Northern
Freegold Extends Gold Mineralization to the South
from Resource Boundary in Step-out
Drilling at Nucleus Zone,
Freegold Mountain Project, Yukon
Vancouver,
BC. October 22, 2009. Northern Freegold Resources
Ltd. (NFR: TSX-V) is pleased to announce
results from 11 additional drill holes in the Nucleus Zone at the
district scale Freegold Mountain Project, located in the Yukon. In 2009, a total of 10,440 m were
completed within 44 drill holes in the Nucleus Zone, where an initial inferred gold
resource of 1.082 million ounces was announced (67.67 million tonnes @
0.5 g/t gold with 0.3 g/t cutoff; see news release dated July 27, 2009). Step-out
hole GRD-128 drilled to the south tested a poorly explored area and was
successful in intersecting a significant length (25.38 m) of 1.25 g/t Au
including 1.31 m of 11.50 g/t Au.
This intersection extends mineralization to south and at
depth of the current resource boundary.
The main objective of the Company's drill
program in 2009 was to confirm and expand upon historical results within
a bulk tonnage, potentially open-pittable intrusion related gold
mineralized system. The new geological model for the initial resource
estimate in the Nucleus Zone demonstrates a higher-grade east-west
component for the gold mineralization which is parallel to a
series of mineralized intrusive dykes and sulphide enriched zones and a
broad, variably oriented disseminated gold mineralization system. Upon recognition of the
significance of the east-west trend of higher gold mineralization, all
2009 drill holes were drilled in a north or south direction to cross-cut
these structures. The 11
holes reported in this news release represent fences of holes drilled
north south across the Nucleus Zone and include step out holes to the
south and east (refer to www.northernfreegold.com).
Highlights of
the 11 holes in this release
Section 379325E
- North/south holes drilled through
central Nucleus
- Hole 128 drilled to the south
(step-out) testing a poorly explored area was successful in
intersecting significant length (25.38 m) of 1.25
g/t Au including 1.31 m
of 11.50 g/t Au
- Holes 130 and 132 drilled to the
north were successful in potentially connecting/expanding higher
grade portions of the resource; (GRD09-130 intersected 8.8 m of 1.97 g/t Au and GRD09-132 intersected 22.86 m of 1.08 g/t Au)
Section 379200E
- Testing mineralization in
western Nucleus
- Hole 139 drilled to the north
intersected significant mineralization consisting of 1.00 g/t Au over 18.40 m
- Hole 137 drilled to the south
intersected 55.67 m of 0.52 g/t Au
Section 379400E
- Hole 135 tested an area within
eastern Nucleus to fill in and extend higher grade portions of the
resource
- Successful as intersected 59.43 m of 0.81g/t Au; and 17.59 m of 1.89 g/t Au
Section 3793650/700E
- Stepped out to east and drilled
north and south
- Holes GRD09-133 and 140 intersected
highly faulted ground whereas GRD09-134 did not intersect faulted
ground yet intersected significant mineralization of 5.98 m of 1.56 g/t Au
Complete results are presented in the
tables at the end of this release.
Drill holes included in this press release can also be viewed a
www.corebox.net. For an
animated video showing Nucleus' current resource please click: http://www.northernfreegold.com/s/Home.asp.
The 2009 diamond drill program in
and surrounding the Nucleus Zone was also successful in:
- Defining tabular nature of sulphide
rich replacement mineralization in eastern section of the zone (see Aug. 13, 2009 news release)
- Expanding and confirming the
continuity of structures controlling the higher grade gold
mineralization
- Intersecting new and extending known
sulphide enriched mineralization and sulphide rich breccias in step
out holes in the western and southwestern portion of the zone
- Stepping out to follow up on
geochemical and/or geophysical anomalies and targets generated by
previous/ongoing drilling to extend Nucleus Zone mineralization
The 2009 program
also included 1,241 m of rotary air blast drilling (21 holes) with follow
up diamond drilling (assays pending). Also included in the 2009 program
was detailed geological mapping and ground geophysics between the Nucleus
and Revenue Zones (a distance of 4 km), as well as property wide stream
sediment sampling and reinterpretation of airborne geophysics across the
project. The 2009 geological mapping and ground
geophysics (magnetic and radiometrics) program focusing along and past
the 4 kilometre trend encompassing the Nucleus and Revenue Zones helped
to define and follow up on historical gold and copper anomalies between
the zones (please refer to attached figure). Gold and copper soil
historical soil geochemistry has been digitized from contours produced by
Archer, Cathro & Associates in 2004 based on original sample data
collected in 2000.
As can be seen from the attached figure, a large portion of the
outline of the existing inferred resource at the Nucleus Zone has no
indicative soil anomalies associated with it. The results received to date from
the stream sediment samples within the Nucleus/Revenue Zone also indicate
additional areas warranting follow up.
Bill Harris, CEO
& COO commented "We are pleased that another successful
exploration program has been completed at Freegold Mountain. The recognition in the geologic
modeling of the importance of the east-west orientation for higher-grade
mineralization supports the view that the recognized mineral occurrences
on the Freegold Mountain property are related and form part of a much
larger system than previously recognized. The detailed drill program in the
Nucleus Zone has helped identify additional target areas to test and
potentially expand resources.
The strength and scale of anomalies
identified between the Nucleus and Revenue Zones is significant. This work, in conjunction with
review of historical soil data, the 2009 property wide stream sediment
sampling program and reinterpretation of the property wide airborne
geophysical survey will lead to prioritization of targets for the 2010
program at Freegold Mountain."
Sampling
Methodology, Quality Control and Assurance
Drilling: The holes were drilled by a skid
mounted diamond drill with NTW core size (5.6 cm/2.2 inches in diameter).
All core samples from diamond drilling are split and sent to EcoTech
Laboratory in Whitehorse for sample preparation and then to EcoTech
Laboratory in Kamloops for analysis. Blanks, commercial standards and
duplicate core samples are included in each batch. To determine Au levels
at the ppb level (detection limit 5-1000 ppb) 30 g samples are fire
assayed then digested in aqua regia solution and analyzed by atomic
absorption. Over-limit values are re-assayed by fire assay and then
digested with aqua regia and then re-analyzed by an atomic absorption
instrument (detection limit 0.03 g/t). Other elements are analyzed by a
29 elements package (ICP-AES analysis). Additional check-analyses will be
carried out by ALS Chemex in North Vancouver. Intervals reported in this
release do not necessarily represent true widths of mineralization.
Stream Sediment Sampling: Each sample was collected from several
points along the active stream bed to produce a representative composite
sample. The top part of the
sediment was discarded to avoid spurious high content of Fe and Mn in
oxide coating. Every sample
collected was hand sieved in the field to a fraction of less than
one-eighth inch. The sample
was placed in a double layer plastic sample bag and labeled. Sample weight varied between four
to twelve kilograms. Samples
were submitted to ALS Chemex in Vancouver. Upon arrival at the laboratory,
samples were dried and screened to 180 microns (80 mesh) and analyzed by
ME-MS41, an ultra trace level method for 51 elements, including gold and
mercury by aqua regia digestion of 0.5 g of sample and a combination of
ICP-AES and ICP-MS analysis. In
addition, AU-ST44 method was used to analyze for gold using a larger
sample size of 50 grams. Samples
exceeding the upper limit of Au detection of 0.1 ppm were automatically
re-analyzed using an additional 50 gram sample of 80 mesh sediment and
implementing the ore grade assay technique Au-OG44 using aqua regia
digestion and ICP-MS finish with detection range between 0.01-100 ppm.
About the Freegold Mountain Project
The road accessible Freegold
Mountain Project is located 200 km northwest of Whitehorse, the capital
of the Yukon and is situated within an active exploration and mining area
in the Tintina Gold Belt of the Yukon which includes the producing Minto
Mine of Capstone Mining Corp. to the north, Casino Deposit and Carmacks
Copper Deposit of Western Copper Corporation to the west and east, and
the White Gold Property of Underworld Resources to the northwest. NFR controls 166 square km (64
square miles) within the district scale Freegold Mountain Project. Within
the project expanse are at least 20 identified mineralized zones,
including the Nucleus, Revenue and Tinta. Many of the additional prospects
on the Freegold Mountain Project are discussed in the full 43-101
technical report.
The Freegold Mountain Project
is well situated within the stable, mining supportive jurisdiction of the
Yukon. In 2003, control of resource management and development was
devolved from the federal Canadian Government to the Territory. Decisions on resource development
in the Yukon are now made in the Yukon. As a result of the Umbrella Final
Agreement which provides a template for settlement of First Nation Land
Claims in the Yukon, a single assessment approach has been developed for
projects and activities in the Yukon, including resource projects. The Yukon Socioeconomic
Environmental Assessment Act was developed in conjunction with First
Nation and Yukoners. Eleven
of the 14 First Nations in the Yukon have settled their Land Claim
negotiations. The Freegold
Mountain Project is located within the traditional territories of two
settled First Nations: Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation and the
Selkirk First Nation.
