VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 7, 2011) - Trevali Mining Corporation ("Trevali" or the "Company") (TSX:TV)(OTCQX:TREVF)(FRANKFURT:4TI)(BVLAC:TV) is pleased to announce that resource expansion drilling continues to extend known mineralization at the Magistral North and South deposits on the Santander Mine Development Project in west-central Peru. Drill-hole SAN-173, an aggressive step-out exploration hole, has successfully doubled the depth extent of mineralization at Magistral North to approximately 750 metres below surface returning up to 2.65 metres of 8.42% zinc, 3.2% lead and 5.5 oz/T (187.8 g/t) silver. At Magistral South, hole SAN-174 intersected a thick interval of replacement mineralization (grading up to 8.06% zinc over 13.2 metres) between the Magistral Central and South deposits, suggesting the two bodies may be linked at depth.
SIGNIFICANT INTERCEPTS
Mineralization in SAN-173 is 730 metres vertically below ground surface and approximately 120 vertical metres deeper than lowest level mined in the historic Santander Pipe (Figure 1 and Table 1). Also of note are the highly anomalous replacement silver values from the massive sulphide manto – indicative of the existence of a large, robust, (silver) polymetallic mineralizing system.
Hole SAN-174 extends mineralization at Magistral South approximately 95 metres down plunge from the previous deepest intercept. The Magistral Central deposit is only 75 metres to the north of hole SAN-174 suggesting the two deposits may merge at depth.
TABLE 1 – SUMMARY ASSAY RESULTS |
|
|
Depth |
Down |
|
|
|
|
Zone / Borehole |
From-To |
hole |
|
|
|
|
(dip / azimuth) |
(meters) |
Interval* |
Ag g/t-(oz/T) |
Pb % |
Zn % |
Cu % |
Magistral Central SAN-0170 (-57.8° / 69.4°) |
519.4-520.8 |
1.40m |
26.6-(0.8) |
0.07 |
2.23 |
0.04 |
Tested northern limit of Magistral Central deposit. |
Puajanca North SAN-171 & 172 |
Orientations (dip/azimuth): -4.0° / 85.9° and -4.6° / 100° |
No significant mineralization. |
Magistral North SAN-173 (-80.6° / 76°) |
688.6-697.95 |
9.35m |
18.9-(0.5) |
0.34 |
1.31 |
0.03 |
721.4-769.25 |
47.85m |
27.4-(0.8) |
0.35 |
1.22 |
0.02 |
Inc. 734.85-737.5 |
2.65m |
187.8-(5.5) |
3.21 |
8.42 |
0.1 |
Inc. 753.6-762.05 |
8.45m |
39.6-(1.2) |
0.48 |
1.31 |
0.03 |
Inc. 765.05-769.25 |
4.20m |
27.8-(0.8) |
0.24 |
2.90 |
0.04 |
Magistral South SAN-174 (-57.3° / 60.6°) |
435.3-448.5 |
13.2m |
3.2-(0.1) |
0.00 |
8.06 |
0.14 |
*true width is estimated to approximately 80-90% of reported interval |
TARGET DETAILS
MAGISTRAL NORTH:
Drill hole SAN-0173 is the deepest drill hole to date on the Santander property. The hole successfully intersected a broad zone of disseminated sulphide and vein mineralization within the lower portions of the Oyon Formation (typically a poor host unit in the district). In addition a high grade replacement manto in the underlying Chulec Formation limestone was intersected. The drill hole extends the vertical depth of known mineralization at Magistral North to approximately 711-755 metres below ground surface, effectively doubling the depth of known mineralization where it remains open for expansion. Of particular note are the anomalously high silver grades which are indicative of a large silver-rich polymetallic system.
MAGISTRAL CENTRAL:
Drill hole SAN-170 intersected a narrow zone of replacement mineralization at the northern edge of the Magistral Central deposit. The intercept is approximately 450 metres vertically below ground surface and marks the northern limit of the Magistral Central deposit at this depth.
MAGISTRAL SOUTH:
Drill hole SAN-174 returned 13.2 metres of massive sulphide mineralization and extends the mineralized body at Magistral South approximately 80 metres northwestward along strike. The intensity of skarn alteration continues to increase with depth along the deposit's WNW plunge. The intersection further validates the modeled plunge of the deposit and lends credence to the interpreted merger of the Magistral South and Central bodies at depth (Fig 1).
