Vancouver, September 8, 2008 � Scorpio Mining Corporation (TSX:SPM) is excited to announce additional underground drill results from the 9th Level targeting the North West Main Zone (NW Zone) at the 100% owned Nuestra Senora project, Sinaloa State, Mexico.
Peter J. Hawley, Chairman, CEO reports, �As our geological team increases its understanding of the controls of the various ore bodies and their relationship to feeder zones, our success ratio of defining high-grade shoots has increased. The detailed drilling into the NW Zone has now allowed enough data for immediate mine planning and supporting development to prepare for extraction later this fall. This high-grade material will be blended into the existing surface stockpile to increase the grade of mill throughput, allowing for greater tonnages of concentrates to be produced. The Company is clearly excited with the long-term potential of this area and work also continues on the definition of the Jewel Box area in the down plunge sector from this zone.�
These numerous high-grade drill intercepts are from the drill bay on the 9th Level (180 metres vertically below surface) where all holes have been drilled in multiple upper planes towards the 8th Level (30 metres vertically above). In this area, the Jewel Box zone (see March 25, 2008 release and section on website under Nuestra Senora project) approaches the NW Zone and is thought to have an influence on the width and grades encountered. Present downward drilling from the 10th Level (30 metres vertically below the 9th Level) has confirmed the down plunge extension of the body and drill intercepts and assays will be released shortly once all have been received and compiled.
In addition, the Santa Teresa zone is continuing to report grades and widths that not only are potentially amenable to mining but are expected, along with the NW zone, to increase the estimated mineral reserves and resources within the total mineral base. As such, the mine planning team has also begun development on the 9th Level of the Santa Teresa zone for extraction later this year.
It is anticipated that the Company will use mechanized room-and-pillar mining methods accessed via internal ramps. The Santa Teresa zone is becoming one of our larger stoping areas, comparable with the Hoag zone and the Main NW zone, which will both be mined by long-hole methods. The Main NW and Hoag zones are currently being drilled for blasting while the Santa Teresa zone is expected to be ready for extraction later in 2008 to ensure continued availability of ore for extraction. Meanwhile, other narrower high-grade stopes are being prepared for selective mining, which will be integrated into the production schedule and enhance the daily throughput grade.
Table 1. 9th Level Underground Drill Results � NW Zone
Hole # |
From
(m) |
To
(m) |
Length
(m) |
Ag
(g/t) |
Au
(g/t) |
Cu
% |
Pb
% |
Zn
% |
NS9L-08-146 |
27.20 |
32.60 |
5.40 |
272 |
0.25 |
0.15 |
1.65 |
4.72 |
|
34.80 |
36.40 |
1.60 |
308 |
0.30 |
0.04 |
2.97 |
0.68 |
|
42.70 |
43.60 |
0.90 |
295 |
0.05 |
0.01 |
0.97 |
0.64 |
|
46.50 |
47.65 |
1.15 |
149 |
0.17 |
0.25 |
0.22 |
0.18 |
|
52.75 |
53.15 |
0.40 |
204 |
0.21 |
1.44 |
5.05 |
10.05 |
|
55.45 |
58.85 |
3.40 |
114 |
0.12 |
0.42 |
3.55 |
5.68 |
|
62.75 |
71.00 |
8.25 |
129 |
0.13 |
1.39 |
2.74 |
4.16 |
|
36.20 |
38.65 |
2.45 |
234 |
0.87 |
0.27 |
1.78 |
3.44 |
|
41.55 |
42.40 |
0.85 |
167 |
0.38 |
0.20 |
2.88 |
