MONTREAL, QUEBEC-(Feb. 5, 2009) -
Freewest Resources Canada (TSX VENTURE:FWR) (the "Company") is pleased to announce further diamond drilling results recently obtained from the Company's 100%-owned McFaulds property (the "Property"). The Property, consisting of 4 mineral claims or 1036 hectares, comprises one of three properties in which the Company is currently exploring, on its own and in strategic joint-ventures in the emerging "Ring of Fire" metal district. Specifically, this news release documents partial drilling results obtained from the Company's pre-Christmas drilling of the Black Thor chromite zone as well as a few holes that targeted low priority copper-nickel-platinum group element targets (PGE), situated stratigraphically below Black Thor (F2 target).
BLACK THOR CHROMITE DRILLING RESULTS: Drilling of the Black Thor chromite zone continues to generate exceptional widths of high-quality chromite mineralization believed to be of world-class caliber. Highlighting the recently received results is an intercept of 40.1% Cr2O3 (over a core length of 52.0) metres in drill hole BT-08-12. This higher grade section comprises part of a wider mineralized interval yielding 30.0% Cr2O3 (over an intersected length of 124.0) metres. A shallower drill hole completed on the same section (1000N), BT-08-11, returned an intercept of 25.8% Cr2O3 (over a core length) of 59.5 metres. Although the true widths of the mineralized intercepts are not conclusively known, the estimated true width of the chromite zones intersected in holes BT-08-11 and BT-08-12 are 45 metres and 75 metres, respectively. The detailed results of the above holes as well as those already reported for the Black Thor chromite zone are summarized in Table 1.
To date, the Black Thor chromite zone has been traced by drilling over an intermittent strike length of 1700 metres. It should be noted that the drill holes completed on sections 1000N (BT-08-11 & 12) and 2700N (BT-08-03 & 05) constitute the southwest and northeast extremities respectively, of what has currently been drilled along the trend of Black Thor. Mineralization remains completely open-ended along strike and to depth (See Map 1).
Chromite mineralization is hosted within a layered ultramafic intrusion consisting of variably altered dunite, peridotite and pyroxenite. Although several stacked horizons of chromite mineralization occur within the intrusion, the widest and best quality of the chromite zones, Black Thor, occurs near the top of the layered intrusion straddled by an underlying dunite/peridotite sequence and an overlying pyroxenite unit.
F2 TARGET DRILLING RESULTS: Four drill holes tested a lower priority nickel-copper-PGE target in the fall of 2008 (see Freewest news release of October 17, 2008). The target comprises a coincident conductor and magnetic high yielded by the VTEM airborne geophysical survey. Disseminated to blebby pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite as well as appreciable chromite were observed locally in the 4 drill holes completed, within disrupted ultramafic intrusive rocks. Partial assay results have been received for drill holes BT-08-6, 7 and 9 while all of the assays from BT-08-08 are currently pending.
Highlighting the results is a short interval of nickel-copper-PGE mineralization obtained in hole BT-08-09, yielding
3.60% nickel, 0.42% copper, 0.21 g/tonne platinum and 3.24 g/tonne palladium over 0.4 metres. An additional highlight is the significant chromite intercept contained in drill hole BT-08-06, returning 22.6% Cr2O3 (over 13.5) metres.. This chromite horizon conclusively demonstrates the presence of multiple stacked chromitites occurring within the ultramafic intrusion, in this case situated much lower in the intrusion relative to Black Thor (see Map 1).
The disrupted and fragmented nature of the intrusive rocks hosting mineralization at the F2 target resemble magmatic breccias, indicative of a dynamic or active environment. This is in contrast to the more quiescent environment characteristic of the intrusion hosting the Black Thor chromite occurrence. The nickel-copper sulphide clots and blebs seen within the magmatic breccias could possibly comprise part of a larger mass of sulphide occurring somewhere within the locale of the F2 target area. Alternatively, the interpreted high energy magmatic environment could indicate proximity to a feeder zone or conduit through which successive magmatic pulses fed the observed intrusions. Such an environment is believed to be highly prospective for concentrations of magmatic nickel sulphides such as at Noront's Eagle One deposit (J. Scoates pers.com.). Clearly, additional drilling is required at F2 to test these theories.
