Shares Listed: Toronto Stock Exchange - Ticker Symbol - ARZ
NYSE Amex: - Ticker Symbol - AZK
U.S. Registration: (File 001-31893)
News Release Issue # 10 - 2011
VANCOUVER,
April 14 /PRNewswire/ - Aurizon Mines
Ltd. ("Aurizon") is pleased to report on the latest drilling
results at the Marban Block property, located in the Malartic gold camp, Abitibi region of
Quebec.
Assay results were received for 29 drill holes
completed on the neighbouring Norlartic and Marban gold
deposits. Results are tabled on the following pages.
Significant Norlartic intersections include:
- 3.06 grams of gold per tonne over 10.7 metres
(NL-11-040);
- 6.75 grams of gold per tonne over 4.6 metres
(NL-11-042);
- 1.91 gram of gold per tonne over 58.3 metres
(NL-11-047).
Significant Marban intersections include:
- 14.02 grams of gold per tonne over 2.1 metres
(MB-10-137);
- 39.70 grams of gold per tonne over 1.1 metre
(MB-10-137);
- 5.80 grams of gold per tonne over 4.1 metres
(MB-10-142).
The initial program under the terms of the Aurizon
option agreement commenced on August 30,
2010 and includes 50,000 metres of diamond drilling.
Three drill rigs are currently in operation on the project.
To date, a total of 29,150 metres were drilled in 116 holes.
Results are pending for 50 completed drill holes.
Norlartic deposit drilling
Twenty-one (21) drill holes, for a total of 4,320
metres, were completed on the Norlartic deposit during the
winter. The objective of the initial phase of drilling was to
better define the entire width of the Norbenite shear gold
mineralised gold envelope within the top 200 metres from surface
and, more specifically, along the western 500-metre strike extent
of the Norlartic deposit. Past drilling over this portion of
the deposit primarily targeted the Main Zone, which consists of a
sulphide and gold mineralised vein stockwork localised in an
intrusive dike cutting central portion of the Norbenite shear.
The holes completed to date confirm: 1) the
presence of other veined and mineralised intrusive dikes in the
hanging wall (HW) of the Main Zone, and 2) that the near surface
extent of the Norlartic deposit consists of a wide gold mineralised
envelop characterised by intrusive dikes cutting sheared ultramafic
volcanic rocks. Highlights of the results from the first
eight (8) holes include a section averaging 1.91 grams of gold per
tonne over 58.3 metres in hole NL-11-047.
Marban deposit drilling
Eighty-eight (88) holes, for a total of 23,290
metres, have been completed on the Marban deposit since the start
of the program in August, 2010. Drilling to date has covered
a 1,050-metre strike extent of the Marban gold mineralised system
and was mainly focused on: 1) completing a 50-metre drill hole
spacing array within the top 300 metres from surface, and 2)
verifying the extension of the gold mineralised shear zones to
surface.
The initial phase of drilling at Marban has:
- validated the geological and structural model of the
deposit;
- established lateral and vertical continuity to the mineralised
shear zones; and
- demonstrated the potential for both bulk tonnage and narrower
higher-grade ore shoots.
The remaining phase of this year's drilling
program at Marban includes deeper drilling to test the down dip
extension of the mineralised zones, mainly from 300 to 500 metres
vertical depth.
In addition, three (3) widely spaced exploration drill hole
fences are in progress to investigate the one kilometre area
between the Marban and Norlartic deposits. Five (5) drill
holes, for a total of 1,000 metres, were completed to date over
this target.