6.58 |
|
44.40 |
45.40 |
1.00 |
220 |
0.14 |
0.01 |
1.10 |
0.14 |
|
47.40 |
48.00 |
0.60 |
132 |
0.14 |
0.01 |
0.65 |
1.29 |
|
101.70 |
108.00 |
6.30 |
721 |
0.25 |
2.59 |
18.60 |
21.92 |
including |
101.70 |
102.55 |
0.85 |
1,310 |
0.29 |
2.96 |
27.50 |
32.17 |
including |
103.25 |
104.10 |
0.85 |
673 |
0.17 |
6.68 |
21.00 |
33.63 |
including |
104.10 |
104.70 |
0.60 |
742 |
0.29 |
2.28 |
16.00 |
19.75 |
including |
104.70 |
105.75 |
1.05 |
486 |
0.22 |
2.37 |
12.00 |
13.00 |
including |
105.75 |
106.90 |
1.15 |
935 |
0.15 |
2.95 |
26.20 |
26.00 |
including |
106.90 |
108.00 |
1.10 |
748 |
0.52 |
3.10 |
21.20 |
24.20 |
NS9L-08-174 |
25.75 |
28.60 |
2.85 |
771 |
0.31 |
0.01 |
2.47 |
2.24 |
|
53.45 |
54.40 |
0.95 |
197 |
0.06 |
0.01 |
0.50 |
0.04 |
NS9L-08-175 |
17.20 |
19.70 |
2.50 |
289 |
0.16 |
0.02 |
1.41 |
6.37 |
|
29.40 |
47.40 |
18.00 |
1,124 |
0.36 |
0.13 |
2.20 |
1.41 |
including |
29.40 |
30.00 |
0.60 |
133 |
0.31 |
0.02 |
0.95 |
3.34 |
including |
32.40 |
33.00 |
0.60 |
13,671 |
4.75 |
0.37 |
25.69 |
8.18 |
including |
33.00 |
34.10 |
1.10 |
6,980 |
0.99 |
0.07 |
6.66 |
0.29 |
including |
34.10 |
35.60 |
1.50 |
100 |
0.17 |
0.01 |
0.18 |
0.10 |
including |
40.00 |
41.00 |
1.00 |
1,529 |
0.23 |
1.03 |
5.60 |
3.88 |
including |
41.00 |
42.00 |
1.00 |
245 |
0.15 |
0.01 |
1.01 |
1.27 |
including |
43.00 |
43.60 |
0.60 |
3,670 |
0.38 |
2.73 |
13.25 |
8.23 |
including |
45.80 |
47.40 |
1.60 |
733 |
0.49 |
0.18 |
2.85 |
2.93 |
NS9L-08-176 |
12.80 |
14.30 |
1.50 |
217 |
0.17 |
0.07 |
2.10 |
4.60 |
|
24.70 |
25.90 |
1.20 |
113 |
0.13 |
0.01 |
0.83 |
4.77 |
|
39.40 |
41.00 |
1.60 |
442 |
0.48 |
0.55 |
5.94 |
3.57 |
NS9L-08-177 |
18.30 |
19.50 |
1.20 |
137 |
0.24 |
0.09 |
0.94 |
2.64 |
|
35.50 |
37.60 |
3.10 |
120 |
0.11 |
0.01 |
0.67 |
3.21 |
NS9L-08-179 |
18.20 |
21.00 |
2.80 |
110 |
0.14 |
0.01 |
0.76 |
7.48 |
|
24.00 |
34.50 |
10.50 |
90 |
0.26 |
0.01 |
0.68 |
5.06 |
NS9L-08-180 |
15.20 |
28.50 |
13.30 |
144 |
0.15 |
0.04 |
0.96 |
3.74 |
|
31.50 |
34.20 |
2.70 |
112 |
0.26 |
0.03 |
0.78 |
4.45 |
NS9L-08-182 |
14.60 |
17.00 |
2.40 |
754 |
0.32 |
0.01 |
4.04 |
0.70 |
NS9L-08-183 |
18.70 |
22.50 |
3.80 |
150 |
0.15 |
0.01 |
0.95 |
1.84 |
|
25.50 |
30.00 |
4.50 |
98 |
0.11 |
0.00 |
0.53 |
2.27 |
|
33.00 |
33.55 |
0.55 |
396 |
0.20 |
0.00 |
2.24 |
0.72 |
NS9L-08-184 |
19.50 |
21.00 |
1.50 |
443 |
0.25 |
0.02 |
2.58 |
0.98 |
|
24.00 |
25.15 |
1.15 |
1,395 |
1.18 |
0.04 |
3.91 |
4.09 |
NS9L-08-185 |
26.70 |
31.60 |
4.90 |
433 |
0.59 |
0.10 |
3.63 |
1.89 |
|
34.60 |
36.00 |
1.40 |
115 |
0.19 |
0.07 |
1.44 |
4.27 |
|
46.60 |
48.00 |
1.40 |
118 |
0.08 |
0.11 |
1.51 |
6.90 |
|
67.50 |
70.40 |
2.90 |
92 |
0.10 |
0.06 |
2.52 |
4.11 |
NS9L-08-186 |
22.50 |
27.00 |
4.50 |
168 |
0.22 |
0.01 |
0.96 |
5.37 |
|
33.00 |
38.40 |
5.40 |
87 |
0.09 |
0.02 |
0.51 |
2.92 |
NS9L-08-187 |
14.90 |
18.00 |
3.10 |
606 |
0.14 |
0.05 |
3.73 |
2.65 |
|
36.90 |
37.80 |
0.90 |
100 |
0.08 |
0.00 |
0.66 |
2.93 |
|
40.70 |
42.00 |
1.30 |
182 |
0.19 |
0.00 |
1.06 |
8.47 |
NS9L-08-188 |
19.50 |
24.00 |
4.50 |
423 |
0.17 |
0.01 |
2.57 |
2.66 |
|
36.10 |
37.65 |
1.55 |
165 |
0.20 |
0.01 |
1.12 |
1.23 |
NS9L-08-189 |
22.90 |
30.00 |
7.10 |
78 |
0.11 |
0.03 |
0.46 |
6.44 |
|
39.00 |
52.50 |
13.50 |
95 |
0.10 |
0.03 |
0.66 |
4.17 |
NS9L-08-192 |
17.50 |
21.10 |
3.60 |
103 |
0.10 |
0.04 |
0.71 |
5.45 |
|
24.00 |
31.50 |
7.50 |
83 |
0.12 |
0.02 |
0.48 |
5.35 |
NS9L-08-193 |
16.50 |
18.90 |
2.40 |
103 |
0.22 |
