PNG Gold Corporation Intersects 32.1 g/t Au over 1.4 m and 20.2 g/t Au over 2.4 m at Imwauna Gold Project
09.02.2012 | Marketwired
Confirms the Potential for High Grade Gold Extensions at DepthVANCOUVER, Feb. 9, 2012 - PNG Gold Corporation ("PNG Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: PGK) announces the assay results for a further 21 holes from its Imwauna gold project on Normanby Island, Milne Bay Province, eastern Papua New Guinea with highlights as follows: 32.1 g/t Au over 1.4 m (IMH 217, section 10100N), approximately 150 vertical metres below surface and 20.2 g/t Au over 2.4 m (IMH 218, section 10200N), approximately 45 vertical metres below surface.
The IMH 217 intersection is the deepest mineralized intercept to date at the southern end of the deposit and confirms the depth extension potential of the Imwauna main vein system. The high grades also highlight the potential to expand the southern high grade zone along strike within the main Imwauna vein system (see illustration of section 10200N in the Company's Investor Presentation and in PNG Gold's website). The high grade vein intercept in IMH 218 appears to mark the discovery of a new vein that has not been encountered in any previous drill holes and which flanks the main vein. The discovery of this new vein is an indication that there is potential for adjacent veins to be discovered that could enhance the size of the Imwauna deposit. Drill plan can be viewed at: http://www.pnggold.com/i/pdf/Imwauna_EL1091_Feb2012.pdf.
Table 1 illustrates the high grade nature of these new drill results; complete results are given in Table 2 appended to this release.
Table 1: Highlights of Results
Hole Section Core length (m)* Au (g/t) Ag (g/t)
IMH 217 10100N 1.4 32.1 38.6
IMH 218 10200N 2.4 20.2 23.3
IMH 219 10475N 1.0 31.3 49.9
IMH 221 10550N 0.9 11.2 14.6
and 1.0 12.1 10.5
and 0.9 11.8 39.4
IMH 229 10450N 0.6 10.0 9.1
*core lengths are not true thicknesses which have yet to be determined
Of the 19 holes sampled for assaying purposes and reported in this release, five contain intercepts that exceed 10 g/t Au. There was no visible gold noted in the logging of any of the holes reported, and, as a result, we have confidence that assay results are reproducible. Mineralized veins have typical epithermal vein textures and may carry minor, finely disseminated pyrite, particularly in the deeper intersections. Geochemical analyses of As and Pb with this group of samples generally showed low levels of these metals and did not exhibit a correlation of either element with elevated gold values. Holes IMH 220 and IMH 222 were drilled for geotechnical purposes and were designed to evaluate the stability of the host rock within the mine adit area for mine design purposes. IMH 220 did cut the Imwauna vein and sample results will be reported in a subsequent release; IMH 222 did not penetrate to the veins and was not sampled.
Assays for the remaining 12 holes of the 2011 exploration program are in transit to the assay lab in Australia and will be reported in due course.
Dick Whittington, President and CEO, advises, "We are very encouraged by the extension of the southern high grade zone at depth within the main Imwauna vein system, and even more encouraged that results from IMH 218 indicate that we have potentially discovered an adjacent, high grade vein with new exploration potential. And, as with drilling results nearer to surface, low sulphidation is still occurring - even at these depths. As we have yet to drill the promising Kela's prospect, our excitement for the exploration potential of the Imwauna property continues."
Ongoing Drilling Programme - Imwauna and Kela's Vein Systems
Drilling continues on the Imwauna deposit primarily to explore the continuation of the mineralized veins at depth. Two drills are presently working on the Imwauna project, and, immediately upon completion of a water project in the Kela's watershed (west draining), one rig will be deployed to Kela's prospect to commence a planned 5000 m drill program. The Kela's vein system is sub-parallel to, and approximately 650 m west of, the Imwauna deposit and no previous drilling has been done on the prospect. Kela's exploration to date has been confined to mapping of the vein system and by numerous trenches along its 1.2 km strike length. Previous results demonstrated the presence of gold mineralized veins in float and bedrock in the trenches all within an extensive gold-in-soil anomaly. The Company intends to fully evaluate the potential of this exciting vein system. Trench assays can be viewed at: http://www.pnggold.com/i/maps/imwauna_trench_results.jpg.
Logging, Sampling and Assaying Procedures
All holes drilled by PNG Gold are collared using HQ triple tube drill tools. A few holes have been reduced to NQ size at depth in the hole in order to continue the hole. Geotechnical measurements such as core recovery, fracturing and veining, rock quality designations (RQD's), hardness and photographic logging are performed systematically prior to sampling and assaying. The core is logged, samples selected by PNG Gold geologists then systematically sawn in half at the site. The one half core sample is numbered then sealed in a bag and delivered by PNG Gold to its base in Alotau where the samples are palletized and placed in secure storage prior shipment to ALS Chemex in Townsville, Australia. The other core half is retained on the site.
Core samples are dried, crushed and pulverized to 85% passing through a 75 micron mesh. The pulps are assayed for gold and silver using a 50 g split, Fire Assay (FA) and AA finish. Analyses were also carried out for the trace elements As and Pb. Rejects and pulps are stored at the lab for future reference.
