Messina Minerals Inc. Prospecting Results at York Harbour, NL by 24hgold

Keywords : Canada | Cobalt |

Re: News Releases - Thursday, July 16, 2009
Title: Messina Minerals Inc. Announces Prospecting Results at York Harbour, NL

P R E S S R E L E A S E

July 16, 2009

Messina Minerals Inc. Prospecting Results at York Harbour, NL

Vancouver, BC, July 16, 2009 - Messina Minerals Inc. (TSX-V:MMI) has received assay results from surface sampling on the York Harbour Property located in western Newfoundland, Canada. Messina may earn a 100% interest in the York Harbour Property by expending $1 million in exploration by July 2014.

The objective of the initial reconnaissance program was twofold: to sample the types of copper-zinc mineralization historically described to occur within the York Harbour Mine workings, and to inspect the condition of and survey the location of the historic A Zone shaft, 4th Level adit, and Sea-Level adit portals into the York Harbour Mine.

Summary
The original outcropping A Zone lens was 'rediscovered' after being covered by debris for 100 years. Five A Zone samples assayed between 10.4% and 19.7% copper, with up to 0.15% cobalt. The discovery of economically interesting amounts of cobalt is the first time this has been documented.

A total of eighteen samples were collected at the York Harbour mine site. Nine of eighteen samples assayed at least 8.3% copper up to 19.7% copper. Six of eighteen samples collected assayed at least 7.0% zinc up to 34.2% zinc.

The initial assay survey of mineralization types indicates there is mineralization at York Harbour that could conceptually be classified as 'direct shipping' ore.

The Sea Level adit portal is in excellent condition and is easily accessible. The adit extends some 800 meters from the portal towards the York Harbour Mine workings at an elevation approximately 200 meters below the main 4th Level adit of the York Harbour Mine. The adit is an important asset that may be useful for future underground exploration or development programs.

Work Results
Compilation of underground exploration and development results at the York Harbour Mine continues. The compilation indicates the York Harbour Mine was developed on a series of near-surface copper-zinc massive sulphide lenses, the "A" to "J" Zone lenses inclusive. Mining activities up to 1913 extracted about 30,000 to 70,000 tonnes from the A Zone as 'direct shipping' copper ore. Part of the A Zone, and all of the B through J Zone lenses reportedly remain in place.

Six samples representing the York Harbour "A Zone" massive sulphide lens were collected. Five of the six samples were from outcropping A Zone sulphides over an approximate 50 meter length; the sixth sample was collected from an ore dump. The outcropping A Zone mineralization had been buried in the initial circa 1900 mining phase and has only recently been re-exposed. Five of six A Zone samples were of massive sulphides (Code "5ms_bm") and assayed between 10.4% to 19.7% copper, with 14 g/t to 27 g/t silver, and 0.05% to 0.15% cobalt. The sixth A Zone sample was collected from outcropping semi-massive sulphides (Code "5sms_bm") and assayed 3.2% copper, 3 g/t silver, and 0.13% cobalt. The discovery of economically interesting amounts of cobalt is the first time this has been documented. Assay results for all samples collected from the A Zone are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: A Zone assay results

Zone	Sample ID	Code	Type	Cu %	Zn %	Ag g/t	Co %
A Zone	79593	5ms_bm	float	19.7	0.6	16	0.12
A Zone	79594	5sms_bm	outcrop	3.2	0.1	3	0.13
A Zone	79595	5ms_bm	outcrop	17.4	0.1	17	0.09
A Zone	79596	5ms_bm	outcrop	13.4	0.4	14	0.15
A Zone	79597	5ms_bm	outcrop	16.0	0.8	27	0.05
A Zone	79598	5ms_bm	outcrop	10.4	0.1	18	0.10

An additional twelve samples were collected from three areas used historically as ore dumps. The samples contain massive sulphides or stockwork sulphides within chloritic alteration. The samples represent material from one or more of the "B" through "J" Zone lenses. The samples assayed 0.5 to 12.3% copper, 1.8% to 34.2% zinc, 3.0 g/t to 108.1 g/t silver, and 0.1 g/t to 0.3 g/t gold. All assays are listed in Table 2.

These twelve samples can be divided into classes based on metal content: copper-enriched, zinc-enriched, and stockwork. Selected assays for each type of mineralization include: 12.3% copper, 1.8% zinc, 36 g/t silver for 'copper-enriched'; 3.2% copper, 34.2% zinc, 28 g/t silver for 'zinc-enriched'; and 0.7% copper, 2.3% zinc, 23 g/t silver for 'stockwork'.

