Paramount Gold and Silver Reports Significant Intercepts in 10 New Drill Holes on Its San Miguel Deposit Including 13.45 Meters Grading 2.61 G/T Au and 513.8 G/T Ag
WINNEMUCCA, NEVADA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/23/12 -- Paramount Gold and Silver Corp. (NYSE Amex: PZG)(TSX: PZG)(FRANKFURT: P6G)(WKN: A0HGKQ) ('Paramount') today reported high-grade gold and silver values from 10 additional core holes drilled on the San Miguel Vein deposit at its 100%-owned San Miguel Project in Mexico. All 10 holes drilled in late 2011 on the San Miguel Vein deposit returned multiple intercepts of significant gold and silver mineralization including 5.1 meters grading 6.58 grams per tonne of gold and 1,285.9 grams per tonne of silver.
A total of 34 infill drill holes totaling 9,160 meters were completed on the San Miguel Vein deposit in 2011 of which assays have now been released for 33 holes. The results from these holes should significantly increase measured and indicated resources at this deposit. In total, Paramount has completed 100 drill holes comprising 30,952 meters into the San Miguel Vein deposit.
The figure below shows a typical section of the San Miguel Vein deposit. (See Map: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/San-Miguel-Typical-Cross-Section.jpg)
Drill hole intercepts for the most recent 10 holes are as follows:
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Hole # Area Total Length From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au g/T Ag g/T
(m)
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SM-11-090 SAN MIGUEL 419.85 203.05 203.55 0.50 1.08 118.00
222.80 225.15 2.35 0.72 37.03
244.15 245.50 1.35 3.94 88.00
259.25 264.20 4.95 3.81 245.70
including 259.25 260.95 1.70 10.31 664.12
267.70 274.35 6.65 0.37 11.67
276.45 287.15 10.70 1.44 9.03
292.25 296.65 4.40 0.60 2.74
324.95 325.45 0.50 1.99 7.20
332.20 337.55 4.35 0.50 1.76
401.70 407.90 6.20 0.52 39.16
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SM-11-091 SAN MIGUEL 344.20 240.95 243.65 2.70 0.63 17.61
248.60 253.20 4.60 0.79 86.02
255.20 281.00 25.80 1.17 26.82
including 267.80 269.90 2.10 3.94 123.43
including 274.65 280.20 5.55 1.89 12.46
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SM-11-092 SAN MIGUEL 191.70 128.00 131.10 3.10 0.26 5.22
138.45 142.50 4.05 1.17 9.14
148.50 149.20 0.70 14.60 24.50
152.95 153.50 0.55 7.20 11.70
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SM-11-093 SAN MIGUEL 237.35 148.05 154.80 6.75 1.68 24.07
including 151.45 152.70 1.25 6.31 104.19
172.00 175.00 3.00 0.36 1.99
204.65 206.30 1.65 3.65 18.20
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SM-11-094 SAN MIGUEL 260.00 130.20 130.90 0.70 0.98 801.00
183.50 186.60 3.10 0.17 27.59
186.25 197.20 8.95 0.69 62.66
212.55 218.00 5.45 0.19 68.29
225.30 230.65 5.35 0.28 10.13
235.90 239.90 4.00 0.69 10.28
444.20 250.90 6.70 4.87 23.04
including 245.60 246.15 0.50 22.00 25.30
including 247.45 249.80 2.35 6.30 41.16
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SM-11-095 SAN MIGUEL 234.65 106.55 121.90 15.35 0.20 338.75
including 107.50 108.15 0.65 0.56 2900.00
158.05 161.45 3.40 0.47 5.47
179.40 180.00 0.60 3.52 1.30
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SM-11-096 SAN MIGUEL 240.75 124.25 129.25 5.00 0.08 36.28
137.25 140.50 3.25 0.12 14.56
146.20 165.05 18.85 1.06 11.10
including 157.00 158.40 1.40 9.14 14.30
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SM-11-097 SAN MIGUEL 271.25 121.80 125.25 3.45 0.14 245.51
146.20 149.55 3.35 0.26 67.55
155.45 177.20 21.75 0.11 25.41
195.70 202.40 6.70 1.25 10.54
including 206.75 208.35 1.60 0.43 8.50
including 213.40 215.40 2.00 0.60 4.87
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SM-11-098 SAN MIGUEL 232.70 187.30 200.75 13.45 2.61 513.84
including 189.25 194.35 5.10 6.58 1285.87
203.40 214.80 11.40 0.97 28.68
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SM-11-099 SAN MIGUEL 359.75 213.30 215.55 1.95 1.27 58.90
241.15 249.15 8.00 2.05 17.42
250.60 255.35 4.75 0.18 9.49
258.95 265.15 6.20 0.37 4.30
273.00 280.90 7.90 0.52 6.93
320.20 321.85 1.65 1.12 2.10
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The orientation of these drill holes was designed to intercept the structural features at right angles so as to provide a close approximation to true width, however deep intercepts may have intersected the structures at less than right angles due to normal deviation.
