09-20
Fronteer Development Group Inc. (FRG - TSX/NYSE Amex) is pleased to announce that Newmont USA Limited ("Newmont"), a subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation, has provided the results from a further 16 holes recently drilled as part of their 2009 US$5M work-program at the Sandman gold project in Nevada.
Drilling continues to focus on two gold deposits, Silica Ridge and Southeast Pediment, which are quickly emerging as a series of high-quality assets in an underexplored part of Nevada. These deposits, separated by six kilometres along the Sleeper Trend, already display compelling production attributes, including:
- High gold and silver grades, characteristic of productive epithermal vein systems;
- Wide intervals of mineralized wallrock surrounding the high grade vein networks;
- Oxidized and outcropping mineralization potentially amenable to heap-leaching and open-pit mining;
- Excellent surrounding infrastructure; and
- Located in the mining-friendly jurisdiction of Nevada.
At Silica Ridge, eight new drill holes have intersected oxidized gold mineralization, all within 40 metres of surface. Highlights include:
- 8.35 grams per tonne gold over 4.94 metres in NSM-104;
- 7.63 g/t over 10.18 metres, including 17.22 g/t over 3.90 metres in NSM-106; and
- 12.32 g/t over 3.75 metres (starting at surface) in NSM-109.
Wider intervals of lower grade mineralization were also intersected in numerous holes. Using a 0.3 g/t cut-off, these intervals include:
- 0.89 g/t over 17.59 metres in NSM-41; and
- 0.96 g/t over 23.01 metres in NSM-103.
Mineralization at Silica Ridge occurs over a 700x250m area, down to a vertical depth of at least 50 metres, and remains open in all directions.
"We continue to encounter near-surface, high-grade mineralization at Sandman. The significance of these results supports our recently completed priority analysis that ranks Sandman among Fronteer's highest quality assets in Nevada," says Troy Fierro, Fronteer Chief Operating Officer. "While many companies are reworking historic mining properties, Fronteer continues to define resources in undeveloped areas."
At Southeast Pediment, eight holes have intersected oxidized gold mineralization, all within 40 metres of surface. Highlights include:
- 3.91 g/t over 7.59 metres in NSM-56;
- 1.07 g/t over 10.21 metres in NSM-58; and
- 1.51 g/t over 13.05 metres in NSM-72.
The Southeast Pediment Deposit has only been tested to a vertical depth of 200 metres and remains open in all directions. Two nearby geophysical/geochemical anomalies have yet to be drill tested.
Newmont's ongoing 2009 work-program will provide the foundation for development activities. The overall objectives of the 2009 development program are to focus on the known deposits at Southeast Pediment and Silica Ridge and drill a combination of HQ and PQ core holes to:
- confirm the character of gold mineralization (size range of the gold);
- obtain bulk metallurgical material for mill grade and potential heap leach metallurgical tests;
- and improve the understanding of the geology and ore controls of the mineralization.
The 2009 exploration program will focus on finding additional mineralization along the known structural trends from two of the four existing gold resource areas, and also target new areas generated from geological mapping and the results of recent geophysical and geochemical surveys.
