Highlights:

  • Alaska Energy Metals owns claims adjacent to hydrogen soil gas anomalies recently discovered by Quebec Innovative Materials Corporation; these anomalies indicate potential for discovery of natural hydrogen (also known as white hydrogen) accumulations.
  • White hydrogen is a naturally occurring, geologically created type of hydrogen that is gaining prominence as a low-cost, low emission, and renewable clean energy source.
  • Alaska Energy Metals’ claims cover source rocks, possible gas migration pathways, and potential reservoir rocks that can trap accumulations of hydrogen gas.
  • Hydrogen detected by testing gases in soil could lead to the discovery of hydrogen gas accumulations trapped in rocks below surface.
  • Alaska Energy Metals plans to carry out soil gas sampling as an initial step in evaluating the potential for white hydrogen accumulations on its Angliers–Belleterre claims.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (TSX-V: AEMC, OTCQB: AKEMF) (“Alaska Energy Metals,” ”AEMC,” or the “Company”) today announced its plans to carry out a hydrogen soil gas survey over a portion of its Angliers-Belleterre Project (“Angliers”) in Quebec to determine if the project holds potential for natural, white hydrogen accumulations. Recent soil gas sample data released by adjacent claim owner Quebec Innovative Materials Corporation illustrates the potential for hydrogen accumulations to occur within the Lake Timiskaming Basin of western Quebec, which intersects with various parts of the Baby Greenstone Belt on AEMC’s Angliers claim block (Figure 1). The accumulation of hydrogen in the basin is likely to occur from the serpentinization of iron-rich basement rocks of the Baby Greenstone Belt, which consist of serpentinite, komatiite, basalt, peridotite, and iron formation.

AEMC acquired the Angliers project for its nickel-copper potential and has been doing exploration aimed at those commodities. We will continue to advance the nickel-copper targets that we’ve identified. However, we are excited to learn of the hydrogen soil gas anomaly discovery in the Lake Timiskaming Basin made by our claim neighbors, Quebec Innovative Materials Corporation,” said Alaska Energy Metals Chief Geoscientist Gabe Graf.

Natural hydrogen has gained prominence as a potential contributor to the low carbon energy landscape. Both the industry and governments worldwide have shown a growing interest in natural hydrogen exploration, which may form an important part of the future energy mix. The formation of white hydrogen requires the correct rock types and geologic processes to create the hydrogen gas, gas migration pathways, and geologic traps or reservoirs at which the gas may accumulate. It appears we may have these features on our claims. Our planned work will help determine if there is indeed potential for white hydrogen gas on our claims.”

The company plans to collect approximately 400 soil gas samples across six lines on its claim block. Five of these lines will be collected near the interpreted contact of the Lake Timiskaming Basin with the Baby Greenstone Belt, where the company believes the fracture density and deep-seated faulting may be sufficient to allow a pathway for hydrogen, created during serpentinization to reach the surface. Hydrogen detected in soil may be indicative of hydrogen gas trapped below surface. In addition, one line of samples will be collected over in-situ serpentinite, komatiite, iron formation, and basaltic rocks to analyze the potential for hydrogen creation outside of the basin.

Planned AEMC soil-gas survey lines on the Angliers-Belleterre project. Geological map sourced from SIGÉOM (Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts).

Figure 1. Planned AEMC soil-gas survey lines on the Angliers-Belleterre project. Geological map sourced from SIGÉOM (Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts).

QUALIFIED PERSON
Gabriel Graf, the Company’s Chief Geoscientist, is the qualified person who reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release.

For additional information, visit: https://alaskaenergymetals.com/ 

ABOUT ALASKA ENERGY METALS
Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (AEMC) is an Alaska-based corporation with offices in Anchorage and Vancouver working to sustainably deliver the critical materials needed for national security and a bright energy future, while generating superior returns for shareholders. 

AEMC is focused on delineating and developing the large-scale, bulk tonnage, polymetallic, multi-critical Eureka deposit containing nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, iron, platinum, palladium, and gold. Located in Interior Alaska near existing transportation and power infrastructure, its flagship project, Nikolai, is well-situated to become a significant domestic source of strategic energy-related metals for North America. AEMC also holds a secondary project in western Quebec, the Angliers – Belleterre project, which has the potential for high–grade nickel-copper sulfide deposits and white hydrogen. Today, material sourcing demands excellence in environmental performance, carbon mitigation, and the responsible management of human and financial capital. AEMC works every day to earn and maintain the respect and confidence of the public and believes that ESG performance is measured by action and led from the top.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“Gregory Beischer”
Gregory Beischer, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEO
Toll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-638-3164

Sarah Mawji, Public Relations
Venture Strategies
Email: sarah@venturestrategies.com

Some statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation), including the intention to do soil–gas testing at the Angliers project. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements do not guarantee future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If the Company updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other 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 press release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/81e592f6-bbe6-4e75-8578-72f6d7f4b768


Primary Logo

Figure 1

Planned AEMC soil-gas survey lines on the Angliers-Belleterre project. Geological map sourced from SIGÉOM (Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts).