Drilling continues to intersect & expand mineralization at Niblack
posted on
Jul 28, 2011 09:02AM
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New zone with high grade gold between Lookout and Trio
VANCOUVER, July 28, 2011 /CNW/ - Heatherdale Resources Ltd. ("Heatherdale" or the "the Company") (TSXV: HTR) announces results from twenty-three (23) new holes completed at the Niblack volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) project in southeast Alaska. Drill holes continue to intersect and expand the precious metals enriched mineralized zones, and are expected to increase mineral resources.
To date, Heatherdale has completed 129,985 feet of underground drilling in 100 holes at Niblack using two rigs. At March 2011, 308 holes (drilled from surface and underground) were used to estimate the mineral resources for the Lookout and Trio deposits (see March 7, 2011 news release). At a US$50 NSR cut off , the estimate comprises 4.1 million tonnes of Indicated resources grading 1.13% copper, 2.32 g/t gold, 2.27% zinc and 38.70 g/t silver and 2.5 million tonnes of Inferred resources grading 1.21% copper, 1.77 g/t gold, 2.29% zinc and 25.90 g/t silver. A continuous 1.5 million-tonne high-grade zone occurs within the indicated resource, grading 1.73% copper, 3.50 g/t gold, 3.84% zinc and 61.60 g/t silver (at US$150 NSR cutoff).
The results show that the geological model for Niblack is successfully targeting new mineralization. Key intersections were encountered in the Lookout deposit (U128), the Mammoth zone (U112 and U114), and a new zone between the Lookout and Trio deposits (U110, U113, U117, U121 and U123), which are presented in the Niblack Assay Table below. Drill hole location maps are available at www.heatherdaleresources.com.
NIBLACK ASSAY TABLE
Drill Hole Number |
From (feet) |
To (feet) |
Intercept (feet) |
Cu % |
Au g/t |
Zn % |
Ag g/t |
|
U110 | 1362.2 | 1370.0 | 7.8 | 0.67 | 1.73 | 0.93 | 23 | |
U112 | 472.0 | 491.0 | 19.0 | 3.32 | 0.49 | 3.14 | 28 | |
U112 | incl. | 472.0 | 479.3 | 7.3 | 6.78 | 0.99 | 7.07 | 59 |
U113 | 1356.5 | 1373.0 | 16.5 | 0.31 | 0.40 | 3.61 | 4 | |
U113 | incl. | 1356.5 | 1366.0 | 9.5 | 0.30 | 0.48 | 5.16 | 4 |
U114 | 504.5 | 510.2 | 5.7 | 4.15 | 0.72 | 1.36 | 29 | |
U114 | 535.5 | 540.0 | 4.5 | 0.15 | 0.24 | 2.28 | 4 | |
U117 | 1472.0 | 1473.0 | 1.0 | 3.56 | 0.41 | 0.02 | 15 | |
U121 | 1588.4 | 1592.0 | 3.6 | 0.85 | 0.42 | 0.82 | 10 | |
U123 | 1648.0 | 1655.8 | 7.8 | 1.67 | 19.51 | 3.32 | 263 | |
U123 | 1705.0 | 1710.0 | 5.0 | 0.07 | 1.99 | 0.44 | 6 | |
U128 | 880.0 | 885.0 | 5.0 | 0.58 | 0.77 | 0.27 | 18 | |
U128 | 890.4 | 898.4 | 8.0 | 0.99 | 2.23 | 1.68 | 40 | |
U128 | 909.7 | 954.7 | 45.0 | 1.06 | 1.66 | 1.85 | 31 | |
U128 | incl. | 910.5 | 929.4 | 18.9 | 1.90 | 3.12 | 1.60 | 57 |
No significant results U105-U109, U111, U115, U116, U118-120, U122, U125-127; assays are pending for U124B
Drilling proceeded in fan patterns from underground drill stations. True widths of intersections have not yet been accurately established.
Lookout Deposit
Hole U128 was drilled to further define the resource model in the southwest part of the Lookout deposit. Mineralization was encountered three times in the hole; the most significant intersection is 45 feet grading 1.06% copper, 1.66 g/t gold, 1.85% zinc and 31 g/t silver and including a 19-foot interval of higher copper and gold grades.
