interpreted to be smeared fault gouge transported from deeper levels.

Drilling that penetrated the upper levels of the Lower Plate rocks encountered an interpreted recumbent Zed-fold parallel to and immediately west of the range front fault. This recumbent Zed-fold is also partially exposed in an erosional window near the north end of the target area. A similar geologic model including recumbent Zed-folding along a range front fault is the focus of extensive gold-mineralization at Newmont's Twin Creeks mine located approximately 25 miles north of Iron Point. The primary target for Carlin-type mineralization at Iron Point is in this Zed-folding of Lower Plate rocks along the range front fault (see Figures 3 and 4 below).

Earn In and Joint Venture Terms

Ethos can earn a 50% interest in the gold and silver rights at Iron Point by spending a minimum of C$5.0 million over three years, with minimum expenditures of C$1.0 million in the first year. Following the earn-in a 50-50 joint venture will be formed between Ethos and Victory. Victory will maintain 100% title to the Iron Point claims and on completion of its earn-in Ethos would have a contractual right to 50% of any gold or silver discovery. The vanadium mineralization is near surface with significant spatial separation from the conceptual deeper gold target and is 100% owned by Victory. Furthermore, Victory maintains the right to ensure that any gold exploration and development plans do not interfere with development of its vanadium project. 

Stock Option Grant

The Company further announces an aggregate grant of 560,000 stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company exercisable at $0.63 expiring five years from the date of grant, subject to regulatory approval.

About Victory Metals

Victory owns a 100% interest in the Iron Point Vanadium Project, located 22 miles east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The project is located within a few miles of Interstate 80, has high voltage electric power lines running through the project area and a railroad line passing across the northern property boundary. The Company is well financed to advance the project through resource estimation and initial feasibility study work. Victory has a proven capital markets and mining team led by Executive Chairman Paul Matysek. Major shareholders include Casino Gold (46%), and management, directors and founders (27%). Approximately 48% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares are subject to an escrow release over three years.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been review and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
Please see the Company's website at www.victorymetals.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of
VICTORY METALS INC.

Paul Matysek
Executive Chairman and Director

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

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "believes", "aims to", "plans to" or "intends to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including the business of the Company, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks, and delay, inability to complete a financing or failure to receive regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Victory Metals Inc