- Prospecting locates significant TREO values to 2.58%
- 7 of 20 samples > 1% TREO, associated with airborne Th radiometric anomalies
Bridgewater, NS, Canada - January 12, 2012 - Silver Spruce Resources Inc. (TSXV: SSE) is pleased to report exploration results from the RWM, 100% owned, rare earth element (REE) property, located along the southern extension of the Red Wine Mountains � Letitia Lake rare earth trend, in southern Labrador.
One day of helicopter-supported prospecting and geological mapping was carried out in early September by a five man crew, who took a total of 20 rock samples from a variety of lithologies using radioactivity as a guide for REE mineralization. No outcrop was noted.
Assay results indicate an average of 0.89% total rare earth oxides plus yttrium (TREO) with seven samples giving TREO values > 1 %, with a high of 2.58%. The samples are predominantly light rare earth oxide (LREO) enriched. Generally, samples > 1% TREO gave lower heavy rare earth oxide (HREO) percentages in the 5-15% range. Samples with lower TREO values (in the 0.4% range) give HREO percentages averaging 9.8%, with the highest at 56.5%. The five rock samples taken by Rare Earth Metals in 2010 (news release � Sept. 30, 2010) show similar values to those found during the SSE exploration. Although all samples are float boulders or subcrop (i.e. not in outcrop), the number of anomalous samples combined with the airborne radiometric survey showing significant Th anomalies (News Release Sept. 30, 2010), plus the second highest HREE anomaly located in government surveys in Labrador (News Release June 22, 2010), indicates that the area has significant potential for REE mineralization.
The exploration area is primarily boulder fields and eskers. The eastern side has a wide variety of boulder types, with the larger boulders comprised primarily of biotite-rich granitic gneiss with some small syenitic boulders noted. In the western area, where the airborne survey identified anomalous K, U and Th,
background total counts (TC) were elevated in the 300-400 counts per second (cps) range. Anomalous boulders are associated with biotite, pyroxene and mafic volcanics with biotite-rich gneissic boulders, giving elevated total count values up to 8000 cps. In the biotite-rich, granitic boulder areas, hand dug pits up to 60 cm deep gave anomalous TC readings up to 2000 cps.
All samples were transported to Activation Labs� preparation facility in Goose Bay by SSE personnel, then shipped to their laboratory in Ancaster, ON for analysis using their 8 REE package. The laboratory uses internal standards to check their analyses and blanks are included in each sample batch. Note that Silver Spruce is now reporting rare earth oxide (REO) values, whereas previous to this (2011 and earlier) all rare earth results were reported as rare earth elements (REEs) which give lower absolute values than REOs. A plan map of the property, showing the sample results and the airborne Th radiometric and magnetic data, are shown on the Silver Spruce website at www.silverspruceresources.com.
This release has been approved by Peter M. Dimmell, P.Geo., President and CEO of Silver Spruce Resources Inc., who is a Qualified Person (QP) in NL and ON as defined in National Instrument 43-101.
ABOUT SILVER SPRUCE
Silver Spruce is a diversified junior exploration company with a portfolio of rare earth (Pope�s Hill, Pope�s Hill JV (with Great Western Minerals Group), MRT, RWM, Straits), gold and silver (Big Easy), and uranium (CMBJV, Snegamook, Double Mer, Mount Benedict, Straits) projects in Newfoundland and Labrador. With interests in more than 4,000 claims totaling more than 1,000 square kilometers in Labrador, Silver Spruce is one of the largest landholders in one of the world's premier emerging rare earth and uranium districts.
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. The company seeks Safe Harbour.