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Osisko Development Announces Mineral Resource Update for the Trixie Deposit, Tintic Project

MONTREAL, March 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) (“Osisko Development” or the “Company“) announces an updated mineral resource estimate (“MRE“) for its 100%-owned underground Trixie deposit (the “2024 Trixie MRE“), within the Company’s wider Tintic Project (“Tintic” or the “Tintic Project“), located in the historic East Tintic Mining District in central Utah, U.S.A. The 2024 Trixie MRE incorporated an additional 1,674 underground chip samples over 1,678 meters (“m“) (5,507 feet (“ft“)) of underground development, and 7,385 m of drilling (24,229 ft) in 122 holes completed by the Company since the release of the initial Trixie MRE (the “2023 Trixie MRE“), with an effective date of January 10, 2023.

Relative to the 2023 Trixie MRE, contained gold ounces in measured and indicated resources decreased by 29% and inferred resources decreased by 79% primarily due to lower estimated grades that incorporated an updated geologic model interpretation and conversion of inferred resources. Drill results and underground mapping from the 2023 exploration program improved the knowledge of the extent and distribution of mineralization, resulting in modeling improvements to both mineralization and the historical mine shape model.

Chris Lodder, President, stated, “The 2024 Trixie MRE incorporates changes to our interpretation of the main mineralized structures and reflects better understanding of the structural controls of the deposit and realistic mining parameters following our exploration and test mining work in 2023. To date exploration and mining occurred on less than 10% of known mineralized structures in the west Tintic district and thus, we see significant precious metal potential at depth, on parallel structures to Trixie, along the Trixie and Sioux Ajax faults to the north and south, as well as around all historic high-grade gold mines in the West Tintic District. These high-grade gold targets, combined with the copper-gold porphyry potential where drilling is underway, and a large area of polymetallic carbonate replacement potential, illustrate that we have only scratched the surface in understanding the overall metal endowment potential of the Tintic district.”

Table 1: 2024 Trixie MRE (all zones) – March 14, 2024

Classification Tonnes
(000’s)
Au Grade
(g/t)
Contained Gold
(000’s oz)
Ag Grade
(g/t)
Contained Silver
(000’s oz)
Measured 120 27.36 105 61.73 238
Indicated 125 11.17 45 59.89 240
Measured and Indicated 245 19.11 150 60.80 478
Inferred 202 7.80 51 48.55 315

Notes (applicable to Tables 1, 2, and 3)

  1. Effective date of the 2024 Trixie MRE is March 14, 2024.
  2. Each of Mr. William Lewis, P.Geo., of Micon International Limited and Alan J. San Martin, MAusIMM(CP), of Micon International Limited (i) has reviewed and validated the 2024 Trixie MRE, (ii) is considered to be independent of the Company for purposes of Section 1.5 of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101“), and (iii) is a “qualified person” within the meaning of NI 43-101.
  3. The mineral resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining (“CIM“), Metallurgy and Petroleum’s “CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves” adopted by the CIM council.
  4. Mineral resources are reported when they are within potentially mineable shapes derived from a stope optimizer algorithm, assuming an underground longhole stoping mining method with stopes of 6.1 m x 6.1 m x minimum 1.5 m dimensions.
  5. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
  6. Geologic modelling was completed by Osisko Development modeling geologist Jody Laing, P.Geo, using Leapfrog Geo software. The 2024 Trixie MRE was completed by Osisko Development chief resource geologist, Daniel Downton, P.Geo using Datamine Studio RM 2.0 software. William Lewis and Alan J. San Martin of Micon International Limited independently reviewed and validated the mineral resource model.
  7. The estimate is reported for an underground mining scenario and with USD assumptions. The cut-off grade of 4.32 g/t Au was calculated using a gold price of US$1,750/oz, a CAD:USD exchange rate of 1.30; total mining, processing and G&A costs of US$168.04/imperial ton; a refining cost of US$2.65/ounce; a combined royalty of 4.50%; and an average metallurgical gold recovery of 80%.
  8. The stope optimizer algorithm evaluated the resources based on a gold equivalent grade which incorporates the silver grade estimate and assumes a silver price of US$23/oz and metallurgical silver recovery of 45%.
  9. The 2024 Trixie MRE is comprised of six zones within the greater Trixie area: T2, T3, T4, Wild Cat, 40 Fault and 75-85.
  10. Average bulk density values in the mineralized domains were assigned to the T2 (2.955 T/m3), T3 (2.638 T/m3), T4(2.618 T/m3), Wild Cat, and 40 Fault (2.621 T/m3), and 75-85 (2.617 T/m3) domains.
  11. Inverse Distance Squared interpolation method was used with a parent block size of 1.2 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m.
  12. The Company intends to file a technical report (the “Technical Report“) in respect of the 2024 Trixie MRE in accordance with NI 43-101 on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development’s issuer profile within 45 days of the date of this news release.
  13. The 2024 Trixie MRE results are presented in-situ. Calculations used metric units (metres, tonnes, g/t). The number of tonnes is rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects.
  14. Neither the Company nor Micon International Limited is aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issue that could materially affect the mineral resource estimate other than disclosed in this news release.
  15. Technical information in this news release differs from similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. See below under “Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors”.

