Sona Cuts 28.1g Au/t Over 1.46 Metres at the Elizabeth Gold Deposit Property Program Has Completed 20 Surface Drill Holes and 35 Underground Holes
18.11.2011 | Marketwired
Program Has Completed 20 Surface Drill Holes and 35 Underground HolesVANCOUVER, 11/18/11 - Sona Resources Corp. (the 'Company' or 'Sona') (TSX VENTURE: SYS) (FRANKFURT: QS7) is pleased to report that it has concluded the latest diamond drilling program at its 100 percent owned Elizabeth Gold Deposit Property ('Elizabeth'), in the Lillooet Mining District of southern British Columbia. The program drilled 20 surface holes totalling 3,182 metres, and 35 underground holes totalling 4,173 metres.
The surface drilling focused on testing the Southwest Vein, to the southwest of the current resource, and areas of gold mineralization on the No. 9 Vein. The underground program included definition drilling of the Main and West Veins, as well as exploration for new areas of mineralization along the D and Southwest Veins.
'We look forward to incorporating the positive results from the 11,134 metres of diamond drilling we have completed over the past two years into a new mineral resource report, due for completion early in the new year,' says John P. Thompson, Sona's President and CEO. 'The updated resource will be incorporated into a new Preliminary Economic Assessment, which constitutes another step toward putting the former Blackdome Gold Mine mill back into production.'
To view accompanying maps, visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/NRno17_maps.pdf
Surface drilling
The recently completed surface diamond drill program comprised 20 holes. Fifteen of the holes tested the southwest and northeast on-strike extensions of the Southwest Vein, to add resources to inventory, while the five holes on the No. 9 Vein tested the structure for additional gold mineralization.
Southwest Vein
Six surface diamond drill holes targeted the Southwest Vein near Hole E10-69, which in 2010 assayed 77.9g Au/t over 5.30 metres core length (news release dated March 30, 2011). Composite assays from the 2011 program include 28.1g Au/t over 1.46 metres core length (E11-05), and 8.4g Au/t over 0.50 metres core length (E11-01). The nine holes targeted the projected southwest extension (six holes, E11-07 to E11-12) and northeast extension (three holes, E11-15 to E11-17) of the Southwest Vein. Hole E11-07, approximately 30 metres to the southwest of Hole E10-69, returned a composite assay of 6.2g Au/t over 1.15 metres core length. The remaining five holes, farther to the southwest, contained lesser values. Of the three surface drill holes targeting the northeast extension, one hole (E11-05) ran 1.3g Au/t over 0.97 metres core length; the other two were lost before they reached the target zone.
No. 9 Vein
Four drill holes targeted the No. 9 Vein, and one (E11-14) was lost in overburden. Three holes (E11-18, E11-19 and E11-20) were drilled from the same location, and all intersected low-grade mineralization, returning values between 0.7g Au/t and 1.9g Au/t over 0.50 to 1.37 metres core length. Hole E11-13 was drilled on a listwanite exploration target approximately 300 metres to the west of the No. 9 Vein and returned 0.6g Au/t over 1.30 metres.
Underground drilling
In all, 35 underground diamond drill holes were collared from the Upper Adit into the West Vein (24 holes, E11-U76 to E11-U97, E11-U105 and E11-U106), the Main Vein (seven holes, E11-U98 to E11-U104) and the D and Southwest Veins (four holes, E11-U107 to E11-U110).
D and Southwest Veins
In 1945, Bralorne Mines drilled a flat hole northward from the end of the lower portal and intersected a mineralized quartz structure, which became known as the D Vein. In 2005, Sona drilled a hole (E05-36) southward from surface and interested quartz veining, which returned assays of 1.0g Au/t over 1.10 metres core length, 1.1g Au/t over 0.20 metres core length, and 1.3g Au/t over 0.50 metres core length. It was unclear whether the hole had encountered the D Vein or a projected extension of the Southwest Vein.
