Overview of the Lespérance-Lac Shortt exploration update
SOQUEM reports encouraging gold results from its 2024-2025 exploration program at the Lespérance-Lac Shortt project in the Abitibi Subprovince of Quebec. Conducted across the Boyvinet, Boyvinet West, and Lespérance Breccia areas, the program aimed to evaluate gold potential west of the Lac Shortt deformation corridor and to refine the understanding of a shallow gold-bearing zone in the Breccia. A total of 24 drill holes for 5,240.5 meters were completed by March 2025, with results demonstrating continued gold mineralization along multiple targets.
Key results by area
Boyvinet area
The gold-bearing zones here lie near the Lac Shortt deformation corridor, an east–west-trending structure dipping north. Historical work had identified appreciable grades in this corridor, and SOQUEM’s 2024-2025 program drilled five holes (1,575 meters) to test westward continuity. Notable intercepts include:
- Hole 1435-24-018: 0.70 g/t Au over 39.7 meters, including 1.46 g/t Au over 16 meters, at the boundary between overburden and bedrock.
- Hole 1435-25-020: 1.19 g/t Au over 8.0 meters and 1.13 g/t Au over 14.0 meters.
- Other encouraging results include Hole 1435-24-017 with 0.96 g/t Au over 5.9 meters and Hole 1435-25-021 with 0.92 g/t Au over 15.0 meters.
The mineralized zones occur within a 1.4-kilometer corridor hosted by basalts and diorites/gabbros showing pervasive alteration (albite, hematite, potassium feldspar, ankerite and silica) with trace to over 5% pyrite. These features align with models of gold-related intrusive systems and orogenic deposits, presenting a compelling avenue for follow-up drilling.
Boyvinet West area
In the adjacent Boyvinet West area, five holes totaling 723 meters were drilled to verify a shallow gold zone recently modeled from historical data. Historical BV-16 data revealed a fault zone with 1.34 g/t Au over 16.06 meters beginning at 28.29 meters and a richer 2.42 g/t Au over 6.56 meters. All five holes intersected the mineralized zone, supporting a new interpretation that places the gold zone on a 315°N trend with a 35° dip. The zone now covers a strike length of about 375 meters and remains open to the northwest and southeast. Best results included:
- Hole 1435-24-013: 0.91 g/t Au over 19.5 meters, including 1.48 g/t Au over 10.7 meters.
- Hole 1435-24-015: 0.67 g/t Au over 13.1 meters, including 4.26 g/t Au over 1.2 meters.
This newly interpreted gold-bearing structure adds a promising component to the project, with potential extensions along the corridor and opportunities to improve resource models.
Lespérance Breccia area
Eleven holes totaling 2,348.5 meters targeted the copper-gold potential of the breccia. Results confirm two mineralization styles:
- Gold associated with intensely altered zones (albite, carbonate, sericite, pyrite) where the protolith is masked by alteration, highlighting high-grade pockets.
- Copper-gold zones within breccias rich in magnetite–hematite, pyrite, epidote–chlorite and chalcopyrite, linked to volcanic-sedimentary units and suggestive of an early skarn system.
In particular, hole 1435-25-027 returned 3.32 g/t Au over 7.3 meters with an interval containing visible gold, while hole 1435-25-028 returned 6.33 g/t Au over 10 meters, underscoring the potential of shallow oxide gold zones at Lespérance Breccia.
Project context and future plans
The Lespérance-Lac Shortt project comprises 192 mining claims (about 100.7 square kilometers) controlled 100% by SOQUEM. Located within the Caopatina-Desmaraisville greenstone belt and near the Lac Shortt and Bachelor former mines, the project benefits from established infrastructure and proximity to historical production totaling hundreds of thousands of ounces. SOQUEM’s immediate work plan includes a fall 2025 reconnaissance drill program of roughly 5,000 meters focused on extending known gold-bearing structures and testing new exploration targets. Induced polarization geophysics will be used to evaluate the continuity of mineralized corridors and identify additional targets.
Quality assurance and reporting
SOQUEM followed strict QA/QC protocols, including certified reference materials and blanks. All samples were analyzed at Activation Laboratories Ltd. using standard multi-element ICP-OES/MS methods and fire assay for gold, with gravimetric re-assay for grades above 5 g/t Au and metallic sieve checks for visible gold.
Qualified person and about SOQUEM
The press release data were reviewed by Catherine Jalbert, a professional geologist and SOQUEM vice president, who is qualified under NI 43-101. SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Investissement Québec, focuses on exploration and development of mining properties in Quebec, supporting local economies and advancing Canada’s mineral wealth through innovation and targeted exploration.
