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VANCOUVER, Nov. 21, 2019 /CNW/ - Tectonic Metals Inc. (TECT: TSX-V) (the "Company" or "Tectonic") today announced assay results of its Rotary Air Blast ("RAB") drilling campaign, including the discovery of a new, high-grade gold mineralized structure (the "M1 Structure") on the Company's Tibbs Project ("Tibbs") located less than 35 kilometres from Northern Star Resources' Pogo Mine in the Goodpaster Mining District of Alaska.   In the Company's first-ever drill campaign at Tibbs, Tectonic drilled 6.03 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) over 28.95 metres ("m") starting from a drill hole depth of approximately 18m discovering the high-grade M1 Structure at the Michigan Zone, one of 21 gold targets presently known at Tibbs that have the potential for near-surface, high-grade, lode gold mineralization. The Michigan Zone consists of a newly interpreted, greater than one kilometre long, northeast-trending deformation zone defined by several mineralized structures, including the main M1 Structure hosting the 6.03 g/t Au over 28.95m. The deformation zone is also defined by high-grade rock samples in excess of 900 g/t Au, a gold-arsenic-antimony soil geochemical signature and prominent lineaments bounding the deformation zone.

Drill discoveries were also made at the Upper Trench and Hilltop/Oscar Zones.  Tectonic drilled 0.51 g/t Au over 12.2m starting from 39.62m in hole TBRB19-016 at the Upper Trench Zone, within a similar northeast-trending, kilometre ("km") long deformation zone located 1.5km northwest of Michigan. At the Hilltop/Oscar zone located 3.2km southwest of Michigan, Tectonic drilled 2.35 g/t Au over 6.10m starting from 45.72m in TBRB19-013, an interval which may represent the offset, northern extension of the high-grade Gray Lead vein system.

Tectonic's President & CEO, Tony Reda, commented, "This is our first-ever drill campaign, both as a company and at Tibbs, and we could not have asked for a better start. In just over two years, we moved into the forgotten Goodpaster District and quickly identified Tibbs as an exceptional exploration project that could be advanced cost-effectively and quickly to discovery.   The fact that Tibbs is located less than 35kms from a world-class, operating, high-grade gold mine was a bonus.  This drill result of 6.03 g/t Au over 28.95m is one of the strongest drill results to come out of the Goodpaster Mining District in years.  Given the broad width, tenor, and scale of the Tibbs Michigan Zone, we are excited to get back in the field and find more gold at not only Michigan but elsewhere on the property now that our knowledge and understanding of how these zones/structures at Tibbs are related has increased." 

Tectonic Chairman, Mel E. Benson, commented, "I am extremely proud of our team and their ability to execute on all fronts.  2019 was a stellar year for Tectonic that involved raising C$5.8 million, taking Tectonic public, bolstering our team, safely executing three exploration programs and two drill programs in a timely manner while respecting the communities and environment in which we work.  I am excited about the new drill discoveries and what 2020 has in store for Tectonic."

Key Points

• The M1 Structure at the Michigan Zone delivered a highlight intercept of 6.03 g/t Au over 28.95m, starting from 18.29m in hole TBRB19-003.
  
  
• The Michigan deformation zone trends northeast for more than a kilometre and is defined by the M1 Structure, high-grade rock samples in excess of 900 g/t Au, a gold-arsenic-antimony soil geochemical signature and prominent lineaments bounding the deformation zone. The core of the zone has been tested only by a single RAB drill fence and one historic core hole drilled in a different orientation (i.e. parallel to the M1 Structure) that intersected 57.1 g/t Au over 1.52m, 7.04 g/t Au over 3.51m and 2.58 g/t Au over 9.14m approximately 250m below surface terminating with mineralization open to depth.
  
  
• Tectonic's Upper Trench discovery of 0.51 g/t Au over 12.2m starting from 39.62m in TBRB19-016 is hosted within a similar northeast-trending, kilometre long deformation zone, located 1.5km northwest of Michigan. The zone occurs within the same host rocks and exhibits an identical Au-As-Sb geochemical signature and style of mineralization. Although the drilled interval was lower tenor, surface rock grab samples at Upper Trench reach up to 135 g/t Au and include visible gold, validating the potential for high-grade gold within the structure.
  
  
• The Wolverine soil anomaly located 2.5km northwest of Michigan is the highest-tenor (up to 1.385 g/t Au in soil) and the largest soil anomaly (1,200m x 600m) on the Tibbs property and may represent a third deformation zone.  The three interpreted deformation zones, Michigan, Upper Trench and Wolverine, appear to have originally comprised a single, >3km long structure before fault offset into 1km segments. 
   
  
• The Hilltop/Oscar drill discovery of 2.35 g/t Au over 6.1m starting from 45.72m in TBRB19-013 may represent the offset, northern extension of the high-grade Gray Lead vein system, where historic drilling encountered up to 19.1 g/t Au over 5.7m* in a steeply northwest dipping quartz vein.
  
