Northwestern reports results from Mexican silver-gold project
Thursday April 21, 9:17 am ET
TORONTO, April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Northwestern Mineral Ventures Inc. (TSX-V: NWT - News; OTCBB: NWTMF - News) announces completion of a first phase exploration program on the 17,826-hectare (44,015-acre) silver-gold Tango project. The program consisted of prospecting, geological mapping and geochemical sampling. The property lies approximately 45 kilometers (30 miles) south of the Picachos silver-gold property which forms part of NWT's portfolio of Mexican properties held under option from RNC Gold Inc. ("RNC") and 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) northeast of Rosario, Sinaloa, within the Rosario Mining District, one of several gold- silver camps in the Mexican Ignimbrite Belt. The concession is located around the now inactive San Augustin Mine and several other mineral showings in the Zona Minera Santa Maria of the Rosario Mining District.
Analysis of 217 rock samples and 502 soil reconnaissance samples have outlined a broad, continuous gold-in-soil anomaly which is more than 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) long and 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) wide overlying felsic volcanic rocks. Values for gold, copper, arsenic, lead, zinc, vanadium and manganese are markedly anomalous in both the soil and rock samples. Half of the soil samples have gold concentrations above 15 ppb gold, and five percent of soil samples contain more than 763 ppb gold.
Distribution statistics for metals in all rock samples from the Tango property.
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Au Ag Cu(x) Fe(x) Pb(x) Zn(x) As
g/t g/t % % % % ppm
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50th Percentile 0.1 3.0 0.03 3.2 0.08 0.13 31.5
75th Percentile 2.0 9.0 0.13 4.8 0.29 0.53 101.3
90th Percentile 8.7 54.8 0.4 7.4 0.78 1.12 447.8
95th Percentile 19.2 112.4 1.0 8.3 1.28 2.27 1234.3
98th Percentile 23.7 328.4 2.7 11.6 5.83 5.42 1976.0
Max 88.4 682.0 24.6 20.0 14.72 14.14 2576.0
Average 3.0 26.2 0.4 3.9 0.5 0.6 193.1
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N(equal sign)217 samples
(x)Base metals assays pending for some samples as upper detection limits
exceeded.
Distribution statistics for selected metals in soil samples from the
Tango Property.
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Au Ag Cu Fe Pb Zn As
ppb ppm Ppm % ppm Ppm ppm
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50th Percentile 15.5 0.3 42.7 3.1 67.0 146.3 12.2
75th Percentile 71.7 0.5 105.5 4.0 238.9 493.0 19.2
90th Percentile 318.4 1.1 172.4 5.5 776.0 1822.1 33.5
95th Percentile 762.9 1.8 249.4 6.0 1502.0 2693.9 48.7
98th Percentile 1820.4 6.0 935.2 6.5 2455.4 4378.1 89.2
Max 15537.6 greater 3406.6 8.0 greater greater 2155.1
than than than
100 10000 10000
Average 196.6 0.9 114.7 3.3 320.64 598.5 27.12
AVG. Crust 3 0.08 68 6.3 10 79 2.1
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N(equal sign)502 samples
Many of the old workings are located on oxidized fault zones. Limited channel sample data from Mina la Gloria historical working indicated values of 9.4 g/t gold across 0.8 meters (2.6 feet). The ore contains values of copper and arsenic, suggesting that primary sulfide mineralization includes enargite, a characteristic mineral of high-sulfidation epithermal gold deposits. The highest grades on the property come from the NNW trending Carmen I and II structures. On the Carmen I vein, values of 54 g/t gold and 134 g/t silver were obtained from quartz-specularite mineralization across 0.4 meters (1.3 feet). There are several alteration styles observed on the property, but the most important are advanced argillic assemblages associated with gold and base metals.
All these characteristics suggest that the Tango claim/project may overlie a significant high-sulfidation epithermal gold system with both bulk tonnage and high-grade vein potential.
Soil samples were collected using a NW oriented survey grid. The slope corrected map distance between samples was 25 meters (82 feet). Lines were spaced every 100 meters (328 feet) to the southwest of the base line and 200 meters (656 feet) to the northwest of the base line. Approximately one kilogram of B horizon soil was collected from 20-30 centimeter (8-12 inch) deep pits using a shovel. Several of the rock samples were collected as channel samples across some of the old mine workings. Approximately two kilograms of crushed rock was bagged from a mixed 10 kilogram chip samples taken across the rock faces. Rock and soil samples were prepared at ACME laboratories in Guadalajara, Mexico and sent to ACME laboratories in Vancouver for analysis. Rocks samples were analyzed using a 30 gram fire assay for gold and silver, and multi-element ICP analysis of a 0.5 gram split. Soil samples were analyzed by ICP-MS methods for 31 elements including gold and silver using 0.5 grams of samples dissolved in hot aqua regia. For a more representative gold analysis, a 15 gram split is used.
Under the terms of an option agreement with RNC Gold Inc ("RNC"), Northwestern Mineral Ventures Inc. ("NWT") is to invest a minimum $1,500,000 CDN on exploration expenditures prior to December 31, 2006 and prepare a bankable feasibility study. Upon completion of a bankable feasibility, NWT and RNC will each have 50% equity in the portfolio. RNC is the operator of the exploration program and will be the operator of any mine developed. Minera Camargo S.A. de C.V., the original vendor, retains a 2.5% NSR royalty subject to certain provisions including a buy out clause for half of the royalty and continues to provide exploration services during the earn-in phase of the agreement. RNC is the operator of the project.
The qualified person for RNC is Denis Francoeur, M.Sc., P.Geo. (No. 0781) of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN:
Northwestern Mineral Ventures (
www.northwestmineral.com) is an emerging international exploration company with an experienced management team. The company is focused on properties with potential uranium and iron-oxide copper-gold targets and currently has interests in Mexico's Durango and Sinaloa provinces and Canada's Northwest Territories. Northwestern is listed on the NASD Bulletin Board under the symbol "NWTMF" and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NWT."
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
This news release includes certain "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital.
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Source: Northwestern Mineral Ventures Inc