The Freegold Mountain Project
is located on the Freegold Mountain Road, a government maintained gravel
road. The Freegold Road connects to the Klondike Highway, an all weather
paved highway, which connects to Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon,
and the major supply centre for the Yukon. Powerlines located along the
Klondike Highway are at present 30 km from the Freegold Project
boundary. The Carmacks Copper
deposit will require a 12 km power line to connect to the power grid
along the Klondike Highway. From
this location, the power line would be within 7 km of the Freegold
Mountain project boundary.
Other projects in the Tintina
Gold Belt are the producing Fort Knox mine operated by Kinross Gold and
the recently discovered Livengood Project of International Tower Hill
Mines Ltd., both located in Alaska. The open-pit Fort Knox mine contains
proven and probable resources of 252.8 Mt at an average grade of 0.47 g/t
gold as of December 31, 2008 (www.kinross.com).
Fort Knox is currently commissioning a run of mine heap leach
facility to complement their current milling operations. In 2008, the Fort Knox Mine
produced 329,105 ounces of gold.
The Livengood Project reported in September of 2009 an indicated
resource of 297.0 Mt at an average grade of 0.85 g/t gold and an inferred
resource of 164 Mt at an average grade of 0.84 g/t gold at a 0.5 g/t gold
cutoff (www.ithmines.com).
Directly within the Freegold Mountain Project area, the Carmack
Copper Deposit of Western Copper Corporation has received it permits and
the Casino Deposit (4.4 billion lbs copper, 8.0 million ozs gold and 475
million lbs molybdenum) has entered into the Yukon Environmental
Assessment Process (www.westerncoppercorp.com). These reserves and
resources have not been verified by the qualified person and the
information is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization at
Freegold Mountain.
The technical information
disclosed in this release has been reviewed and approved by Wade Barnes,
P. Geo.
Northern Freegold is a well
financed rapidly advancing Canadian-based precious metals exploration and
development company, which brings local expertise and strong management
to focus on the development of economic mineral resources on the
district-scale Freegold Mountain gold and copper project in the Yukon and
the Burro Creek gold and silver property in Arizona.
Northern Freegold Resources Ltd.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Signed "Bill
Harris"
William G. Harris
CEO & COO
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed
and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this press releaseincludes
certain "forward-looking statements" All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, included herein including, without
limitation, plans for and intentions with respect to the company's
properties, statements regarding intentions with respect to obligations
due for various projects, strategic alternatives, quantity of resources
or reserves, timing of
permitting, construction and production and other milestones, are forward
looking statements. Statements concerning Mineral Reserves and Mineral
Resources are also forward-looking statements in that they reflect an
assessment, based on certain assumptions, of the mineralization that
would be encountered and mining results if the project were developed and
mined in the manner described. Forward-looking statements involve various
risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements
will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NFR's
expectations include the uncertainties involving the need for additional
financing to explore and develop properties and availability of financing
in the debt and capital markets; uncertainties involved in the
interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the
estimation of reserves and resources; the need for cooperation of
government agencies and First Nation groups in the exploration, and
development of properties; and
the need to obtain permits and governmental approval. NFR's forward looking statements
reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections of management on the date
the statements are made. NFR assumes no obligation to update the forward
looking statements if management's beliefs, opinions, projections, or
other factors should they change.
Cautionary
Note Regarding Reserve and Resource Estimates
This press release has been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ
from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise
indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this press
release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and
the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Classification System. NI
43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators
which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of
scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian
standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the
requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"), and resource and reserve information contained herein
may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies.
In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
term "resource" does not equate to the term
"reserves". Investors should also understand that
"inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty
as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and
legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an
"inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher
category. The estimation of quantities of resources and reserves is
complex, based on significant subjective assumptions and forward-looking
information, including assumptions that arise from the evaluation of
geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data for a given ore
body. This data could change over time as a result of numerous factors,
including new information gained from development activities, evolving
production history and a reassessment of the viability of production
under different economic conditions. Changes in data and/or assumptions
could cause reserve estimates to substantially change from period to
period. No assurance can be given that the indicated level of mineral
will be produced. Actual production could differ from expected production
and an adverse change in mineral prices could make a reserve uneconomic
to mine. Variations could also occur in actual ore grades and recovery
rates from estimates.
