- Published: 15 January 2009
- Written by Editor
Far West Mining Intersects More Copper and Iron at Santo Domingo in Chile
Far West Mining Ltd. (TSX:FWM) is pleased to report additional positive results from the Phase 2 drilling campaign carried out in November and December 2008 at Santo Domingo in Chile. The drill campaign was designed to test the area between the Santo Domingo Sur and Iris pit outlines in an attempt to increase the overall tonnage of the project and connect the two pits in an updated project plan. The program was very successful and intersected copper and iron mineralization in the target area. Far West Mining ("The Company") is optimistic that the new mineralization will be sufficient to connect the two pits. The two best results are 216m of 37.5% iron starting at a depth of 114m in drill-hole 353 and 62m of 0.73% copper and 32.5% iron starting at a depth of 58m in drill-hole 358.
Drill Results
During the period November 20 through December 15, 2008, the Company completed eight reverse circulation (RC) holes for a total of 2,588 metres in Phase 2 drilling in the Santo Domingo project area (see Figure 1 for drill hole locations). Six drill holes were drilled in the area between the Santo Domingo Sur and Iris open pit outlines determined by AMEC Americas (Chile) in the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Santo Domingo project (see news release from April 1, 2008). One drill hole was drilled at Iris Norte and one hole was drilled in the Caprichosa area to the south of the Santo Domingo Sur deposit.
Drill-hole 353 intercepted a very thick iron manto grading 37.5% iron over 216m starting at a depth of 114m. This intercept constitutes one of the best iron intercepts drilled on the property to date. The significance of this result is further enhanced by the fact that of the 108 assays that constitute the interval (two metre assay interval), 49 values were reported at greater than 50% iron which is the upper detection limit of the analytical method that is routinely applied (ICP-MS). The actual iron content could therefore be higher (note: pure magnetite iron ore contains 70% iron). Drill hole 354, located 100m south of hole 353, intersected the same iron manto exhibiting a slightly lower grade at 27.6% iron over 172m.
Drill holes 355, 356 and 357 also intercepted iron mantos, some with copper mineralization (see Table 1 for detailed results).
Drill-hole 358 intersected a 62m interval of 0.73% copper and 32.5% iron starting at a depth of 58m. The hole is located in a fault block that was previously thought to be unmineralized.
The results from drill holes 353-358 are very positive and significant for the development of the project plan as these drill holes are located between the open pit outlines designed for the Santo Domingo Sur and Iris deposits. It should be noted that the iron grades intersected in these holes are generally higher than the average for the property.
The Company plans to complete a new resource study and is confident that the recent drill results will increase the overall tonnage of the project and will connect the open pit designs for the existing deposits. Combining the two planned open pits into one should increase the efficiency of future mining operations at Santo Domingo.
Table 1 - Drill Results
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Drill hole Angle From To Interval Grade Grade
Number (degrees) (metres) (metres) (metres) (% Cu) (% Fe)
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353 -90 114 330 216 - 37.5(i)
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
354 -90 134 306 172 - 27.6
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incl. 138 224 86 - 33.5
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
355 -90 130 170 40 0.11 18.0
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200 230 30 0.18 16.6
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302 368 66 0.13 19.3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
356 -90 16 266 250 - 21.6
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incl. 214 252 38 - 34.3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
357 -90 160 254 94 0.26 24.9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
260 324 64 - 32.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
358 -90 58 120 62 0.73 32.5
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202 242 40 - 28.9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
264 280 16 0.39 50.0(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
359 -90 58 68 10 0.23 33.1
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102 126 24 0.25 38.0
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140 150 10 0.37 29.2
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158 250 92 - 27.1
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incl. 214 246 32 0.26 27.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4a2-021 -60 188 278 90 - 34.8
------------------------------------------------------------------------
incl. 188 202 14 0.25 33.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) The iron assays for hole 353 returned 49 out of 108 values above the
upper detection limit (greater than 50% Fe). Actual iron content is
likely higher. All iron assays (8) for the lower manto in hole 358
are above detection limit.
