Sabina Gold & Silver Reports More Successful Results From the Umwelt Deposit, Back River Gold Project
Umwelt hole 11GSE123 returns 6.85 g/t Au over 32.98 including 9.46 g/t Au over 16.85 m from the G2 ZoneUmwelt hole 11GSE118 returns 5.46 g/t Au over 27.53 m, including 8.73 g/t over 15.03m
Umwelt hole 11GSE130 returns 5.34 g/t Au over 28.35 m including 21.02 g/t Au over 5.80 m.
Umwelt hole 11GSE106 expanded by additional assay results now returns 9.84 g/t over 29.85m
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/19/11 -- Sabina Gold & Silver Corp (TSX: SBB) is pleased to announce additional assay results from holes drilled as part of the 2011 exploration program on its Umwelt deposit at the Goose claim block at its 100% owned Back River Project in Nunavut, Canada.
The recently completed 2011 drilling campaign at Back Riverfocussed on expanding the existing deposits at Umwelt and Llama, and looking for new discoveries by applying the Company's exploration tool box to open pit targets on the Goose and George claim blocks, as well as the Wishbone gold claims. The last of the Company's Nunavut drills shut down on October 3rd, having completed a record total of 73,650 m of drilling on gold targets in 2011.
The last holes drilled at Umwelt as part of the 2011 program were focussed on in-filling under drilled gaps in preparation for the new resource estimate and extending areas of open mineralization.
Further results have been returned from drilling at the newly identified G2 Zone at Umwelt. Hole 11GSE123 on section 4250N returned 6.85 g/t Au over 32.95 m including 9.46 g/t Au over 16.85 m. This hole is at a vertical depth of 550 m and targeted a gap in drilling up plunge of the G2 Zone. This hole further demonstrates the strong grade and thickness of mineralization being outlined at G2.
New results at Umwelt also include two holes that targeted extensions of the resource defined by drilling in 2010. Both of these holes tested down dip extensions of mineralization to the east on the Main Zone successfully expanding the zone. Hole 11GSE114 on section 4650N (included in a news release table released Sep 13/11) returned 9.63 g/t Au over 9.60 m. This hole is 35 m down dip of hole 10GSE146 (which returned 1.25 g/t Au over 8.65) extending and opening up the potential for further mineralization down dip. Hole 11GSE130 on section 4750N returned 5.34 g/t Au over 28.35 m including 21.02 g/t Au over 5.8 m. This hole is located immediately below the bottom of the open pit shell as defined by RPA and extends the mineralized zone in hole 10GSE112 (10.25 g/t Au over 35.50 m) a further 45 m down dip.
New results for holes designed to fill gaps in drilling include hole 11GSE118 on section 4500N which targeted a 110 m gap between previously reported holes 11GSE031 (grading 4.78 g/t Au over 17.00 m) and hole 11GSE052 (grading 10.19 g/t Au over 33.00 m). Hole 11GSE118 returned 5.46 g/t Au over 27.53 m including 8.73 g/t Au over 15.03 m further demonstrating the thickness, solid grade and overall continuity of the Umwelt deposit.
Additional results from shoulder sampling on hole 11GSE106 in the G2 Zone (reported on September 29) has expanded the width of the intercept by a further 6.35 meters to total 29.85 m grading 9.48 g/t Au.
There are numerous assays still outstanding, and currently assays for Umwelt are being prioritized to enable for the calculation of an updated resource estimate in preparation for the upcoming preliminary economic assessment expected at the end of Q1, 2012.
'We are very encouraged by the success we've had this yearin identifying good grades and good widths in our deposit areas, as well as identifying new discoveries on our claim blocks,' said Tony Walsh, President & CEO. 'Our team is looking forward to assessing all 2011 results in order to plan next year's program. We expect that drilling this year on Umwelt has added significantly to the resource and we are excited about the numerous other targets we have for follow up work and initial reconnaissance. We are very proud of the success we have had at Back River in what has essentially been two drilling campaigns.'
UMWELT
The Umwelt deposit, discovered in 2010, contains an indicated resource of 4.6 m tonnes grading 6.0 g/t Au for a total of 900,000 ounces of Au and an inferred resource of 1.1 m tonnes grading 6.4 g/t Au for a total of 221,000 ounces of Au. Drilling in 2011 has extended this resource approximately 900m along strike to the south. The Umwelt deposit has now been defined over a 1.15 km strike length and for 1.5 km down plunge and remains open.
The mineralized zones are hosted within a turbiditic sedimentary sequence containing silicate and oxide facies iron formations. Gold dominantly occurs with quartz +/- carbonate veining and arsenopyrite +/- pyrite +/- pyrrhotite in the iron formation. Drilling at Umwelt has identified an anti-form structure with a fold hinge that plunges to the south. Thick zones of gold mineralization are associated with the fold hinge in what is now known as the Main Zone. Mineralization also occurs along a separate iron formation horizon immediately to the west known as the West Zone.
PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC EVALUATION UPDATE
The Company's objective is to become a mid-tier gold producer through the development of its Nunavut gold assets.