Norlartic Drill Results
Hole |
Line |
Station |
Az |
Dip |
Depth (m) |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Length (m) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Zone(s) |
|
NL-11-040 |
1+28 W |
0+22 N |
N210° |
-60° |
129.0 |
26.6
122.2 |
37.3
123.4 |
10.7
1.2 |
3.06
4.23 |
Main
Granodiorite |
NL-11-041 |
2+70 W |
0+40 N |
N210° |
-45° |
153.0 |
21.7
31.2 |
28.8
43.0 |
7.1
11.8 |
0.62
2.37
|
HW
Main
|
NL-11-042 |
3+15 W |
0+40 N |
N210° |
-45° |
186.4 |
38.7 |
43.3 |
4.6 |
6.75 |
Main |
NL-11-043 |
3+60 W |
0+50 N |
N210° |
-45° |
210.0
including |
22.1
22.1
38.0
48.8
|
34.8
26.5
41.6
57.7 |
12.7
4.4
3.6
8.9 |
1.60
2.80
2.25
1.14 |
HW
HW
HW
Main |
NL-11-044 |
3+40 W |
1+15 N |
N210° |
-45° |
270.0 |
88.1
104.9
154.8 |
99.2
109.3
156.0 |
11.1
4.4
1.2 |
0.79
1.08
7.94 |
HW
Main
FW |
NL-11-045 |
0+90 W |
0+50 N |
N210° |
-55° |
60.2
including |
37.2
44.0 |
60.0
46.0 |
22.8
2.0 |
0.81
4.37 |
HW-Main
HW |
NL-11-046 |
3+70 E |
0+60 N |
N210° |
-55° |
204.0
including
|
67.8
67.8 |
89.0
74.3 |
21.2
6.5 |
1.23
2.36 |
HW-Main
HW |
NL-11-047 |
0+83 W |
1+10 N |
N210° |
-45° |
183.0 |
90.9 |
149.2 |
58.3 |
1.91 |
HW-Main-FW |
Marban Drill Results
Hole |
Line |
Station |
Az |
Dip |
Depth (m) |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Length (m) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Zone(s) |
|
MB-10-137 |
2+50 E |
1+30 S |
N180° |
-55° |
302.5 |
31.0
150.2
215.5
238.5 |
32.2
163.3
217.6
239.6
|
1.2
13.1
2.1
1.1
|
8.24
0.87
14.02
39.70 |
Y
C-B-D1
P
T
|
MB-10-138 |
2+50 E |
1+90 S |
N180° |
-55° |
252.0 |
134.6 |
135.2 |
0.6 |
8.59 |
C |
MB-10-139 |
2+00 E |
1+25 S |
N180° |
-65° |
299.0 |
119.8 |
120.5 |
0.7 |
5.58 |
|
MB-10-140 |
4+00 W |
0+80 S |
N180° |
-50° |
167.0 |
70.3 |
85.9 |
15.6 |
0.52 |
E |
MB-10-141 |
4+00 W |
0+40 N |
N180° |
-50° |
266.0
including
|
44.2
102.7
133.7
139.0
|
45.4
104.0
147.4
142.8
|
1.2
1.3
13.7
3.8
|
5.13
11.84
1.12
3.15
|
2
Z
Z
|
MB-10-142 |
4+00 W |
1+70 N |
N180° |
-50° |
332.0 |
205 |
209.1 |
4.1 |
5.80 |
Z |
MB-10-143 |
3+50 W |
2+40 N |
N180° |
-55° |
398.0 |
254.9 |
261.4 |
6.5 |
1.22 |
Y |
MB-10-144 |
4+00 W |
3+00 N |
N180° |
-50° |
401.0 |
104.0
242.2 |
104.9
269.5 |
0.9
27.3 |
12.70
1.05 |
Y-2 |
MB-10-145 |
4+50 W |
2+95 N |
N180° |
-50° |
347.0 |
84.2 |
85.4 |
1.2 |
3.25 |
|
MB-10-146 |
5+00 W |
3+00 N |
N180° |
-50° |
299.0 |
49.5 |
55.6 |
6.1 |
0.67 |
|
MB-11-147 |
4+50 W |
1+65 N |
N180° |
-50° |
269.0 |
152.0
161.4 |
153.0
162.2 |
1.0
0.8 |
14.10
5.51 |
2
Y
|
MB-11-148 |
1+50 W |
0+40 N |
N180° |
-45° |
281.0 |
195.8 |
200.6 |
4.8 |
0.98 |
D1 |
MB-11-149 |
1+50 W |
0+30 S |
N180° |
-45° |
230.0 |
142.0 |
154.9 |
12.9 |
0.59 |
D1 |
MB-11-150 |
2+00 E |
1+80 S |
N180° |
-65° |
230.0 |
132.7 |
135.0 |
2.3 |
1.54 |
A-C |
MB-11-151 |
2+00 E |
0+40 N |
N180° |
-65° |
245.0 |
166.1 |
172.4 |
6.3 |
2.23 |
E |
MB-11-152 |
1+50 E |
1+10 N |
N180° |
-55° |
231.5 |
210.9 |
211.9 |
1.0 |
6.85 |
E |
MB-11-153 |
1+50 E |
0+75 S |
N180° |
-55° |
300.0 |
177.0
186.8 |
183.2
199.8 |
6.2
13.0
|
1.21
1.37 |
A-B-C-D1
C1-C2 |
MB-11-154 |
1+50 E |
1+35 S |
N180° |
-55° |
221.0 |
184.3 |
187.2 |
2.9 |
0.88 |
T |
MB-11-155 |
0+50 E |
2+13 S |
N180° |
-55° |
120.0 |
59.0 |
70.8 |
11.8 |
1.80 |
A |
MB-11-156 |
0+00 |
1+05 S |
N180° |
-42° |
170.0 |
133.7 |
165.6 |
31.9 |
0.64 |
T |
MB-11-157 |
1+00 W |
1+40 S |
N180° |
-56° |
176.0 |
42.4 |
42.9 |
0.5 |
35.50 |
E |
Aurizon Option
Aurizon can earn up to a 65% interest the Marban
Block property under the terms of an option and joint venture
agreement dated July 5, 2010 between
NioGold Mining Corporation ("Niogold") and Aurizon. The
initial 50% interest can be earned by incurring expenditures of
C$20 million over three years,
completing an updated NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource
estimate, and by making a resource payment for 50% of the total
gold ounces defined by the mineral resource estimate. NioGold
is the project operator during the initial earn-in period (see news
release dated July 6, 2010).
