N E W S R E L E A S E
AMANTA RESOURCES LTD.
TSX Venture Exchange: AMH
1080 - 789 West Pender St., Vancouver, BC V6C 1H2
Phone (604) 730-9505 Fax (604) 648-8096 info@amantaresources.com
January 16, 2008. Vancouver, Canada - Amanta Resources Ltd. TSX-V: AMH (Amanta) is pleased to report additional positive results from the recently completed drilling programme at the Company�s Mae Lama tungsten property.
The drilling programme was aimed at testing the extent of the main production vein (the Mae Lama vein) at the former tungsten mine and evaluating the potential for additional tungsten bearing vein structures throughout the Mae Lama property. The programme has led to the identification of a second mineralised vein system (now known as the Mae Hong Son vein system).
Ground checking over a wide �panned concentrate� tungsten-in-soil anomaly outlined in the 1970s by the Department of Mineral resources (DMR) reveals an extended zone of eluvial quartz rubble covering an area of about 300 x 500 meters south of the main Mae Lama vein. Shallow pitting shows that the quartz is related to a system of narrow veins and veinlets running approximately parallel with the general direction of the Mae Lama vein. Panning of the eluvial material produces abundant wolframite.
To evaluate this quartz vein system, the company drilled 7 reconnaissance holes, all inclined at 60�N, at varying distances from the projected western extension of the main Mae Lama vein. Several of these drill holes encountered significant tungsten mineralization in multiple veins and veinlets.
Hole MLM 011, which was drilled some 500 metres to the west and 100 metres to the south of the location of the former mine workings, has intersected a series of narrow veins, several of which are mineralised.
The more significant mineralised veins included a 35 cm wide vein which showed high grade tungsten mineralisation at a drilled depth of 60 metres. Assay results for this vein gave a value of 7.6 % WO3, over the vein width. Another intersection in this hole, approximately 5 metres above this intercept assayed at 1.8% WO3, over one metre.
Additionally, lower grade tungsten mineralisation, averaging 0.08% WO3, was discovered in the hole from the surface to a depth of 8 metres and other narrow veins were mineralised to varying degrees.
The following table summarises some of the more significant intercepts identified:
Hole# | Depth (m) | Easting | Northing |
|
| Intercept From - to (m) |
| % WO3 |
PMLM007 | 118.6 | 380350 | 1970830 |
|
| 25.00 � 25.15 |
| 1.550 |
| | | |
|
| 93.00 � 94.00 |
| 0.109 |
PMLM008 | 120.2 | 380350 | 1970780 |
|
| 69.80 � 70.00 |
| 1.360 |
PMLM009 | 139.6 | 380350 | 1970730 |
|
| 91.00 � 92.00 |
| 0.338 |
MLM011 | 202.6 | 380300 | 1970780 |
|
| 38.00 � 39.00 |
| 0.273 |
| | | |
|
| 55.00 � 56.00 |
| 1.670 |
| | | |
|
| 61.65 � 62.00 |
| 7.615 |
| | | |
|
| 107.00 � 108.00 |
| 0.185 |
| | | |
|
| 116.00 � 117.00 |
| 0.131 |
MLM006-1 | 202.6 | 380300 | 1970780 |
|
| 86.00 � 86.10 |
| 1.900 |
| | | | | | 130.80 � 130.90 |
| 4.250 |
The intercept in Hole MLM006-1, occurs on the northern side of the main Mae Lama vein, thus indicating that the Mae Lama vein system extends to the north of the former production vein.
Multiple tungsten and tin-tungsten vein systems have previously been discovered in the south-east Asian tin-tungsten granite belt, within which the Company�s tungsten properties lie. The best known example of this is the Hermyingyi mine in the Union of Myanmar (Burma). At this mine, close to 100 veins and veinlets were identified, of which some 40 were, at one time or another, mined. Annual production at the mine was up to 1,500 tons of tin-tungsten concentrates, from veins with average grades of 0.3% WO3. The Hermyingyi mine was the world�s largest producing tungsten mine in the early 20th century.
Amanta believes that continued drilling and underground sampling is needed to fully evaluate and understand the complete extent of the vein system, the scope of which is now beginning to emerge. A number of adits accessing the main Mae Lama vein and one accessing the Mae Hong Son vein have been discovered to date. Amanta will conduct underground rehabilitation and systematic sampling within these adits.
Mae Lama is one of three former producing tungsten mines in northern Thailand in which Amanta holds 100% working interests. Amanta is assessing the potential for the early resumption of production of tungsten concentrate, from one or more of these properties.
Sample preparation and assays were carried out at the MAS laboratory in Bangkok where the pulverized samples are digested with a strong three acid attack and analyzed by ICP methods.
Geological Information contained within this report has been verified by Pieter Bakker (Director, Executive VP � Amanta Resources Ltd.). Mr. Bakker satisfies the requirements of a Qualified Person as defined in the National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects).
Amanta Resources Ltd. is focused on mineral exploration, development and production in Thailand and the Southeast Asian region. The Company concentrates on the systematic evaluation of known mineral occurrences, rather than "greenfields" exploration, creating early opportunities to finance and develop mines.
on behalf of the board of
AMANTA RESOURCES LTD.
�Gerald D. Wright�
Gerald D. Wright,
President
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this News Release.
For more information please contact:
Amanta Resources Ltd. Patrick Cauley, Vice President & CFO Tel. : (604) 730-9505 Fax : (604) 648-8096 info@amantaresources.com www.amantaresources.com | Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Barry Mire : bmire@renmarkfinancial.com Neil Murray-Lyon: nmurraylyon@renmarkfinancial.com Tel.: (514) 939-3989 Fax: (514) 939-3717 www.renmarkfinancial.com |