Hardrock Tenacity Drilling Continues to Return High-Grade Gold; 15.97 g/t Au Across 32.1M
PREMIER GOLD MINES LIMITED (TSX:PG) is pleased to announce that
ongoing drilling at the Hardrock Project in Geraldton, Northwestern
Ontario continues to return high-grade gold mineralization in the
Tenacity Zone. Initial drilling at the Tenacity Zone has been focused
on defining potentially open pit-style mineralization which is being
confirmed by intersections of up to (un-cut)
15.97 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) across 32.1 metres (m) and 2.38g/t Au across 23.0m. Drilling is now directed on extending the Tenacity Zone down plunge to follow-up on recent intersections of up to 16.86g/t Au across 5.5m. Highlights of recent Tenacity drilling include:
The Tenacity Zone is marked by moderately to intensely silicified and veined greywacke host rocks, adjacent to a folded ultramafic rock unit. Mineralization consists of pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and minor visible gold. Drilling has confirmed potentially open pit-style mineralization over a minimum strike length of 500 metres, and is now testing for higher-grade mineralization that could be amenable to mining from a ramp below the potential pit workings. Mineralization remains open at depth with some of the strongest looking core being returned from the western-most (down-plunge) sections drilled to date. Hole TN026 (15.97g/t Au across 32.1m) tested the Tenacity Zone up-dip from a historic intersection that returned 49.3g/t Au across 4.3m, and down-dip from a historic intersection that returned 3.8g/t Au across 32.7m.
A longitudinal section of the Tenacity Zone, including historic intercepts, is available on the Premier website www.premiergoldmines.com.
Table 1 Recent Tenacity Zone Intercepts
* True widths estimated at approximately 70% of intersection widths ** NSV — No significant assay values
Recent drilling has intersected a parallel mineralized zone (assays pending) located in a geological setting (ultramafic contact) similar to and south of the main Tenacity Zone. Hole TN052 collared into mineralization at 10.9m, and intersected more than 40.0 metres of veining, alteration and sulphides characteristic of Tenacity. An exploration hole (HR008) drilled from the ice several hundred metres east if this new intercept collared into similar mineralization that assayed 2.51g/t Au across 4.9m. Follow-up drilling to test this potential new discovery will commence upon receipt of assays.
These results at Tenacity continue to support management’s belief that historic and new results will be utilized in a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate, which is expected to be completed in Q4 2009. The current program at Hardrock is expected to consist of more than 50,000 metres of definition and exploration drilling. Importantly, the Hardrock Project has the potential for defining several styles of mineralization capable of hosting resources, with grades and widths similar to many of Ontario’s major gold mines including:
The Project benefits from development advantages with the Trans-Canada Highway, Trans-Canada Pipeline, and major power lines running through the center of the property. Significant potential exists for developing resources in several areas including: 1) Open pit-style mineralization at the site of the original discovery where a resource containing several hundred thousand ounces of gold was partially drilled off by previous operators; 2) Several newer high-grade discoveries have been made throughout this large property package that have received little to no follow-up; 3) Resource blocks reported to remain within the mine workings; and, 4) The main mined zones which remain open below the 600m Level.
Stephen McGibbon, P. Geo., is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. The assay results presented are from core samples sent to Activation Laboratories, an accredited mineral analysis laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario, for preparation and analysis utilizing both fire assay and screen metallic methods.
Premier Gold Mines Limited is a well-financed Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with several projects and deposits in Northwestern Ontario and a joint venture in Mexico. In the Red Lake gold mining camp, two projects are operated in joint venture with Red Lake Gold Mines, and another, adjacent to the Red Lake Gold Mines complex, is operated on a 100% basis. The company has recently announced a new gold discovery at its wholly-owned PQ-North Project located on the main Musselwhite Gold Mine trend and is acquiring a 70% interest in the Hardrock Project, an advanced-stage gold project in the Geraldton area.
For further information, please contact:
Ewan Downie, President & CEO Phone: 807-346-1390 Fax: 807-346-0100
e-mail: Info@premiergoldmines.com Web Site: www.premiergoldmines.com
The statements made in this Press Release may contain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company’s expectations and projections.
- The potential to develop both open pit and underground resources.
- Extremely high-grade gold with individual samples returning assays of up to 688.0g/t Au (20.1 ounces per ton gold) across 0.7m.
- The intersection of a second near-surface mineralized horizon located along a similar geological contact.
The Tenacity Zone is marked by moderately to intensely silicified and veined greywacke host rocks, adjacent to a folded ultramafic rock unit. Mineralization consists of pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and minor visible gold. Drilling has confirmed potentially open pit-style mineralization over a minimum strike length of 500 metres, and is now testing for higher-grade mineralization that could be amenable to mining from a ramp below the potential pit workings. Mineralization remains open at depth with some of the strongest looking core being returned from the western-most (down-plunge) sections drilled to date. Hole TN026 (15.97g/t Au across 32.1m) tested the Tenacity Zone up-dip from a historic intersection that returned 49.3g/t Au across 4.3m, and down-dip from a historic intersection that returned 3.8g/t Au across 32.7m.