The ore bodies at Santo Domingo display a gentle dip. Reported
intervals in the vertical holes are therefore very close to true
width.
Drill hole 359 was drilled at the Iris Norte deposit. The drill hole intercepted four mineralized intervals (see Table 1) and demonstrates the continuing potential of the area. Additional drilling will be required to determine the structural complexity and possible extensions at Iris Norte. The Company plans to conduct a resource calculation for the Iris Norte deposit and will design future drilling utilising the benefits of a block model.
Drill-hole 4a2-21 was drilled in the Caprichosa area south of the Santo Domingo Sur deposit to follow up a known iron intersection in the area and intercepted a thick iron manto. While the drill hole is too far away to be included in the existing pit outlines, it nonetheless demonstrates the potential to find additional mineralization elsewhere on the property.
To view Figure 1 please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/0115FWM.pdf
Metallurgy
The metallurgical test work on the Santo Domingo Sur/Iris ore is progressing well. SGA in Germany and SGS Lakefield in Ontario have completed the sulfide flotation work on the new composite sample and confirm that the composite yields a high quality copper concentrate with low mass recovery. This is a very good result as the new composite sample is lower in copper and iron grade than the initial material used for the 2006 metallurgical work that forms the basis of the PEA. The new composite sample has been designed to be representative in grade and character for the ore bodies at Santo Domingo in anticipation of a pre-feasibility study.
Initial work on iron recovery indicates that the Santo Domingo ore will yield a high quality magnetite concentrate using simple low intensity magnetic separation. On the recommendation of SGA, the focus of the hematite recovery work has been shifted towards the application of high intensity magnetic separation rather than flotation. This method simplifies the recovery process and may also reduce capital expenditure for the project as a hematite flotation circuit will not be required. Test work is continuing at SGA in Germany.
Georgetown Project, Australia
In the news release from December 15, 2008, the Company reported the discovery of polymetallic BHT ("Broken Hill Type") mineralization at its Georgetown project in Queensland, Australia. At the time of the release, assays for one final drill hole were pending.
Drill-hole GB19-5 at the Robin Hood prospect also intersected polymetallic mineralization in the same strong alteration zone as described in that news release. The drill-holes at Robin Hood now outline a zone of strong alteration over a width of approximately 100m and a strike extent of 300m. Future exploration will investigate the mineralized horizon along strike and down plunge.
Table 2 lists the significant intercepts in drill hole GB19-5. For a map of the drill holes at Robin Hood see news release from December 15, 2008.
Table 2 - Drill Results
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Drill hole Angle From To Interval Grade Grade
Number (degrees) (metres) (metres) (metres) (% Zn) (% Cu)
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GB19-5 -50 23 39 16 0.28 -
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incl. 35 40 5 0.53 0.15
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and 36 37 1 2.13 -
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102 112 10 0.30 -
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incl. 110 111 1 1.57 -
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Note: The metamorphic rocks intercepted in this drill hole are folded in
both micro and macro scale. The mineralization is situated in an
interpreted fold closure making any estimate of true width very difficult.
Based on the most prevalent angles of foliation to core axis, true width
is estimated to be 70-80% of the reported intervals.
The in-house qualified person is Richard N. Zimmer, P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer, President and a director of the Company who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.
Far West Mining Ltd. is an international mineral exploration company engaged in the evaluation, acquisition, exploration and development of mining properties in Chile and Australia.
FAR WEST MINING LTD.
Richard N. Zimmer, P.Eng., President and C.E.O.
For further information investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com or contact Richard Zimmer at (604) 602-9144 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.farwestmining.com.
This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling results and information concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to be forward looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
SOURCE: Far West Mining Ltd.
Far West Mining Ltd. Richard Zimmer (604) 602-9144 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.farwestmining.com