Christopher Crupi, Paramount's CEO, commented that 'our drilling on the San Miguel vein has exceeded expectations in terms of both continuity and grade. Our new infill program is focused on expanding and confirming high-grade resources at Don Ese, La Union and San Francisco. In addition, exploration drilling is probing the highly-prospective gaps within the 7.5 km long La Union-La Veronica mega structure including the 1.3 km gap between the San Antonio and La Veronica deposits as well as the 1.2 km gap between La Union and Santa Clara. If we are right about the continuity of this structure, we expect to announce significant new discoveries this year.' The 2012 drill campaign recently commenced with three rigs after the holiday break.A new resource estimate by Mine Development Associates (MDA) of Reno, Nevada is expected during the second quarter of 2012 for the entire San Miguel Project which will include 2011 and early 2012 drill results. This new estimate will be incorporated into a Preliminary Economic Assessment planned for later this year which will evaluate mining scenarios, mining rates and process alternatives and define a path to a Preliminary Feasibility Study which would report reserves. In addition, Paramount is continuing to explore the potential of its large property position and is prioritizing numerous untested targets as well as extensions of known deposits, many of which remain open.
Exploration activities at San Miguel are being conducted by Paramount Gold de Mexico S.A de C.V personnel under the supervision of Glen van Treek, Exploration Vice President of the Company and Bill Threlkeld, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, who have both reviewed and approved this press release. An ongoing quality control/quality assurance protocol is being employed for the program including blank, duplicate and reference standards in every batch of assays. Cross-check analyses are being conducted at a second external laboratory on 10% of the samples. Samples are being assayed at ALS Chemex, Vancouver, B.C., using fire assay atomic absorption methods for gold and aqua regia digestion ICP methods for other elements.
About Paramount Gold
Paramount Gold is a U.S. based exploration and development company with multi-million ounce advanced stage precious metals projects in Nevada (Sleeper) and northern Mexico (San Miguel). Fully funded exploration programs are now in progress at these two core projects which are expected to generate substantial additional value for our shareholders. Engineering studies are scheduled for completion in 2012 to define a development path and economic valuation for each project.
The 100% owned San Miguel Project consists of 188,000 hectares (465,000 acres) in the Palmarejo District of northwest Mexico, making Paramount the largest claim holder in this rapidly growing precious metals mining camp. The current work program at San Miguel is part of Paramount's strategy of expanding and upgrading known, large-scale precious metal occurrences in established mining camps, defining their economic potential and then partnering them with nearby producers. The San Miguel Project is ideally situated near established, low cost production where the infrastructure already exists for early, cost-effective exploitation. Paramount also owns 100% of the Sleeper Gold Project which is emerging as one of Nevada's largest new undeveloped gold resources. (See global resource table below).
SUMMARY OF ALL PZG NI 43-101 COMPLIANT RESOURCE ESTIMATES
MEASURED AND INDICATED RESOURCES
PROJECT Tonnes Au g/T Au Ounces Ag g/T Ag Ounces
San Miguel 8,005,000 0.38 98,800 62.00 15,759,000
Sleeper 172,763,453 0.47 2,625,399 4.56 25,337,575
Total 2,724,199 41,096,575
INFERRED RESOURCES
PROJECT Tonnes Au g/T Au Ounces Ag g/T Ag Ounces
San Miguel 45,890,000 0.60 877,700 38.00 56,848,000
Sleeper 81,754,167 0.43 1,120,410 3.12 8,202,962
Total 1,998,110 65,050,962
For a detailed report on these resource estimates, their QPs and methodologies please see the following news releases: April 11, 2011 (San Miguel); September 13, 2011 (Sleeper); and December 28, 2011 (San Miguel).
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Estimates of Indicated and Inferred Resources
This news release uses the terms 'measured and indicated resources' and 'inferred resources'. We advise U.S. investors that while these terms are defined in, and permitted by, Canadian regulations, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and not normally permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. 'Inferred resources' have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility studies, except in rare cases. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant 'reserves', as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in this category will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an inferred resource exists or is economically or legally minable.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements:
This release and related documents may include 'forward-looking statements' including, but not limited to, statements related to the interpretation of drilling results and potential mineralization, future exploration work at the San Miguel Project and the expected results of this work. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical fact and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements including fluctuations in the price of gold, inability to complete drill programs on time and on budget, and future financing ability. Paramount's future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable securities laws. Words such as 'believes,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'estimates' and similar expressions should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: uncertainties involving interpretation of drilling results, environmental matters, lack of ability to obtain required permitting, equipment breakdown or disruptions, and the other factors described in Paramount's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2011 and its most recent quarterly reports filed with the SEC.
Except as required by applicable law, Paramount disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this document.
Contacts:
Paramount Gold and Silver Corp.
Glen Van Treek, VP Exploration
Chris Theodossiou, Investor Relations
866-481-2233