Toronto Stock Exchange
Ticker Symbol - ARZ
NYSE Amex
Ticker Symbol - AZK
U.S. Registration
(File 001-31893)
News Release
Issue # 13- 2011
VANCOUVER, May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Aurizon Mines Ltd.
("Aurizon") (TSX: ARZ, NYSE Amex: AZK) 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 26 drill holes
completed on the neighbouring Norlartic and Marban gold
deposits.
Significant Norlartic intersections include:
- 7.4 grams of gold per tonne over 9.3 metres
(NL-11-052);
- 5.6 grams of gold per tonne over 6.7 metres
(NL-11-054);
- 2.1 grams of gold per tonne over 28.0 metres
(NL-11-057);
- 10.8 grams of gold per tonne over 3.0 metres
(NL-11-059);
- 3.1 grams of gold per tonne over 10.9 metres
(NL-11-060).
Significant Marban intersections include:
- 5.1 grams of gold per tonne over 5.1 metres
(MB-11-167);
- 30,100.0 grams of gold per tonne over 0.5 metre (gold
vein in MB-11-170);
- 1.8 gram of gold per tonne over 56.3 metres
(MB-11-173);
- 9.1 grams of gold per tonne over 4.5 metres
(MB-11-174);
- 17.2 grams of gold per tonne over 1.0 metre
(MB-11-175).
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, 137 holes have been drilled for a total of
35,340 metres. Results from 66 holes were previously released,
results from 26 holes are included in this release, and results are
pending for 45 completed drill holes.
"We are pleased to observe that, in both the
Norlartic and Marban mineralized systems, the approach of fence
drilling as much as possible of the entire width of the potential
structure, has been successful. High grade intervals over
pluri-metric widths are now more prominent inside extensive lower
grade envelopes and should offer more flexibility in evaluating
potential development scenarios." said Martin Demers, P.Geo. Exploration Manager of
Aurizon.
Norlartic deposit drilling
Twenty-one (21) drill holes, for a total of
4,320 metres, were completed on the Norlartic deposit during the
winter. Results for seven (7) holes (NL-11-040 to -045 and
-047) were previously released. Results received for an
additional eight (8) holes (NL-11-052 to -057, -059 and -060) are
tabled on the following pages. Complete assay results for
holes NL-11-048, -049 and -058 are pending. Holes NL-11-050
and -051 were part of the fence drilling between the Norlartic and
Marban deposits.
This initial phase of drilling at Norlartic was
aimed at better defining the entire width of the Norbenite shear
gold mineralised 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 mainly targeted the Main Zone (MZ), which consists of a
sulphide and gold mineralised vein stockwork localised in an
intrusive dike cutting the central portion of the Norbenite
shear.
The holes completed during the winter confirmed:
1) the presence of other veined and mineralised intrusive dikes in
the hanging wall (HW) of the Main Zone and 2) the near surface
extent of the Norlartic deposit consists of a wide gold mineralised
envelope characterised by intrusive dikes cutting sheared
ultramafic volcanic rocks.
The holes were drilled in a series of parallel
structures, which include some narrow veins in the vicinity of
previously mined out areas. New mineralized intersections are
either adjacent to or up to 100 metres away from existing
stopes.
Marban deposit drilling
Ninety-eight (98) holes and two (2) extensions
of previous holes, for a total of 27,780 metres, were completed on
the Marban deposit since the start of the program in August.
Results for 58 holes (MB-10-102 to MB-11-157, MB-06-002ext and
MB-07-005ext) were previously released. Results received for
an additional 18 holes (MB-11-158 to -175) are tabled on the
following pages.
Drilling to date has covered a 1,050-metre
strike extent of the Marban gold mineralised system and was mainly
directed at 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 holes were drilled in a series of parallel
structures, which include some narrow veins in the vicinity of
previously mined out areas. New mineralized intersections are
either adjacent to or up to 100 metres away from existing
stopes.
The drilling program at Marban has now moved to
deeper drilling to test the down dip extension of the mineralised
zones, mainly from 300 to 500 metres vertical depth, as well as
select in-fill drilling at 25-metre spacing.
Fence drilling between Norlartic and Marban
deposits
Three (3) 300-metre spaced exploration drill
hole fences were completed to trace the Norbenite shear and
subsidiary structures on strike and to the southeast of the
Norlartic deposit and to the north of the Marban deposit. The
fences consist of 16 drill holes (NL-11-046, -050 and -051 and
MB-11-201 to MB-11-213) for a total of 3,240 metres. Results
were previously released for hole NL-11-046 that returned an
interval of 21.2 metres averaging 1.23 g/t Au located along the
southeast extent of the Norlartic deposit. Results are
pending for the other holes.
