First Cobalt Extends Iron Creek 100 Metres Downdip in Central Area

<p>First Cobalt Corp. (TSX-V: FCC; ASX: FCC; OTCQX: FTSSF) (the “Company”) is pleased to report drill results from its Iron Creek Cobalt Project in Idaho, USA, that extend mineralization at depth and continue to demonstrate thick mineralized areas between the two known zones as well as in the footwall and hangingwall of the current resource area.</p> <p><strong>Highlights</strong></p> <ul> <li>Mineralization extended an additional 100m to 250m from surface in the central portion of the current resource area at grades comparable to the resource estimate</li> <li>Broad widths of mineralization continue to be intercepted (all widths reported are true widths) <ul> <li>1m of 0.31% Co, including 0.69% Co over 2.4m</li> <li>9m at 0.18% Co, including 0.30% Co over 5.8m</li> <li>3m of 0.16% Co, including 0.38% Co over 2.0m</li> <li>7m of 0.15% Co, including 0.37% Co over 3.6m</li> </ul> </li> <li>Several new cobalt-copper intercepts occur between the main zones as well as in the footwall and hangingwall, providing further evidence that continuous mineralization extends along other horizons which could provide additional tonnage to a future resource calculation</li> <li>Updated mineral resource estimate planned for March 31, 2019</li> </ul> <p>Trent Mell, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented:</p> <p><em>“Results from the drill campaign completed in December are showing very good continuity and consistency of mineralization. As expected, we have encountered mineralization at depth and in the footwall and hangingwall of the No Name and Waite Zones. In addition, mineralized intercepts between the two historic zones are occurring over appreciable widths, indicating the possibility that the two zones could in fact be a single, larger zone. A total of 13,000 metres were completed in phase two drilling and assays received to date provide a strong indication that the Company can show a significant enhancement over the maiden resource estimate.</em></p> <p><em>First Cobalt is well positioned for a rebound in the commodities sector. Important near term catalysts for shareholders include an update on the First Cobalt Refinery expected shortly and the Iron Creek resource estimate anticipated by March 31.”</em></p> <p>Results reported today are encouraging for three reasons (Figure 1). First, they have extended the cobalt-copper mineralization by approximately 100m downdip in the central area of the Iron Creek Cobalt Project inferred resource. A historic resource estimate by Noranda and others interpreted this area as barren but First Cobalt drilling suggests otherwise. A second outcome from these results is that infill drilling has confirmed good continuity of mineralization in the central portion of the resource, both at depth and between the No Name and Waite Zones. Lastly, new intersections of mineralized horizons outside of the two zones suggest further tonnage potential beyond the boundaries of the maiden resource estimate.</p> <p>The phase two drill campaign consisted of 43 holes and over 13,000 metres and ended in December 2018. With the seven holes released today, a total of 21 holes have been reported with an additional 22 pending. Phase two drilling follows the publication of the maiden resource estimate in 2018 that was based on 62 holes and over 15,000 metres of drilling. The second phase of drilling was intended to extend the strike length of the mineralized zone from over 500 metres to over 1,000 metres and test downdip extensions of known cobalt-copper zones from 150 metres to over 300 metres below surface. An updated resource estimated is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2019.</p> <p><strong>Detailed Results</strong></p> <p>Three of the seven surface drill holes tested mineralization below Adit #2 (Figure 2). Results continue to show both the No Name and Waite Zones extend downdip at grades comparable to the 2018 resource estimate. In addition, mineralization between the two known zones of <strong>15.9m grading 0.18% Co </strong>including<strong> 5.8m of 0.30% Co</strong> represent an additional continuous horizon. In this area, the Waite Zone is locally thickened with higher grade intercepts including <strong>12.1m of 0.31% Co</strong>. In hole ICS18-14, a deep intersection of the Waite Zone extends mineralization 100m downdip in the central area of the resource. Mineralization in the footwall also continues to be intersected that can be correlated to other drill holes along strike. In the hangingwall, hole ICS18-11 intersected <strong>2.9m of 2.44% Cu</strong> that may be associated with similar grade copper mineralization west of Adit #2.</p> <p>The other four holes were also drilled from surface and targeted a gap along the strike extent of the No Name Zone previously interpreted from the historic exploration programs. Today’s assay results from these four holes confirm the continuity of cobalt-copper grades and indicate mineralization extends to depth.