VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Azincourt Energy Corp. (“Azincourt” or the “Company”) (TSX.V: AAZ, OTC: AZURF) is pleased to announce it has entered into a definitive property option agreement with 1177865 B.C. Ltd. (the “Optionor”), pursuant to which it has been granted the option (the “Option”) to acquire a series of three uranium-lithium exploration projects located in the Picotani volcanic field in Carabaya and San Antanio De Putina Provinces, Puno Region, in southeastern Peru (collectively, the “Projects”).

The Projects cover a combined area of 7,400 hectares of prospective exploration targets for volcanic hosted supergene/surficial uranium and lithium on the Picotani Plateau (or “mesata” in Spanish).  The land package consists of the Escalera project comprised of six concessions totaling 5,500 hectares, the Lituania concession covering 899.97 hectares, and the Condorlit concession covering 999.97 hectares.

Surface rock samples obtained in 2017 from the Escalera project were processed by ALS Minerals, in Lima, Peru, and returned values of up to 3,560 ppm uranium and 153 ppm lithium.  Historical rock samples taken from the Escalera concessions have yielded values up to 6,812 ppm uranium*.

The Macusani-Crucero-Picotani Volcanic Fields have been of interest for uranium exploration since the 1980’s.  A 1981 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency** examined the Macusani-Crucero-Picotani area and concluded “…the large Crucero to Picotani basin, although having less well exposed occurrences may have more potential. Isolated outcrops of the volcanic sequence around the rim of the basin may have been available both during sedimentation and later basin evolution, leading to the accumulation of significant deposits.” 

Regional geological settings show uranium mineralization occurs in felsic volcanics forming part of the Tertiary-Quarternary volcanic belt, which extends from the Quenamari and Picotani mesetas in southeastern Peru to Bolivia, where it encompasses the Sevaruyo and Charazani uranium districts and on into Chile and northwestern Argentina***.

The projects are accessible year-round via paved/dirt road access, with a national airport only 130km to the south. 

“We’re pleased to add these three projects to our portfolio, the preliminary sample numbers are very encouraging,” said president & CEO, Alex Klenman. “The Macusani-Crucero-Picotani area is emerging as an important uranium district, in addition to the recent lithium discoveries also made in the area. We have been interested in getting a foothold in the area for some time.  The uranium sector is clearly gearing up and we feel the timing on this is excellent.  With this addition, and our East Preston and Patterson Lake North projects in the Athabasca, we feel we are well positioned for what is potentially ahead in this space,” continued Mr. Klenman.

The Company will now plan and implement a mapping and sampling program at the concessions to help formulate a longer-term exploration strategy.  In addition, the Company is continuing to evaluate other potential additions to its project portfolio in Peru and elsewhere.

Terms

Pursuant to terms of the Option, the Company can acquire the Projects by completing a series of cash payments and share issuances, and incurring certain expenditures on the Projects, as follows:

Following completion of these requirements, the Company will hold a one-hundred percent (100%) interest in the Projects, subject to a 1.5% net smelter returns royalty on commercial production from the Projects.

All securities issued in connection with the Option will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period.  The Option remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.  In connection with the grant of the Option, a cash fee of $103,000 is owing by the Company to an arms’-length party who assisted with the introduction of transaction.  The fee is payable over the term of the Option, as payments and share issuances are made by the Company.

Figure 1 – Project Location Map is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e991106f-d612-462b-a9b7-4f682289b2da

* While the Company considers sampling results from the Escalera concession to be accurate, readers are cautioned that a Qualified Person has been unable to verify the laboratory involved in the analysis of these samples, and no documentation was available regarding quality control procedures utilized in the analysis.

** IUREP Orientation Phase Mission Report, PERU, Donald L. Hetland, Uisdean McL. Michie, August-October 1981

*** Uranium Deposits of the World, USA and Latin America, Franz J. Dahlkamp, 2010

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Warren Robb P.Geo, an independent Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

About Azincourt Energy Corp. 

Azincourt Energy is a Canadian-based resource company specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration and development of alternative energy/fuel projects, including uranium, lithium, and other critical clean energy elements.  The Company is currently active at its joint venture East Preston and Patterson Lake North uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada, and its lithium exploration projects in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, Manitoba, Canada.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP.

“Alex Klenman”

Alex Klenman, President & CEO

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.

This press release includes “forward-looking statements”, including forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Azincourt. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially.

For further information please contact:

Alex Klenman, President & CEO
Tel: 604-638-8063
[email protected]

Azincourt Energy Corp.
1430 – 800 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2V6
www.azincourtenergy.com