A longitudinal section of the Tenacity Zone, including historic intercepts, is available on the Premier website www.premiergoldmines.com.
Table 1 Recent Tenacity Zone Intercepts
Hole-ID | UTM Coordinates (m) |
Dip/Azimuth (degrees) |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
Grade (g/tonne) |
Interval (ft) |
Grade (oz/ton) |
Zone |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TN026 | 505599 E 5502607 N | -50/360 | 86.9 | 119.0 | 32.1 | 15.70 | 105.3 | 0.46 | Tenacity |
including | 106.3 | 107.0 | 0.7 | 688.00 | 2.3 | 20.09 | |||
TN027 | 505698 E 5502680 N | -50/360 | 127.4 | 135.6 | 8.2 | 1.68 | 26.9 | 0.05 | East Pit |
TN028 | 505692 E 5502573 N | -60/360 | 155.0 | 155.5 | 0.5 | 4.04 | 1.6 | 0.12 | Tenacity |
TN029 | 505449 E 5502582 N | -50/360 | NSV | Tenacity | |||||
TN030 | 505549 E 5502625 N | -50/360 | 74.4 | 89.0 | 14.6 | 1.83 | 47.9 | 0.05 | Tenacity |
207.5 | 223.5 | 16.0 | 2.61 | 52.5 | 0.08 | East Pit |
Hole-ID | UTM Coordinates (m) |
Dip/Azimuth (degrees) |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
Grade (g/tonne) |
Interval (ft) |
Grade (oz/ton) |
Zone |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TN031 | 505750 E 5503640 N | -50/360 | 34.5 | 57.5 | 23.0 | 2.38 | 75.4 | 0.07 | Tenacity |
65.0 | 75.0 | 10.0 | 1.29 | 32.8 | 0.04 | ||||
TN032 | 505650 E 5502580 N | -50/360 | 140.4 | 143.5 | 3.1 | 4.35 | 10.2 | 0.13 | Tenacity |
TN033 | 505550 E 5502649 N | -50/360 | NSV | Tenacity | |||||
TN034 | 50498 E 5502552 N | -50/360 | 201.4 | 208.0 | 6.6 | 2.34 | 21.6 | 0.07 | Tenacity |
278.0 | 289.5 | 11.5 | 1.37 | 37.7 | 0.04 | East Pit |
* True widths estimated at approximately 70% of intersection widths ** NSV — No significant assay values
Recent drilling has intersected a parallel mineralized zone (assays pending) located in a geological setting (ultramafic contact) similar to and south of the main Tenacity Zone. Hole TN052 collared into mineralization at 10.9m, and intersected more than 40.0 metres of veining, alteration and sulphides characteristic of Tenacity. An exploration hole (HR008) drilled from the ice several hundred metres east if this new intercept collared into similar mineralization that assayed 2.51g/t Au across 4.9m. Follow-up drilling to test this potential new discovery will commence upon receipt of assays.
These results at Tenacity continue to support management’s belief that historic and new results will be utilized in a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate, which is expected to be completed in Q4 2009. The current program at Hardrock is expected to consist of more than 50,000 metres of definition and exploration drilling. Importantly, the Hardrock Project has the potential for defining several styles of mineralization capable of hosting resources, with grades and widths similar to many of Ontario’s major gold mines including:
- Open pit-style mineralization with grades exceeding 1.5 g/t Au (Timmins, Hemlo)
- Broad zones of mineralization with grades averaging 5.0+ g/t Au (Musselwhite)
- Narrow vein zones with higher gold grades often exceeding 7.0g/t (Red Lake, Pickle Lake)
The Project benefits from development advantages with the Trans-Canada Highway, Trans-Canada Pipeline, and major power lines running through the center of the property. Significant potential exists for developing resources in several areas including: 1) Open pit-style mineralization at the site of the original discovery where a resource containing several hundred thousand ounces of gold was partially drilled off by previous operators; 2) Several newer high-grade discoveries have been made throughout this large property package that have received little to no follow-up; 3) Resource blocks reported to remain within the mine workings; and, 4) The main mined zones which remain open below the 600m Level.
Stephen McGibbon, P. Geo., is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. The assay results presented are from core samples sent to Activation Laboratories, an accredited mineral analysis laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario, for preparation and analysis utilizing both fire assay and screen metallic methods.
Premier Gold Mines Limited is a well-financed Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company with several projects and deposits in Northwestern Ontario and a joint venture in Mexico. In the Red Lake gold mining camp, two projects are operated in joint venture with Red Lake Gold Mines, and another, adjacent to the Red Lake Gold Mines complex, is operated on a 100% basis. The company has recently announced a new gold discovery at its wholly-owned PQ-North Project located on the main Musselwhite Gold Mine trend and is acquiring a 70% interest in the Hardrock Project, an advanced-stage gold project in the Geraldton area.
For further information, please contact:
Ewan Downie, President & CEO Phone: 807-346-1390 Fax: 807-346-0100
e-mail: Info@premiergoldmines.com Web Site: www.premiergoldmines.com
The statements made in this Press Release may contain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company’s expectations and projections.