VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 25, 2019 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSX.V:SKE)(OTCQX:SKREF) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional Au-Ag drill results from the recently initiated Phase I surface drilling program at the Eskay Creek Project ("Eskay Creek") located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Two surface drill rigs are being used for the 2019 Phase I program in the 21A, 21E and 22 Zones to infill and upgrade areas of Inferred resources to the Indicated classification. Drillhole results reported in this release are from the 21A Zone. Reference images are presented at the end of this release as well as on the Company's website.

Phase I Eskay Creek 21A Zone Drilling Highlights

  • 27.37 g/t Au, 18 g/t Ag (27.61 g/t AuEq) over 9.40 m (SK-19-053)
  • 9.86 g/t Au, 157 g/t Ag (10.26 g/t AuEq) over 28.50 m (SK-19-060)
  • 6.75 g/t Au, 285 g/t Ag (10.56 g/t AuEq) over 27.50 m (SK-19-061)

Gold Equivalent (AuEQ) calculated via the formula: Au (g/t) + [Ag (g/t) / 75]. Reported core lengths represent 80-100% of true widths and are supported by well-defined mineralization geometries derived from historical drilling. Grade capping of individual assays has not been applied to the Au and Ag assays informing the length weighted AuEQ composites. Processing recoveries have not been applied to the AuEQ calculation and are disclosed at 100%. Samples below detection limit were nulled to a value of zero

21A Zone Drilling Expands Mineralization

The ongoing 2019 Phase I infill and expansion drilling program at Eskay Creek continues to increase and upgrade the Inferred mineralization hosted in the 21A Zone. Phase I drillholes SK-19-059, 060 and 061 have all extended the known mineralization towards surface having intersected:

  • 2.18 g/t Au, 36 g/t Ag (2.67 g/t AuEq) over 28.00 m (SK-19-059)
  • 9.86 g/t Au, 157 g/t Ag (10.26 g/t AuEq) over 28.50 m (SK-19-060)
  • 6.75 g/t Au, 285 g/t Ag (10.56 g/t AuEq) over 27.50 m (SK-19-061)

Existing drillhole spacings in this portion of the 21A Zone exceed 30 m and were classified as Inferred resources in the Company's 2019 Mineral Resource Estimate. The 2019 infill drilling program in the 21A Zone is designed to infill the Inferred resources to 15 m drill spacings for the purpose of upgrading to the Indicated category. The newly extended 21A Zone mineralization correlates extremely well with the predicted geometries as well as the Au-Ag tenor of the adjacent drillholes.

About Skeena

Skeena Resources Limited is a junior Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing prospective precious and base metal properties in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company's primary activities are the exploration and development of the past-producing Snip mine and the Eskay Creek mine, both acquired from Barrick. In addition, the Company has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the GJ copper-gold porphyry project.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited,

Walter Coles Jr.
President & CEO

Qualified Persons

Exploration activities at the Eskay Creek Project are administered on site by the Company's Exploration Managers, Colin Russell, P.Geo. and Adrian Newton, P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities on its exploration projects.

Quality Assurance - Quality Control

Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples are sawn in half, labelled and bagged. The remaining drill core is subsequently securely stored on site. Numbered security tags are applied to lab shipments for chain of custody requirements. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. The QAQC program was designed and approved by Lynda Bloom, P.Geo. of Analytical Solutions Ltd., and is overseen by the Company's Qualified Person, Paul Geddes, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration and Resource Development.

Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistry's analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed and 1kg is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 50g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100ppm are re-analyzed using a 50g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish. Analysis for silver is by 50g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish with a lower limit of 5ppm and upper limit of 10,000ppm. Samples with silver assays greater than 10,000ppm are re-analyzed using a gravimetric silver concentrate method. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-elemental geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and also for mercury using an aqua regia digest with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish. Samples with sulfur reporting greater than 10% from the multi-element analysis are re-analyzed for total sulfur by Leco furnace and infrared spectroscopy.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Table 1: Eskay Creek Project Phase I 21A Zone length weighted drill hole gold and silver composites:

HOLE-ID

FROM (M)

TO (M)

CORE LENGTH (M)

AU (G/T)

AG (G/T)

AUEQ (G/T)

AREA

SK-19-053

55.10

64.50

9.40

27.37

18

27.61

21A MS

INCLUDING

56.50

57.62

1.12

21.20

<5

21.20

21A MS

AND

57.62

58.32

0.70

67.80

52

68.49

21A MS

AND

58.32

58.90

0.58

20.30

46

20.91

21A MS

AND

58.90

59.50

0.60

55.00

46

55.61

21A MS

AND

59.50

60.35

0.85

67.20

16

67.41

21A MS

AND

60.35

61.10

0.75

44.90

41

45.45

21A MS

AND

61.10

62.00

0.90

26.10

29

26.49

21A MS

AND

62.00

63.00

1.00

22.10

6

22.18

21A MS

SK-19-059

80.00

108.00

28.00

2.18

36

2.67

21A RHY

SK-19-060

74.00

102.50

28.50

9.86

157

10.26

21A MS/RHY

INCLUDING

77.00

77.80

0.80

31.60

553

38.97

21A MS/RHY

AND

77.80

78.40

0.60

48.60

1,695

71.20

21A MS/RHY

AND

78.40

79.00

0.60

54.10

2,210

83.57

21A MS/RHY

AND

79.00

80.00

1.00

39.80

706

49.21

21A MS/RHY

AND

80.00

80.94

0.94

53.30

94

54.55

21A MS/RHY

AND

80.94

81.50

0.56

8.42

32

8.85

21A MS/RHY

AND

81.50

82.15

0.65

4.51

602

12.54

21A MS/RHY

SK-19-061

70.00

97.50

27.50

6.75

285

10.56

21A MS/RHY

INCLUDING

72.50

73.50

1.00

25.90

80

26.97

21A MS/RHY

AND

73.50

74.00

0.50

66.70

892

78.59

21A MS/RHY

AND

74.00

75.00

1.00

33.20

1,475

52.87

21A MS/RHY

AND

75.00

75.75

0.75

35.20

907

47.29

21A MS/RHY

AND

75.75

77.00

1.25

16.00

928

28.37

21A MS/RHY

AND

77.00

78.50

1.50

3.69

1,265

20.56

21A MS/RHY

AND

78.50

79.50

1.00

2.02

1,220

18.29

21A MS/RHY

SK-19-061

101.00

102.50

1.50

2.64

183

5.08

21A MS/RHY

SK-19-061

115.00

116.50

1.50

2.83

118

4.40

21A MS/RHY

SK-19-062

ASSAYS PENDING

SK-19-063

ASSAYS PENDING

SK-19-064

40.00

70.35

30.35

2.44

55

3.17

21A MS/RHY

INCLUDING

45.00

45.80

0.80

43.60

228

46.64

21A MS/RHY


Gold Equivalent (AuEQ) calculated via the formula: Au (g/t) + [Ag (g/t) / 75]. Reported core lengths represent 80-100% of true widths and are supported by well-defined mineralization geometries derived from historical drilling. Length weighted AuEQ composites were constrained by geological considerations. Grade capping of individual assays has not been applied to the Au and Ag assays informing the length weighted AuEQ composites. Processing recoveries have not been applied to the AuEQ calculation and are disclosed at 100%. Samples below detection limit were nulled to a value of zero. MS - Mudstone, RHY - Rhyolite.

Table 2: Mine grid Phase I drill hole locations and orientations:

HOLE-ID

EASTING

NORTHING

ELEVATION

LENGTH (M)

AZIMUTH

DIP

SK-19-053

9739.9

10042.2

1027.4

88.0

204.8

-76.4

SK-19-059

9897.0

10138.0

1036.4

126.0

112.9

-50.8

SK-19-060

9897.0

10138.0

1036.2

106.0

129.2

-49.6

SK-19-061

9897.0

10138.0

1036.8

125.0

101.5

-56.0

SK-19-064

9898.9

10089.5

1025.7

90.0

125.5

-56.2


CONTACT:

Walt Coles Jr., President & CEO
or Kelly Earle, Vice President Communications
Email: kearle@skeenaresources.com
Tel: (604) 684-8725

SOURCE: Skeena Resources Limited