Astral Reports Drill Results From Jumping Josephine Gold Project Parallel Zone Identified
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/04/10 -- Astral Mining Corporation (TSX VENTURE: AA)(PINK SHEETS: AAMJF)(FRANKFURT: A7DA) ('Astral' or 'the Company') and Kootenay Gold Inc (TSX VENTURE: KTN) ('Kootenay') have received final assay results from 2010 drilling at the Jumping Josephine (JJ) Gold Project in southern British Columbia. A total of 5,054 metres of NQ and HQ diameter diamond core drilling was completed in 31 holes. Drilling has increased the known extent of the structure hosting the JJ Main gold discovery to 2.25km and identified an additional mineralized zone 300m northwest of JJ Main. The newly identified 'Cedar Prospect' is blind at surface and is a successful application of geophysics and geochemistry. All samples have been returned and results are summarized below, The Company is currently reviewing the data from JJ to plan future work on the project in addition to evaluating a number of other precious metal opportunities.
Drilling on the JJ Project in 2010 targeted three main areas around the JJ Main Gold Discovery: 1) the extension of the JJ Main structure/Highway showing; 2) JJ Main parallel zones northwest and southeast of known mineralization and 3) a single hole tested for a potential northerly plunge to the JJ Main zone. In addition three holes were drilled at the Big Sheep soil geochemical anomaly, 5km southwest of JJ Main. A map of the hole locations and full analytical highlights can be found at the following link;
http://www.astralmining.com/s/JumpingJosephineMaps.asp
JJ Main Extension - (10JD105,108-118, 133, 134), Mineralization at the JJ Main discovery zone is hosted within a structural zone known previously to be at least 900m long. New drilling confirms the structure extends for over 2km, suggesting that stockwork veining seen at the highway showing and JJ Main occur along the same structure. The 2010 drilling program stepped southwesterly along the structure, initially at 120m intervals, intersecting stockwork veining in all holes along the projected structure. Highlights include 2.98m averaging 1.35g/t (grammes per tonne) gold from 10JD113, 13.21m averaging 0.57g/t gold from 10JD114 and 11.56m averaging 0.42g/t gold from 10JD133. Analytical results from the 2010 wide-spaced drilling program confirm the strike extension of the mineralized structure and provide Astral a framework for targeting flexures and other structurally favourable targets along the trend.
Three holes (10JD119-121 for 416m) were drilled beneath the highway showing, two intersected anomalous gold values (see table) in a 5m wide weakly mineralized zone hosted by monzonitic intrusive rocks. Alteration is similar to that at JJ Main, characterized by seritcitization and gold values up to 5g/t from surface grab samples.
JJ Parallel Zones - (10JD106, 107, 117, 118, 128-132) - Two holes targeted the southeastern parallel zone (Ford Zone) intersected in 2008. Hole 10JD107 intersected quartz stockwork with arsenopyrite-pyrite returning 2m averaging 0.44g/t gold. Drilling on the northwestern parallel zone (Cedar Zone) targeted aeromagnetic and soil anomalies in an area of no outcrop. Results of 0.5m of 2.90g/t gold from 10JD117 and 1.73m averaging 1.60g/t gold from 10JD118 were returned from arsenopyrite/pyrite mineralized quartz stockwork and vein breccias, suggesting the presence of an additional JJ Main style zone on a parallel structure that does not outcrop at surface. The presence of newly-identified mineralization in this setting encourages drill testing of additional targets.
JJ North Plunge (10JD135) a single hole was drilled beneath the JJ Main showing and targeted a potential northerly plunging shoot. This hole intersected a broad zone of quartz veining over a downhole length of 53m from 146.2m. Within this broader zone of veining results include 0.99m of 0.48g/t gold and 3.88m of 0.34g/t gold.
Big Sheep - (10JD125-127 three NQ sized holes for 531m) Drilling at Big sheep targeted an arsenic/gold soil anomaly identified in 2009 and refined in 2010. To date results from one of the three holes are available with no significant intercepts.
