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 (Vancouver, December 16, 2008) � West
Timmins Mining Inc. (WTM:TSX) (�WTM� or the �Company�) announced today that
the deepest hole to date on the Company�s Thunder Creek joint venture in
Timmins, Ontario has continued to expand the Rusk Gold Zone
returning an intercept of 11.20 g/t gold over 10.40 metres,
including a high-grade core of 25.99 g/t gold over 3.00 metres. The
high-grade intercepts occur within a broader gold mineralized zone which
returned 5.90 g/t gold over 26.35 metres. The results from
hole TC08-54, represent the widest high-grade gold intercept to date from
the Rusk Gold Zone and extend it an additional 160 metres down- plunge, to
over 400 metres. The zone remains open down-plunge and along strike.
The rapidly expanding
Rusk Gold Zone has similarities to the Timmins West deposit currently under
development by joint venture partner Lake Shore Gold (LSG:TSX) immediately
to the northeast. The Timmins West shaft is located less than 750
metres northeast of the latest Rusk Zone intercepts. The high grade
intercept in hole TC08-54 is located at the same depth as the top of the
best mineralized zone at Timmins West.
The following
previously announced drill intercepts, along with hole TC08-54, define the
high-grade core of the Rusk Gold Zone as outlined to-date.
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Hole Number
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Intercept (metres)
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Gold (g/t)
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TC07-36*
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7.00 metres
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24.61 g/t gold
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TC07-30*
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2.65 metres
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14.68 g/t gold
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And*
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3.10 metres
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12.01 g/t gold
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TC07-43*
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9.00 metres
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8.57 g/t gold
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TC07-41*
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2.05 metres
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8.52 g/t gold
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TC08-54
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10.40 metres
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11.20 g/t gold
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* Previously released, see NR�s 08-09,
07-41, 07-26; Due to uncertainties in zone
orientations, true widths are not known at this time. Assays reported are
uncut.
The gold mineralized
zone in hole TC08-54 displays a new and distinct style of gold
mineralization for the West Timmins area. The new sub-zone shares strong
similarities with the classic �Timmins� style of gold mineralization
associated with the multi-million ounce McIntyre and Dome mines, both of
which have been mined to vertical depths of over 1,500 metres in the heart
of the Timmins gold camp. Timmins is one of the world�s great gold camps �
preparing to mark its 100th anniversary of continuous high-grade gold
production.
�The Rusk Zone on WTM�s
Thunder Creek Property has the potential to extend much further at depth. For
the first time the West Timmins District is not only showing high grade
gold mineralization, but also all the classic hallmarks of the major mines
in the core of the Timmins camp� said Darin Wagner, President and CEO of
West Timmins Mining Inc. �We look forward to continuing to work with Lake
Shore Gold in determining how this important discovery might add a new
dimension to the underground development occurring immediately to the
north.�
The Thunder Creek
Property is a joint venture between the West Timmins Mining (40%) and
Lakeshore Gold (60%). The Thunder Creek joint venture is part of the
Company�s larger West Timmins Gold Project which covers over 114 square
kilometres of the West Timmins Gold District. WTM is continuing to drill on
its 100% owned Highway 144 Property located immediately south of, and along
strike from, the Thunder Creek Property and the Timmins West deposit.
Geological
Details
The high-grade
intercept in hole TC08-54 displays a distinct style of gold mineralization,
being hosted within a feldspar porphyritic syenite intrusion, which indicates
that it could represent the upper portion of a new gold trend sub-parallel
to the Rusk Zone. This new sub-zone is associated with anomalous molybdenum
and tungsten mineralization, a characteristic shared by several of the
larger gold deposits in the Timmins gold camp.
In total, the results
from nine holes were received and include results from several holes which
were drilled up-plunge of the shallowest intercepts of the Rusk Gold Zone. The
shallow holes show continuity of the Rusk Zone toward surface. The current
22,000 metre diamond drill program continues with additional results from 6
holes currently pending.
