- Published: 18 January 2010
- Written by Editor
Wescan drills 12.90 metre coal zone at Hudson Bay and 14.80 metre coal zone at Pinehouse Lake
Wescan Goldfields Inc. ("Wescan" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Phase 1 drilling has been completed on its 100 percent owned Hudson Bay and Pinehouse Coal Properties. At Hudson Bay, coal was intersected in 21 out of 40 drill holes, with a maximum coal zone thickness of 12.90 metres. These initial coal discoveries will direct the drilling locations in the upcoming 2010 Phase 2 Drill Program, aimed at targeting thicker intersections of coal. Coal zones ranged from continuous coal seams to coal zones with interbedded sand and carbonaceous material, with coal ranging from bright to dull. Eight holes contained coal zones greater than 5 metres thick. Several drill holes also contained more than one intersection of coal, suggesting the presence of multiple coal horizons (see Table 1).
Drilling results from the Phase 1 program indicates that the prospective area for coal is much greater than previously anticipated in the Hudson Bay area. Coal was intersected more than 50 kilometres to the west of and 10 kilometres to the south of previously reported coal intersections in the region, including intersections of coal northwest of the Pasquia Hills. These discoveries establish a new high priority focus for Wescan on four main areas of interest: The Red Deer Property, Bonus Property, Rice Property and Man River Property, proximal to Goldsource Mines Inc.'s Border Property hosting a NI43-101 compliant Indicated and Inferred coal resource estimate of 153.1 million tonnes.
Phase 1 drilling results have provided an excellent geological understanding of the regional sedimentary depositional environment. With this new information, Wescan has developed a new geoscientific data framework aimed to identify where sub-basins containing thicker intersections of coal may occur. This data framework will utilize all new stratigraphic data obtained from drill core and down-hole geophysics layered together with recently acquired airborne geophysics in order to assist and prioritize future drill targets on Wescan's four main areas of interest, which still remain 90 percent unexplored. Exploratory core drilling is planned to continue throughout the winter and with frozen ground, Wescan can now access previously inaccessible drilling locations, which include some untested top priority Phase 1 targets.
Table 1: Hudson Bay Coal/Carbonaceous Zones
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Coal/Carbonaceous Zone
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Hole No. From (m) To (m) Width (m)
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HB09-02 38.00 39.00 1.00
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HB09-06 116.70 121.70 5.00
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HB09-10 74.70 77.74 3.04
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HB09-11 125.22 130.64 5.42
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HB09-13 69.60 70.20 0.60
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HB09-14 58.70 58.92 0.22
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HB09-15 37.00 38.80 1.80
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HB09-18 62.77 63.12 0.35
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and 75.23 75.35 0.12
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and 101.50 114.40 12.90
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HB09-19 132.81 133.43 0.62
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HB09-21 99.09 102.22 3.13
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HB09-22 62.75 63.30 0.55
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and 71.53 71.65 0.12
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and 99.09 111.64 12.55
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HB09-23 87.38 95.55 8.17
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HB09-24 60.79 62.50 1.71
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and 129.57 135.35 5.78
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HB09-31 44.21 44.30 0.09
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HB09-33 33.30 33.33 0.03
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and 62.45 62.50 0.05
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HB09-35 41.69 42.15 0.46
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and 56.00 56.20 0.20
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and 65.35 65.55 0.20
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and 66.20 67.74 1.54
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and 68.70 69.79 1.09
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HB09-36 44.28 44.31 0.03
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HB09-37 74.90 75.10 0.20
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and 79.85 80.10 0.25
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and 80.95 82.38 1.43
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HB09-38 64.26 64.67 0.41
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and 84.88 87.52 2.64
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and 93.44 100.27 6.83
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HBSH09-09 199.60 205.86 6.26
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HBSH09-10 209.80 211.53 1.73
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and 211.83 212.00 0.17
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Initial identification of the coal zone intervals/intersections (see Table 1) is based on visual characteristics. The term 'carbonaceous zone' is used here to describe a black to brown carbonaceous section that includes coal, silty/sandy coal and partings of sedimentary units of sandstone to mudstone. These latter sedimentary units, considered to be part of the carbonaceous zone, contain variable amounts of coal fragments and stringers that range in quantity from abundant to minor. Coal sampling is underway with initial analytical results pending. Down-hole geophysics has been completed on all core holes and adjustments to coal seam thickness may occur when reporting final results. Hole numbers HB09-01, 03 - 05, 07 - 09, 12, 16 - 17, 20, 25 - 30, 32, 34, and HBSH09-13 had no significant coal or carbonaceous zones.
Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan
Wescan has initiated a coal exploration program on its 100 percent owned property near Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan. The Company has 50 coal dispositions; covering 38,304 hectares in an area where Mannville aged coal (Cretaceous) is known to exist. Historical drilling in this region intersected 1 to 3 metre thick coal seams at approximately 50 metres below surface in a region where overburden is limited.
The initial drilling of 8 completed drill holes confirmed the presence of coal in 6 drill holes, with the largest carbonaceous zone up to 14.8 metres in thickness in hole PHL09-J (see Table 2). Four holes contained coal zones greater than 5 metres thick. All completed drill holes penetrated through the Mannville section to the Paleozoic/Precambrian basement in order to identify areas that may have formed basins necessary to host thick intersections of coal. Definition of these basins in the Devonian paleosurface is critical to exploring for Mannville-aged coal occurrences. Utilization of airborne geophysics to identify such basins is currently being investigated.
This initial drill program at the Pinehouse Lake Property aimed to confirm the historical coal intersections and obtain geological stratigraphic data that will be used in developing a stratigraphic and structural model for targeting thicker, near-surface coal seams. A second phase of drilling is currently being planned by Wescan and positive results from this second phase will lead to follow-up infill drilling to define a potential coal resource.
Table 2: Pinehouse Lake Coal Intersections
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Coal/Carbonaceous Zone
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Hole No. From (m) To (m) Width (m)
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PHL09-AA 46.95 50.63 3.68
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PHL09-B 52.70 53.00 0.30
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and 56.85 63.87 7.02
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PHL09-C 59.30 64.00 4.70
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PHL09-I 50.30 63.75 13.45
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PHL09-J 73.85 88.65 14.80
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PHL09-K 58.60 65.20 6.60
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and 68.80 73.73 4.93
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Initial identification of the coal zone intervals/intersections (see Table 2) is based on visual characteristics. The term 'carbonaceous zone' is used in the same context as defined in Table 1 for Hudson Bay Coal Intersections. The Company cautions against placing undue reliance on the visual observations of the coal until the results of the analytical work have been announced. Holes PHL09-D and E had no significant coal or carbonaceous zones.
Location maps for the Hudson Bay and Pinehouse Lake Projects will be made available on the Company's website at www.wescangoldfields.com
Vice President of Exploration, Kirsten Marcia, Professional Geoscientist in the Province of Saskatchewan, is Wescan's Qualified Person responsible for the design and execution of the program.
Wescan is a Canadian based corporation engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Shares of Wescan trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "WGF".
"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."
Caution Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "forecast", "target", "project", "guidance", "may", "will", "should", "could", "estimate", "predict" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or language suggesting an outlook. In particular, statements regarding Wescan's future operations, future exploration and development activities or other development plans constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, future drilling plans for the Hudson Bay and Pinehouse Lake properties and the development of geological models.
All forward-looking statements and information are based on Wescan's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Wescan concerning anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, development plans, exploration, development and mining activities and commitments. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, developments in world markets, risks relating to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar and other currencies relative to the US dollar, changes in exploration, development or mining plans due to exploration results and changing budget priorities of Wescan; the effects of competition in the markets in which Wescan operates; the impact of changes in the laws and regulations regulating mining exploration and development; judicial or regulatory judgments and legal proceedings; operational and infrastructure risks and the additional risks described in Wescan's most recently filed annual and interim MD&A and Wescan's anticipation of and success in managing the foregoing risks.
Wescan cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Wescan, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Wescan does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Wescan or on our behalf.
Contacts
Darren Anderson
President or Kirsten Marcia
Vice President of Exploration at (306) 664-2422