TRIXIE MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE

Table 2: 2024 Trixie MRE Separated by Domain – March 14, 2024

Domain Category Tonnes Grade
(Au g/t)
Contained
Gold (oz)
Grade
(Ag g/t)
Contained
Silver (oz)
T2 Measured 22,678 106.27 77,484 115.99 84,572
Indicated 11,939 23.19 8,902 51.07 19,602
M+I 34,617 77.62 86,387 93.60 104,173
Inferred 1,996 9.82 630 61.38 3,938
T3 Measured 2,385 9.46 725 75.34 5,776
Indicated 970 5.47 171 57.32 1,787
M+I 3,355 8.30 896 70.13 7,564
Inferred 139 6.27 28 63.14 282
T4 + Wild Cat + 40 FLT Measured 94,784 8.93 27,227 48.41 147,520
Indicated 51,827 6.48 10,795 37.59 62,637
M+I 146,611 8.07 38,023 44.58 210,156
Inferred 104,676 6.57 22,127 38.57 129,792
75-85 Measured    
Indicated 60,008 12.93 24,943 80.95 156,185
M+I 60,008 12.93 24,943 80.95 156,185
Inferred 94,793 9.12 27,784 59.28 180,666
Total Measured 119,847 27.36 105,437 61.73 237,868
Indicated 124,743 11.17 44,811 59.89 240,211
M+I 244,590 19.11 150,248 60.80 478,078
Inferred 201,603 7.80 50,569 48.55 314,678

Refer to notes described under Table 1, which are also applicable to Table 2 in their entirety.

TRIXIE AND GREATER TINTIC CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

PORPHYRY TARGET DRILLING

Figure 1: Trixie geologic model and mineral domains cross section

Figure 2: Exploration potential at Trixie

Figure 3: Property wide mineralization and exploration targets


Table 3: Trixie MRE Cut-Off Grade (“COG”) Sensitivity (Base Case in Bold) – March 14, 2024

Classification Tonnes COG Grade
(Au g/t)
Contained
Gold (oz)
Grade
(Ag g/t)
Contained
Silver (oz)
Measured + Indicated 366,130 2.50 13.79 162,348 50.18 590,666
324,251 3.00 15.23 158,722 53.31 555,740
291,005 3.50 16.64 155,716 56.19 525,681
261,219 4.00 18.14 152,350 58.95 495,091
244,590 4.32 19.11 150,248 60.80 478,078
237,143 4.50 19.58 149,266 61.52 469,058
217,327 5.00 20.99 146,677 64.07 447,646
198,538 5.50 22.55 143,909 66.19 422,504
182,842 6.00 24.01 141,164 68.57 403,074
165,955 6.50 25.81 137,734 71.39 380,902
152,986 7.00 27.55 135,503 74.34 365,663
Inferred 438,189 2.50 5.26 74,056 34.46 485,528
342,880 3.00 5.99 66,034 38.38 423,112
279,722 3.50 6.65 59,767 41.84 376,306
224,039 4.00 7.42 53,438 46.31 333,578
201,603 4.32 7.80 50,569 48.55 314,678
190,002 4.50 8.02 49,009 49.90 304,803
163,894 5.00 8.60 45,313 53.08 279,718
141,728 5.50 9.16 41,742 55.92 254,818
123,472 6.00 9.71 38,532 58.70 233,028
106,080 6.50 10.35 35,291 60.43 206,087
91,725 7.00 10.99 32,397 61.91 182,579

Note: Micon International Limited’s QP has reviewed the COG used in the sensitivity analysis relating to the 2024 Trixie MRE and is of the opinion that the individual cut-off grades used in the sensitivity analysis meet the test of reasonable prospects of economic extraction. The numbers in bold represent the current 2024 Trixie MRE.