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Hole
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From
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To
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Length
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Gold
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Comments
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Number*
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(m)
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(m)
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(m)
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(g/t)
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TC08-51
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No significant results
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TC08-52
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179.10
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179.95
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0.85
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4.68
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Rusk (shallow level)
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185.95
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187.40
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1.45
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3.02
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Rusk (shallow level)
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200.00
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200.45
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0.45
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3.46
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Rusk (shallow level)
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TC08-53
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No significant results
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TC08-54
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608.50
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609.50
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1.00
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1.57
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Rusk
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621.75
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625.45
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3.70
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1.92
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Rusk
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644.10
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645.65
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1.55
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4.03
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Rusk
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657.65
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684.00
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26.35
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5.90
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Rusk/Porphyry Zone
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Incl
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666.40
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676.80
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10.40
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11.20
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Incl
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666.40
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669.40
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3.00
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25.99
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Incl
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672.25
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676.80
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4.55
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7.79
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TC08-55
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266.30
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266.60
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0.30
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5.06
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Rusk (shallow level)
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TC08-56
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231.35
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235.10
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3.75
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2.37
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Rusk (shallow level)
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Incl
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231.35
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231.65
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0.30
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18.20
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251.65
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259.00
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7.35
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1.34
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Rusk (shallow level)
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Incl
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258.50
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259.00
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0.50
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8.60
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TC08-57
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576.90
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577.20
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0.30
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5.67
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Rusk
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601.30
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602.20
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0.90
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12.54
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Rusk
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607.15
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607.65
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0.50
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5.74
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TC08-58
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110.55
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113.40
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2.85
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3.01
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Rusk (shallow level)
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|
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117.60
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117.90
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0.30
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3.15
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TC08-59
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No significant results
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* Due to uncertainties in zone orientations, true widths are not known
at this time. Assays reported are uncut.
The Rusk Gold Zone appears to represent a high-grade chute, within a
broad north-east trending mineralized corridor which plunges steeply to the
northwest. Like the nearby Timmins West deposit, the Rusk Gold Zone is
centred along the contact between the Thunder Creek alkalic intrusive
complex and sedimentary rocks located in the footwall to the complex. It is
characterized by very strong alteration and deformation, accompanied by
numerous ultramafic to felsic dykes, quartz-ankerite veining, and sulphide
mineralization. (See photos).
Quality Control
Mr. Jacques Samson (P.Geo.) is Lake Shore Gold�s qualified person for the
Thunder Creek Property. As QP, he has prepared or supervised the
preparation of the scientific or technical information for the property and
has verified the data disclosed in this press release. Mr. Darin Wagner
(P.Geo.), President and CEO of the Company, and QP for WTM has examined the
drill intercepts reported and the available quality control and analytical
data supplied by Lake Shore.
Lake Shore Gold employs a quality control program to ensure best practices
in the sampling and analysis of drill core. Assays have been completed
using a standard fire assay with a 30-gram aliquot. For samples that return
a value greater than three grams per tonne gold, another pulp is taken and
fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Zones with visible gold are tested
by pulp metallic analysis. NQ size drill core is saw cut and half the drill
core is sampled in standard intervals. The remaining half of the core is
stored in a secure location. The drill core is transported in
security-sealed bags for preparation at ALS Chemex Prep Lab located in
Timmins, Ontario, and the pulps shipped to ALS Chemex Assay Laboratory in
Vancouver, B.C. ALS Chemex is an ISO 9001-2000 registered laboratory
preparing for ISO 17025 certification.
About West Timmins Mining Inc. (www.westtimminsmining.com):
WTM is focussed on the exploration and development of district-scale
gold and related base metal projects in the major gold camps of North
America. The Company is in the midst of a multi-rig 22,000 metre drill
program targeting recently discovered high-grade gold mineralization on its
Thunder Creek Property in Timmins. WTM also has active gold
exploration projects in Mexico, highlighted by the Monta�a de Oro Project
in Sonora, Mexico and the high-grade Lluvia de Oro gold-silver Project in
Chihuahua, Mexico. West Timmins Mining is based in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
WTM.
On behalf of the Board of
West Timmins Mining Inc.
�Darin W. Wagner�
Darin W. Wagner
President and Chief Executive Officer
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For further information contact:
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John Toporowski, Manager, Investor Relations
West Timmins Mining Inc., Vancouver
Tel: (604) 685-8311 / Toll Free: (866) 685-8311
E-mail: jtoporowski@westtimminsmining.com
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The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the
accuracy or adequacy of this news release, which has been prepared by
management.
For further details on West Timmins Mining Inc. please refer to
prior disclosure at www.sedar.com. The
securities described in this press release have not been and will not be
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
under any U.S. state securities laws, and such securities may not be
offered or sold in the United States absent an exemption from such
registration requirements.
This
press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of
applicable Canadian and U.S. securities regulation, including statements
regarding the future activities of the Company. Forward looking
statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management and
are identified by the use of words including �will�, �expected to�,
�plans�, �planned� and other similar words. Actual results may differ
significantly. The achievement of the results expressed in forward
looking statements is subject to a number of risks, including those
described in the Company�s annual information form as filed with the
Canadian securities regulators which are available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon
forward looking statements.
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