Hook Lake Project Delivers Up to 29.97% Zinc and 16+ g/t Gold Assays

A Promising Polymetallic District Emerges

Manhattan Corporation Limited (ASX – MHC) has released compelling assay results from its maiden fieldwork at the Hook Lake Project in Nunavut, Canada. The data confirm not only the expansion potential of the well-known Jaws gold deposit but also reveal previously untested high-grade mineralisation at the Quantum and Lotus prospects. These findings highlight a cluster of polymetallic targets that could position Hook Lake as a significant precious and base metals district.

The assays include remarkable gold grades exceeding 16 grams per tonne and silver values soaring up to 2,600 grams per tonne from greenstone-hosted zones at Quantum and Lotus. Complementing these precious metals, the project’s volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) prospects; Skyfall, Silva, and Spectre; have returned impressive zinc and copper concentrations, with zinc assays reaching nearly 30% and copper values approaching 1.4%. Such grades are indicative of fertile VMS systems, which are known to occur in clusters, suggesting a large-scale mineralising event across the project area.

Strategic Importance of Critical Metals

Technical Manager Eric Sondergaard emphasised the strategic value of the polymetallic mineralisation, noting that copper and zinc are critical metals essential for electrification and infrastructure development worldwide. The combination of these base metals with high-grade gold and silver offers Manhattan a diversified exploration pipeline that aligns well with global demand trends for clean energy and technology metals.

Surface sampling at Skyfall, the least explored prospect, has delineated a 915-metre prospective horizon with strong zinc and copper mineral assemblages. Similarly, the Silva prospect has yielded robust polymetallic assays, reinforcing the district-scale potential. Historic drilling at Spectre, coupled with recent surface sampling, further validates the presence of significant polymetallic mineralisation within the project.

Context Within a Prolific Greenstone Belt

Hook Lake sits within the Rankin-Ennadai greenstone belt, an Archean geological formation known for hosting major gold deposits such as Agnico Eagle’s Meliadine Mine and the nearby Back River Gold District. Manhattan’s project covers 580 square kilometres and includes nine prospects, offering a substantial landholding in a highly prospective region. The proximity to infrastructure projects like the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link enhances the project's logistical appeal.

While historic resource estimates exist, they are non-JORC compliant and require modern verification. Manhattan plans to integrate historic datasets with new geophysical surveys, including airborne magnetic and electromagnetic methods, to refine targeting ahead of a planned diamond drilling campaign in 2026. The company holds the necessary funding and is progressing permit applications to enable this next phase.

Looking Ahead

The Hook Lake Project’s polymetallic assay results mark a significant milestone for Manhattan Corporation, reinforcing the potential for a multi-commodity mining district rich in both precious and critical base metals. The upcoming exploration activities will be crucial in validating historic data and unlocking the full value of this underexplored Canadian greenstone belt.