Regulus Extends High-Grade Copper-Gold Mineralization at Southwest Zone of Rio Grande Project
124.5 metres with 0.66% Cu and 1.37 g/t Au (1.51% Cu Eq or 2.58 g/t Au Eq)including
40 metres with 1.23% Cu and 3.08 g/t Au (3.06% Cu Eq or 5.25 g/t Au Eq)
WATERDOWN, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 08/14/12 -- Regulus Resources Inc. ("Regulus" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: REG) is pleased to announce the results of the first two drill holes from the current drilling program at the Rio Grande copper-gold-silver project in Salta Province, Argentina. A total of 17 holes (14,176 m) have been completed to date with three additional holes currently in progress. RGR-12-099 was targeted to intersect the previously reported discovery hole RGR-11-086 from the opposite direction to define the boundary limits and establish a second dimension of the high-grade copper-gold zone. RGR-12-099 intersected similar grades of mineralization over significant intercept lengths with the key results summarized below and in Table 1 as well as graphically displayed in Figures 1 and 2.
-- RGR-12-099 intersected: 223.6 m with 0.48% Cu and 0.85 g/t Au (1.02% Cu
Eq)
including 124.5 m with 0.66% Cu and 1.37 g/t Au
(1.51% Cu Eq)
including 40.0 m with 1.23% Cu and 3.08 g/t Au
(3.06% Cu Eq)
-- Compares well with mineralization previously reported from RGR-11-086:
257.2 m with 0.53% Cu and 1.20 g/t Au (1.19% Cu
Eq)
including 54.5 m with 1.34% Cu and 4.52 g/t Au
(3.79% Cu Eq)
-- The intercept lengths in RGR-12-099 suggest the mineralization may be a
subvertical body dipping steeply to the north.
-- Zones of relatively high-grade molybdenum mineralization appear to
immediately flank the principal copper-gold zone in RGR-12-099. These
zones are approximately 20 m in intercept length with average grades of
0.04-0.07% Mo. A similar 16 m intercept in RGR-12-098 averages 0.40% Mo.
-- Drill hole RGR-12-098, located 250 m NW of RGR-11-086, extended
previously reported RGR-11-091 further to depth but did not encounter
significant copper-gold mineralization.
John Black, President and CEO of Regulus commented as follows: "Drill hole RGR-12-099 has successfully established a significant second dimension to the high-grade copper-gold zone discovered in the Southwest zone of the Rio Grande project. Additional drilling has been completed along 50m spaced section lines to the east and west of RGR-12-099 to determine the full extent and geometry of the high-grade mineralization and we look forward to receiving additional assay results in the near future. We are also very encouraged by the discovery of a zone of gold bearing, sheeted and stock work quartz-pyrite-magnetite veins near the bottom of drill hole RGR-12-099. These locally abundant narrow veins consist of banded, fine-grained granular quartz accompanied by secondary biotite and k-spar alteration with trace amounts of chalcopyrite. They are very similar to veins and alteration associated with porphyry gold mineralization at the nearby Lindero deposit (Mansfield Minerals) and other gold porphyry deposits of the Maricunga Belt in Chile.
The turnaround time to receive assay results has been delayed due to bottlenecks at the preparation laboratory in Mendoza and export procedures to transport samples from the preparation facility in Mendoza, Argentina to the analytical laboratory in La Serena, Chile. ALS Chemex is addressing this issue and we now anticipate results will be arriving in a more timely manner."
