Aura Minerals Releases Additional Assay Results from the Deeper Drill Test Program for the Copper-Gold-Silver Aranzazu Mine in Mexico
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 04/07/11 -- Aura Minerals Inc. ('Aura Minerals' or the 'Company') (TSX: ORA) is pleased to release an additional 19 drill holes from the deeper drill test program testing the down dip extensions of the AA and Glory Hole ore chutes at its wholly-owned copper-gold-silver Aranzazu Mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico.
The results clearly indicate that these ore chutes are continuous to over 400 metres in depth and contain excellent grades in both the footwall and hanging wall zones.
Of the 19 reported drill holes, 17 had intercepts of greater than 1.0% Cu with significant gold and silver values and eight holes had significant intercepts grading greater than 1.5% Cu with excellent gold and silver values.
Highlights include (see Table 1 and Map 1):
-- Hole AZC-124, which returned 24.0 metres of 1.99% Cu, 1.63 g/t Au and
21.2 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-126, which returned 12.0 metres of 1.18% Cu, 0.73 g/t Au and
6.0 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-132, which returned 16.5 metres of 0.97% Cu, 0.94 g/t Au and
7.1 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-135, which returned 27.0 metres of 1.26% Cu, 0.69 g/t Au and
9.3 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-138, which returned 21.0 metres of 1.66% Cu, 1.85 g/t Au and
21.6 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-142, which returned 22.5 metres of 3.29% Cu, 4.13 g/t Au and
57.7 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-143, which returned 6.0 metres of 1.46% Cu, 0.91 g/t Au and
15.3 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-144, which returned 27.0 metres of 1.41% Cu, 1.12 g/t Au and
20.3 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-149, which returned 15.0 metres of 1.59% Cu, 0.84 g/t Au and
37.8 g/t Ag and 25.5 metres of 1.48% Cu, 1.14 g/t Au and 23.7 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-157, which returned 46.5 metres of 1.60% Cu, 1.21 g/t Au and
19.7 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-160, which returned 19.5 metres of 1.10% Cu, 0.43 g/t Au and
21.7 g/t Ag and 45.0 metres of 1.57% Cu, 0.97 g/t Au and 22.4 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-164, which returned 19.5 metres of 1.33% Cu, 0.69 g/t Au and
14.8 g/t Ag;
-- Hole AZC-168, which returned 24.0 metres of 1.46% Cu, 0.83 g/t Au and
16.3 g/t Ag; and
-- Hole AZC-173, which returned 24.0 metres of 2.35% Cu, 1.87 g/t Au and
29.9 g/t Ag.
Additional results from the deep drill program are pending and are expected to be released later this quarter.
Commenting on these results, Mr. Patrick Mars, Chairman of Aura Minerals, stated, 'We continue to receive exceptional drill intercepts at the Aranzazu Mine. These results give confidence in our model that the grade and widths do extend to depth. Both the AA and Glory Hole ore chutes are still wide open at depth and the system continues open along strike. We believe that further drilling down dip on each chute and along strike could add significant high-grade tonnes to the resource. These zones will likely form part of our plans for project expansion as the upper parts of each zone are in the current mine plan and the down dip extension could be accessed by extending to the current adit from the open pit which is in advanced development.'