Drill Hole Results
Hole No..
|
Length(m)
|
From
|
To
|
Interval
|
Interval
|
Au1
|
Au2
|
Cu3
|
Az (o)/Dip(o)
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
feet
|
g/tonne
|
oz/ton
|
%
|
Section 379325E; Fence of holes
drilled through central Nucleus
|
GRD09-128
|
295.66
|
11.10
|
12.41
|
1.31
|
4.20
|
11.50
|
0.335
|
**
|
And
|
180/-55
|
34.00
|
36.00
|
2.00
|
6.41
|
1.03
|
0.030
|
**
|
And
|
|
113.30
|
138.68
|
25.38
|
81.34
|
1.25
|
0.036
|
**
|
Including
|
|
113.30
|
119.95
|
6.65
|
21.31
|
3.37
|
0.098
|
0.10
|
And
|
|
185.42
|
187
|
1.58
|
5.06
|
1.07
|
0.031
|
0.20
|
GRD09-130
|
291.08
|
25.50
|
26.10
|
0.60
|
1.92
|
1.53
|
0.045
|
0.38
|
And
|
0/-55
|
37.70
|
46.50
|
8.80
|
28.20
|
1.97
|
0.057
|
**
|
Including
|
|
37.70
|
40.60
|
2.90
|
9.29
|
5.12
|
0.149
|
**
|
And
|
|
61.70
|
101.00
|
39.30
|
125.95
|
0.94
|
0.027
|
**
|
Including
|
|
61.70
|
73.40
|
11.70
|
37.50
|
1.25
|
0.036
|
**
|
Including
|
|
83.50
|
101.00
|
17.50
|
56.08
|
1.05
|
0.031
|
0.13
|
Including
|
|
83.50
|
89.00
|
5.50
|
17.63
|
1.89
|
0.055
|
0.13
|
And
|
|
124.30
|
126.40
|
2.10
|
6.73
|
1.10
|
0.032
|
0.21
|
And
|
|
246.50
|
247.70
|
1.20
|
3.85
|
1.40
|
0.041
|
**
|
And
|
|
255.00
|
256.30
|
1.30
|
4.17
|
1.74
|
0.051
|
0.46
|
GRD09-132
|
455.68
|
0.00
|
80.77
|
80.77
|
258.85
|
0.79
|
0.023
|
**
|
Including
|
0/-65
|
0.00
|
22.86
|
22.86
|
73.26
|
1.08
|
0.032
|
**
|
Including
|
|
67.06
|
70.95
|
3.89
|
12.47
|
2.43
|
0.071
|
**
|
Step-out
holes to the east (3793650, 700E)
|
GRD09-133
|
297.48
|
34.83
|
36.00
|
1.17
|
3.75
|
1.24
|
0.036
|
**
|
And
|
180/-50
|
149.87
|
151.00
|
1.13
|
3.62
|
2.93
|
0.085
|
0.17
|
GRD09-134
|
272.8
|
38.10
|
44.08
|
5.98
|
19.16
|
1.56
|
0.045
|
**
|
And
|
180/-50
|
55.70
|
57.30
|
1.60
|
5.13
|
1.94
|
0.057
|
**
|
GRD09-140
|
240.79
|
No
significant results
|
|
|
|
|
|
0/-50
|
|
|
|
|
|
Test
conductor and soil anomaly to south (379450E)
|
|
GRD09-136
|
368.81
|
65.41
|
70.53
|
5.12
|
16.7979
|
0.89
|
0.026
|
**
|
|
|
0/-50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GRD09-138
|
208.79
|
63.40
|
67.90
|
4.50
|
14.7638
|
1.08
|
0.032
|
**
|
|
|
180/-50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Results less than 2.5 g/t/m gold were not
reported in this table, unless the grade was > 1 g/t gold
1Au composite
intervals were calculated from Au ppb if Au values<1,000 ppb; if Au
values were > 1,000 ppb
fire assay g/tonne values
were used
2Au oz/ton values
were converted by dividing Au g/tonne value by 34.2857
3Percent values were
calculated from ppm results; if Cu value was >10,000 ppm lab reported
% values were used
**
Cu values <0.10%
Hole No..