Technical Information, QA/QC and Qualified
Persons
Reported intervals are in core lengths but are
anticipated to approximate true width, except where structural
complexities occur, as the holes were drilled near perpendicular to
the principal local structural orientation.
Diamond drill holes were drilled with NQ-size core
in order to obtain larger sample volumes of the mineralised zones,
except for holes that traversed underground workings which were
completed using BQ-size core. The core was sealed and
delivered by the drilling contractor to NioGold's facilities
located at the Norlartic mine site. The core was photographed
for reference, logged and mineralised sections were sawed in
half. Sample lengths vary between 0.5 to 1.5 metres.
Half core samples were bagged, sealed and delivered to ALS Chemex
in Val-d'Or, Quebec, an accredited
laboratory. The remaining core is stored on site for
reference. Samples were assayed by the fire-assay method
using an atomic absorption finish on a 50-gram pulp split. A
quality assurance and quality control program (QA/QC) was
implemented by NioGold and the laboratory to insure the precision
and reproducibility of the analytical method and results. The
QA/QC program includes the insertion of standards, blanks and field
duplicates in the sample batches sent to the laboratory and a
systematic re-assaying of samples returning values above 2 g/t Au
by the fire-assay method using a gravimetric finish. As well,
pulps grading above 0.5 g/t Au are sent to Bourlamaque Assay
Laboratories Ltd. in Val-d'Or for
check assaying.
The drilling program was conducted under the
supervision of Yan Ducharme, M.Sc.,
P.Geo. (OGQ), a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument
43-101. This news release was prepared under the supervision
of Martin Demers, P. Geo.,
Exploration Manager of Aurizon and a Qualified Person under.
National Instrument 43-101, based on information made available by
Niogold and verified by personnel of the Company.
Additional Information
The attached sketch shows the geological context of
the Marban Block property, the position of the drill holes and a
plan view of the Marban deposit.
http://files.newswire.ca/734/Sketch_041411.pdf
About Aurizon
Aurizon is a gold producer with a growth strategy focused on
developing its existing projects in the Abitibi region of
north-western Quebec, one of the
world's most favourable mining jurisdictions and prolific gold and
base metal regions, and by increasing its asset base through
accretive transactions. Aurizon shares trade on the Toronto
Stock Exchange under the symbol "ARZ" and on the NYSE Amex under
the symbol "AZK". Additional information on Aurizon and its
properties is available on Aurizon's website at
www.aurizon.com.
Forward Looking Statements and
Information
This news release contains "forward-looking
statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of
applicable securities regulations in Canada and the
United States (collectively, "forward-looking
information"). The forward-looking information contained in
this news release is made as of the date of this news
release. Except as required under applicable securities
legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any
obligation, to update this forward-looking information.
Specifically, this news release contains
forward-looking information with respect to future exploration work
on the Marban Block property. Forward-looking information
contained in this news release is based on certain assumptions that
the Company believes are reasonable, that the current price of and
demand for gold will be sustained or will improve. However,
forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such
factors include, among others, the risk that actual results of
exploration activities will be different than anticipated, that
required supplies, equipment or personnel will not be available or
will not be available on a timely basis or that the cost of labour,
equipment or supplies will increase more than expected, that the
future price of gold will decline, that the Canadian dollar will
strengthen against the U.S. dollar, that mineral resources are not
as estimated, that actual costs or actual results of reclamation
activities are greater than expected; that changes in project
parameters as plans continue to be refined may result in increased
costs, of accidents, labour disputes and other risks generally
associated with exploration, unanticipated delays in obtaining
governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of
exploration activities, as well as those factors and other risks
more fully described in Aurizon's Annual Information Form filed
with the securities commission of all of the provinces and
territories of Canada and in
Aurizon's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on Sedar at
www.sedar.com and on Edgar at www.sec.gov/. Although the Company
has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
actions, events or results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking information, there may be other
factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as
anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent
uncertainty thereof.
SOURCE Aurizon Mines Ltd.