Table 1: Analytical Highlights from 2010 JJ Drilling Program
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Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval Au (g/t)
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JJ Main Extension
10JD105 89.00 94.00 5.00 0.34
10JD108 192.54 195.91 3.37 0.61
10JD109 165.46 169.46 4.00 0.62
and 176.46 177.46 1.00 1.08
and 181.46 184.46 3.00 0.66
10JD110 236.48 239.48 3.00 0.57
10JD111 290.21 292.21 2.00 0.32
10JD112 no significant results
10JD113 72.82 75.80 2.98 1.35
10JD114 81.16 94.37 13.21 0.57
inc 81.16 82.16 1.00 1.16
inc 90.70 91.70 1.00 1.33
10JD122 no significant results
10JD123 106.50 110.33 3.83 0.41
10JD124 no significant results
10JD133 96.56 108.12 11.56 0.42
10JD134 78.44 81.2 2.76 0.53
Parallel - East of JJ Main (Ford)
10JD106 no significant results
10JD107 119.53 121.53 2 0.44
Parallel - West of JJ Main (Cedar)
10JD115 no significant results
10JD116 no significant results
10JD117 12.90 13.40 0.50 2.9
10JD118 14.77 16.50 1.73 1.6
10JD128 no significant results
10JD129 no significant results
10JD130 25.53 26.60 1.07 0.3
10JD131 no significant results
10JD132 33.68 34.70 1.02 0.35
Highway Showing
10JD119 51.19 52.19 1.00 0.36
10JD120 no significant results
10JD121 45.41 48.41 3.00 0.26
Big Sheep
10JD125 no significant results
10JD126 no significant results
10JD127 no significant results
JJ Main North Plunge
10JD135 183.42 184.41 0.99 0.48
and 190.68 194.56 3.88 0.34
The Company also completed 11 trenches totaling 646m at the Big Sheep, Highway, Hillside and Siren showings. No significant high-grade results were encountered and further work including expanded soil grids and surface rock sampling has now been completed on these prospects with the aim of defining additional drill targets.
The Jumping Josephine Gold Project is owned 60% by Astral Mining and 40% Kootenay Gold Incorporated (TSX VENTURE: KTN). Astral has entered into an agreement whereby it can earn 100% of the project (see news release dated January 22, 2010).
All samples taken during 2010 exploration program are submitted to Eco Tech Laboratory Ltd, Kamloops. Routine drill and rock analyses are run for a 30 gram fire assay for gold and multielement package, aqua-regia digest and ICPOES finish. Any drill core intersecting mineralized quartz stockwork may contain coarse gold and as such is run for 1000 gram metallic screen fire assay rather than standard fire assay for gold. Astral incorporates its own standards and blanks in the sample sequence as part of ongoing QA/QC control. Technical details contained in this news release have been reviewed by Dale Brittliffe, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and Astral's Exploration Manager.
Astral Mining Corporation is a Canadian company engaged in the exploration and development of precious metal properties in North America. By focusing on exploration in mining-friendly districts, the Company minimizes the political and social risks encountered in many other parts of the world. With a new gold discovery at the Company's Jumping Josephine Gold Project in Southern British Columbia and an experienced technical team and seasoned management, Astral is poised to leverage this expertise into early exploration success. Further details on Astral Mining Corporation and its high-quality portfolio of exploration projects can be found at www.astralmining.com.
Kootenay is an emerging exploration Company actively developing several mineral projects in the Sierra Madre Region of Mexico and in British Columbia, Canada. Numerous joint-venture partnerships maximize the potential for new discoveries. The Company's top priority remains the ongoing development of its Promontorio Silver project in Sonora State, northwest Mexico, which encompasses the former producing Promontorio Silver Mine. Further details on Kootenay Gold and its portfolio of exploration projects can be found at www.kootenaygold.ca.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Mr. Manfred Kurschner, President & CEO
Astral Mining Corporation
Cautionary Note to US Investors: This news release may contain information about adjacent properties on which we have no right to explore or mine. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
Shares outstanding - 16,305,400
2010 Number 19
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Astral Mining Corporation
Manfred Kurschner
President & CEO
604-641-1315
info@astralmining.com
www.astralmining.com