Table 4: Trixie MRE Cut-off Grade Calculation Breakdown

PARAMETERS VALUES  
Mining Cost ($/ST) $74.33  
G&A ($/ST) $52.71  
Heap Leach ($/ST) $41.00  
Total Refining Cost/ OZ $2.65  
Gold Price $1,750  
Royalty (Combination) 4.50%  
Heap Leach Au Recovery 80.0%  
Cut-off Grade (COG) 4.32  

The cut-off grade for the 2024 Trixie MRE is 4.32 g/t Au compared to 4.85 g/t Au in the 2023 Trixie MRE primarily due to the difference in the estimated cost of heap leach processing ($41/ST) relative to the previously estimated mill processing scenario ($89/ST).

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maggie Layman, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Osisko Development, and a “qualified person” within the meaning of NI 43-101.

The independent QPs for the 2024 Trixie MRE, within the meaning of NI 43-101, are William Lewis, P.Geo. and Alan J. San Martin MAusIMM(CP) of Micon International Limited. Each QP is independent of Osisko Development within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content in this news release.

Quality Assurance (QA) – Quality Control (QC)

All drill core and exploration samples are dispatched to ALS Geochemistry or SGS Canada for offsite sample preparation and analysis. Both labs are ISO/IEC 17025 certified, and ALS Geochemistry is also ISO 9001 certified. Samples are assigned a unique sample ID. All geological and sampling information is entered into a Datamine Fusion database. Core is sawn in half and half is sampled. Certified standards and blanks are inserted into all sample dispatches. Samples are collected by Old Dominion Transportation and dispatched to SGS Canada’s laboratory in Burnaby, British Columbia or ALS Geochemistry’s laboratories in Elko, Nevada or Twin Falls, Idaho. Sample submission forms accompany the samples, and digital copies are emailed to the destination lab.

Core sample preparation is completed by ALS Geochemistry or SGS Canada, including drying, crushing, and pulverizing of samples. Analytical assays include gold by 30-gram fire assay with AAS finish, and gold overlimits by fire assay with gravimetric finish. Screen metallic analyses are performed on selected samples. Multielement analysis (including silver) is by four-acid digest with ICP-AES/ICP-MS finish. The pulps are returned to Osisko Development and coarse rejects are disposed after 90 days. Assays are reported to Osisko Development and then loaded into Datamine Fusion. Quality Assurance-Quality Control samples are checked, and assays are merged with sample information for future reporting.

Underground face samples are collected by Company geologists from each of the active mining faces, with samples transported by the geologists from Trixie to the on-site Company laboratory located at the Burgin administrative complex. Underground samples are dried, crushed to <10 mm and a 250 g split is taken. The split is pulverized, and a 30 g Fire Assay with gravimetric finish is completed to determine gold and silver grades, reported in oz/short ton and g/t.

The Company’s Burgin laboratory is not a certified analytical laboratory, but the facility is managed by a qualified laboratory manager with annual auditing by technical staff. The laboratory has been independently audited by Qualitica Consulting and Micon International Limited’s QP with recommendations implemented. Inter-laboratory check assays using ALS Geochemistry as a third-party independent analysis of samples is routinely carried out as part of ongoing QA/QC work. Certified OREAS QC standards and blanks are inserted at regular intervals in the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance.

True width is estimated to be approximately 0.5 m – 3 m (1.6 – 10 ft) for all fissure veins and discrete structures (T2, T3, 75-85, Wildcat and 40 Fault) and the T4 zone is modelled at an average width of 90 m (300 ft) and encompasses disseminated mineralization and discontinuous veins ranging from several cm to 1 m (3 ft).

