News
February 27, 2007
El Reventon Sampling Returns Significant Silver Values from La Estrella Zone
International Northair Mines Ltd. (TSXV:INM) continues to receive encouraging results from the ongoing exploration program at the El Reventon Project, located in the state of Durango, Mexico. Mapping and sampling are mainly complete within the northern half of the over 3000 hectare project and a bulldozer has been contracted to improve road access and conduct mechanical trenching of selected areas. In addition to the original Reventon Breccia Zone, several new and highly prospective targets have been identified, and the project is quickly advancing to drill ready status. An example of one of the new discoveries is the La Estrella Zone where sampling has returned an average value of 0.780 g/t gold, 372 g/t silver, and 2.10 % zinc from 23 chip samples.
"El Reventon is evolving into a previously unrecognized mineral district, with numerous potentially significant targets being defined. There are far more zones of mineralization within the property position than we were aware of when we first identified this prospective area last year," said Jim Robinson, Vice-President of Exploration for Northair. "The current program is designed to increase our geological knowledge of the entire property position, while advancing the Reventon Breccia Zone and possible other zones to drill ready status. We are quickly achieving this goal," he added.
Highlights to date include results from the La Estrella Zone and Reventon Breccia Zone.
At the La Estrella Zone, located two kilometers to the southwest of the Reventon Breccia Zone, a total of 23 samples have been taken from both surface outcrops and within old underground workings. The average of these samples is 0.780 g/t gold, 372 g/t silver, and 2.10% zinc. Eight samples which average 1.044 g/t gold, 751 g/t silver and 3.50% zinc were taken from the underground workings. From these underground samples, a six metre interval (estimated true width of four metres), returned a grade of 0.785 g/t gold, 740 g/t silver and 2.44% zinc. A reconnaissance sample taken approximately 600 meters to the northwest of the zone, returned 2.470 g/t gold and 669 g/t silver over a 30 centimetre chip from an outcrop that could be an extension of the zone.
La Estrella contains at least 3 low sulphidation polymetallic vein systems developed by old historic workings. The underground workings are locally inaccessible due to caving and water-filled winzes; however, rehabilitation should be relatively easy. Widths of the higher grade portions of the veins range from about one to four metres, and are generally enveloped by stockwork veinlets and disseminated mineralization over approximately ten metre widths. Due to talus and colluvial cover, strike lengths have not yet been established. Future exploration programs at La Estrella will include hand or mechanical trenching.
A possible bulk mineable occurrence may be developing at the Portrero Zone, located approximately one kilometre northeast of the Reventon Breccia Zone. Initial sample results from first phase work at Portrero are highly anomalous in silver and further sampling has been carried out with results anticipated in March. Portrero contains a number of mines and prospects in an area of disseminated and stockwork mineralization within diorite porphyry, over a currently explored area of approximately 100 by 200 metres. Stream sediment anomalies below Estrella and Portrero are exceptionally strong in silver.
At the Reventon Breccia Zone, original sampling returned significant surface values including 52 metres of 166.5 g/t silver, 0.73% lead and 0.85% zinc. In an attempt to expand the surface exposure of the mineralized zone, recent mechanical trenching was conducted. The program was unable to penetrate the thick post-mineral agglomerate near the zone; however, recent mapping programs discovered several small outcrops of altered andesite volcanics that underlie the agglomerate, approximately 25 metres south of previous lines of continuous sampling. Sampling from these outcrops reported anomalous silver, lead and zinc values. In addition, a test soil line to the south of the breccia, reported very anomalous silver values. Geologists believe the alteration and mineralization is related to an underlying mineralized intrusive. These results are considered significant in defining the potential size of the zone.
Mechanical trenching at the Alisos Zone located 500 metres to the south of the Reventon Breccia Zone, is currently underway. The program is intended to better define the zone and any possible relationship with the Reventon Breccia Zone.
Exploration programs in Mexico are supervised by Mr. Jim Robinson, Vice President of the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The Company maintains a quality control program using best industry practices consistent with NI 43-101.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
INTERNATIONAL NORTHAIR MINES LTD.
_____________________
Fred G. Hewett, P.Eng.
President & CEO
"El Reventon is evolving into a previously unrecognized mineral district, with numerous potentially significant targets being defined. There are far more zones of mineralization within the property position than we were aware of when we first identified this prospective area last year," said Jim Robinson, Vice-President of Exploration for Northair. "The current program is designed to increase our geological knowledge of the entire property position, while advancing the Reventon Breccia Zone and possible other zones to drill ready status. We are quickly achieving this goal," he added.
Highlights to date include results from the La Estrella Zone and Reventon Breccia Zone.
At the La Estrella Zone, located two kilometers to the southwest of the Reventon Breccia Zone, a total of 23 samples have been taken from both surface outcrops and within old underground workings. The average of these samples is 0.780 g/t gold, 372 g/t silver, and 2.10% zinc. Eight samples which average 1.044 g/t gold, 751 g/t silver and 3.50% zinc were taken from the underground workings. From these underground samples, a six metre interval (estimated true width of four metres), returned a grade of 0.785 g/t gold, 740 g/t silver and 2.44% zinc. A reconnaissance sample taken approximately 600 meters to the northwest of the zone, returned 2.470 g/t gold and 669 g/t silver over a 30 centimetre chip from an outcrop that could be an extension of the zone.
La Estrella contains at least 3 low sulphidation polymetallic vein systems developed by old historic workings. The underground workings are locally inaccessible due to caving and water-filled winzes; however, rehabilitation should be relatively easy. Widths of the higher grade portions of the veins range from about one to four metres, and are generally enveloped by stockwork veinlets and disseminated mineralization over approximately ten metre widths. Due to talus and colluvial cover, strike lengths have not yet been established. Future exploration programs at La Estrella will include hand or mechanical trenching.
A possible bulk mineable occurrence may be developing at the Portrero Zone, located approximately one kilometre northeast of the Reventon Breccia Zone. Initial sample results from first phase work at Portrero are highly anomalous in silver and further sampling has been carried out with results anticipated in March. Portrero contains a number of mines and prospects in an area of disseminated and stockwork mineralization within diorite porphyry, over a currently explored area of approximately 100 by 200 metres. Stream sediment anomalies below Estrella and Portrero are exceptionally strong in silver.
At the Reventon Breccia Zone, original sampling returned significant surface values including 52 metres of 166.5 g/t silver, 0.73% lead and 0.85% zinc. In an attempt to expand the surface exposure of the mineralized zone, recent mechanical trenching was conducted. The program was unable to penetrate the thick post-mineral agglomerate near the zone; however, recent mapping programs discovered several small outcrops of altered andesite volcanics that underlie the agglomerate, approximately 25 metres south of previous lines of continuous sampling. Sampling from these outcrops reported anomalous silver, lead and zinc values. In addition, a test soil line to the south of the breccia, reported very anomalous silver values. Geologists believe the alteration and mineralization is related to an underlying mineralized intrusive. These results are considered significant in defining the potential size of the zone.
Mechanical trenching at the Alisos Zone located 500 metres to the south of the Reventon Breccia Zone, is currently underway. The program is intended to better define the zone and any possible relationship with the Reventon Breccia Zone.
Exploration programs in Mexico are supervised by Mr. Jim Robinson, Vice President of the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The Company maintains a quality control program using best industry practices consistent with NI 43-101.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
INTERNATIONAL NORTHAIR MINES LTD.
_____________________
Fred G. Hewett, P.Eng.
President & CEO