Table 1 - Aranzazu Assays (see Map 1 below)
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Azi- Inter- Cu Au Ag
muth Dip From To val(1) (2) (3) (4)
(deg- (deg- (met- met- (met- (4) (g/ (g/
Hole # East North rees) rees) res) res) res) (%) t) t)
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AZC-124 254278 2724178 211 -59 289.5 292.5 3.0 1.32 0.52 25.2
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AZC-124 254278 2724178 211 -59 385.5 409.5 24.0 1.99 1.63 21.2
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AZC-126 254091 2724219 210 -63 336.0 348.0 12.0 1.18 0.73 6.0
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AZC-130 254091 2724220 208 -68 307.5 310.5 3.0 2.91 3.32 47.9
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AZC-130 254091 2724220 208 -68 378.0 381.0 3.0 1.45 0.59 20.0
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AZC-132 254143 2724195 213 -59 334.5 351.0 16.5 0.97 0.94 7.1
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AZC-135 254144 2724195 210 -64 346.5 373.5 27.0 1.26 0.69 9.3
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AZC-136 254012 2724261 210 -60 141.0 144.0 3.0 1.21 1.07 25.5
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AZC-136 254012 2724261 210 -60 351.0 355.5 4.5 0.66 0.59 4.4
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AZC-138 254259 2724192 212 -46 232.5 240.0 7.5 1.65 0.84 41.5
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AZC-138 254259 2724192 212 -46 327.0 334.5 7.5 2.66 3.30 46.7
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AZC-138 254259 2724192 212 -46 346.5 367.5 21.0 1.66 1.85 21.6
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AZC-142 254260 2724192 208 -51 243.0 250.5 7.5 1.59 0.61 35.5
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AZC-142 254260 2724192 208 -51 339.0 343.5 4.5 0.96 1.32 17.0
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AZC-142 254260 2724192 208 -51 360.0 382.5 22.5 3.29 4.13 57.7
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AZC-142 254260 2724192 208 -51 393.0 399.0 6.0 0.67 0.63 7.6
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AZC-143 254286 2724156 207 -44 315.0 321.0 6.0 1.46 0.91 15.3
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AZC-144 254208 2724205 207 -56 336.0 345.0 9.0 1.02 0.66 19.2
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AZC-144 254208 2724205 207 -56 372.0 399.0 27.0 1.41 1.12 20.3
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AZC-147 254286 2724156 207 -52 345.0 381.0 36.0 0.87 0.59 10.7
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AZC-148 254260 2724192 211 -57 379.5 384.0 4.5 1.04 1.70 11.2
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AZC-148 254260 2724192 211 -57 396.0 402.0 6.0 0.95 0.94 11.6
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AZC-149 254222 2724180 210 -56 325.5 340.5 15.0 1.59 0.84 37.8
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AZC-149 254222 2724180 210 -56 363.0 388.5 25.5 1.48 1.14 23.7
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AZC-157 254373 2724083 210 -54 274.5 286.5 12.0 1.00 0.42 14.3
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AZC-157 254373 2724083 210 -54 343.5 390.0 46.5 1.60 1.21 19.7
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AZC-159 254318 2724096 202 -47 298.5 306.0 7.5 1.40 0.99 16.1
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AZC-160 254404 2724044 209 -64 238.5 258.0 19.5 1.10 0.43 21.7
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AZC-160 254404 2724044 209 -64 268.5 279.0 10.5 0.77 0.31 13.8
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AZC-160 254404 2724044 209 -64 292.5 309.0 16.5 0.79 0.29 11.5
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AZC-160 254404 2724044 209 -64 366.0 411.0 45.0 1.57 0.97 22.4
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AZC-164 254384 2724044 211 -50 165.0 184.5 19.5 0.67 0.30 13.1
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AZC-164 254384 2724044 211 -50 202.5 214.5 12.0 0.58 1.33 6.8
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AZC-164 254384 2724044 211 -50 307.5 327.0 19.5 1.33 0.69 14.8
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AZC-168 254318 2724096 206 -54 235.5 238.5 3.0 0.55 0.37 11.6
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AZC-168 254318 2724096 206 -54 316.5 321.0 4.5 0.83 0.63 13.3
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AZC-168 254318 2724096 206 -54 328.5 352.5 24.0 1.46 0.83 16.3
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AZC-173 254310 2724035 212 -57 148.5 160.5 12.0 0.59 0.83 14.7
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AZC-173 254310 2724035 212 -57 273.0 297.0 24.0 2.35 1.87 29.9
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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 include 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.
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.
To view the map associated with this Press Release, please visit: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ora-map-0407.pdf.
No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Contacts:
Aura Minerals Inc.
Patrick Mars
Chairman
(416) 828-5901
Aura Minerals Inc.
Alan Hitchborn
Vice-President, Exploration
(604) 669-4777
(604) 696-0212 (FAX)
info@auraminerals.com
www.auraminerals.com