Mammoth Zone
The exploration drift is collared into the Mammoth zone. It sits within the prospective felsic stratigraphy, approximately 3,000 feet northwest of the Trio deposit. Historically, narrow widths of sea floor accumulation style mineralization were intersected in several holes in this area but limited drill efforts had been made to extend those intersections along strike or down dip. The Heatherdale team reviewed the historic data and designed a series of drill fans to better assess these mineralized zones. Significant intersections were encountered in drill holes U112 and U114, indicating good potential. Follow up drilling is required to delineate mineral resources at Mammoth.
New Zone between Lookout and Trio with high gold grades
A series of six holes were drilled to target deeper mineralization in the felsic sequence that lies between the Trio and Lookout deposits, testing an exploration hypothesis for a repetitive zone of mineralization at depth beyond the Lookout deposit. Five of the six holes encountered mineralization, including Hole U123, which intersected high grade (19.51 g/t) gold, and significant silver and copper grades of 263 g/t and 1.67%, respectively, over 7.8 feet. This new zone will add to the overall tonnage estimate for the deposit. The zone remains open and drill testing is ongoing.
Modeling has shown that the host horizon extends over 6 miles (10 km) on the property, of which only about 1.2 miles (2 km) has been well tested by the successful drilling campaigns in the Lookout area. A summer program of surface work, including detailed geological mapping, sampling and diamond drilling has commenced, designed to test additional priority targets along the favorable felsic stratigraphy.
"Drilling over the past two years has affirmed the potential of the Niblack Project. The volume and grade of mineral resources at Lookout and Trio announced earlier this year, established a base to advance the project. Exceptional potential exists to build on this threshold of mineral resources as shown by today's results. Initial engineering and technical studies for the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment, as well as the foundation for a prefeasibility study for the project are also underway," stated Heatherdale President and CEO Patrick Smith. "This work is progressing well, with additional releases of results to come over the next few months."
Niblack's location at tidewater on Prince of Wales Island in southeast Alaska presents a number of project benefits, including year-round marine access, a well-trained labour force, a mature supply and service sector, proximity to Asian markets, and the support of community and Alaska Native corporation partners. The project is located 27 miles (44 km) from Ketchikan, a community of 8000 people with important services to support project development, including a deep water port and international airport. The State's burgeoning minerals industry also enjoys a competitive tax regime and stable, predictable permitting and regulatory oversight coordinated by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' 'Large Mine Permitting Team'. For reference, Hecla's Greens Creek, a 2,100-ton per day underground massive sulphide mine, operates 225 miles (370 km) to the northwest of Niblack on Admirality Island.
Heatherdale Resources Ltd. is a Vancouver-based exploration and development company focused on advancing the high-grade mine development opportunity at the Niblack Project. The Company holds a 51% interest in the Niblack Project, is currently completing work to increase its interest to 60%, and has an option to acquire up to a 70% interest in the Niblack Project. The Company also holds a 60% interest, with the option to acquire 100%, in the mid-stage Delta copper-lead-zinc-gold-silver project, located in east-central Alaska. Heatherdale is associated with the Hunter Dickinson group, which has a track record of successful mineral exploration and development projects around the world.
Mark Rebagliati, P. Eng., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, is supervising the exploration and quality assurance and quality control programs on behalf of Heatherdale and has reviewed the content of this release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Patrick Smith
President and CEO
Sample preparation and analysis for the Niblack project is done at ISO 9001 accredited ALS Chemex laboratories in Vancouver, BC. All samples are assayed for gold by 30 g fire assay fusion with Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) finish. Copper, silver, zinc, lead and 29 additional elements are determined for all samples by four acid digestion, followed by ICP-AES finish. All over-limit copper, zinc or lead results (greater than 10%) and all over-limit silver results (greater than 200 grams per tonne) are re-assayed by high grade single element four acid digestion ICP-AES or AAS analysis. As part of a comprehensive QA/QC program, one standard is inserted into the sample stream in each group of 20 samples, as well as one or more field blanks in each analytical batch. One sample in each group of 20 is a duplicate, which is analyzed by Acme Analytical Laboratories in Vancouver.
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 release.
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, 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. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com.
For further details on Heatherdale Resources Ltd., please visit the Company's website at www.heatherdaleresources.com or contact Investor Services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.