</p> <p>In all four holes, broad zones of lower cobalt grades contain intervals of higher grade cobalt reflecting the abundance of disseminated pyrite occurring as bands within the host sedimentary rocks. In the Waite Zone, hole ICS18-10A intersected a thick section of mineralization, over 25m true thickness. Within the same hole, additional cobalt was intersected in the immediate footwall, <strong>4.9m of 0.28% Co</strong>. Similar results exist in most drill holes in this area reflecting the potential for increased tonnage in this area. Hole ICS18-19 was drilled steeply from surface and intersected copper-cobalt in the lower portion of the existing resource model, improving the continuity of the downdip extensions of mineralization in the No Name Zone. Mineralized horizons between the two zones occur over appreciable widths as intersected in ICS18-26 of <strong>9.0m of 0.22% Co</strong>.</p> <p><strong>Iron Creek Project</strong></p> <p>First Cobalt announced on September 26, 2018 an Inferred Resource estimate at Iron Creek of 26.9 million tonnes grading 0.11% cobalt equivalent (0.08% Co and 0.30% Cu containing 46.2 million pounds of cobalt and 176.2 million pounds of copper) under a base case scenario pit constrained and deeper mineral resource. An alternative underground-only scenario results in 4.4 million tonnes grading 0.23% Co and 0.68% Cu (0.30% CoEq) using a cutoff underground grade of 0.18% CoEq and containing 22.3 million pounds of cobalt and 66.7 million pounds of copper. The Inferred Resource is based on drilling over a strike length of approximately 500 metres and a dip extent of over 150 metres. Preliminary metallurgical testing concludes that simple flotation methods are applicable, yielding recoveries of 96% for cobalt and 95% for copper in rougher floatation. Historic underground development includes 600 metres of drifting in three adits and an all-weather road connecting the project to a state highway.</p> <p><strong>Quality Assurance and Quality Control</strong></p> <p>First Cobalt has implemented a quality control program to comply with industry best practices for sampling, chain of custody and analyses. Blanks, duplicates and standards are inserted at the core processing site as part of the QA/QC program. Samples are prepared and analyzed by American Assay Laboratories (AAL) in Sparks, Nevada. Over 15% of the samples analyzed are control samples consisting of checks, blanks, and duplicates inserted by the Company; in addition to the control samples inserted by the lab. Drill core samples are dried, weighed crushed to 85 % passing -6 mesh, roll crushed to 85% passing -10 mesh, split 250 gram pulps, then pulverized in a closed bowl ring pulverizer to 95% passing -150 mesh, then analyzed by a 5 acid digestion for ICP analysis. All samples have passed QA/QC protocols.</p> <p><strong>Qualified and Competent Person Statement</strong></p> <p>Dr. Frank Santaguida, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Dr. Santaguida is also a Competent Person (as defined in the JORC Code, 2012 edition) who is a practicing member of the Association of Professional Geologists of Ontario (being a ‘Recognised Professional Organisation’ for the purposes of the ASX Listing Rules). Dr. Santaguida is employed on a full-time basis as Vice President, Exploration for First Cobalt. He has sufficient experience that is relevant to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code.</p> <p><strong>About First Cobalt</strong></p> <p>First Cobalt is a North American pure-play cobalt company whose flagship asset is the Iron Creek Cobalt Project in Idaho, USA, which has Inferred mineral resources of 26.9 million tonnes grading 0.11% cobalt equivalent. The Company also owns the only permitted cobalt refinery in North America and 50 past-producing mines in the Canadian Cobalt Camp.  </p> <p><strong><em>Cautionary Note Regarding Estimates of Resources</em></strong></p> <p><em>Readers are cautioned that mineral resources are not economic mineral reserves and that the economic viability of resources that are not mineral reserves has not been demonstrated. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. The mineral resource estimate is classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum’s "2014 CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" incorporated by reference into NI 43-101. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for Preliminary Economic Assessment as defined under NI 43-101. Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves that can be mined economically. An Inferred Mineral Resource as defined by the CIM Standing Committee is "that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration."</em></p> <p><strong><em>Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements</em></strong></p> <p><em>This news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as “plans”, “expects‘, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes” or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and analysis and other disclosures of risk factors for First Cobalt, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although First Cobalt believes that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, First Cobalt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.</em></p>