FREEWEST MOVING FORWARD: Diamond drilling continues to test the continuity, grade and extent of the Black Thor chromite zone utilizing 2 drill rigs. In-fill drilling within the currently defined 1700-metre long trend is being carried out at 200-metre centres with 2 drill holes completed at each set-up. The intent is to obtain chromite intersections at both the 100 and 200-metre levels. Step-out drilling to the southwest and northeast of the 1700-metre long chromite trend will also be completed on 200-metre centres as well in efforts to increase the mineral resource.
Numerous assays from drill testing of Black Thor are pending and will be released as they become available. A recently completed gravity survey delineated a strong, laterally continuous gravity anomaly closely correlating with the Black Thor chromite zone. The size and magnitude of the gravity anomaly is suggestive of the presence of a very large chromite deposit with a potential strike length of a minimum 3.5 kilometres. The gravity survey will assist in prioritizing drill targets along the trend of the Black Thor chromite zone in addition to the chromite horizons situated lower in the footwall.
The Company also intends on testing numerous nickel-copper-PGE targets situated in the footwall to the Black Thor chromite occurrence. The targets comprise discrete conductors, magnetic highs and gravity anomalies all contained within an area of strong conductivity defined by the VTEM airborne geophysical survey (see Map 2). A Crone Pulse EM survey was recently completed over the large conductive area to assist in fine-tuning the location of drill targets. A full interpretation of this survey should be forthcoming shortly enabling the onset of drilling such targets in the near term.
Maps 1 and 2 comprise part of this news release and are posted on the Freewest website at
http://www.freewest.com INDEPENDENT QUALITY CONTROL AND ANALYTICAL PROTOCOL: A thorough quality control program has been implemented for the McFaulds project including grouping samples into batches of 35 into which are added 2 certified reference material standards, 2 field blanks composed of barren drill core and a field duplicate. Coarse reject and pulp duplicates also form part of the Quality Control program. The Company is confident that all assays reported in this news release have passed rigorous control guidelines as set out by Freewest's independent Quality Control/Quality Assurance person.
All samples were submitted to Activation Labs (Actlabs) of Ancaster, Ontario for analyses. The samples were analyzed for multi-elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP analyses. Gold, platinum and palladium were assayed by the Fire Assay method on 30 grams of prepared sample. For higher grade chromium analyses (greater than 1%), the samples are analyzed by the Neutron Activation method wherein they are irradiated prior to final reading. This method yields analyses in percent for elemental chromium, Cr2O3 (and elemental iron. Additional) information on the analytical techniques employed can be accessed on the Actlabs website at www.actlabsint.com.
Donald Hoy, P. Geo. (Ontario),Vice President of Exploration and a Director of Freewest Resources Canada Inc. is the Qualified Person (under National Instrument 43-101) on the McFaulds project and is responsible for the preparation of this news release.
Freewest is a well-financed mineral exploration corporation with over C$8.0 million in working capital. It is actively exploring for gold, base-metals and chromite within eastern Canada. Corporate information can be accessed on the Internet at www.freewest.com. Freewest's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol FWR.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Freewest Resources Canada Inc.
Mackenzie I. Watson
President and CEO
(514) 878-3551 or 1-888-878-3551
Fax: (514) 878-4427
Email:
info@freewest.comWebsite:
http://www.freewest.com or
Bay Street Connect
Michael D'Amico
Investor Relations
(647) 500-6023
or
AGORACOM
Investor Relations
Email:
FWR@freewest.comWebsite:
http://agoracom.com/ir/freewest