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Au Ag Cu Mineral
RGR-12-99 From To Metres Cu % g/t g/t Mo % Eq Zone
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TD =
1078.50 m 84.00 137.96 53.96 0.01% 0.26 0.34 0.001% NA Oxide
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199.67 217.90 18.23 0.22% 0.22 0.44 0.001% NA Oxide
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314.00 334.00 20.00 0.25% 0.35 0.22 0.012% 0.50% Mixed
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332.00 356.00 24.00 0.07% 0.11 0.59 0.040% 0.30% Sulphide
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358.00 581.55 223.55 0.48% 0.85 1.17 0.009% 1.02% Sulphide
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including
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358.00 482.50 124.50 0.66% 1.37 1.51 0.008% 1.51% Sulphide
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including
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419.00 459.00 40.00 1.23% 3.08 2.32 0.003% 3.06% Sulphide
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581.55 599.00 17.45 0.16% 0.15 0.88 0.070% 0.54% Sulphide
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1027.50 1048.50 21.00 0.13% 0.34 0.20 0.003% 0.34% Sulphide
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Cu Mineral
RGR-12-98 From To Metres Cu Au Ag Mo Eq Zone
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TD =
1076.80 m 244.00 256.75 12.75 0.38% 0.00 2.82 0.000% NA Oxide
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260.00 286.00 26.00 0.04% 0.21 5.92 0.004% NA Oxide
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380.00 412.00 32.00 0.35% 0.49 1.27 0.001% 0.65% Sulphide
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including
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400.45 408.00 7.55 0.87% 1.36 1.80 0.001% 1.69% Sulphide
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420.00 448.00 28.00 0.40% 0.32 1.11 0.002% 0.61% Sulphide
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454.00 465.35 11.35 0.53% 0.63 1.54 0.005% 0.93% Sulphide
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546.50 560.00 13.50 0.26% 0.30 15.51 0.010% 0.64% Sulphide
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834.00 850.00 16.00 0.07% 0.06 0.24 0.403% 1.72% Sulphide
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Table 1: Rio Grande Drill Results
(i) Copper equivalent calculation uses US$2.50/lb Cu, US$1,000/Oz Au, US$18.00/Oz Ag and US$10.00/lb Mo and is not adjusted for metallurgical recoveries as these remain uncertain. The formula to calculate Cu equivalent is Cu Eq. = (Cu x 1) + (Au x 0.5833) + (Ag x 0.0105) + (Mo x 4). Intercepts are reported as down-hole intercept lengths and may not necessarily represent true widths.
Results of 2012 Drilling To Date
A total of 17 drill holes (14,176 m) have been completed to date in the ongoing 2012 Rio Grande drilling program with three additional holes currently in progress. The drilling has concentrated in the immediate vicinity of the significant intercepts previously reported from drill holes RGR-11-86 and RGR-11-88 in the Southwest zone of the Rio Grande system (see Regulus news releases of December 14, 2011 and February 8, 2012). The results of the first two drill holes (RGR-12-098 and RGR-12-099) of this program are reported in this release (see Table 1 and Figures 1-2).
Drill hole RGR-12-098 is located approximately 250 m to the northwest of the high-grade intercept reported in RGR-011-86 (257.2 m with 0.53% Cu and 1.2 g/t Au including 54.5 m with 1.34% Cu and 4.5 g/t Au). The hole was completed to extend drill hole RGR-11-091, which was lost prematurely at the 500 m depth with a tendency towards increasing mineralization. The first 500 m on RGR-112-098 is effectively a twin of RGR-11-091 and returned similar results however the lower half of RGR-12-098 did not intersect significant copper-gold mineralization. An unusually high-grade zone of molybdenum mineralization was encountered deep in the hole with 16 m averaging 0.40% Mo. Individual 2 m samples approached 1% Mo. This style of mineralization has been previously reported from the Discovery and Sofia zones and is typically near, but spatially separated from copper-gold mineralization. In drill hole RGR-12-099, reported below, similar Mo mineralization appears to immediately flank the high-grade copper-gold zone.
