Antares Intersects 189 m with 0.70% Cu and 0.67 g/t Au at Sofia North
Zone of Rio Grande Copper-Gold Project, Argentina
September 14, 2007, Waterdown, ON - Antares Minerals Inc. ("Antares", ANM.TSX-V) is pleased to announce the results from the initial eight holes (3,574 m) completed of the ongoing 15,000 m drilling program at the Rio Grande copper-gold project in northwestern Argentina. A total of 21 holes (9,607 m) has been completed to date and three drill rigs are currently drilling. Assay results are pending for the remainder of the completed holes and will be reported in subsequent press releases.
The eight holes reported in this release were completed in the Sofia and Discovery zones and were primarily drilled to test for extensions of mineralization to depth and along strike. Seven of the eight holes intersected copper-gold mineralization but the highlight of the program has been drill-hole RGA-07-34 at the northern end of the Sofia zone (please see table 1 below and refer to the Antares website at www.antaresminerals.com for drill-hole location maps and sections).
Drill-hole RGA-07-34 intersected a 189 m interval with 0.70% Cu and 0.67 g/t Au commencing at a depth of 140 m. This is the best intersection to date at the Rio Grande project. The hole is located immediately to the northwest of the two previous best holes: RGA-06-26, 150 m to the south (158 m with 0.46% Cu and 0.51 g/t Au) and RGA-06-24, 180 m to the southeast (128 m with 0.47% Cu and 0.71 g/t Au). RGA-07-30 was drilled to the west of RGA-06-26 to test for down dip extension of mineralization and encountered narrower zones of mineralization with higher grades (17 m with 0.69% Cu and 0.94 g/t Au). The mineralization in RGA-07-34 was encountered at a shallower depth than anticipated and remains open to the west and north.
John Black, President and CEO of Antares Minerals Inc. commented as follows:
"We are very pleased with the results from the first few holes of the current drilling campaign at Rio Grande. The drilling continues to define a large zone of copper-gold mineralization at the now continuous Discovery-Sofia zones. More importantly, the strong and relatively near-surface intercept in RGA-07-34 has extended the zone of higher grade copper-gold mineralization at the northern end of Sofia zone an additional 150 m to the north. This is the best drill intercept to date at Rio Grande and there is room to extend the mineralization to the west and north towards the North zone target area. Drilling is currently focused on completing holes into the previously untested North zone. We look forward to providing additional results in the near future."
Antares Rio Grande Drilling 2007 - Significant Intervals |
|
|
Discovery and Sofia Zones |
|
Drill Hole |
Zone |
Total depth (m) |
Significant Interval (m) |
Includes (m) |
Length (m) |
Cu % |
Au g/t |
|
RGA-07-29 |
Sofia-Discovery |
387.00 |
160.5-200 |
|
39.5 |
0.29 |
0.29 |
|
|
connection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RGA-07-30 |
Sofia |
700.80 |
425-436.6 |
|
11.6 |
0.37 |
0.33 |
|
|
deep |
|
491-508 |
|
17 |
0.69 |
0.95 |
|
RGA-07-31 |
Sofia-Discovery |
300.80 |
72-84 |
|
12 |
0.28 |
0.33 |
|
|
connection |
|
98-158 |
|
60 |
0.24 |
0.32 |
|
RGA-07-32 |
Discovery |
665.00 |
306.3-338 |
|
31.7 |
0.41 |
0.30 |
|
|
deep |
|
348-362 |
|
14 |
0.49 |
0.38 |
|
|
|
|
564-575.35 |
|
11.35 |
0.30 |
0.29 |
|
RGA-07-33 |
Discovery |
266.15 |
no significant intervals |
|
|
|
|
|
south |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RGA-07-34 |
Sofia |
541.00 |
140-329 |
|
189 |
0.70 |
0.67 |
|
|
north |
|
|
145.85-173 |
27.15 |
1.16 |
1.59 |
|
|
|
|
|
241-253 |
12 |
2.20 |
1.85 |
|
RGA-07-35 |
Discovery |
302.65 |
103-133 |
|
30 |
0.32 |
0.21 |
|
|
south |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RGA-07-36 |
Discovery |
566.00 |
assays pending - will be reported next release |
|
|
|
deep |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RGA-07-37 |
Discovery |
410.45 |
188-201 |
|
13 |
0.30 |
0.35 |
|
|
south |
|
217-231 |
|
14 |
0.25 |
0.20 |
|
|
|
|
237-257 |
|
20 |
0.36 |
0.21 |
|
Discussion of Results
The objectives of the current 15,000 m program are (1) to follow-up on encouraging results from previous drilling campaigns in the Sofia and Discovery Zones, (2) to drill test the remaining two-thirds of the system that has not been adequately explored to date, and (3) to provide an initial drill test of the satellite Northeast Target which bears geological and geochemical similarities to the nearby Lindero gold deposit owned 100% by Mansfield.