SANDMAN DRILL RESULTS
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
Au (g/t) |
Au (oz/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
Cut-off (g/t Au) |
Target Area |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-56 |
29.26 |
36.85 |
7.59 |
3.91 |
0.114 |
22.68 |
0.5 |
South East Pediment |
including |
32.86 |
34.32 |
1.46 |
14.35 |
0.419 |
27.91 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-58 |
29.32 |
39.53 |
10.21 |
1.07 |
0.031 |
15.29 |
0.3 |
South East Pediment |
including |
29.32 |
32.31 |
2.99 |
0.65 |
0.019 |
14.70 |
0.5 |
|
including |
34.44 |
37.09 |
2.65 |
1.82 |
0.053 |
18.49 |
0.5 |
|
including |
38.01 |
39.53 |
1.52 |
1.13 |
0.033 |
16.48 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-67 |
17.07 |
19.93 |
2.87 |
0.62 |
0.018 |
8.41 |
0.3 |
South East Pediment |
and |
24.90 |
27.98 |
3.08 |
0.64 |
0.019 |
12.01 |
0.3 |
|
including |
25.60 |
27.98 |
2.38 |
0.72 |
0.021 |
13.23 |
0.5 |
|
and |
30.94 |
35.20 |
4.27 |
2.11 |
0.062 |
7.80 |
0.5 |
|
including |
30.94 |
33.10 |
2.16 |
3.55 |
0.104 |
10.01 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-71 |
2.83 |
14.78 |
11.95 |
0.62 |
0.018 |
7.47 |
0.3 |
South East Pediment |
including |
8.66 |
12.56 |
3.90 |
1.05 |
0.031 |
6.42 |
0.5 |
|
and |
17.77 |
25.45 |
7.68 |
1.24 |
0.036 |
13.04 |
0.5 |
|
including |
23.93 |
25.45 |
1.52 |
2.80 |
0.082 |
20.09 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-72 |
9.85 |
12.19 |
2.35 |
0.81 |
0.024 |
6.35 |
0.5 |
South East Pediment |
and |
14.48 |
27.52 |
13.05 |
1.51 |
0.044 |
14.78 |
0.3 |
|
including |
16.86 |
26.15 |
9.30 |
2.00 |
0.058 |
19.36 |
0.5 |
|
including |
22.04 |
24.99 |
2.96 |
4.41 |
0.129 |
27.98 |
2.0 |
|
and |
39.62 |
47.52 |
7.89 |
0.47 |
0.014 |
1.90 |
0.3 |
|
including |
39.62 |
42.76 |
3.14 |
0.57 |
0.017 |
3.30 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-73 |
7.74 |
9.33 |
1.59 |
0.54 |
0.016 |
1.41 |
0.3 |
South East Pediment |
including |
7.74 |
8.75 |
1.01 |
0.67 |
0.019 |
0.89 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-78 |
32.31 |
33.19 |
0.88 |
0.57 |
0.017 |
4.39 |
0.5 |
South East Pediment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-80 |
74.92 |
76.54 |
1.62 |
0.99 |
0.029 |
1.10 |
0.5 |
South East Pediment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-37 |
12.34 |
20.21 |
7.86 |
0.83 |
0.024 |
8.72 |
0.3 |
Silica Ridge |
including |
12.34 |
17.37 |
5.03 |
1.09 |
0.032 |
10.49 |
0.5 |
|
and including |
16.40 |
17.37 |
0.98 |
2.19 |
0.064 |
5.21 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-41 |
4.45 |
22.04 |
17.59 |
0.89 |
0.026 |
8.81 |
0.3 |
Silica Ridge |
including |
4.45 |
12.80 |
8.35 |
1.00 |
0.029 |
7.50 |
0.5 |
|
including |
14.17 |
17.89 |
3.72 |
1.34 |
0.039 |
15.16 |
0.5 |
|
and including |
14.17 |
14.84 |
0.67 |
3.64 |
0.106 |
22.70 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-103 |
0.00 |
23.01 |
23.01 |
0.96 |
0.028 |
62.53 |
0.3 |
Silica Ridge |
including |
0.00 |
6.61 |
6.61 |
1.32 |
0.039 |
98.69 |
0.5 |
|
and including |
5.55 |
6.13 |
0.58 |
2.22 |
0.065 |
173.69 |
2.0 |
|
including |
7.56 |
18.29 |
10.73 |
1.00 |
0.029 |
57.73 |
0.5 |
|
including |
19.17 |
21.49 |
2.32 |
0.57 |
0.017 |
28.34 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-104 |
4.66 |
14.87 |
10.21 |
4.48 |
0.131 |
39.52 |
0.3 |
Silica Ridge |
including |
6.83 |
11.77 |
4.94 |
8.35 |
0.244 |
57.29 |
2.0 |
|
including |
13.78 |
14.87 |
1.10 |
2.31 |
0.067 |
30.89 |
2.0 |
|
and |
15.33 |
18.59 |
3.26 |
0.86 |
0.025 |
37.55 |
0.5 |
|
and |
19.75 |
21.79 |
2.04 |
0.61 |
0.018 |
10.99 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-105 |
0.00 |
7.99 |
7.99 |
2.03 |
0.059 |
46.49 |
0.5 |
Silica Ridge |
including |
4.54 |
6.10 |
1.55 |
3.78 |
0.110 |
40.01 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-106 |
38.86 |
49.04 |
10.18 |
7.63 |
0.223 |
44.62 |
0.5 |
Silica Ridge |
including |
38.86 |
41.73 |
2.87 |
2.68 |
0.078 |
10.91 |
2.0 |
|
and including |
42.73 |
46.63 |
3.90 |
17.22 |
0.502 |
77.25 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-108 |
0.00 |
2.87 |
2.87 |
2.26 |
0.066 |
8.26 |
0.5 |
Silica Ridge |
including |
0.00 |
1.34 |
1.34 |
2.77 |
0.081 |
7.51 |
2.0 |
|
and |
20.48 |
27.77 |
7.28 |
1.22 |
0.036 |
56.51 |
0.5 |
|
and |
28.59 |
36.30 |
7.71 |
0.72 |
0.021 |
21.84 |
0.3 |
|
including |
29.54 |
31.76 |
2.23 |
1.06 |
0.031 |
46.12 |
0.5 |
|
including |
32.55 |
36.30 |
3.75 |
0.64 |
0.019 |