To better understand the structural geology and mineralogy, Sona drilled four holes (E11-U107 to E11-U110) targeting the D and Southwest Veins. They were collared at the end of the Upper Adit, approximately 130 metres into the mountain and 95 metres below surface, at 2,200 metres above sea level. All holes were drilled northward to test for the presence of the D Vein, and to test for the northeast extension of the Southwest Vein in an area of heavy overburden. All four holes intersected gold mineralization, with two returning four intersections each, varying from 0.8g Au/t to 6.1g Au/t over core lengths of 0.45 to 1.50 metres. Visible gold was observed in hole E11-U107. Further drilling is required to confirm which assay intersections represent which vein.
Main and West Veins
The seven holes targeting the Main Vein were collared approximately 85 metres into the mountain from the Upper Adit and 50 metres below surface. All were drilled to the south and southeast to test for the southwest extension of the known mineralization in the Main Vein. Five of the holes intersected gold mineralization varying from 0.7g Au/t to 7.2g Au/t, with E11-U98 intersecting a 5.3-metre mineralized zone containing intersections of 5.4g Au/t over 1.65 metres core width, and 7.2g Au/t over 0.50 metres core width.
The drill program on the West Vein was designed to expand the known mineralization, and to test the outer limits of the mineralized envelope, horizontally and down dip. The 24 holes were collared approximately 90 metres into the mountain from the Upper Adit and 50 metres below surface. The holes were fanned out from the west to the north, and primarily tested the structure below the level of the adit, at around 2,220 metres above sea level.
Gold mineralization was encountered in 16 of the 24 drill holes, with individual assays ranging up to 9.7g Au/t over 0.60 metres core width (E11-U80) and 8.0g Au/t over 0.60 metres core width (E11-U93). Composite assay values for 14 of the mineralized holes varied from 0.5g Au/t to 4.4g Au/t over core lengths of 0.33 to 4.02 metres. Visible gold was observed in hole E11-U96.
Importantly, one mineralized hole (E11-U97), the westernmost hole drilled on the West Vein, assayed 1.0g Au/t over 4.0 metres, with the pierce point at 2,150 metres above sea level, 100 metres west of the West Vein drift. This intersection appears highly promising, due to the width of the mineralized zone, and because it confirms that the West Vein mineralized structure continues to the west.
The Elizabeth property occurs within alpine terrain and is mostly covered by steep talus slopes. It has six known, roughly parallel structures containing gold mineralization, which occur above the treeline at over 2,000 metres above sea level. As well, the structures dip into the mountain at 80 to 85 degrees, making surface drilling difficult.
The NI 43-101-compliant inferred gold mineralization on the Elizabeth property has been drill tested at the ends of the Southwest and West Veins. Both warrant further drilling along strike from the known gold mineralization. No drilling has been undertaken beyond 200 metres below surface. Four other structures are known to contain gold mineralization, and further drilling is warranted on all four to trace and outline the areas of gold mineralization.
Based on surface diamond drilling results up to 2009, the known inferred resource for the Southwest Vein totalled 328,280 tonnes, grading 13.6g Au/t and containing 143,900 ounces of gold; while the West Vein totalled 194,563 tonnes, grading 10.0g Au/t and containing 62,239 ounces of gold (SRK Consulting Ltd. report, June 8, 2009). The combined inferred resource, when rounded, totals 206,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 12.2g Au/t. An updated NI 43-101 resource report on the Elizabeth Gold Deposit is planned for the first quarter of 2012, and it will incorporate the 11,134 metres of diamond drilling completed in 2010 and 2011.
