Aura Minerals Releases Additional Assay Results for the Copper-Gold-Silver Aranzazu Mine in Mexico
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/10/11 -- Aura Minerals Inc. ('Aura Minerals' or the 'Company') (TSX: ORA) is pleased to release an additional 20 drill holes from the ongoing infill and extension drilling program at its wholly-owned copper-gold-silver Aranzazu Mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico. These results consist of assays from drilling, which targeted the following:
-- zones southeast along strike from the Glory Hole Zone to the Cabrestante
Zone;
-- deeper drilling to further test for down-dip extensions; and
-- the new Zona-CC to the south of the Cabrestante Zone.
Assay results from additional drill holes targeting Zona-CC are also pending. Zona-CC has not been included in any resource calculation to date.
Of the 18 reported drill holes, 14 have intercepts of greater than 1.0% copper with significant gold and silver values. Holes AZC-101, AZC-102 and AZC-128, highlighted below, targeted deeper down-dip extensions of known mineralization.
Hole AZC-219 from Zona-CC is a follow-up to the first reported intersection from drill hole AZC-179 from this zone (see News Release no. 2010-24 dated November 22, 2010), which returned 45.0 metres of 1.05% Cu, 0.86 g/t Au and 28.83 g/t Ag. This new hole highlights the possible high-grade nature of Zona-CC and the potential for this zone to grow the overall resource base at the Aranzazu Mine.
Highlights include (see Table 1 and Maps 1 and 2: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ora29.pdf):
- Hole AZC-101, which returned 12.0 metres of 3.72% Cu, 1.33 g/t Au and 51.30 g/t Ag;
- Hole AZC-102, which returned 54.0 metres of 2.80% Cu, 0.62 g/t Au and 12.50 g/t Ag;
- Hole AZC-103, which returned 18.0 metres of 2.26% Cu, 3.27 g/t Au and 29.00 g/t Ag;
- Hole AZC-108, which returned 19.5 metres of 2.20% Cu, 4.57 g/t Au and 24.70 g/t Ag;
- Hole AZC-111, which returned 7.6 metres of 1.13% Cu, 1.22 g/t Au and 15.00 g/t Ag and 15.0 metres of 1.10% Cu, 0.92 g/t Au and 9.80 g/t Ag;
- Hole AZC-128, which returned 24.0 metres of 1.21% Cu, 0.97 g/t Au and 12.00 g/t Ag;
- Hole AZC-133, which returned 12.0 metres of 1.70% Cu, 1.39 g/t Au and 18.50 g/t Ag;
- Hole AZC-214, which returned 24.4 metres of 1.66% Cu, 1.25 g/t Au and 27.80 g/t Ag; and
- Zona CC Hole AZC-219, which returned 13.7 metres of 1.53% Cu, 0.66 g/t Au and 47.40 g/t Ag.
One rig continues to drill along strike, with a focus on the area from the Glory Hole Zone to Zona-CC.
Additional results from the deep drill program are pending and are expected to be released later this quarter.
Commenting on these results, Mr. Patrick Downey, President and CEO of Aura Minerals, stated, 'We continue to receive exceptional drill intercepts at the Aranzazu Mine. We are now expanding the resource along strike and at depth. Zona-CC was discovered late in 2010 and we continue to believe that further drilling on this zone could add significant high-grade tonnes to the resource and this area is wide open to another new zone called the Esperanza target. These zones will likely form part of our plans for project expansion as they are along strike and could likely be accessed by a new adit from the open pit which is currently being mined.'
Table 1 - Aranzazu Assays (see Maps 1 and 2:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ora29.pdf)
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Inter-
Azim- val Cu
uth Dip From To (1) (2)
(degr- (degr- (met- (met- (met- (4) Au (3) Ag (4)
Hole # East North ees) ees) res) res) res) (%) (g/t) (g/t)
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AZC-101 253964 2724234 213 -62 283.5 286.5 3.0 1.80 0.75 13.30
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AZC-101 253964 2724234 213 -62 318.0 330.0 12.0 3.72 1.33 51.30
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AZC-102 253902 2724277 212 -61 114.0 117.0 3.0 1.48 0.11 13.70
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AZC-102 253902 2724277 212 -61 294.0 348.0 54.0 2.80 0.62 12.50
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AZC-103 254098 2724110 208 -62 45.0 51.0 6.0 0.73 0.16 17.90
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AZC-103 254098 2724110 208 -62 202.5 220.5 18.0 2.26 3.27 29.00
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AZC-105 253902 2724277 212 -67 319.5 324.0 4.5 0.56 0.27 7.30
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AZC-105 253902 2724277 212 -67 336.0 340.5 4.5 0.53 0.29 6.00
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AZC-105 253902 2724277 212 -67 364.5 369.0 4.5 0.81 0.49 17.30
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AZC-106 254097 2724110 210 -54 177.0 184.5 7.5 1.16 0.98 11.20
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AZC-108 254119 2724203 211 -46 246.0 255.0 9.0 0.93 1.28 14.90
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AZC-108 254119 2724203 211 -46 274.5 294.0 19.5 2.20 4.57 24.70
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AZC-109 254073 2724113 210 -48 46.5 63.0 16.5 0.88 0.21 2.60
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AZC-109 254073 2724113 210 -48 79.5 96.0 16.5 0.96 0.24 5.70
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AZC-109 254073 2724113 210 -48 130.5 136.5 6.0 1.72 1.78 20.00
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AZC-111 254073 2724114 207 -58 52.5 64.5 12.0 0.81 0.11 2.20
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AZC-111 254073 2724114 207 -58 155.9 163.5 7.6 1.13 1.22 15.00
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AZC-111 254073 2724114 207 -58 175.5 190.5 15.0 1.10 0.92 9.80
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AZC-128 254239 2724156 208 -46 183.0 201.0 18.0 0.66 0.44 23.70
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AZC-128 254239 2724156 208 -46 280.5 304.5 24.0 1.21 0.97 12.00
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AZC-128 254239 2724156 208 -46 310.5 316.5 6.0 0.95 1.49 13.20
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AZC-133 254262 2724148 211 -45 282.0 294.0 12.0 1.70 1.39 18.50
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AZR-210 254513 2723838 31 -55 0.0 6.1 6.1 1.40 0.60 6.60
