Rockridge Intersects High Grade Copper in Drill Holes 3, 4 and 5 at Knife Lake Project including 4.31% Cu and 5.05% CuEq over 13.2m within 2.03% Cu and 2.42% CuEq over 37.6m Beginning at 11.2m Downhole

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rockridge Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:ROCK) (Frankfurt: RR0) (“Rockridge” or the “Company”) is pleased to report additional results from its inaugural winter diamond drilling program at its flagship Knife Lake Project located in Saskatchewan (the “Knife Lake Project” or “Property”). Interpretation and QA/QC has been completed on drill holes KF19003, KF19004 and KF19005, and additional results on the remaining seven holes will be released as interpretation and QA/QC work is completed. Rockridge recently entered into an Option Agreement with Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. to acquire a 100% interest in the Property that covers the majority of the historical Knife Lake Cu-Zn-Ag-Co VMS deposit. The contiguous claims total approximately 85,196 hectares and are located approximately 50 km northwest of Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan.

Knife Lake VMS Project Map:
http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/Knife_Lake_Region_20181011.pdf

The analytical results are summarized below and indicate high grade intercepts in all three holes including a broad intercept in KF19003. Drill hole KF19003 intersected net-textured to semi-massive sulphide mineralization from 11.2m to 48.8m downhole. This 37.6m interval returned 2.03% Cu, 0.19 g/t Au, 9.88 g/t Ag, 0.36% Zn, and 0.01% Co for an estimated 2.42% CuEq. Drill hole KF19004 intersected net-textured sulphide mineralization from 33.2m to 36.5m downhole. This 3.4m interval returned 1.01% Cu, 0.08 g/t Au, 4.21 g/t Ag, 0.19% Zn, and 0.02% Co for an estimated 1.25% CuEq. Drill hole KF19005 intersected net-textured sulphide mineralization from 32.0m to 36.5m downhole. This 4.5m interval returned 1.03% Cu, 0.06 g/t Au, 3.98 g/t Ag, and 0.15% Co for an estimated 1.20% CuEq. Anomalous gallium (up to 25.6 ppm) and indium (up to 15.2 ppm) were also intersected in the mineralized zones of all three holes.

Of particular note, drill hole KF19003 confirmed high grade mineralization up-dip of KF19002, in an area where no historical drilling has been reported. KF19004 and KF19005 both confirmed mineralization up-dip of historically drilled high grade mineralization. Highlighted intersections from the three drill holes are reported in the table below.

Rockridge’s President and CEO, Jordan Trimble commented: “The results from drill hole KF19003, specifically 2.42% CuEq over 37.6m, have far exceeded our expectations and represents one of the best holes ever drilled on the project. It is important to note that this drill hole was collared in an area where no historical drilling has been reported. As such these drill results are expected to have a positive impact on the historical resource. Final results from the remaining seven drill holes are pending and will provide steady news flow and catalysts over the near term.”

Drill Hole Results Table for Holes KF19003, KF19004 and KF19005:

HoleFromToCore Length*CuAuAgZnCoCuEq**
(m)(m)(m)(%)(g/t)(g/t)(%)(%)(%)
 
KF1900311.2048.8037.602.030.199.880.360.012.42
Includes24.7537.9013.154.310.3721.480.750.025.05
Includes30.0037.907.905.980.4929.280.940.036.96
Includes30.0034.004.007.540.6337.161.320.058.92
Includes31.0033.002.0010.330.6050.601.180.0111.43
 
KF1900433.1536.503.351.010.084.210.190.021.25
 
KF1900532.0036.504.501.030.063.980.150.011.20
Includes33.0035.002.001.720.106.320.220.011.97

* Drill indicated intercepts (core length) are reported as drilled widths. True thickness is undetermined

** Assumptions used in USD for the copper equivalent calculation were metal prices of $2.80/lb Cu, $18.00/lb Co, $1,300/oz Au, $17.00/oz Ag, $1.20/lb Zn and a processing cost of $11.55/tonne. Copper equivalent (CuEq) was calculated using the formula CuEq = Cu% + ((Zn%*Zn Price*Zn Recovery*Zn Payable*22.0462) + (Co%*Co Price *Co Recovery*Co Payable*22.0462)+ (Augpt*Au Price*Au Recovery*Au Payable/31.1035) + (Ag *Ag Price*Ag Recovery*Ag Payable/31.1035)) / (Cu price*CuRecovery*Cu payable*22.0462)

The Company completed twelve holes consisting of 1,053m of diamond drilling in the 2019 winter drilling program. This represents the first work on the property since 2001 and has two primary objectives: confirm the tenor of mineralization reported by previous operators and expand known zones of mineralization. All activities will advance the project toward the goal of completing a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate.  

