Northgate Minerals
Intersects 4.31 Grams per Tonne Gold Over 79.6 Metres at Young-Davidson
Hole YD11-234B
Intersects One of the Best Intervals Ever Drilled on the Property
TORONTO,
June 7, 2011 /CNW/ - Northgate
Minerals Corporation (TSX: NGX, NYSE Amex: NXG) is pleased to report
that Hole YD11-234B in the YD West zone intersected 4.31 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 79.6 metres (m)
(estimated true thickness is 55.0 m), including 5.66 g/t over 49.9 m. The YD
West zone is a newly discovered zone, just west of the currently known
reserves at Young-Davidson
in northern Ontario.
Hole YD11-234B is one of the best intervals ever intersected on the property
and follows on the excellent results received since Discovery Hole YD10-198
intersected 3.46 g/t over 79.5 m last year.
Hole YD11-234B and YD West Zone Highlights
- Hole YD11-234B returned 4.31 g/t
gold over 79.6 m.
- The hole contains a higher
grade section of 5.66 g/t over 49.9 m at the base (footwall) of the
zone.
- This new intersection is located about
130 m above and 55 m east of Discovery Hole YD10-198.
Both 234B and 198 are in a new gold zone west of the currently defined
reserves and resources, confirming the fault offset model relating the
YD West zone to the main Young-Davidson
orebody.
- Hole YD11-234B and YD10-198 are
amongst the highest grade-thickness intervals intersected to date on the
property. The zone remains open up and down dip and to the west.
- Two diamond drills continue to explore in the
YD West zone area.
"Exploration at Young-Davidson
continues to achieve outstanding results as recent drilling has returned one
of the best holes ever intersected on the property" Ken Stowe,
President and Chief Executive Officer, remarked..
"While last year's Hole 198 was very exciting resulting in the
discovery of the YD West zone, Hole 234B is equally exciting, confirming the
fault offset model along the western edge of the Young-Davidson
deposit. The results of this and other higher-grade follow-up holes in
2011 underline the tremendous potential to expand the currently known
2.8 million ounces of reserves1 on the property, which will
ultimately extend the initial 15-year mine-life or increase the average
annual gold output when production commences in 2012."
Diamond Drill Program
The purpose of the 2011 diamond drill program on the
west flank of the Young-Davidson
deposit is to explore for new resources west of a major north-south trending diabase dyke that appeared to have truncated the
zone. To date, seven holes have intersected the YD West zone and all
but one has returned ore-grade intersections. This is a technically
challenging area to drill due the depths of the holes and the presence of
poor drilling conditions within ultramafic flows located well into the
hanging wall. The target is blind due to its depth and thick younger post
mineral Proterozoic sedimentary cover. Therefore, geology in the area is
being interpreted as drill holes are completed. A number of drill holes
have potential intercepts that have been either partially or completely
"dyked out" by diabase
at zone horizon (i.e. either occupies the entire width of the auriferous zone
or a substantial part of the zone (see Figures 1 and 2, Holes 234, 234A and
239)). Currently, a hole is being drilled perpendicular to the exploration
holes in the YD West area in order to resolve the location and
correlation of the north-south trending diabase
dykes. An improved understanding of the diabase
dykes in the YD West zone will provide a more accurate resource model to be
generated at year-end.
Hole YD11-234B instills confidence that the YD West
zone is a highly prospective area evident from thick auriferous intersections
in drill Holes 198 and 234B. Other drill holes (198A, 198B and 234)
also had very significant gold intercepts (see Table 1 below for complete
results). The gold mineralization here is hosted in mildly-hematitic coarse grained syenite
with quartz vein stockwork and pyrite
mineralization, which is similar to what is observed in the main Young-Davidson
deposit.
This new YD West intersection is considered
significant as this zone is open up and down dip and to the west.
The YD West zone appears to have excellent potential to add
significant gold resources to the project. Two diamond drills continue to
focus on the YD West target until a sufficient number of intercepts have been
obtained to estimate an initial resource by the end of the year. Subsequent
drilling will focus on a broader scale to explore the limits of the zone
towards the west.
Overview of Young-Davidson Exploration Area
Gold mineralization on the Young-Davidson
property is present primarily in an intrusive syenite
host rock dipping at approximately 70 degrees to the south. Figure 1
illustrates a longitudinal view of the YD West zone with current reserves
illustrated in dark red to the east.
Figure 1 - YD West Zone-Longitudinal Section
www.northgateminerals.com/Theme/Northgate/files/Releases/2011/234B Fig1.JPG
Figure 2 - 9300m Level Plan
Figure 2 presents a level plan (horizontal
slice) of the property's geology immediately adjacent to the main Young-Davidson
reserves. The currently defined reserves terminate against the brown diabase dyke that was the western limit of the reserve.