ABOUT OSISKO DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Osisko Development Corp. is a North American gold development company focused on past-producing mining camps located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company’s objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada, the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. In addition to considerable brownfield exploration potential of these properties, that benefit from significant historical mining data, existing infrastructure and access to skilled labour, the Company’s project pipeline is complemented by other prospective exploration properties. The Company’s strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally sustainable mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources.

For further information, visit our website at www.osiskodev.com or contact:

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Cautionary Statement Regarding Test Mining Without Feasibility Study

The Company cautions that its prior decision to commence small-scale underground mining activities and batch vat leaching at the Trixie test mine was made without the benefit of a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result there may be increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of material or the cost of such recovery. The Company cautions that historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Small scale test-mining at Trixie was suspended in December 2022 and resumed in the second quarter of 2023. Even with the resumption of small-scale test-mining at Trixie, there is no guarantee that production will continue as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. The failure to continue production may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s cash flow and potential profitability. In continuing current operations at Trixie, the Company has not based its decision to continue such operations on a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability.

Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors

The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the applicable Canadian securities laws and, as a result, reports information regarding mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, in accordance with Canadian reporting requirements, which are governed by NI 43-101. As such, such information concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, is not comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC“).

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this news release may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (together, “forward-looking statements”). These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require Osisko Development to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Words such as “may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “expect”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “continue”, or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including the assumptions, qualifications and limitations relating to the significance of the high-priority target drilling; the utility of modern exploration techniques; the potential for parallel high-grade gold fissure zones; the potential of Tintic to host a copper-gold porphyry center; the significance of regional exploration potential; the results of the 2024 Trixie MRE; the capital resources available to Osisko Development; the ability of the Company to execute its planned activities; the ability of the Company to obtain future financing and the terms of such financing; management’s perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments; the Company’s ability to prepare and file the Technical Report within 45 days; the utility and significance of historic data, including the significance of the district hosting past producing mines; future mining activities; unique mineralization at Trixie; the potential of high-grade gold mineralization on Trixie; the potential for unknown mineralized structures to extend existing zones of mineralization; category conversion; the timing and status of permitting; the results (if any) of further exploration work to define and expand mineral resources; the ability of exploration work (including drilling and chip sample assays, and face sampling methodologies) to accurately predict mineralization; the ability to generate additional drill targets; the ability of management to understand the geology and potential of the Company’s properties; the ability of the Company to expand mineral resources beyond current mineral resource estimates; the ability of the Company to complete its exploration objectives for its projects in 2024 in the timing contemplated (if at all); the ongoing advancement of the deposits on the Company’s properties; the deposit remaining open for expansion at depth and down plunge; the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic; the ability to adapt to changes in gold prices, estimates of costs, estimates of planned exploration and development expenditures; the ability of the Company to obtain further capital on reasonable terms; assay results presented in this news release; the profitability (if at all) of the Company’s operations; the Company being a well-positioned gold development company in Canada, USA and Mexico; sustainability and environmental impacts of operations at the Company’s properties; as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be “forward looking information”. Material assumptions also include, management’s perceptions of historical trends, the ability of exploration (including drilling and chip sample assays, and face sampling) to accurately predict mineralization, budget constraints and access to capital on terms acceptable to the Company, current conditions and expected future developments, regulatory framework remaining defined and understood, results of further exploration work to define or expand any mineral resources, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Osisko Development considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Osisko Development, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect Osisko Development and its business. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks relating to capital market conditions and the Company’s ability to access capital on terms acceptable to the Company for the contemplated exploration and development at the Company’s properties; the ability to continue current operations and exploration; regulatory framework and presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; the ability of exploration activities (including drill and chip sampling, and face sampling results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management’s geological modelling; the ability to expand operations or complete further exploration activities, including drilling and chip sample assays and face sampling; the timing and ability of the Company to obtain required approvals and permits; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to exploration, development and mining activities; the global economic climate; metal and commodity prices; fluctuations in the currency markets; dilution; environmental risks; and community, non-governmental and governmental actions and the impact of stakeholder actions. Readers are urged to consult the disclosure provided under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022 as well as the financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, which have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Development’s issuer profile and on the SEC’s EDGAR website (www.sec.gov), for further information regarding the risks and other factors applicable to the exploration results. Although the Company’s believes the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available as of the date hereof, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements 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 statements.

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 news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

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