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SURFACE DIAMOND DRILLING COMPOSITE ASSAY TABLE
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Core
From To length Gold
Hole no. (m) (m) (m) (g Au/t) Target
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E11-01 120.17 120.68 0.51 8.4 Southwest Vein
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E11-02 180.98 182.18 1.20 1.1 Southwest Vein
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E11-03 117.37 117.87 0.50 7.5 Southwest Vein
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E11-04 144.13 144.63 0.50 3.2 Southwest Vein
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E11-05 122.54 124.00 1.46 28.1 Southwest Vein
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E11-06 NSV Southwest Vein
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E11-07 165.49 166.64 1.15 6.2 Southwest Vein
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E11-08 143.52 144.54 1.02 1.0 Southwest Vein
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E11-09 NSV Southwest Vein
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E11-10 87.97 88.94 0.97 0.6 Southwest Vein
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E11-11 NSV Southwest Vein
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E11-12 NSV Southwest Vein
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E11-13 136.20 137.50 1.30 0.6 No. 9 Vein
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E11-14 Lost hole in overburden No. 9 Vein
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E11-15 121.93 122.90 0.97 1.3 Southwest Vein
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129.41 130.46 1.05 1.0 Southwest Vein
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E11-16 Lost hole at target Southwest Vein
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E11-17 Lost hole at target Southwest Vein
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E11-18 31.05 32.06 1.01 1.5 No. 9 Vein
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34.21 34.74 0.53 1.0 No. 9 Vein
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47.06 47.63 0.57 0.7 No. 9 Vein
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E11-19 125.69 126.65 0.96 1.3 No. 9 Vein
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144.49 145.09 0.60 0.6 No. 9 Vein
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161.03 161.90 0.87 1.9 No. 9 Vein
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E11-20 21.63 23.00 1.37 1.5 No. 9 Vein
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213.71 215.23 1.52 1.2 No. 9 Vein
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Note: NSV means no significant values above 0.5g Au/t. Core lengths are
greater than true widths.
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UNDERGROUND DIAMOND DRILLING COMPOSITE ASSAY TABLE
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Core
From To length Gold
Hole no. (m) (m) (m) (g Au/t) Target
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E11-U76 41.50 42.25 1.05 0.6 West Vein
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E11-U77 NSV West Vein
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E11-U78 NSV West Vein
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E11-U79 64.93 65.65 0.72 2.7 West Vein
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E11-U80 40.53 40.94 0.41 0.5 West Vein
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89.50 91.16 1.66 4.1 West Vein
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including 90.56 91.16 0.60 9.7 West Vein
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E11-U81 NSV West Vein
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E11-U82 52.63 53.18 0.55 0.6 West Vein
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122.50 124.50 2.00 0.9 West Vein
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E11-U83 54.91 56.70 1.79 0.6 West Vein
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E11-U84 87.60 88.13 0.53 1.3 West Vein
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90.37 91.05 0.68 4.4 West Vein
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115.20 115.77 0.57 1.1 West Vein
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117.68 118.25 0.57 1.3 West Vein
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120.03 121.03 1.00 1.3 West Vein
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E11-U85 69.15 70.10 0.95 0.5 West Vein
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E11-U86 69.50 70.00 0.50 2.2 West Vein
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E11-U87 67.00 67.56 0.56 1.0 West Vein
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E11-U88 NSV West Vein
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E11-U89 38.01 38.50 0.49 0.8 West Vein
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84.62 85.10 0.48 1.0 West Vein
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E11-U90 NSV West Vein
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E11-U91 68.58 69.33 0.75 1.9 West Vein
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E11-U92 NSV West Vein
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E11-U93 35.00 35.60 0.60 8.0 West Vein
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58.60 60.10 1.50 0.8 West Vein
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E11-U94 NSV West Vein
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E11-U95 52.65 54.33 1.68 1.3 West Vein
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E11-U96 50.83 51.16 0.33 2.1 West Vein