|
Length(m)
|
From
|
To
|
Interval
|
Interval
|
Au1
|
Au2
|
Cu3
|
|
Az (o)/Dip(o)
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
feet
|
g/tonne
|
oz/ton
|
%
|
Testing
an area within eastern Nucleus to fill in an d extend higher grade
portion of the resource
(379400E)
|
|
GRD09-135
|
290.36
|
19.81
|
37.70
|
17.89
|
58.69
|
0.71
|
0.021
|
**
|
|
Including
|
0/-50
|
32.27
|
36.27
|
4.00
|
13.12
|
1.24
|
0.036
|
**
|
|
And
|
|
43.61
|
47.15
|
3.54
|
11.61
|
0.96
|
0.028
|
0.10
|
|
And
|
|
53.27
|
112.59
|
59.32
|
194.62
|
0.81
|
0.024
|
**
|
|
Including
|
|
60.98
|
71.00
|
10.02
|
32.87
|
1.14
|
0.033
|
**
|
|
Including
|
|
108.30
|
112.59
|
4.29
|
14.07
|
3.68
|
0.107
|
**
|
|
And
|
|
133.60
|
134.93
|
1.33
|
4.36
|
1.62
|
0.047
|
0.14
|
|
And
|
|
163.43
|
173.68
|
10.25
|
33.63
|
0.44
|
0.013
|
**
|
|
And
|
|
179.22
|
201.00
|
21.78
|
71.46
|
0.74
|
0.022
|
0.10
|
|
And
|
|
183.60
|
184.47
|
0.89
|
2.92
|
2.13
|
0.062
|
**
|
|
And
|
|
191.76
|
193.70
|
1.94
|
6.36
|
1.91
|
0.056
|
0.10
|
|
And
|
|
219.36
|
236.95
|
17.59
|
57.71
|
1.89
|
0.055
|
**
|
|
And
|
|
221.33
|
228.30
|
6.97
|
22.87
|
3.96
|
0.112
|
**
|
|
Test
mineralization in western Nucleus (379200E)
|
|
GRD09-137
|
344.43
|
5.50
|
8.75
|
3.25
|
10.66
|
0.75
|
0.022
|
**
|
|
GRD09-137
|
180/-60
|
30.68
|
48.06
|
17.38
|
57.02
|
0.68
|
0.020
|
**
|
|
Including
|
|
35.37
|
41.50
|
6.13
|
20.11
|
1.11
|
0.032
|
**
|
|
GRD09-137
|
|
95.65
|
96.80
|
1.15
|
3.77
|
1.35
|
0.039
|
**
|
|
GRD09-137
|
|
139.81
|
141.41
|
1.60
|
5.25
|
6.65
|
0.194
|
**
|
|
GRD09-137
|
|
186.98
|
242.65
|
55.67
|
182.64
|
0.52
|
0.015
|
0.24
|
|
Including
|
|
204.20
|
205.66
|
1.46
|
4.79
|
3.22
|
0.094
|
0.12
|
|
GRD09-139
|
295.66
|
29.10
|
35.50
|
6.40
|
21.00
|
1.26
|
0.037
|
**
|
|
Including
|
0/-50
|
33.20
|
34.40
|
1.20
|
3.94
|
4.22
|
0.123
|
**
|
|
GRD09-139
|
|
47.70
|
69.40
|
21.70
|
71.19
|
0.41
|
0.012
|
**
|
|
Including
|
|
62.00
|
64.00
|
2.00
|
6.56
|
1.20
|
0.036
|
**
|
|
GRD09-139
|
|
110.90
|
133.10
|
22.20
|
72.83
|
0.50
|
0.015
|
**
|
|
Including
|
|
124.95
|
126.20
|
1.25
|
4.10
|
2.51
|
0.073
|
**
|
|
GRD09-139
|
|
153.10
|
166.50
|
13.40
|
43.96
|
0.41
|
0.012
|
**
|
|
GRD09-139
|
|
173.80
|
188.00
|
14.20
|
46.59
|
0.51
|
0.015
|
**
|
|
Including
|
|
185.90
|
186.30
|
0.42
|
1.38
|
4.22
|
0.123
|
0.19
|
|
GRD09-139
|
|
236.80
|
255.20
|
18.40
|
60.37
|
1.00
|
0.029
|
**
|
|
Including
|
|
246.00
|
250.20
|
4.20
|
13.78
|
3.08
|
0.090
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To view maps go to www.northernfreegold.com
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