Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. March 2nd, 2009. Columbus Silver Corporation (CSC: TSX-V) ("Columbus Silver" or the "Company") announces the completion and results of Phase I drilling at the Company's 100% controlled Silver Dome Project , located 72 km (45 miles) northwest of Delta, Utah.
Columbus completed 5,375 ft (1,629 m) of drilling in thirteen reverse circulation drill holes at Silver Dome in late 2008. The Silver Dome Project consists of 6.5 square miles (16.8 squ. km) of land, of which about 97% is covered by thin alluvium, located near a surface silver showing known as the Cactus Shaft. Surface sampling by Columbus near the Cactus Shaft yielded high grade silver assays (up to 85 opt Ag), associated with lead, on high angle structures, and also indicated that low grade silver values were disseminating away from structures into an Ordovician sandstone layer (1-2 opt Ag over widths of 70 ft (21 m)). The sandstone appears to dip gently west, and the larger target at Silver Dome likely lies west, south, and north of the Cactus Shaft area under thin alluvial cover, where Columbus Silver holds several square miles of potentially mineralized ground.
The drilling results can be viewed here: www.columbussilvercorp.com/i/pdf/nr/sd_drill_results_ph1.pdf. Five of the holes (SD-1, 2, 4, 5, and 6) were angle holes drilled to test below strongly mineralized outcrops near the Cactus Shaft. The drill holes all crossed under the target sandstone at shallower depths than expected, into relatively unmineralized carbonate rocks. As a consequence, only low-grade silver values were encountered, but subsurface information gained from the holes will allow future drilling to accurately intersect known mineralized structures where they cut the favorable sandstone layer.
The other 8 drill holes (SD-3, and SD 7 through 13) were vertical holes drilled on a grid, with 500 ft (152 m) spacing, stepping immediately north, west, and south of the Cactus Shaft into the area of alluvial cover. This drilling was surprising in that the favorable sandstone bed is thinner than expected, or even absent (none in SD-3, 10, and 13); likely due to erosion of the sandstone prior to deposition of the surficial alluvium. In general the alluvial cover averaged 140 ft (42 m) in thickness.
The target sandstone is commonly mineralized at depth, but is generally only anomalous in lead and silver, and at much lower grades than anticipated. SD-6 and 7 were the best holes in the Ordovician sandstone. SD-7 was the only hole to cut the maximum thickness of the sandstone which was 215 ft (65 m).
The last drill hole in the program, SD-13, cut 20 ft (6 m) of silver averaging 1.48 opt in the carbonate rocks well below the sandstone. The highest assay over 5 ft within this intercept was 3.8 opt silver. This hole was anomalous to the bottom (350 ft (106 m)) and also averaged 6215 ppm lead from 290-340 ft dept. This intercept indicates another horizon of potential to be tested with further drilling.
Future plans at Silver Dome include shallow drilling at the Cactus Shaft, and more drilling further into the alluvial basin west, north, and south of the shaft where silver mineralization remains open, and focused on IP anomalies. In addition a line of 7-9 holes is planned across the magnetic high discovered by a ground magnetic survey about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of the Cactus Shaft. This high is interpreted to be a buried, but shallow, plug of intrusive rock about one half mile (0.8 km) in diameter with potential for mineralization particularly along its margin as at other nearby mining districts such as Tintic and Crypto, which is immediately north of the Silver Dome Project.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Silver assays were determined both by fire assay with an AA finish, and by ICP, at American Assay Laboratories in Sparks, Nevada. American performed internal check assaying on about 7% of the samples, and also included analyses of internal standards inserted into the sample string. In addition, check analyses are completed on a duplicate second split on a further 6% of the samples. The second split was collected at the drill rig during drilling, at the same time as the first, and retained for check assaying. No significant variations from the initial assaying were observed.
Andy Wallace is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) with the American Institute of Professional Geologists and is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Mr. Wallace is a VP of Columbus Gold's U.S. subsidiary and a partner of Cordilleran Exploration Company ("Cordex"), which is conducting exploration and project generation activities for Columbus Gold.
About Columbus Silver
Columbus Silver Corporation is a silver exploration and development company operating in the Western United States. The Company has an experienced management group with a strong background in all aspects of the acquisition, exploration, development and financing of mining projects.
Columbus Silver's project activities are managed on an exclusive basis by Cordilleran Exploration Company (Cordex), owned and operated by John Livermore and Andy Wallace who have a long and successful history of discovery and mine development in the United States. Columbus Silver maintains active generative (prospecting) and evaluation programs and currently controls a 100% interest in 6 silver properties in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
Robert F. Giustra
President & CEO, Director
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information contact:
Ray Lagace
Investor Relations
604-638-3474 or
1-866-689-2599
info@columbussilvercorp.com