Knife Lake Plan Map and Drill Collar Locations:
http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/maps/Knife-Lake-Plan-Map-2019_v2.pdf

Compilation and initial modelling indicates a potential for expansion of the historical deposit at depth. The current drilling has been focused on resource upgrade and expansion as well as infill drilling between historical holes. The program will also give the Company’s technical team valuable insights into the property geology, alteration, and mineralization that will be applied to future regional exploration on the highly prospective and underexplored land package.   

Knife Lake contains typical VMS mineralogy which has been significantly modified and partially remobilized during the emplacement of granitic rocks. Therefore, the known historical deposit may represent a remobilized portion of a presumably larger “primary” VMS deposit based on general observations about the mineralogy, mineral textures and metal ratios in the deposit. Most of the historical work consisted of shallow drilling at the deposit area with little regional work carried out and limited deeper drilling below the deposit. As a result, there is strong discovery potential both at depth and regionally.

Recap of First 2 Drill Holes from Current Drill Program:

Previously reported diamond drill hole KF19001 intersected net-textured to fracture-controlled sulphide mineralization from 7.5m to 40.6m downhole. This 33.1m interval returned 1.28% Cu, 0.12 g/t Au, 4.80 g/t Ag, 0.13% Zn, and 0.01% Co for an estimated 1.49% CuEq. Previously reported diamond drill hole KF19002 intersected net-textured to semi-massive sulphide mineralization from 9.7m to 53.5m downhole. This 43.8m interval returned 0.78% Cu, 0.07 g/t Au, 2.54 g/t Ag, 0.07% Zn, and 0.01% Co for an estimated 0.93% CuEq. Anomalous gallium (up to 23.1 ppm) and indium (up to 15.2 ppm) were intersected in the mineralized zones of both holes.

Drill Results Table from Previously Reported Holes KF19001 and KF19002:

HoleFromToCore Length*CuAuAgZnCoCuEq**
(m)(m)(m)(%)(g/t)(g/t)(%)(%)(%)
      
KF190017.5040.6033.101.280.124.800.130.011.49
Upper Int.7.5013.606.101.670.217.200.310.011.99
Includes7.5011.504.002.290.299.800.430.012.72
Middle Int.19.5024.104.601.700.145.900.150.011.94
Includes21.5023.502.002.060.238.200.260.022.46
Lower Int.30.7040.609.901.560.136.100.110.021.81
Includes36.7038.702.003.370.3314.400.260.033.88
  
KF190029.7053.5043.800.780.072.540.070.010.93
Includes24.3042.0017.701.270.113.710.070.021.47
Includes25.4030.505.102.030.105.040.110.022.28
Includes29.5030.501.005.970.2115.40.280.046.49

* Drill indicated intercepts (core length) are reported as drilled widths and true thickness is undetermined

** Assumptions used in USD for the copper equivalent calculation were metal prices of $2.80/lb Cu, $18.00/lb Co, $1,300/oz Au, $17.00/oz Ag, $1.20/lb Zn and a processing cost of $11.55/tonne. Copper equivalent (CuEq) was calculated using the formula CuEq = Cu% + ((Zn%*Zn Price*Zn Recovery*Zn Payable*22.0462) + (Co%*Co Price *Co Recovery*Co Payable*22.0462) + (Augpt*Au Price*Au Recovery*Au Payable/31.1035) + (Ag *Ag Price*Ag Recovery*Ag Payable/31.1035)) / (Cu price*CuRecov*Cupayable*22.0462)

Knife Lake Geology and History: 

The Knife Lake Project is interpreted to be a remobilized VMS deposit. The stratabound mineralized zone is approximately 15m thick and contains copper, silver, zinc and cobalt mineralization which dips 30° to 45° eastward over a strike-length of 4,500m, with an average horizontal width of approximately 300m. Over 400 diamond drill holes have been completed in and around the current property boundaries, with much of this historic drill core stored under cover and in very good condition. A 357kV powerline runs within 16 km of the Knife Lake Deposit area, greatly enhancing the project’s infrastructure. 