PUANJANCA NORTH:
Drill holes SAN-171 and 172 tested the subsurface expression of moderate to high-grade silver-lead veining at Puajanca North. Both holes failed to intersect significant mineralization and do not adequately explain the strong continuity of mineralization seen at surface.
FUTURE WORK:
A down-hole EM and surface geophysical program (Induced Polarization) is underway to aid in refining targets prior to additional drilling. Mineralization on the Santander property is highly conductive and down-hole EM should allow for the detection of and vectoring towards sulphide mineralization up to several hundred metres away from the drill hole.
To view Figure 1 please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/TV0907.pdf
ABOUT TREVALI MINING CORPORATION
Trevali is advancing two polymetallic (zinc-lead-silver-copper) deposits to production in Canada and Peru – the Halfmile and Santander projects respectively. In Canada, Trevali has the Halfmile and Stratmat polymetallic deposits near Bathurst, New Brunswick, and the Ruttan copper-zinc deposit in northern Manitoba. Mine development is underway at Halfmile with a proposed production rate of 2,000-tonnes-per-day anticipated to commence in late 2011. In Peru, the Company has the Santander zinc-lead-silver mine project and the formerly-producing Huampar silver mine, both located in the Central Peruvian Polymetallic Belt.
At Santander, in conjunction with Glencore International A.G., mine commissioning is anticipated to commence at 2,000-tonne-per-day in early 2012 with full production to follow immediately thereafter. Additionally through its subsidiary Trevali Renewable Energy Inc., Trevali is undertaking a significant upgrade of its wholly-owned Tingo run-of-river hydroelectric generating facility along with transmission line upgrades and extensions to allow, in addition to supplying power to the mining operation on the property, the potential sale of surplus power into the Peruvian National Energy Grid.
The common shares of Trevali are listed on the TSX (symbol TV), the OTCQX (symbol TREVF) and on the Lima Stock Exchange (symbol TV). For further details on Trevali, readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.trevali.com) and to Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Qualified Person and Quality Control/Quality Assurance
EurGeol Dr. Mark D. Cruise, Trevali's President and CEO and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Dr. Cruise is not independent of the Company, as he is an officer and shareholder.
The work programs at Santander were designed by, and are supervised by, Mark D. Cruise, President & CEO, Trevali, Tim Kingsley (Senior Geologist) and Tansy O'Connor-Parsons (Chief Geochemist), who together are responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance programs. On-site personnel at the project rigorously collect and track samples which are then security sealed and shipped to ACME Laboratories, Vancouver, for assay. ACME's quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025: 1999. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. Quality control is further assured by the use of international and in-house standards. Blind certified reference material is inserted at regular intervals into the sample sequence by Trevali personnel in order to independently assess analytical accuracy. Finally, representative blind duplicate samples are routinely forwarded to ACME and an ISO compliant third party laboratory for additional quality control.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of TREVALI MINING CORP.
Mark D. Cruise, President
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Company's plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results and the company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation to, update such statements containing the forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to statements as to: the accuracy of estimated mineral reserves and resources, anticipated results of future exploration, and forecast future metal prices, anticipated results of future electrical sales and expectations that environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, political, marketing or other issues will not materially affect estimates of mineral reserves. These statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies.
These statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in spot and forward markets for silver, zinc, base metals and certain other commodities (such as natural gas, fuel oil and electricity); fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Peruvian sol versus the U.S. dollar); risks related to the technological and operational nature of the Company's business; changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and political or economic developments in Canada, the United States, Peru or other countries where the Company may carry on business in the future; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); risks relating to the credit worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other parties with whom the Company does business; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining,; diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves as properties are mined; global financial conditions; business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, the Company; the Company's ability to complete and successfully integrate acquisitions and to mitigate other business combination risks; challenges to, or difficulty in maintaining, the Company's title to properties and continued ownership thereof; the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, and changes in project parameters to deal with unanticipated economic or other factors; increased competition in the mining industry for properties, equipment, qualified personnel, and their costs. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty or reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
The TSX has not approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.