  
• Hilltop/Oscar and Gray Lead both exhibit a Au-As-Bi-W geochemical signature and high-angle geometry similar to mineralization observed in the North Zone veins at the Pogo Mine.

2019 Drill Strategy, Objectives and Goal

Tectonic determined that RAB drilling was the most cost-effective method of rapidly testing as many of the 21 gold targets identified at Tibbs as possible in the Company's first drill campaign. Fences of angled RAB holes were drilled in a fashion that provided complete coverage across mineralized targets to determine the subsurface extent of high-grade mineralization observed at surface in rock and trench sampling. A total of 20 RAB holes were completed for 2,184 metres drilled at nine targets across the property.  All assay results from the 2019 RAB drill program have been received; highlights are reported herein, and full assay tables are available on the Company's website at https://www.tectonicmetals.com/projects/tibbs/#geology . The goal of the 2019 drill program was to drill a discovery and determine the "centre of gravity" at the Tibbs project, both of which were successfully accomplished.

Drill Highlights

A complete table of drill results from all Tectonic 2019 drill holes at Tibbs as well as maps, sections, and drill assay sheets associated with this news release can be viewed by clicking the following link: https://www.tectonicmetals.com/projects/tibbs/#geology   

Additional information about the Tibbs Project, including historical information, can be found in the Amended and Restated NI 43-101 Technical Report, Tibbs Property, Alaska, United States of America with an effective date of October 31, 2019, prepared by Carl Schulze, P.Geo., of Aurora Geosciences Ltd., and prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which is filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR.

Geology and Mineralization

Michigan and Upper Trench Zones: Au-As-Sb

The Michigan and Upper Trench zones are hosted by kilometre-scale northeast-trending deformation zones consisting of variably oxidized and strongly sericitized granodiorite.  Mineralization, as observed in RAB drill chips, consists of fragments of quartz vein and sulphides (arsenopyrite, stibnite) in the highest-grade intervals, with disseminated arsenopyrite occurring throughout the altered granodiorite. High-grade intervals are interpreted to represent areas of increased quartz-sulphide vein density. Geochemically, mineralized zones are defined by anomalous gold, arsenic, and antimony, with a notable absence of bismuth and tungsten. Though undercut holes TBRB19-004 (Michigan) and TBRB19-017 (Upper Trench) intersected lower-tenor gold mineralization, strong alteration including arsenic and antimony anomalism indicates the structures are continuous at depth.

Hilltop/Oscar Zone: Au-As-Bi-W

The Hilltop/Oscar zone is hosted by granodiorite cut by prominent north-northeast trending lineaments with associated high-grade rock float samples returning up to 75.6 g/t Au. The zone is located 280m northeast of the high-grade Gray Lead vein system, where historic drilling encountered up to 19.1 g/t Au over 5.7m* in a high-grade, steeply northwest-dipping quartz vein. Mineralization observed in RAB drill chips consists of quartz-sulphide vein fragments with a Au-Bi-W geochemical signature surrounded by an As enrichment halo with associated lower-tenor gold.

Exploration Upside

Tectonic's top-tier, near-term exploration opportunity at Tibbs is expansion of the M1 Structure through drilling along strike and at depth to define its geometry. In the immediate vicinity of the M1 Structure, a historic Induced Polarization ("IP") geophysical anomaly remains untested at depth. The relationship of the IP anomaly to the M1 Structure is currently unknown; however, additional modern IP, as well as other geophysical techniques, can now be tested at Michigan in an attempt to detect additional mineralization and obtain a geophysical signature that can be applied throughout the property. Tectonic believes the exploration potential at Michigan is high due to the prominence of the deformation zone, the presence of high-grade rock samples along the entire zone, and a historic 2011 drill hole 30m to the north of Tectonic's 2019 drill fence, which was terminated in mineralization now interpreted to represent the M1 Structure at depth of 250m below surface.

Analysis of soil and rock geochemistry, interpretation of lineaments and geophysics suggest that the Michigan, Upper Trench and Wolverine Zones were once connected as a single, >3 km long, northeast-trending structure that is now faulted and offset into approximately 1km long segments, forming a northwest trend. This northwest trend is evident at Northern Star Resources' Pogo Mine as well as at several other gold districts in Interior Alaska.  Tectonic's understanding of the broader, regional picture and how mineralized structures at Tibbs and elsewhere within the Goodpaster Mining District are related gives Tectonic confidence that additional near-surface, high-grade gold discoveries in large structures are possible at Tibbs.

Tectonic's Vice President, Exploration, Eric Buitenhuis, commented, "The Tectonic team is very excited with the results of our inaugural drill campaign at Tibbs. The discovery of the M1 Structure at Michigan has validated our newly refined structural interpretation and suggests that additional northeast-trending, kilometre-long structures at Upper Trench, where rock grab samples have returned up to 135 g/t Au, and Wolverine are also prospective for high-angle, mineralized structures previously unrecognized at the project. We look forward to aggressively testing this thesis in 2020."