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AZR-210 254513 2723838 31 -55 65.5 71.6 6.1 0.73 0.73 42.90
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AZR-211 254547 2723844 30 -56 0.0 4.6 4.6 0.94 0.10 3.40
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AZR-214 254181 2724009 210 -45 68.6 93.0 24.4 1.66 1.25 27.80
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AZR-215 254181 2724010 208 -59 10.7 19.8 9.1 0.61 1.76 9.30
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AZR-215 254181 2724010 208 -59 85.3 88.4 3.1 0.68 0.77 14.80
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AZR-215 254181 2724010 208 -59 137.2 147.8 10.7 0.56 0.21 6.00
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AZR-216 254155 2724020 210 -54 73.2 85.3 12.2 0.80 0.65 13.00
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AZR-217 254155 2724021 211 -65 6.1 9.1 3.0 0.56 0.38 7.40
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AZR-217 254155 2724021 211 -65 93.0 100.6 7.6 0.54 0.53 7.90
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AZR-217 254155 2724021 211 -65 106.7 114.3 7.6 1.09 1.26 24.60
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UAZ-029 253706 2724143 220 -66 39.0 48.0 9.0 0.83 0.27 15.90
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UAZ-029 253706 2724143 220 -66 99.0 105.0 6.0 1.84 0.49 17.20
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UAZ-030 253706 2724143 220 -73 58.5 61.5 3.0 1.28 0.25 13.30
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Zona-CC
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AZR-219 254652 2723289 351 -74 91.4 105.2 13.70 1.53 0.66 47.40
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AZR-224 254592 2723213 350 -83 198.1 202.7 4.60 0.61 0.31 16.90
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(1) true width has yet to be determined
(2) using a copper cutoff grade 0.5%
(3) fire assay and atomic absorption finish
(4) ICP-MS
Qualified Person
Exploration at the Aranzazu Mine is being conducted under the supervision of Mr. Alan Hitchborn, P.Geo., who is the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Hitchborn has also reviewed and approved the contents of this news release as applicable.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control ('QA/QC') Procedures for the Aranzazu Mine
Aura Minerals is presently drilling at the Aranzazu Mine utilizing both core and reverse circulation drill rigs. The drilling is conducted by Layne de Mexico. The reverse circulation drill uses a bit sized from 5.5 inches to 4.75 inches. The core program utilizes HQ-sized core and then stepping down to NQ-sized core as required. Samples are collected on a 1.5 metre sample interval. The reverse circulation drill cuttings are split at the drill rig. The samples collected consist of an approximate 25% split of the total material recovered from the interval sampled. This material is shipped directly to the Stewart Group de Mexico ('Stewart Mexico') sample preparation facility in Zacatecas, Mexico and processed utilizing the same sample preparation protocol as used for the core samples discussed below. Assays are completed at the ISO 9001-2008 certified Eco Tech Laboratory Limited ('Eco Tech Stewart'), a subsidiary of the Stewart Group Ltd., in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Diamond drilling core is logged, photographed and then split in half using a diamond core saw. Half the core is retained off-site in a secure storage facility and the other half is sampled, secured in sealed, labeled bags and then transported to the Stewart Mexico facility in Zacatecas, Mexico and processed utilizing the same preparation protocol discussed below. Assays are completed at the Eco Tech Stewart laboratory in Kamloops, B.C. The entire half-core and reverse circulation drill cuttings are crushed to 95% passing 2 millimetres, split and pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh, split again, and a 150 gram sample sent for assay. Gold assays are determined by fire assay with an AA finish, over limit assays are determined by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver, copper, lead and zinc assays are determined by a four acid digestion with an ICP-MS finish. Molybdenum assays are determined by aqua regia digestion followed by an ICP-OES finish. Silver overlimits are determined by a fire assay with a gravimetric finish. The Company systematically inserts certified standard samples, sample duplicates in a non-sequential order and blank samples in all batches of samples sent to Stewart Mexico and Eco Tech Stewart as a means of quality control. Additionally, Stewart Mexico and Eco Tech Stewart have their own stringent internal QA/QC protocols. Check samples are systematically sent to the ALS Chemex lab in Vancouver, Canada. Chain of custody of drill samples is maintained throughout the process with the use of numbered seal tags closing sample bags and third party professional transportation of samples to the laboratories. Each stage of sample handling is recorded in log sheets and receipts obtained from each party involved.
About Aura Minerals Inc.
Aura Minerals is a Canadian mid-tier gold production company focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of gold and base metal projects in the Americas. The Company's producing assets includes the San Andres gold mine in Honduras, the Sao Francisco and Sao Vicente gold mines in Brazil and the copper-gold-silver Aranzazu Mine in Zacatecas state in Mexico, which commenced commercial production on February 1, 2011. Other significant assets include the feasibility-stage Serrote Deposit at the copper-gold-iron ore Arapiraca Project in Brazil.
For further information, please visit Aura Minerals' web site at www.auraminerals.com.
Cautionary Statement:
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include those risks set out in Aura Minerals' public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Aura Minerals believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Aura Minerals disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Contacts:
Aura Minerals Inc.
Patrick Downey
President & Chief Executive Officer
(604) 669-4777
(604) 696-0212 (FAX)
info@auraminerals.com
www.auraminerals.com