| September 19, 2011 |
| Northern Abitibi Mining Corp.: New Zones of Gold Mineralization Discovered at Surface at Viking With Values Including 12.1 Grams Per Tonne Gold (g/t) and 5.5 g/t Gold Over 1.3 Metres |
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Sept. 19, 2011) - Northern Abitibi Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE:NAI) ("Northern Abitibi") is pleased to provide additional trenching results from the Viking gold property in Newfoundland, along with assay results for drill holes 122, 123, 127 and 128.
Trenching Program
Trenching and prospecting at the end of the 2011 field program have resulted in the discovery of 3 new zones of mineralization. A grab sample from a large boulder of altered granite from the northeast end of the Viking trend has returned 12.1 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. This result is on trend with previously released high grade samples, including 9.9 g/t gold and 52 g/t silver over 1.4 metres, and verifies the presence and continuity of high grade mineralization in the northern part of the Viking Trend. These samples are from a newly outlined zone of alteration which is distinct from the Thor Trend and which has now been outlined at surface over an area roughly 1300 metres long by 150 metres wide.
Trenching of an induced polarization geophysical anomaly in the central part of the Viking property has encountered a high grade zone grading 5.5 g/t gold over 1.3 metres. This mineralized zone occurs within a larger 50 metre wide zone of pyrite-bearing alteration containing gold values ranging from trace to 1.9 g/t.
Prospecting has discovered a new area of mineralization located 100 metres north-northeast of the Asgard trend near the eastern edge of the claim block. This zone is interpreted to represent the northern continuation of the Asgard trend. Sericite altered and pyritic-quartz veined granite has been found and sampling of outcrop from the zone has returned gold values up to 1.3 g/t opening up a new zone for further work.
Drilling Program
Holes 122 and 123 are the final 2 holes drilled into the Thor Trend and targeted the northern extension of the zone. Hole 122 encountered anomalous gold from 104 to 154 metres depth including 9.3 metres grading 0.8 g/t gold. Hole 123 encountered anomalous gold from 114 to 167 metres depth including an 18 metre zone grading 0.5 g/t gold from 147.5 to 165.5 metres. Holes 122 and 123 have extended the Thor Trend another 50 metres to the north and show that the zone is still open to the north and at depth.
Hole 127 tested an induced polarization chargeability anomaly in a mostly covered zone in the central part of the Viking property. The recently completed geophysical survey has defined this chargeability anomaly over a strike length exceeding 1000 metres, with widths up to 100 metres, and to date it has only been tested with one drill hole. Hole 127 intersected altered pyritic intrusive rocks with anomalous gold mineralization from 39.7 to 162.1 metres depth, including 11.8 metres grading 0.2 g/t gold from 43.2 to 55 metres depth and 47.5 metres grading 0.2 g/t gold from 85 to 132.5 metres depth. The highest interval in the hole returned 0.9 g/t gold over 0.85 metres. This is the first drill test of this large anomaly, and initial results are encouraging, demonstrating the zone contains significant gold anomalies and that further exploration of the zone is warranted. This zone is one of several chargeability anomalies identified during the recent geophysical survey.
Hole 128 tested a portion of Thor's Cross near the southern part of the Thor Trend, and intersected anomalous gold with values up to 0.2 g/t. Results from holes 122, 123, and 127 are summarized in the table below.
Summary of select drill intercepts - Viking Project
------------------------------------------------------
Drill Hole Width
From (m) To (m) (m)(i) Au g/t
------------------------------------------------------
Hole 122 143.0 152.3 9.3 0.8
------------------------------------------------------
including 149.5 150.6 1.1 3.2
------------------------------------------------------
Hole 123 147.5 165.5 18.0 0.5
------------------------------------------------------
including 147.5 150.5 3.0 1.3
------------------------------------------------------
Hole 127 43.2 55.0 11.8 0.2
------------------------------------------------------
Hole 127 85.0 132.5 47.5 0.2
------------------------------------------------------
(i)The true widths of the mineralized intercepts have not been determined.
Program Update - The 2011 exploration program at Viking is now complete. A total of 4698.2 metres of drilling in 25 holes have been drilled during the program. Preliminary results of an induced polarization geophysical survey have been received and show several new geophysical targets that remain to be explored. Results of the geophysical survey will be released once they have been finalized by the geophysical contractor.
Samples from holes 124, 125, and 126, drilled into the northern part of the Viking Trend, have been submitted for a 4-acid digestion procedure including tellurium analyses. The final assay results for these holes are expected within the next few weeks and will be released once they have been received and compiled.
The Viking Property - The Viking Property contains numerous high grade veins within larger bulk tonnage style zones of gold mineralization located within a 3 to 4 kilometre long gold-in-soil anomaly. Drilling highlights include high grade intercepts of 5.75 metres grading 33.7 g/t gold, 3.7 metres grading 50.1 g/t gold, 0.5 metres grading 218.8 g/t gold as well as lower grade intercepts including 27 metres grading 7.9 g/t gold, 23.0 metres grading 5.1 g/t gold, and 57.4 metres grading 2.8 g/t gold. The Thor Trend contains an uncut Inferred Mineral Resource containing 6,293,000 tonnes grading 0.65 gold (131,511 ounces of gold), is located in the mining friendly jurisdiction of Newfoundland and Labrador, and has excellent access and local infrastructure, with a paved highway and power line located less than one kilometre from the project. Northern Abitibi has a 100% property interest in the Viking project subject to a 2% to 4% sliding scale net smelter royalty held by Altius Resources. A detailed description of the Viking project is available on our website (www.naminco.ca).
Quality Control - All drill core is logged, photographed, and cut in half with a diamond saw. Half of the core is bagged and sent to Eastern Analytical for analyses while the other half is archived and stored on site for verification and reference purposes. Gold is assayed by standard fire assay methods with additional elements analyzed by Induced Coupled Plasma (ICP). Samples with greater than 5 g/t gold and samples containing visible gold are re-assayed using a metallic sieve procedure to reduce the nugget effect created by free gold particles in the samples.
Duplicate samples, blanks, and certified standards are included with every sample batch and then checked to ensure proper quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC). Select samples are also sent to an outside laboratory for independent analyses as part of a check assay procedure.
Northern Abitibi - Northern Abitibi's technical team of experienced, professional geologists is committed to assembling and advancing a portfolio of gold and base metal projects from opportunities within Canada, Mexico and the United States. Northern Abitibi is focused on identifying high potential North American projects and exploring and developing them in a responsible and cost-effective manner.
Dr. Shane Ebert, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person responsible for the preparation of this news release.
Shane Ebert, President/Director
Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "expects", "projects", "plans", "anticipates" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of Northern Abitibi's internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of Northern Abitibi. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Northern Abitibi's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those described in Northern Abitibi's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of Northern Abitibi shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. Northern Abitibi disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements.
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. | |