0.02 |
0.77 |
7.53 |
|
27.00 |
34.50 |
7.50 |
134 |
0.16 |
0.01 |
0.77 |
3.89 |
|
37.50 |
43.00 |
5.50 |
197 |
0.20 |
0.02 |
1.24 |
5.07 |
NS9L-08-194 |
30.00 |
31.50 |
1.50 |
191 |
0.19 |
0.00 |
1.07 |
0.73 |
The drill hole traces from the 9th Level plus the intercepts into the mineralized solid can be viewed on the Company�s website under the Nuestra Senora project heading.
Drill hole data in the tables reflects down hole core lengths and actual (uncut) grades. True widths cannot be reliably estimated at this time. Further information on the Company and the Nuestra Se�ora project is available on the Scorpio Mining web site at: www.scorpiomining.com.
President, Mr. D. Roger Scammell, PGeo, is the Company�s Qualified Person for the Nuestra Se�ora project. Mr. Scammell is responsible for the current exploration and development program and has reviewed the content of this release. All technical information for the Nuestra Se�ora property is obtained and reported under a formal quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Samples are shipped to the ALS Chemex preparation laboratory in Hermosillo, Mexico for drying, crushing and pulverizing. ALS Chemex, Hermosillo then sends the pulps by air-freight to ALS Chemex, Vancouver for assaying. Systematic assaying of standards and blanks are performed for the precision and accuracy; check assays are regularly conducted by SGS Lakefield Research. Details of the QA/QC program are available on the Company�s website.
ON BEHALF OF SCORPIO MINING CORPORATION
Peter J. Hawley
Chairman & CEO
For further information contact:
Glenn Little, Jackson Little Holdings Ltd: 604-930-4375; 1-888-930-4375
Rich Kaiser, YES International: 1-800-631-8127; 001-757-306-6090 (outside North America)
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed �forward-looking statements� within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the results of drilling, the timing and methods of future extraction of mineralization for milling and Scorpio Mining Corporation�s commitment to, and plans for developing the Nuestra Senora Project. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the forward-looking terminology such as �plans�, �expects�� or �does not expect�, �is expected�, �budget�, �scheduled�, �estimates�, �projects�, �intends�, �anticipates�, or �does not anticipate�, or �believes�, or �variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results �may�, �can�, �could�, �would�, �might�, or �will� be taken�, �occur� or �be achieved�. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Scorpio Mining Corporation to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the exploration and potential development and construction of the Nuestra Senora Project, risks related to international operations, construction delays and cost overruns, the actual results of current exploration, development and construction activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of silver, zinc, copper, lead and gold, as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors of our business filed in Scorpio Mining Corporation�s required securities filings on SEDAR, including its Annual Information Form dated March 26, 2008. Although Scorpio Mining Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended.
There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Scorpio Mining Corporation doses not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.