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E11-U97 115.53 119.55 4.02 1.0 West Vein
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including 116.01 116.57 0.56 2.1 West Vein
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including 117.04 117.56 0.52 1.6 West Vein
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including 119.05 119.55 0.50 1.9 West Vein
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E11-U98 48.95 54.20 5.25 2.8 Main Vein
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including 48.95 50.60 1.65 5.4 Main Vein
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including 53.70 54.20 0.50 7.2 Main Vein
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56.55 57.55 1.00 0.7 Main Vein
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E11-U99 69.40 69.98 0.58 0.70 Main Vein
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E11-U100 NSV Main Vein
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E11-U101 91.78 94.35 2.57 1.2 Main Vein
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including 91.78 92.28 0.50 2.4 Main Vein
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including 92.81 94.35 1.54 1.1 Main Vein
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E11-U102 80.85 82.42 1.57 2.2 Main Vein
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E11-U103 81.91 82.52 0.61 1.0 Main Vein
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E11-U104 NSV Main Vein
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E11-U105 101.30 102.59 1.29 1.3 West Vein
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E11-U106 NSV West Vein
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E11-U107 110.35 110.80 0.45 1.7 Southwest Vein
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179.74 180.41 0.67 6.1 Southwest Vein
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194.70 196.20 1.50 1.3 Southwest Vein
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240.74 241.72 0.98 3.8 Southwest Vein
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E11-U108 142.88 143.60 0.72 1.3 Southwest Vein
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E11-U109 120.26 120.80 0.54 0.5 Southwest Vein
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E11-U110 5.60 6.30 0.70 1.1 Southwest Vein
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62.45 63.00 0.55 0.8 Southwest Vein
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226.67 227.18 0.51 5.5 Southwest Vein
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242.40 242.94 0.54 1.5 Southwest Vein
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Note: NSV means no significant values above 0.5g Au/t. Core lengths are
greater than true widths.
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Material samples for analysis and assay were cut in half using a diamond saw. Half of the core was sent to the lab for analysis, and the remainder preserved for future reference. The samples were analyzed for gold by standard fire assay atomic absorption finish techniques, as well as multi-element ICP on most samples. A strict QA/QC program was followed, including the use of certified pulp standards and blanks at Acme Labs in Vancouver, and verification analyses at a second laboratory.
The content of this news release has been reviewed by John P. Thompson, a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101, with the ability and authority to verify the authenticity and validity of the data herein.
About Sona Resources Corp.
Since its inception in 1990, Sona has engaged in exploration activities at its mineral properties in Canada and the United States, as well as small-scale gold production at its flagship property, the 100 percent owned Blackdome Gold Mine, in south-central British Columbia, 250 kilometres north of Vancouver. At Blackdome, the indicated mineral resources is estimated at 144,500 tonnes, grading 11.3g Au/t and containing 52,600 ounces of gold; and the inferred resource is estimated at 90,600 tonnes, grading 8.8g Au/t (news release dated May 4, 2010).
At its 100 percent owned Elizabeth Gold Deposit Property, 30 kilometres south of the Blackdome Gold Mine, Sona has outlined an inferred gold resource of 522,900 tonnes, grading 12.3g Au/t and containing 206,100 ounces of gold (news release dated June 8, 2009).
Sona aims to bring its permitted Blackdome mill back into production over the next year and a half at a rate of 200 tonnes per day, with feed from the formerly producing Blackdome Gold Mine and the Elizabeth Gold Deposit Property. A positive Preliminary Economic Assessment by Micon International Ltd. (news release dated May 28, 2010), based on a gold price of $950 per ounce over eight years, has estimated a cash cost of $208 per tonne milled, or $686 per gold ounce recovered.
Sona also holds a 100 percent interest in the Montgolfier Project, located in Quebec, 40 kilometres east of the multimillion-ounce Casa Berardi Mine gold deposit.
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, and such statements involve risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted may differ materially from actual results or events. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or any other occurrence.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Sona Resources Corp.
1 (888) 236-5200
1 (604) 684-6678 (FAX)
info@sonaresources.com
www.sonaresources.com
Marston Webb International
Victor Webb/Madlene Olson
Media Inquiries
1 (212) 684-6601
1 (212) 725-4709 (FAX)
marwebint@cs.com
