Perth, Aug 7, 2008 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Results from a just completed 3,750-metre drilling program have confirmed extensions to Northern Mining Limted's (ASX:NMI) gold mineralisation and a new near surface nickel sulphide discovery within its Blair North Project just east of Kalgoorlie.
Latest assays from the project's E25/268 southern zone have revealed two nearby gold lodes - a main lower lode up to 100m long and 25m wide under a thinner upper lode up to 80m long - with values up to 35 grams gold a tonne (g/t), just north of Southern Gold's Cannon prospect recently reported as a broad, low grade, zone of gold mineralisation.
NMI Chairman Alan Lockett said the results from this latest round of reverse circulation (RC) drilling confirmed the Company's view that there may be a significant gold mineralised system in Blair North's southern zone.
"The Blair North Prospect (earning 75%) will continue to be a major focus for the Company, with an aeromagnetic survey planned for the near future, followed by diamond drilling to gain a better understanding of the structural and lithological controls for the gold mineralisation," he said.
Best results from follow up southern zone drilling included (from different holes): 6m at 9.71g/t from 72m, including 1m at 34.55g/t from 72m; 13m at 4.74g/t from 88m, including 9.78g/t over 3m from 97m; and 25m at 4.05g/t from 99m, including 8.39g/t over 10m from 107m.
Drill testing of a massive nickel sulphide target in the same location also intersected significant sulphides, assaying up to 4.4% nickel in two of three holes drilled.
Results included 8m downhole from 156m at 1.84%, including 3m from 156m at 2.63%, 2m from 161m at 2.94% and 1m from 161m at 4.40%. Another hole yielded 1.77% nickel over 1m from 122m.
Mr Lockett said the results to date showed good width and grade only 120m vertical from the surface, with good potential for further high grade massive sulphide intersections adjacent to and along strike, showing potential for a new deposit in a prime location close to potential processing plants, such as Black Swan and Kambalda. Further diamond drilling is planned.
Drilling in E25/268's northern zone yielded further good gold grades, such as 24m at 2.16g/t from 36m, including 2m at 17.07g/t from 37m and 1m at 23g/t from 38m; and 1m at 40g/t from 43m.
NMI recently produced a maiden inferred JORC resource of 16.8 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.6% for 94,000t of contained nickel at its Szklary Nickel Project (80%) in south west Poland.
This initial resource estimate sits within only 3.7 kilometres of the 6km Szklary project strike zone with metallurgical testing and other exploration work to begin in the near future to expand the resource.
NMI has a heads of agreement with Polish copper giant KGHM over the two companies' concession areas to complete a feasibility study on the joint development of the Szklary project, expected to begin early next year.
Contact
CRAIG DAWSON
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Telephone (08) 9244 8499
Facsimile (08) 9244 3166
Website www.northernmining.com.au
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