The eight holes reported in this release were completed in the Sofia and Discovery zones and were primarily drilled to test for extensions of mineralization to depth and along strike. They complete a series of ten drill sections located at approximately 150 intervals along the 1500 m strike length of the combined zones. Each section contains two to three drill holes. These drill holes confirm that mineralization at the Sofia-Discovery zone occurs as an accurate zone that dips steeply to the west and northw
est (approx 70 degrees) towards the center of the Rio Grande system with a true width of approximately 80-150 m. Reported mineralized intervals represent down-hole lengths and not true thicknesses. However, all holes are drilled to the east or south at angles of minus 60-80 degrees to intersect the mineralized zones at relatively high angles.
Copper-gold mineralization at Rio Grande is hosted by a complex sequence of intermediate sub-volcanic intrusive rocks with variable degrees of potassic, calcic, and propylitic alteration and local late to post-mineral intermediate dikes. The mineralization originally consisted primarily as chalcopyrite and magnetite as disseminations and fracture fillings. The chalcopyrite has subsequently been partially to completely oxidized to green and black copper oxides to depths of up to 300-400 m. Oxidation is typically in situ with little to no remobilization of copper.
Drill-hole RGA-07-34 was completed on the northernmost drill fence at the Sofia North zone and intersected a 189 m interval with 0.70% Cu and 0.67 g/t Au commencing at a depth of 140 m. This is the best intersection to date at the Rio Grande project. The hole is located immediately to the northwest of the two previous best holes: RGA-06-26, 150 m to the south (158 m with 0.46% Cu and 0.51 g/t Au) and RGA-06-24, 180 m to the southeast (128 m with 0.47% Cu and 0.71 g/t Au). RGA-07-30 was drilled to the west of RGA-06-26 to test for down dip extension of mineralization and encountered narrower zones of sulphide mineralization with higher grades (17 m with 0.69% Cu and 0.94 g/t Au). The mineralization in RGA-07-34 was encountered at a shallower depth than anticipated and remains open to the west and north.
Drill holes RGA-07-29 and RGA-07-31 were drilled to fill the untested area between the Sofia and Discovery zones. These holes intersected narrower zones of low-grade copper-gold mineralization and demonstrate that the Sofia and Discovery zones are connected.
Drill-hole RGA-07-32 was collared to test for the down dip extension of mineralization in the Discovery zone. The hole intersected numerous 5-30 metre intervals of moderate-grade copper-gold mineralization over a length of several hundred metres. Down-hole surveys indicate the hole is strongly deviated and may not have completed tested the target area. This hole will be re-drilled and efforts are underway to minimize hole deviation in the future.
RGA-07-33, GRA-07-35, and RGA-07-37 were all drilled to test for a southwestward extension of the discovery zone. They encountered several narrow zones of copper-gold mineralization but generally indicate that the Discovery zone is terminating to the southwest.