6.51 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSM-109 |
0.00 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
12.32 |
0.359 |
19.78 |
2.0 |
Silica Ridge |
and |
6.71 |
7.56 |
0.85 |
2.64 |
0.077 |
56.58 |
2.0 |
|
and |
8.66 |
13.78 |
5.12 |
1.46 |
0.043 |
35.63 |
0.3 |
|
including |
8.66 |
12.01 |
3.35 |
2.00 |
0.058 |
44.18 |
0.5 |
|
and including |
9.85 |
12.01 |
2.16 |
2.72 |
0.079 |
56.58 |
2.0 |
|
and |
20.33 |
33.86 |
13.53 |
0.65 |
0.019 |
27.69 |
0.3 |
|
including |
20.33 |
25.79 |
5.46 |
0.80 |
0.023 |
30.16 |
0.5 |
|
including |
26.82 |
27.74 |
0.91 |
0.50 |
0.015 |
22.70 |
0.5 |
|
including |
28.90 |
30.14 |
1.25 |
0.61 |
0.018 |
37.61 |
0.5 |
|
including |
31.36 |
33.86 |
2.50 |
0.65 |
0.019 |
23.33 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: The true width of the mineralizedzones is estimated to be approximately 90% of those stated. Primary compositeintervals were calculated using a cut-off of 0.3 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 2.0 g/tAu for the higher grade internal intervals. No gold values below the 0.30g/t Au cut-off were included as internal dilution. The lower 0.3 g/t cut off isused to conform with the 43-101 compliant resources previously calculated onthe Sandman Project.
Assays results are currently remaining for an additional 19 holes from the 2009 Phase 1 program completed on April 17, 2009.
Under the terms of the Sandman option and joint-venture agreement, Newmont can earn an initial 51% interest in the project by making a positive production decision by June 2011, spending a minimum of US$14 million on exploration and development, making a commitment to fund and construct a mine, and completing a feasibility study. Thereafter, Newmont may earn an additional 9% interest in Sandman by spending a further US$9 million on development. Fronteer can elect to have Newmont arrange financing for its 40% of ongoing development costs in the joint venture.
Drill samples and analytical data for the Sandman project are being collected under the supervision of Newmont, Fronteer's joint venture partner and project operator, using industry standard QA-QC protocols. Fronteer's James Ashton P.E., who is the QP responsible for compiling the data contained in this release, has not verified the data; however, the grades and widths reported here agree well with the Company's past results on the project and correspondence with the operator has given him no reason to doubt their authenticity. For further details on Sandman, please view the technical report prepared by Mine Development Associates ("MDA"), as of May 31, 2007, on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. Sandman, Long Canyon and Northumberland are currently Fronteer's leading properties among its large portfolio of gold projects in Nevada.
For more information on Sandman and Fronteer's other Nevada projects, visit: http://www.fronteergroup.com/?q=content/nevada
ABOUT FRONTEER Fronteer is an exploration and development company with three key gold projects in Nevada forming its platform for future gold production. Fronteer also has a 40% interest in three gold and copper-gold projects in western Turkey, and 100% ownership of Aurora Energy Resources, a private subsidiary advancing a world-class uranium district in Labrador, Canada. For further information on Fronteer visit www.fronteergroup.com or contact:
Mark O'Dea, Ph.D, P.Geo President and CEO Richard Moritz, Director, Investor Relations Glen Edwards, Director, Communications Phone 604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677 info@fronteergroup.com
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of mineralized zone, and size of exploration program involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Fronteer to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint ventures , the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of ore reserves and mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold and silver, environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labor and employment matters, and government regulation and permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Fronteer's Annual Information form and Fronteer's latest Form 40-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Fronteer has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Fronteer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements
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