Holes 234B, 234A, 234, 198 and 198A (holes are projected either 75 m up
dip or 175 m down dip to the 9300 m level) clearly demonstrate that the
younger diabase dyke occupies a fault with an
apparent offset of 50 m to 100 m to the north on the western side
of the dyke. The actual displacement on the fault could be to the north,
downwards or a combination of the two.
www.northgateminerals.com/Theme/Northgate/files/Releases/2011/234B Fig2.JPG
Table 1: Assay Results from YD West Zone
Hole ID
|
From (m)
|
To (m)
|
Interval (m)
|
True Thickness
(m)
|
Gold Uncut
(g/t)
|
Gold Cut
20 g/t
|
YD11-234B
|
1064.8
|
1144.4
|
79.60
|
55.0
|
4.31
|
4.21
|
incl
|
1094.5
|
1144.4
|
49.90
|
34.4
|
5.66
|
5.51
|
incl
|
1128.0
|
1142.9
|
14.90
|
10.3
|
10.62
|
10.10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YD11-234A
|
1202.6
|
1221.8
|
19..20
|
13.4
|
1.22
|
1.22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YD10-234
|
1216.9
|
1234.7
|
17.80
|
9.5
|
4.37
|
4..37
|
incl
|
1217.8
|
1226.1
|
8.30
|
4.4
|
6.82
|
6.82
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YD10-198
|
1258.0
|
1337.5
|
79.5
|
53.5
|
3.46
|
3.46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YD10-198A
|
1333.7
|
1355.0
|
20.20
|
14.2
|
6.31
|
5.42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YD10-198B
|
1353.5
|
1364.4
|
10.9
|
7.7
|
5.43
|
5.43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YD10-226A
|
1097.3
|
1134.0
|
36.7
|
25.3
|
0.74
|
0.74
|
|
1115.1
|
1125.5
|
10.4
|
7.2
|
1.19
|
1.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YD11-239
|
Target
zone occupied by diabase dyke ("dyked out")
|
* * * * * * *
Quality Control - Analyses and Sample Location
Details of quality assurance/quality control procedures for sample analysis
and drill hole survey methodology are reported in detail in the Canadian
National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") compliant Technical Report
filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on August 21, 2009.
Qualified Persons
The program design, implementation, quality assurance/quality control and
interpretation of the results are under the control of Northgate's geological
staff, which includes a number of individuals who are qualified persons as
defined under NI 43-101. Carl Edmunds, PGeo, Northgate's Exploration Manager, is responsible for
the overall supervision of the program.
* * * * * * *
Note to Investors:
The terms "Qualified Person", "Mineral Reserve",
"Proven Mineral Reserve", "Probable Mineral Reserve",
"Mineral Resource", "Measured Mineral Resource",
"Indicated Mineral Resource", and "Inferred Mineral
Resource" used in this news release are defined in accordance with NI
43-101.
* * * * * * *
Northgate
Minerals Corporation is a gold and
copper producer with mining operations, development projects and exploration
properties in Canada
and Australia. Our vision is to be the leading intermediate gold
producer by identifying, acquiring, developing and operating profitable,
long-life mining properties.
* * * * * * *
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
and Information:
This Northgate press release contains "forward-looking
information", as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities
legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
concerning Northgate's future financial or operating performance and other
statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future
developments, circumstances or results. Generally, forward-looking
information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such
as "expects", "believes", "anticipates",
"budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts",
"intends", "plans" and variations of such words and phrases,
or by statements that certain actions, events or results "may",
"will", "could", "would" or "might",
"be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".
Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and estimates
that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Northgate operates, are inherently
subject to significant operational, economic and competitive uncertainties
and contingencies. Northgate cautions that forward-looking information
involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause Northgate's actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by such information,
including, but not limited to gold and copper price volatility; fluctuations
in foreign exchange rates and interest rates; the impact of any hedging
activities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between
actual and estimated reserves and resources or between actual and estimated
metallurgical recoveries; costs of production; capital expenditure
requirements; the costs and timing of construction and development of new
deposits; and the success of exploration and permitting activities. In
addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled
"Risk Factors" in Northgate's Annual Information Form for the year
ended December 31, 2010 or under the heading "Risks and
Uncertainties" in Northgate's 2010 Annual Report, both of which are
available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this
press release. Although Northgate has attempted to identify important factors
that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially
from those contained in forward-looking information, there can be other
factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as
anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such
information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or
estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information. The forward-looking information in this press release is made as
of the date of this press release, and Northgate disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by
applicable law.
Cautionary Note to US Investors Regarding Mineral
Reporting Standards:
Northgate prepares its disclosure in accordance with the requirements of
securities laws in effect in Canada,
which differ from the requirements of US securities laws. Terms relating to
mineral resources in this press release are defined in accordance with
National Instrument 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects under
the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining,
Metallurgy, and Petroleum Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral
Reserves. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to
disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and
legally extract or produce. The Corporation uses certain terms, such as,
"measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral
resources", "inferred mineral resources" and "probable
mineral reserves", that the SEC does not recognize (these
terms may be used in this press release and are included in the Corporation's
public filings which have been filed with securities commissions or similar
authorities in Canada).
1 See press
release dated January 25, 2010.
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