About the Rio Grande Project, Salta Province, Argentina
The Rio Grande project is very favorably located along the prominent northwest-trending Archibarca Lineament which also controls the location of the world-class giant Escondida porphyry copper deposit 150 km to the northwest in Chile. The Rio Grande project shares many geologic similarities with the Bajo de Alumbrera porphyry copper-gold deposit which is located along a similar northwest-trending regional structural lineament approximately 300 km to the south.
Copper-gold mineralization at Rio Grande occurs within a distinct two-km diameter ring fracture zone defined by IP chargeability as well as copper and gold soil geochemical anomalies. Exploration to date has focused on the better exposed Discovery and Sofia zones along the south-eastern portion of the system. Drilling and trenching in these areas has defined a copper-gold mineralized zone 1500 m long, 80-200 m wide, with a minimum depth of 200 m. Mineralization remains open in both directions along strike and to depth. An extensive trenching program completed by Antares earlier this year was successful in identifying additional drill targets on the property.
Antares is earning a 50% interest in the Rio Grande project pursuant to an agreement with Mansfield Minerals Inc. ("Mansfield", MDR.TSX-V). Antares has recently completed the required expenditures and payments and plans to vest in its 50% interest in the property shortly. Antares and Mansfield will formalize a definitive joint venture agreement in the near future to fund ongoing development at Rio Grande on a 50/50 basis with Antares as the operator.
About Antares
Antares is focused on the acquisition and exploration of precious and base-metal exploration properties in Latin America that can be quickly and cost-effectively advanced to the discovery and production stage. In addition to the Rio Grande copper-gold project in Argentina, Antares is aggressively advancing the Haquira SX-EW copper project in south-central Peru, immediately adjacent to the Las Bambas copper project of Xstrata Copper. The Haquira project hosts an inferred mineral resource, at a 0.3% total copper cut-off grade, of 156.3 million tonnes grading 0.49% copper amenable to SX-EW processing (leachable copper oxides and secondary sulphides only). See Antares press release dated February 14, 2006. An additional 97 drill holes were completed in late 2006 and an updated resource estimate will be completed in the third quarter of 2007. Antares has also recently announced the discovery of high-grade primary porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold mineralization bene
ath the secondary copper blanket at the Haquira East zone (see press releases of 12 July and 9 August, 2007) Antares has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Haquira project from Minera Phelps Dodge del Peru S.A.C.
For further information: please visit our website at www.antaresminerals.com or contact:
Antares Minerals Inc.:
John Black, President and CEO
(720) 514-9036 office
(303) 618-7797 cellular
john.black@antaresminerals.com
or
Mark Wayne, CFO
(403) 705-4968
Renmark Financial Communications Inc.:
John Boidman: boidman@renmarkfinancial.com
Jason Roy: jroy@renmarkfinancial.com
Media - Eva Jura: ejura@renmarkfinancial.com
Tel. : (514) 939-3989
Fax : (514) 939-3717
www.renmarkfinancial.com.
Broadgate Consultants, LLC:
Alan Oshiki: aoshiki@broadgate.com Tel: (212) 232-2354.
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
All of Antares' exploration programs and pertinent disclosure of a technical or scientific nature are prepared by, or prepared under the direct supervision of John Black, Antares' President, who serves as the qualified person (QP) under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101. Antares' security, chain of custody and quality control is described on their website and can be reviewed at: www.antaresminerals.com/bestpractices_samplingmethodologies.asp.
Mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability and future in-fill drilling and scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies will determine what percentage of the inferred resource can be placed into the mineable category. Antares is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other issue which may materially affect this estimate of mineral resources.
CERTAIN DISCLOSURE IN THIS RELEASE, INCLUDING MANAGEMENT'S ASSESSMENT OF ANTARES' PLANS AND PROJECTS, CONSTITUTES FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO NUMEROUS RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS RELATING TO ANTARES' OPERATION AS A MINERAL EXPLORATION COMPANY THAT MAY CAUSE FUTURE RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. READERS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.