RGR-12-099 was drilled along the same north-south section (613,400E) as RGR-11-086 but in the opposite direction to provide a scissor or cross hole through the high-grade copper-gold zone to better establish its potential width (see Figures 1 and 2). This hole intersected a similar interval of high-grade copper-gold sulphide mineralization with 223.6 m containing 0.48% Cu and 0.85 g/t Au (including 124.5 m with 0.66% Cu and 1.37 g/t Au which further includes 40.0 m with 1.23% Cu and 3.08 g/t Au). Two zones of higher grade Mo-dominant mineralization (17 m with 0.07% Mo and 24 m with 0.04% Mo) immediately flank this zone of copper-gold mineralization and may provide a good exploration vector to help locate copper-gold mineralization.
A new style of mineralization, encountered near the bottom of RGR-12-099, consists of a zone of gold bearing, sheeted and stock work quartz-pyrite-magnetite veins. These locally abundant narrow veins consist of banded, fine-grained granular quartz accompanied by secondary biotite and k-spar alteration with trace amounts of chalcopyrite. They are very similar to veins and alteration associated with porphyry gold mineralization at the nearby Lindero deposit (Mansfield Minerals) and other gold porphyry deposits of the Maricunga Belt in Chile. The mineralization is gold dominant with a 21 m interval averaging 0.34 g/t Au and 0.13% Cu within a broader zone of more erratic grades. Individual 3 m samples contain up to 0.67 g/t Au. This is the best expression of porphyry gold style mineralization we have seen to date at the Rio Grande project.
To view, Figure 1: Rio Grande Drill Hole Location Map and Figure 2: Rio Grande Section 613400E (looking west), please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/0814reg1.pdf
About Regulus Resources Inc.
Regulus Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: REG) is a mineral exploration company formed in December, 2010 in connection with the sale of Antares Minerals Inc. to First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Regulus has been exploring the Rio Grande Cu-Au-Ag porphyry project in Salta Province of NW Argentina as a 50/50 joint venture partner with Pachamama Resources and the two companies recently merged under the name of Regulus Resources to consolidate a 100% interest in the project and pursue an aggressive exploration program (see Regulus press releases of May 11 and May 16, 2012).
All of Regulus' exploration programs and pertinent disclosure of a technical or scientific nature are prepared by, or under the direct supervision of, Wayne Hewgill, P.Geo, and Regulus' COO, who serves as the qualified person (QP) under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101.
The Rio Grande samples were analysed with the following methods: Au - 30 g FA with AA Finish, Cu - four acid digestion for trace Cu and four acid digestion and AAS for ore grade Cu, 35 element Aqua Regia ICP-AES.
Regulus' security, chain of custody and quality control is described on their website and can be reviewed at: http://www.regulusresources.com/BestPractices/SamplingMethodologies.aspx
Forward Looking Information
Certain statements regarding Regulus, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond Regulus' control.
Specifically, and without limitation, all statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that either Regulus expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including management's assessment of future plans and operations and statements with respect to the completion of the anticipated drilling program and the completion of a NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond Regulus' control. These risks may cause actual financial and operating results, performance, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Although Regulus believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the impact of general economic conditions in Canada and Argentina, industry conditions including changes in laws and regulations including adoption of new environmental laws and regulations, and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced, in Canada and Argentina, fluctuations in commodity prices and ability to complete operations due to factors beyond Regulus' control.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release are based upon assumptions which management believes to be reasonable, Regulus cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Regulus has made assumptions regarding: current commodity prices and royalty regimes; timing of receipt of regulatory approvals; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of capital expenditures; future exchange rates; the impact of increasing competition; conditions in general economic and financial markets; effects of regulation by governmental agencies; royalty rates; future operating costs; and other matters.
Accordingly, Regulus does not give any assurance nor make any representations or warranty that the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements will prove to be correct and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Regulus does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements other than required by applicable securities law.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Regulus Resources Inc.
John Black
President and CEO
+1 720 514-9036 or Mobile: +1-303 618-7797
Regulus Resources Inc.
Wayne Hewgill, P.Geo
COO
+1 778 438-2481 or Mobile +1 604 961-0033
www.regulusresources.com