Astral Samples 1m Grading 26.9g/t Gold and 3m Grading 649g/t Silver in Sinaloa, Mexico
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/11/11 -- Astral Mining Corporation (TSX VENTURE: AA)(TSX VENTURE: AA.WT)(PINK SHEETS: AAMJF)(FRANKFURT: A7DA) ('Astral' or the 'Company') has received analyses from due diligence rock chip sampling over key showings at the 4,168 hectare Los Crestones Property, located within the prolific Sierra Madre gold-silver belt 100 kilometres (km) north of the Sinaloa state capital, Culiacan, Mexico. Never drilled, the property hosts numerous mineralized showings and small scale workings and is prospective for vein and breccia-hosted low sulphidation epithermal gold and silver.
In November 2010, Astral geologists visited the property and collected a total of 18 representative chip samples from exposed veins and historical workings. Encouraging results include 1 metre (m) grading 26.9 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 56g/t silver from sample #986104, 3m grading 13.7g/t gold from #986107 and up to 649g/t silver from a three metre chip sample #986116. Analytical results for all 18 samples are tabulated below; all are chip samples collected over representative widths from epithermal vein and breccia outcrops.
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Sample Sample Sample
Sample No. Location Type (m) Rock Type Au(g/t)(i) Ag (g/t) Cu %
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986118 Barite Subcrop 3 Q-BariteV 0.22 4.6 0.003
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986104 Bohemia Chip 1 QV/Bx 26.9^ 56.1 1.96^
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986105 Bohemia chip 4 QV/Bx 0.01 4.5 0.061
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986106 Bohemia chip 7 QV/Bx 0.29 19.3 0.326
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986107 Bohemia chip 3 QV/Bx 13.7^ 9.0 0.199
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986108 Bohemia chip 3 QV/Bx 1.55 9.4 0.313
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986109 Bohemia chip 7 QV/Bx 0.04 9.4 0.357
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986113 Corona chip 10 QV/Bx 0.87 26.5 0.054
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986114 Corona channel 3 FeOx-Bx 5.30 3.0 0.003
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986115 Corona channel 3 FeOx-Bx 4.14 2.7 0.003
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986101 El Indio chip 5 QV/Bx 0.25 43.8 0.155
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986102 El Indio chip 3 QV/Bx 1.81 44.2 0.102
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986103 El Indio chip 10 Qtz-Ad 0.01 1.1 0.011
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986110 El Indio chip 5 QV/Bx 1.08 8.7 0.249
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986111 El Indio chip 3 QV/Bx 1.30 27.8 1.61^
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986112 El Indio chip 7 QV/Bx 0.01 0.5 0.012
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986116 El Indio chip 3 QV/Bx 0.08 649.0^ 0.708
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986117 El Indio chip 6 QV/Bx 0.03 6.3 0.249
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(i) all gold values have been converted to g/t from originally reported ppb
(parts per billion).
^ results of overlimit analyses, gold and silver reported in g/t, copper
converted to percent from originally reported g/t
President & CEO Manfred Kurschner comments, 'Based on these sampling results, Astral has decided to move forward with formalizing the purchase agreement with the property owners announced December 9th, 2010. With a framework of a cooperative agreement being finalized with the surrounding communities, we look forward to unlocking the potential of this exciting opportunity in an area with a rich endowment of gold and silver occurrences.'
Astral will immediately begin the process of acquiring the necessary environmental permits to begin road construction to gain access to the central part of the property with known gold-silver mineralization. In preparation for drilling in June 2011, the Company plans a follow-up detailed surface mapping in areas with known gold-silver mineralization, and regional geochemical sampling and surface mapping.
Mineralization at Los Crestones is observed in a series of north-south trending vein sets outcropping on both flanks of an east-west trending ridge in the southern half of the property - see maps available at www.astralmining.com/s/LosCrestones. Three obvious veins have been identified to date. Astral has named these 'Corona', 'Bohemia' and 'El Indio' and they are primary targets for initial exploration work. Veins and associated breccia zones are sub parallel, trending between 345 degrees and 360 degrees and dipping between 60-70 degrees to the east. Silicified breccia and vein material is often observed as erosion resistant ribs protruding from the hillside. Presently, the potential mineralized corridor is approximately 400m wide and close to 5km long as evidenced by historical surface sampling data which indicate additional mineralized veins along the trend up to 1.3km south and 3.6km north of the main showings visited by Astral in 2010.
Evidence of recent systematic sampling by third parties was observed. Local guides indicate that at least two phases of work were undertaken on the property, most recently in Summer 2010. Review of some of those third party sampling results indicates that Astral's chip sampling results are consistent with prior results.
Samples were collected by Astral's team at Los Crestones to provide representative indications of mineralization. Where possible, samples were collected as continuous chips over pre-determined lengths attempting to replicate historical data. Samples were labeled, bagged and shipped to Acme Laboratories' sample preparation facility in Guadalajara, Jalisco state where they were received and prepared for shipment to Acme's Vancouver laboratory for analysis. Samples were run for a multi-element suite by aqua regia digestion of 0.5 g charge with ICP-MS finish (method 1DX1) and a standard 30g fire assay for gold (method 3B01). Three samples returned over-limit (greater than 10g/t) gold or (greater than 100g/t) silver and were re-analysed by lead collection fire assay fusion with a gravimetric analysis (method G603 G612). Two samples returned over-limit (10,000g/t) copper and were re-analysed by method 7AX aqua regia digestion with ICP-ES/ICP-MS finish. Gold, Silver and Copper results are tabulated above.
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 the Americas. 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.
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.
2011 Number 1
Shares outstanding - 17,277,400
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Contacts:
Astral Mining Corporation
Manfred Kurschner
President & CEO
604-961-8881
mkurschner@astralmining.com
www.astralmining.com