The Umwelt, Goose and Llama deposits are located within a 5 km long corridor and are envisioned as three major open pits supporting a central milling facility located on the Goose claim block. The George deposit, approximately 50 km to the north on the George claim block, is envisioned as an underground satellite deposit that would be mined and transported to the mill at Goose via a winter road. The Company has recently engaged SRK Engineering Ltd. to commence work on a Preliminary Economic Assessment of a gold mining operation at Back River. The study will comprise the new open pit Goose resource, the soon to be updated Umwelt and newly generated Llama resources (incorporating 2011 drilling) as well as, the existing George resource. The study is anticipated to be completed early in 2012, after which, if positive, a Preliminary Project Description will be filed with the Nunavut Water Board to initiate the permitting process for the project.
SABINA GOLD & SILVER CORP.
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is an emerging precious metals company with district scale, world class undeveloped assets in one of the world's newest, most politically stable mining jurisdictions: Nunavut, Canada.
Sabina's primary properties consist of the Back River Gold Project as well as the Wishbone Claims, a vastly prospective grass roots project and the Hackett River poly metallic project all in Nunavut. The Company has announced the completion of the sale of Hackett River and certain claims in the Wishbone greenstone belt to Xstrata Zinc Canada Division (Xstrata) for which the Company received $50 m cash and a silver royalty on Xstrata's Hackett River silver production of 22.5% of the first 190 million ounces produced and 12.5% of all silver produced thereafter.
The Company expects to finish 2011 with approximately $150 million in the treasury with no debt.
Quality Assurance
Mr. Doug Cater, P. Geo, and Project Manager, Back River Project of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is a Qualified Person under the terms of NI43-101 and has reviewed the technical content of this press release for the Back River Project and has approved its dissemination.
The mineral resource estimates for the Llama and Umwelt deposits were generated by Roscoe Postle Associates (RPA) in March 2011. These are all posted on www.sedar.com.
The mineral resource estimate for the Goose deposit was generated by RPA in September 2011.
Diamond drill core was sent to TSL Laboratories in Saskatoon, Sask. Quality control is monitored on a continual basis and utilizes a system of standards, blanks and duplicates to ensure analytical accuracy. The protocols and procedures used in 2011 are the same as those used in earlier campaigns by Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. and have been deemed appropriate in the above noted 43-101 compliant resource reports.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements relating to exploration, pre-feasibility work and future operations at the Back River Project and the expected results of this work are forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation of certain Provinces in Canada. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words 'expects', 'plans', 'anticipates', 'believes', 'intends', 'estimates', 'projects', 'potential' and similar expressions, or that events or conditions 'will', 'would', 'may', 'could' or 'should' occur. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling results may also be deemed to be forward looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from Sabina's operations and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sabina's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Sabina's management on the date the statements are made. Sabina undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements should management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
This news release has been authorized by the undersigned on behalf of Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.
Tony Walsh, President & CEO
930 West 1st Street, Suite 202
North Vancouver, BC V7P 3N4
Tel 604 998-4175 Fax 604 998-1051
http://www.sabinagoldsilver.com
Table 1: Recent Umwelt Drill results
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Comment/
East- North- From To Length Au Mineral
Hole Id Section ing ing Depth (m) (m) (m) (g/t) Zone
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11GSE106 4050 430713 7270571 755 698.50 728.35 29.85 10.91 G2 Zone-
Expanded
width
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11GSE108 4850 429990 7271015 428 139.50 141.00 1.50 2.39 Eastern
BIF
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289.85 294.00 4.15 1.36 Gwky
Core
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376.00 378.00 2.00 3.34 Main Zone
West
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11GSE109 4450 430351 7270796 497 476.00 478.25 2.25 6.64 Main Zone
East
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11GSE116 4250 430467 7270611 569 511.90 527.00 15.10 2.02 Main Zone
East
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including 515.00 516.00 1.00 11.27 Main Zone
East
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and 524.00 526.00 2.00 4.58 Main Zone
East
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11GSE118 4500 430268 7270787 406 348.25 389.53 41.28 3.84 Main Zone
East
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362.00 389.53 27.53 5.46 Main Zone
East
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including 374.50 389.53 15.03 8.73 Main Zone
East
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11GSE122 4450 430342 7270789 473.5 339.86 341.00 1.14 4.94 Eastern
BIF
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11GSE123 4200 430533 7270652 638 573.90 606.85 32.95 6.85 G2 Zone
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Including 573.90 575.00 1.10 42.25 G2 Zone
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Including 590.00 606.85 16.85 9.46 G2 Zone
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11GSE127 4600 430265 7270917 426 388.20 389.00 0.80 5.09 Main Zone
East
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395.55 401.00 5.45 1.05 Main Zone
East
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Additional
Assays
pending
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11GSE128 4525 430198 7270765 398 296.65 297.90 1.25 11.11 Main Zone
Center
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345.00 354.00 9.00 5.51 Main Zone
Center
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Including 349.00 352.00 3.00 11.47 Main Zone
Center
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Additional
Assays
Pending
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11GSE129 4675 430026 7270814 295.1 137.20 138.20 1.00 5.83 Main Zone
East
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151.60 152.50 0.90 3.17 Main Zone
East
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161.65 162.20 0.55 2.47 Main Zone
East
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11GSE130 4750 430084 7270930 317 256.70 285.05 28.35 5.34 Main Zone
East
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Including 277.80 283.60 5.80 21.02 Main Zone
East
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To view the figure accompanying this release please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/sbb1019.pdf
Contacts:
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.
Nicole Hoeller
Director, IR
1 888 648-4218
nhoeller@sabinagoldsilver.com
www.sabinagoldsilver.com