Quality Assurance / Quality control (QA/QC)
The ALS Chemex lab is an ISO 9001:2008 qualified assayer that performs and makes available internal assaying controls. Duplicates, certified standards and blanks are systematically used as part of PNG Gold's QA/QC program. The company also inserts blind standards with each sample batch at the rate of about 1:10. Periodically duplicate pulps are assayed at a second independent certified assay lab. The duplicate assays are compared to original assays for reproducibility and lab bias.
Qualified Person
Mr. Colin McKenzie, P.Geo and COO of PNG Gold Corporation is a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.
About the Imwauna Gold Deposit
The Imwauna exploration license is located on the north side of Normanby Island approximately 80 km northeast of Alotau, the provincial capital of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Alotau is serviced by daily flights from Port Moresby, the national capital, and scheduled coastal freighters. PNG Gold maintains a logistics base in Alotau to supply the Normanby Island site.
The Imwauna prospect is an epithermal, low sulphidation quartz vein system comprising two principal veins, the thicker, more continuous Main vein and the East vein. The mineralized veins consist of finely crystalline quartz, white to grey in colour and display typical epithermal textures such as vugs, dog tooth crystals and fine, chalcedonic layering. Sulphides are rare to absent although some deeper intersections contain a few percent of fine pyrite. Vein margins are often brecciated and re-sealed with silica.
Historic exploration drilling in 178 drill holes (see PNG Gold Corp Technical Report, November 30, 2010 on SEDAR) has outlined a narrow zone of gold mineralization over a strike length of at least 900 m to an average vertical depth of about 100 m. Widths are usually 1 to 3 m in the Main vein but less in the East vein. The drilling program is designed to extend the deposit to depth and obtain sufficient information to support a new resource estimate, now scheduled for the second quarter 2012.
About PNG Gold Corporation
PNG Gold Corporation is an exploration company with an advanced stage drilling program in Papua New Guinea. PNG Gold holds a 100% interest in the Imwauna and Sehulea properties on Normanby Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PGK. PNG Gold's mission is to become the premier exploration and development company in Papua New Guinea.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
J.R.H. (Dick) Whittington
President & CEO
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to matters such as results of exploration and development of the Normanby Property and completion of financing and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of PNG Gold, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, financial market conditions, dependence upon regulatory and shareholder approvals, and the uncertainty of completing intended financing and obtaining additional financing. Exploration of mineral properties is subject to the inherent risk that it may not result in commercial discovery. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of forward-looking statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. PNG Gold expressly disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained herein except as required by applicable law.
Table 2: Imwauna Assay Results - IMH 217 to IMH 237
Hole ID Easting Northing Elev (m) Dip Azimuth From (m) To (m) Vein Length (m)* Au (g/t) Ag (g/t)
IMH217 288791.3 8886577.5 566.3 -60 100 187.1 188.5 1.4 32.1 38.6
IMH218 288848.0 8886663.3 537.1 -70 100 57.8 60.2 2.4 20.2 23.3
IMH219 289052.9 8886881.3 498.5 -55 100 60.6 61.6 1.0 31.3 49.9
IMH220 289282.6 8887088.3 396.7 0 260 Geotech hole - Results pending
IMH221 289073.9 8886953.5 482.2 -50 100 29.9 31.5 1.6 8.3 11.2
and 60.6 61.6 1.0 12.05 10.5
and 79.5 81.3 1.8 8.2 22.9
IMH222 289282.6 8887088.3 396.9 -20 260 Geotech hole - no samples
IMH223 289073.0 8886953.9 482.3 -70 100 39.8 40.0 0.2 3.67 4.0
IMH224 289122.9 8887254.9 468.2 -75 100 nsv
IMH225 288912.4 8886772.9 551.0 -70 100 32.5 33.0 0.5 2.63 73.9
IMH226 288936.0 8886765.0 549.1 -60 100 143.0 144.4 1.4 4.30 3.8
IMH227 289049.0 8886759.0 529.0 -70 100 172.3 172.7 0.4 2.95 1.5
IMH228 288931.0 8886759.0 556.0 -50 280 nsv
IMH229 288965.0 8886879.0 523.0 -70 100 176.8 177.4 0.6 9.97 9.1
IMH230 289072.0 8887111.0 527.0 -50 100 nsv
IMH231 288977.0 8886867.0 512.0 -70 100 169.0 170.2 1.2 1.27 3.8
IMH232 289081.0 8887005.0 504.0 -50 100 68.8 69.2 0.4 6.86 5.6
and 73.0 73.7 0.7 5.79 14.4
IMH233 289081.0 8887006.0 504.0 -70 100 65.8 66.8 1.0 4.71 10.3
and 103.65 105.90 1.25 2.79 4.1
IMH234 289063.0 8887120.0 527.0 -70 100 nsv
IMH235 288989.0 8886984.0 503.0 -70 100 nsv
IMH236 0289282 8887088 397.0 -20 280 42.00 42.70 0.70 1.22 19.7
IMH237 0288905 8886657 560.0 -70 100 Results to be repeated1
nsv = no significant values
* true thicknesses have yet to be determined
1. Core recovery within an apparently 20 m zone of multiple quartz veins in IMH 237 was poor and the condition of the core very broken and rubbly prior to sampling. The company intends to re-drill this zone in order to obtain better quality samples for confirmation of the width and grade of the veins.
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Contact Information
PNG Gold Corporation
Dick Whittington, President and CEO
(604) 669-4899
(604) 685-2345 (FAX)
www.pnggold.com