Table 2: B to J Zone assay results

Zone	Sample ID	Code	Type	Cu %	Zn %	Ag g/t	Au g/t
B-J Zone	79582	5ms_bm	float	0.6	14.9	59	0.24
B-J Zone	79583	5ms_bm	float	12.3	1.8	36	0.16
B-J Zone	79584	5ms_bm	float	12.3	3.7	23	0.11
B-J Zone	79585	5ms_bm	float	1.5	7.0	40	0.14
B-J Zone	79586	5ms_bm	float	0.5	11.3	7	0.22
B-J Zone	79587	5ms_bm	float	9.1	3.6	108	0.28
B-J Zone	79588	5ms_bm	float	8.3	23.2	20	0.06
B-J Zone	79589	5ms_bm	float	3.2	34.2	28	0.23
B-J Zone	79590	5ms_bm	float	0.6	3.9	12	0.16
B-J Zone	79591	5ms_bm	float	0.7	2.3	23	0.34
B-J Zone	79592	5ms_bm	float	3.5	2.4	17	0.23
B-J Zone	79599	5ms_bm	float	1.2	7.3	3	0.01

The initial assay survey of mineralization types indicates there is mineralization at York Harbour that could conceptually be classified as 'direct shipping' ore.

A survey of the condition of the York Harbour Mine portals found that the Sea Level adit portal is in excellent condition and is easily accessible. The adit extends some 800 meters from the portal towards the York Harbour Mine workings at an elevation approximately 200 meters below the main 4th Level adit of the York Harbour Mine. The 4th Level adit and A Zone shaft have been closed and backfilled recently by the Newfoundland government and are no longer accessible. A cross-section of the location of the York Harbour Mine workings will be posted on our website.

On-going Work
Prospecting and mapping programs are underway with the objective of determining a regional geological model for mineralization. Compilation of underground geology and assay records continues with the objective of determining local controls to mineralization and identifying drill targets around the copper-zinc sulphide lenses. The overall objective is to identify initial drill targets on the property in the latter part of 2009.

History
The York Harbour Property covers the past-producing York Harbour copper-gold mine and approximately 4 kilometers of underexplored strike length. The York Harbour mine produced copper and gold between 1898 and 1913; the underground workings were last refurbished and permitted for underground development in 1977.

The mineralization at York Harbour is described as ophiolite-hosted "Cyprus-type". Mineralization of this style is widespread in the ophiolitic rocks of western Newfoundland and includes more than 175 showings and 14 past-producing copper deposits. The York Harbour property also lies approximately 100 km northwest of Messina's "Boomerang" deposit on the Tulks South Property.

Sample Protocols
All samples were photographed, then split with a Diamond saw and the flat portion photographed again. All samples were tested using a magnetic susceptibility meter. Half-samples were submitted to Eastern Analytical of Springdale, NF for analysis, and a half-sample was retained as hand specimen for inspection. All samples were assayed for gold by fire assay -- atomic absorption finish. All samples were also analyzed for 32 elements including base metals, silver, cobalt, and others by ICP (inductively coupled plasma). 'Over-limit' results using the ICP method were analyzed by assay techniques standard to that element. Pulps and coarse rejects from these samples have been retained. Messina uses protocols standard to the industry and professional QA/QC procedures for assaying including the use of standards, blanks, and duplicates, the retention of pulps and coarse rejects, the maintenance of chain-of-custody, and the use of duplicate labs and error-checking among other procedures.

About Messina
Messina Minerals Inc. is exploring for zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold massive sulphide deposits in central Newfoundland, Canada on its extensive 410 square kilometer mineral lands, in a region known historically for its zinc resources and where the Company has made massive sulphide discoveries including "Boomerang" and "Domino". See our website for more information.

Kerry Sparkes, P.Geo., Vice President of Messina Minerals Inc. is the Qualified Person responsible for exploration on the Company's properties in central Newfoundland and who has reviewed and is responsible for the technical data contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
MESSINA MINERALS INC.

"Peter Tallman"

President

Neither 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.

For further information please contact:
Peter Tallman, President
(604)688-1508 Fax: (604) 601-8253
Email: info@messinaminerals.com
Website: www.messinaminerals.com

Copyright � 2009 MESSINA MINERALS INC. (MMI) All rights reserved. For more information visit our website at http://www.messinaminerals.com/ or send email to info@messinaminerals.com ..
Message sent on Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 10:12:21 AM Pacific Time

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