Additional Zones

Scout RAB drilling, consisting of short, angled holes testing high-grade gold observed in rock and trench samples, was conducted at the Blue Lead, Connector/Connector North/Argent, Gray Lead, and Johnson Saddle zones. Results from these drill holes indicate that subsurface mineralization does not reflect the anomalism observed in at surface. Further analysis and interpretation of the structural setting of these targets are required in order to adequately explain the disparity in results. Tectonic believes these targets still exhibit potential due to the significant gold at surface.  A complete table of drill results from all Tectonic 2019 drill holes at Tibbs is available at the following link: https://www.tectonicmetals.com/projects/tibbs/#geology. 

QA/QC

Tectonic's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this press release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Eric Buitenhuis, M.Sc., P.Geo., Tectonic's Vice President Exploration, who serves as a Qualified Person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101. Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedures include the systematic insertion of blanks and standards into the drill sample string at a rate of approximately 1/10 (10%). In addition, field duplicate samples are systematically collected at a rate of 3 duplicates per 100 samples. Samples are placed in sealed bags and shipped directly to the Bureau Veritas Laboratories ("BV") preparation facility in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The analytical work for the 2019 Tibbs RAB drilling program was performed by Bureau Veritas Laboratories ("BV"), an internationally recognized and accredited analytical services provider, which is independent of Tectonic. All RAB drill samples were prepared using procedure PRP70-250 (crush, split, and pulverize 250g to 200 mesh) at BV's Fairbanks, Alaska facility. Samples were then sent to Reno, Nevada, where they underwent analysis for gold by method FA430 (30-gram Fire Assay fusion with an atomic absorption finish (AAS). Samples returning >10 g/t Au were re-analyzed using method FA530-Au (30g Fire Assay with gravimetric finish). Following this, a 0.25g pulp was sent to the Vancouver, British Columbia lab for four-acid Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer (ICP-ES) analysis for 35 elements using method MA300.

Rotary Air Blast (RAB) Drill Methods

Tectonic employed a GroundTruth Americas Inc. track mounted RAB drill rig with the capacity to drill to 200m depth. RAB bedrock chip samples were collected at fixed 1.52 m (5ft) intervals down each drill hole. The RAB drill delivers compressed air through the centre of 66.6 mm drill rods to activate the drill bit, recovers powdered rock chips from the cutting face and returns sample along the outside of the rods to a conventional cyclone. Each sample comprises a 5-foot run, and sample recovery for each run was recorded. The sample is then tipped out of the pail into a 1:7 riffle splitter, with material to be assayed entering a 12" x 18" 8 mil clear poly sample bag which is retained for analysis, while reference sample chips are sieved from a spear sample of the non-split excess material. Borehole diameter was typically 92 mm.

About Tectonic

Tectonic Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company created and operated by an experienced and well-respected technical and financial team with a track record of wealth creation for shareholders.  Key members of the Tectonic team were involved with Kaminak Gold Corporation, the company that raised C$165 million to fund the acquisition, discovery and advancement of the Coffee Gold Project in the Yukon Territory through to the completion of a bankable feasibility study before selling the multi-million ounce gold project to Goldcorp Inc. (now Newmont Goldcorp) for C$520 million in 2016.

Tectonic is focused on the acquisition, exploration, discovery and development of mineral resources from district-scale projects in politically stable jurisdictions that have the potential to host world-class orebodies.

Tectonic believes that responsible mineral exploration and development can positively impact the communities in which the company lives and operates and is committed to early and ongoing community engagement, best practices in environmental stewardship and the development of a strong safety culture. Whether at home or at work, the Tectonic team is grounded on the following core values:  passion, integrity, patience, focus, perseverance, honesty, fairness, accountability, respect and a play big mindset.  The company works for its shareholders and is committed to creating value for them. 

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, solicitation or offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

On behalf of Tectonic Metals Inc.,

Tony Reda
President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information about Tectonic Metals Inc. or this news release, please visit our website at https://www.tectonicmetals.com/ or contact Poya Ezadpana, Director of Investor Relations, directly at 604.283.3298 or by email at [email protected].

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking information and statements under applicable securities law. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the potential for mineralization at Tectonic's projects and results of any future exploration activities. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold and other metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, obtaining governmental  and other approvals and financing on time, obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, accuracy of any mineral resources, successful resolution of disputes and anticipated costs and expenditures. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Tectonic, and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Although Tectonic considers these beliefs and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation: the Company's ability to implement its business strategies; risks associated with mineral exploration and production; risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing and transportation costs; loss of markets; volatility of commodity prices; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; industry and government regulation; changes in legislation, income tax and regulatory matters; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations; and other risks. 

Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Although Tectonic has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in 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 information 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 information. Tectonic does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

[Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it's Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.]

SOURCE Tectonic Metals Inc.

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