Norlartic Drill Results
Hole |
Line |
Station |
Az |
Dip |
Depth
(m) |
From
(m) |
To
(m) |
Length
(m) |
Grade
(g/t Au) |
Zone(s) |
NL-11-052 |
1+35 W |
1+85 N |
N205° |
-60 ° |
210.0 |
182.3
200.7 |
186.9
210.0 |
4.6
9.3 |
1.2
7.4 |
HW
Main |
NL-11-053 |
1+80 W |
1+55 N |
N210° |
-45 ° |
239.0 |
138.4
152.6
165.5 |
146.8
158.6
176.1 |
8.4
6.0
10.6 |
1.6
3.2
1.4 |
HW
Main
FW |
NL-11-054 |
2+70 W |
2+25 N |
N210° |
-45 ° |
284.0 |
206.7
220.0 |
213.4
222.0 |
6.7
2.0 |
5.6
3.1 |
Main
Main |
NL-11-055 |
2+40 W |
0+70 N |
N210° |
-45 ° |
49.0 |
34.9
45.3 |
40.1
49.0 |
5.2
3.7 |
0.9
2.0 |
HW
HW |
NL-11-056 |
4+30 W |
0+60 N |
N210° |
-45 ° |
200.0 |
48.0
58.8 |
49.2
62.3 |
1.2
3.5 |
4.3
0.9 |
HW
Main |
NL-11-057 |
0+15 W |
0+85 N |
N210° |
-45 ° |
153.0 |
39.9
91.2 |
68.0
99.3 |
28.0
8.1 |
2.1
1.8 |
HW
Main |
NL-11-059 |
2+25 W |
1+50 N |
N210° |
-49 ° |
226.1 |
129.2
142.7
151.2 |
137.5
145.7
152.1 |
8.3
3.0
0.9 |
0.9
10.8
7.2 |
HW
Main
Main |
NL-11-060 |
2+25 W |
1+50 N |
N210° |
-65 ° |
266.4
including |
153.3
166.4
179.0 |
169.3
169.3
189.9 |
16.0
2.9
10.9 |
1.5
5.8
3.1 |
HW
HW
Main |
Marban Drill Results
Hole |
Line |
Station |
Az |
Dip |
Depth
(m) |
From
(m) |
To
(m) |
Length
(m) |
Grade
(g/t Au) |
Zone(s) |
MB-11-158 |
1+00 E |
0+10 S |
N180° |
-55 ° |
197.0 |
139.3 |
142.0 |
2.7 |
0.8 |
E |
MB-11-159 |
1+50 E |
0+15 S |
N180° |
-55 ° |
184.4 |
145.2 |
145.9 |
0.7 |
6.7 |
E |
MB-11-160 |
2+50 W |
0+05 S |
N180° |
-45 ° |
215.0 |
143.9 |
144.7 |
0.8 |
6.4 |
D1 |
MB-11-161 |
2+00 W |
1+15 S |
N180° |
-45 ° |
122.0 |
74.5 |
78.5 |
4.0 |
2.1 |
C1-B |
MB-11-162 |
2+50 W |
0+60 S |
N180° |
-45 ° |
170.0 |
78.0
102.0
107.0 |
79.2
102.6
131.6 |
1.2
0.6
24.6 |
3.1
9.2
0.8 |
Z
B
B-A |
MB-11-163 |
3+50 W |
0+75 S |
N180° |
-50 ° |
176.0 |
87.9 |
95.0 |
7.1 |
0.7 |
E |
MB-11-164 |
3+50 W |
0+10 S |
N180° |
-50 ° |
221.0 |
33.6
117.5
132.9 |
36.0
119.2
134.0 |
2.4
1.7
1.1 |
6.1
3.1
8.8 |
E
B |
MB-11-165 |
3+50 W |
1+15 N |
N180° |
-55 ° |
323.0
|
155.3
169.5
205.5
242.0 |
158.7
183.8
211.2
242.6 |
3.4
14.3
5.7
0.6 |
1.8
0.8
0.8
6.2 |
2
Y
E
B |
MB-11-166 |
4+50 W |
0+35 N |
N180° |
-50 ° |
197.0 |
70.0 |
71.0 |
1.0 |
5.5 |
2 |
MB-11-167 |
4+50 W |
0+25 S |
N180° |
-50 ° |
158.0 |
111.8 |
116.9 |
5.1 |
5.1 |
E |
MB-11-168 |
5+00 W |
0+20 S |
N180° |
-50 ° |
146.0 |
127.5 |
128.2 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
T |
MB-11-169 |
5+00 W |
0+35 N |
N180° |
-50 ° |
188.0 |
104.6 |
112.6 |
8.0 |
1.5 |
|
MB-11-170
|
3+00 E
|
2+50 S
|
N180°
|
-45 ° |
191.0 |
85.0
138.8 |
85.5
140.0 |
0.5
1.2 |
30100.0
4.6 |
VG
T |
MB-11-171 |
5+00 W |
1+65 N |
N180° |
-50 ° |
272.0 |
86.6 |
87.9 |
1.3 |
3.6 |
|
MB-11-172 |
1+00 E |
3+25 N |
N180° |
-58 ° |
603.0 |
353.1 |
357.5 |
4.4 |
1.9 |
E |
MB-11-173 |
4+00 E
|
0+20 S
|
N180° |
-45 ° |
409.0
including
including |
162.6
251.8
266.3
284.5
306.0 |
179.0
263.6
322.6
296.0
319.0 |
16.4
11.8
56.3
11.5
13.0 |
1.2
1.4
1.8
3.3
2.9 |
D3
J
C1-A-P-M-V
P
M |
MB-11-174 |
4+00 E |
0+95 S |
N180° |
-45 ° |
326.0 |
87.0
136.6
212.1
225.3
268.0
308.0 |
90.9
141.6
212.8
233.6
272.5
309.2 |
3.9
5.0
0.7
8.3
4.5
1.2 |
3.7
2.5
9.2
2.1
9.1
15.4 |
E
C2
A
W
T |
MB-11-175 |
2+50 E |
0+97 S |
N180° |
-55 ° |
323.0 |
145.4
229.0 |
146.4
236.2 |
1.0
7.2 |
17.2
1.0 |
|
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 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 Info, 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
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 Aurizon.
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/Marban_Sketch.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.