Minera Andes Announces Exploration Drilling Results at the San Jose Mine
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 06/10/11 -- Minera Andes Inc. (the 'Corporation' or 'Minera Andes') (TSX: MAI)(OTCBB: MNEAF) announces the results of exploration drilling at its 49% owned San Jose mine in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina during the first quarter of 2011. A total of 24 diamond core holes totaling 5,411 meters were drilled during the quarter. The drilling consisted of infill and of step-out drilling on known veins in and around the mine area. Five of the infill holes contained high-grade intercepts. Details of the drilling, which include several high-grade holes, is provided in Exhibit 1. The location of the principal veins is shown in Exhibit 2. Further drilling will be required to estimate the resources intercepted by the drilling.
The vein system at San Jose continues to be open at depth and laterally. As a result of the discovery of the east-west trending Micaela-Sofia vein system last year, previous drill results are being reinterpreted to define new drilling targets in and near the mine area in conjunction with new surface magnetic data and existing induced polarization geophysics data.
During the first half of 2011, 800 line-kilometers of surface magnetic coverage is being run over the area southeast of the mine area. This will be followed up with an additional 2,200 line-kilometers of surface magnetic coverage in the southeast portion of the joint venture property during the second half of the year. The geophysical data will be used to define new drilling targets outside of the main mine area for drilling during the second half of the year.
About Minera Andes: Minera Andes is an exploration company exploring for gold, silver and copper in Argentina with three significant assets: a 49% interest in Minera Santa Cruz SA, owner of the San Jose Mine in close proximity to Goldcorp's Cerro Negro project; 100% ownership of the Los Azules copper deposit with an inferred mineral resource of 10.3 billion pounds of copper and an indicated resource of 2.2 billion pounds of copper; and, 100% ownership of a large portfolio of exploration properties in Santa Cruz province, Argentina, including properties bordering the Cerro Negro project in Santa Cruz Province. Exploration and infill drilling is currently underway at the Los Azules project. The Company had $31 million USD in cash as at March 31, 2011 with no bank debt. Rob McEwen, Chairman and CEO, owns 31% of the shares of the company.
About Hochschild Mining plc: Hochschild Mining plc is a leading precious metals company listed on the London Stock Exchange (HOCM.L / HOC LN) with a primary focus on the exploration, mining, processing and sale of silver and gold. Hochschild has over forty years of experience in the mining of precious metal epithermal vein deposits and currently operates four underground epithermal vein mines, three located in southern Peru, one in southern Argentina and one open pit mine in northern Mexico. Hochschild also has numerous long-term prospects throughout the Americas.
For further information, please contact: Jim Duff or visit our Web site: www.minandes.com.
Technical Information:
This news release has been reviewed and approved by Jim Duff the Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation, a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrator National Instrument 43-101 'Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects' ('43-101'). Assay results were reported to Minera Andes by MSC, which is the operating company for the San Jose joint venture. Assay results for the drilling were reviewed by Jim Duff. All samples were collected in accordance with industry standards. Splits from checks of the drill core samples assay at the San Jose Mine laboratory were submitted to Alex Stewart Assayers, Argentina S.A. in Mendoza, Argentina, for fire assay and ICP analysis. Accuracy of results is tested through the systematic inclusion of standards, blanks and check assays. Jim Duff has reviewed the results of the check assays and other quality control measures.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors:
All resource estimates reported by the Corporation are calculated in accordance with 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Classification system. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information express, as at the date of this press release, the Corporation's plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, factors associated with fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, risks associated with foreign operations, risks related to litigation, property title, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral resources and reserves and other risks.
Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. See the Corporation's Annual Information Form for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.
Exhibit 1
Surface Drilling Results from January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011
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True
Intercept Width Au Ag
Drill Hole From (m) To (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) Vein
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SJD-227(i) 213.01 213.84 0.83 0.50 1.20 115.54 Sanson
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and 215.42 215.70 0.28 0.16 11.33 1053.59 Sanson
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SJD-323(i) 170.90 170.60 0.60 0.48 0.01 1.00 Dalila
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SJD-352(i) Hole lost
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SJD-719(i) 279.70 280.12 0.42 0.33 0.08 1.00 Sanson
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SJD-757(i) 183.55 184.55 1.00 0.84 0.16 12.84 Sanson
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SJD-767(i) 177.75 178.75 1.00 0.70 0.01 1.00 Sanson
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SJD-792(i) 277.25 279.95 2.70 1.94 0.01 1.00 Sanson
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SJD-815(i) 101.10 101.50 0.40 0.29 0.51 46.97 Sanson
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SJD-854 358.55 361.40 2.85 2.57 0.16 2.70 Frea
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SJD-855 105.00 105.60 0.60 0.47 0.01 3.79 Esperanza
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SJD-856 No veins
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SJD-857 83.80 84.10 0.54 0.41 0.01 3.82 Huevos
Verdes SE
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SJD-858 230.20 230.50 0.30 0.22 0.01 2.33 Kamila 3
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SJD-859 300.70 301.00 0.30 0.22 0.01 1.00 Laura
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SJD-860 137.40 139.00 1.60 1.16 0.01 1.00 Sanson
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SJD-861 Hole lost
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SJD-862 101.10 101.40 0.30 0.24 0.30 14.06 Susana
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and 192.30 192.60 0.30 0.24 0.05 14.40 Luli
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SJD-863 243.30 243.90 0.60 0.44 0.01 1.00 Esperanza
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SJD-864 179.79 178.40 0.61 0.53 6.68 1514.76 Susana
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and 153.90 154.25 0.35 0.30 15.00 2585.96 Susana
hanging wall
split
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and 201.44 202.04 0.64 0.55 1.04 49.13 Orion
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and 234.29 235.55 1.26 1.08 0.08 4.78 Luli
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SJD-865 240.3 241.63 1.33 0.96 8.49 485.93 Luli
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and 199.06 200.02 0.96 0.70 6.52 1284.74 Luli hanging
wall split
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SJD-866 101.08 104.5 3.42 2.76 20.43 412.5 Antonella
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and 151.35 151.85 0.50 0.40 0.04 1.00 Dalila
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SJD-867 249.62 250.80 1.18 0.90 1.00 164.65 Susana
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and 310.25 310.85 0.60 0.52 0.01 3.01 Luli
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SJD-868 327.90 338.20 0.30 0.21 1.40 75.62 Sanson
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SJD-869 134.35 135.70 1.35 1.04 0.08 9.40 Susana
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and 189.95 191.65 1.70 1.48 10.48 1021.53 Luli
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Holes shown in bold are above cutoff grade. The Dalila, Esperanza, Kamila 3
and Orion veins are small veins without significant intercepts. The Sanson
vein was previously considered to be part of the Antonella vein.
(i)Holes drilled previously that were re-entered and extended in 2011.
To view, 'Exhibit 2 - Plan Map of Principal Veins at the San Jose Mine,' please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/MAImap610.pdf
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by management.
Contacts:
Minera Andes Inc.
Jim Duff
Chief Operating Officer
Toll-Free: 1-866-441-0690 or Tel:647-258-0395
647-258-0408 (FAX)
info@minandes.com
www.minandes.com