In June 2018, Ascendant entered into an agreement with TH Crestgate GmbH to acquire an initial 25% interest in its Portuguese subsidiary Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda (Redcorp), which holds an 85% interest in the polymetallic Lagoa Salgada volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) Project, as well as an option to earn up to an 80% interest in Redcorp upon completion of certain milestones.

The Lagoa Salgada Project is located within the north-western section of the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal, approximately 80 km southeast of Lisbon and is accessible by national highways and roads. The Project is comprised of a single exploration permit covering an area of approximately 7,209 hectares. The Project represents an early-stage, potentially high-grade, polymetallic zinc-lead-copper exploration opportunity in a low risk, established and prolific jurisdiction.

The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IBP) is host to some of the world’s largest VMS deposits (80) and mines such as Neves-Corvo (Lundin Mining Corporation), Aguas Tenidas (Trafigura Mining Group) and Aljustrel (ALMINA). It represents the largest concentration of massive sulphide deposits in the world, forming an arch through Portugal and Spain about 250 km long and 30-50 km wide and has produced more than 1,750 million tonnes of massive sulfide ore and 2,500 million tonnes of mineralized stockwork over the past hundred years.

The Project represents a low-cost entry opportunity to gain exposure to a known, high-grade VMS deposit that has significant exploration potential to expand the resource in the near term. The region has a long history of large-scale mineral discovery with the majority of the deposits and mines demonstrating multiple zones typical of VMS style deposits. The Regional Residual Bouguer Gravity Map has identified numerous gravity anomalies on the Lagoa Salgada property. Two of these are coincidental with the known deposits: Venda Nova North and South.
* Notes: Ascendant owns a 50% interest in Redcorp – Empreendimentoes Mineirs, LDA., which owns an 85% interest in the Lagoa Salgada Project as well as acts as the operating entity. Ascendant has an option to increase ownership to 80% upon completion of certain milestones and payments. On a pro rata basis Ascendant currently owns an effective 21.25% of the Project. Resources are shown on a 100% basis.