Knife Lake Deposit Map:
http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/Knife_Lake_Location_and_Highlights_20181011.pdf

The deposit is hosted by felsic to intermediate volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks which have been metamorphosed to upper amphibolite facies. The deposit contains VMS mineralogy which has been significantly modified and partially remobilized during the emplacement of granitic rocks. The mineralization straddles the boundary between two rock units and occurs on both limbs of an interpreted overturned fold.

The Knife Lake area saw extensive exploration from the late 1960s to the 1990s with the last documented work program completed in 2001. Between 1996 and 1998, Leader completed 315 diamond drill holes, outlining a broad zone of mineralization occurring at a depth of less than 100 metres (AF 63M-0006, Report 10). Late in 1998, Leader published a historical estimate for the deposit, reporting a drill-indicated resource of 20.3 million tonnes grading 0.6% Cu, 0.1 g/t Au, 3.0 g/t Ag, 0.06% Co and 0.11% Zn. Within the historical estimate, there is a higher grade zone containing 11.0 million tonnes grading 0.75% Cu in addition to other metals (SMDI 0406). All disclosed historical estimates were completed prior to the passing of NI 43-101 into law and as such the Company advises that these mineral resource estimates, as disclosed, are not supported by a compliant National Instrument 43-101 technical report, contrary to NI 43-101.  A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify these historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves in accordance with NI 43-101. The above resource estimates are from the Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMDI) 0406. The Company is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. These estimates do not comply to categories prescribed by National Instrument 43-101 or the Canadian Institute of Mining, and are disclosed only as indications of the presence of mineralization and are considered to be a guide for additional work.  The historical models and data sets used to prepare these historical estimates are not available to Rockridge and the author is not aware of any more recent resource estimates or data. The 1998 historical resource was calculated using the cross-section method and used assay data from 241 Leader holes and from 6 other holes drilled prior to Leader’s drilling.  A cutoff grade of 0.3% copper-equivalent and a minimum composite length of 3.0 meters was used. Holes were plotted on vertical drill sections ranging from Section 20760 N to Section 24905 N, covering a strike length of 4,145 meters.  The categories used for the Leader Mining 1998 historical resource estimates are stated as being “drill-indicated”. This is not a resource category as defined under 43-101 CP Section 2.4 (1) and (2)6 but based on the methodologies and drill hole spacing it would likely be equivalent to an inferred resource category.

QA/QC:

Samples were sent for geochemical analysis with ALS Global, Vancouver for the following analyses: 48 element four acid ICP-MS (ME-MS61) and gold (Au) 30 g Fire Assay – AA finish (Au-AA23). Over limit analysis were completed using the following analyses: Ore Grade copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) – four acid ICP-AES (ME-OG62).

On receipt of final certificates of analysis, the QA/QC sample results were reviewed to ensure the order of samples were reported correctly, that the blanks ran clean, and that the results for each standard had minimal variance from its certified value. QA/QC for the Knife Lake drilling included certified reference material (“CRM’s”) and blanks that were inserted into each sample batch in order to verify the analytical from the lab. The CRM’s from the first five drill holes reported passed within 2 standard deviations and the blanks returned acceptable values. All of the lab internal standards and duplicates were within acceptable values.

DrillCollar Summary Table:

Hole IDEastingNorthingElevationAzimuthDipDepth
 (m)(m)(m)  (m)
KF19001641595.56194192.6387283-9090
KF19002641622.76194154.3389283-6590
KF190036416066194157389280-5590
KF19004641566.86194120.1390283-7090
KF19005641551.66194016.9388283-7090

Qualified Person:

Richard Kusmirski, P.Geo., a “qualified person” for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and a Director of Rockridge Resources Ltd., has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Rockridge Resources Ltd.

Rockridge Resources is a new publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral resource properties in Canada, specifically copper and base metal projects. The Company's flagship project is the Knife Lake Project located in Saskatchewan, which is ranked as the #3 mining jurisdiction in the world by the Fraser Institute. The project hosts the Knife Lake deposit, which is a VMS, near-surface copper-cobalt-gold-silver-zinc deposit open along strike and at depth. There is strong discovery potential in and around the deposit area as well as at regional targets on the 85,196-hectare property. Rockridge’s goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

Rockridge Resources Ltd.

“Jordan Trimble”

Jordan Trimble
President and CEO

For further information contact myself or:
Nick Findler
Corporate Development and Communications
Rockridge Resources Ltd.
Telephone: 604-639-3850
Toll Free: 800-567-8181
Facsimile: 604-687-3119
Email: nfindler@rockridgeresourcesltd.com

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Forward Looking Statements:

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “expects” and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company’s future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

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