Shares Listed: Toronto Stock Exchange - Ticker Symbol - ARZ NYSE
Amex: - Ticker Symbol - AZK U.S. Registration: (File 001-31893)
VANCOUVER, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aurizon Mines Ltd.
(TSX: ARZ; NYSE Amex: AZK) is pleased to report the discovery of
two new mineralized trends, respectively north and south of the
Heva-Hosco gold bearing trend, at its Joanna project, located 20
kilometres east of Rouyn-Noranda, in north-western Quebec.
Highlights include 6.8 grams of gold per tonne over 3 metres
intersected approximately 1 kilometre north of the Cadillac Fault
mineralized system (the "Joanna North"); and 3.0 grams of gold per
tonne over 4.6 metres intersected 300 metres south of the Cadillac
Fault, (the "Joanna South"). "The results of the recent drill
program have validated our application of geophysics and soil
geochemistry in identifying targets with the discovery of the
Joanna North and South mineralized trends. These two areas were not
subject to historical drilling." said Elise Bourgault, project
geologist. "Both discoveries remain open on strike and down dip."
she added. Drilling program ---------------- Twenty-seven (27)
holes totalling 9,130 metres were recently completed on the
following claim blocks, which form part of the Joanna Project:
-------------------------------------------------------- Claim
Blocks Holes Metres (m)
-------------------------------------------------------- Original
Joanna (Feifer option) 10 5,334
-------------------------------------------------------- Alexandria
15 3,415 --------------------------------------------------------
Original Joanna (Henriksen option) 2 381
-------------------------------------------------------- Joanna
North ------------ This new mineralized trend is located 1
kilometre north of the Cadillac Fault, on the western side of the
property (see sketch attached). A mobile metal ion (MMI) soil
survey performed by Aurizon on a poorly defined magnetic contrast
lead to the identification of a 700 metre long, multi-element
(arsenic, gold, molybdenum, tungsten, antimony) anomaly. Four (4)
sections of two holes have been drilled using 200 metre spacing.
The western holes intersected a continuous 40 metre-wide fault
trend associated with sulphide halos. Gold anomalies that were
encountered show a westward progression from a few tenths of parts
per billion ("ppb") to values in the range of 0.1 to 10.0 grams of
gold per tonne. The best result obtained was 6.8 grams of gold per
tonne over 3 metres, including 10.0 grams of gold per tonne over
1.5 metres, in hole JA-09-482 at the western limit of the drilling
pattern. Mineralization is in the form of quartz veins stockwork
with pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite and free gold associated in a
biotite rich sedimentary rock. This mineralization represents the
first gold anomaly found north of the Cadillac Fault within
Aurizon's claim block and remains open to the west. Joanna South
------------ A new exploration target was developed on the
Alexandria block, 300 metres south of the Cadillac Fault, using
induced polarization (IP) and magnetic surveys previously performed
by Alexandria Minerals. Five (5) holes intersected 10 to 20
metres-wide gold concentrations with values in the range of 0.1 to
0.2 grams of gold per tonne and one (1) hole intersected higher
grades with 3.0 grams of gold per tonne over 4.6 metres including
one sample at 9.0 grams of gold per tonne. The mineralization of
the higher grade intersection is composed of visible gold inside a
quartz vein with arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite in a
biotite sedimentary rock, locally sericitized. This mineralization
is still open to the west and east. Heva-Hosco gold bearing trend
----------------------------- In addition to the two new
discoveries, two targets have been tested along the Cadillac Fault.
Drilling followed the down-dip extension of the Hosco deposit and
the eastern lateral extension of the trend. Hosco dip extension
------------------- Four (4) holes were completed to test a
potential gold enrichment at depth covering 500 metres of strike
between a depth of 400 and 700 metres. Results obtained from the
down-dip program indicate continuity of the Hosco mineralization in
terms of grade and thickness. All holes returned multiple intervals
with a grade of approximately 1 gram of gold per tonne over a true
thickness varying from 10 to 50 metres. Despite a similar
alteration signature to the Hosco mineral resources, no increase in
gold grades was experienced. The best interval came from hole
JA-09-467 with 2.0 grams of gold per tonne over 14.3 metres. The
highest individual assay came from hole JA-09-474 with 4.4 grams of
gold per tonne over 1.4 metres. Hosco eastern lateral extension
------------------------------- Drilling was performed to test the
eastern lateral extension between 0.5 to 2.0 kilometres from the
proposed Hosco pit. Four (4) holes out of 10 have intersected
mineralization with values of between 1 and 2 grams of gold per
tonne over a true thickness of between 4 and 8 metres. The best
individual assay came from a fifth hole (JA-09-488), which returned
5.4 grams of gold per tonne over 1.1 metres. Gold distribution,
type of alteration and associated quartz veining is different from
the Hosco deposit. The grade and thickness of the mineralization
decreases to the east. Pre-Feasibility Study ---------------------
Following completion of a major infill drill program on the Hosco
deposit, an updated mineral resource estimate as at December 31,
2008, was completed by SGS Geostat Ltd., the results of which were
announced on March 11, 2009. Measured and indicated mineral
resources on the Joanna project are currently estimated at 33.8
million tonnes at 1.4 grams of gold per tonne for 1.53 million
ounces of gold. A pre-feasibility study is currently in progress on
the Hosco block, incorporating the measured and indicated resources
on the Hosco (approximately 1.27 million ounces) together with the
results of ongoing metallurgical and geo-mechanical tests. It is
anticipated that the study will be completed by the end of the
third quarter, 2009. Outlook During the next few months,
exploration on the Joanna project will focus on the development of
a structural framework on both sides of the Cadillac Fault to
support drilling follow-up on the newly discovered trends. Quality
Control Core assays are performed on core sawed in half, with
standard fire assay procedures and atomic absorption finition.
Certified reference material, duplicate and blanks are inserted in
the sample sequence for quality control. Assay checking on pulp and
coarse reject are carried out on approximately 10% of samples
inside mineralized intervals. Additional information on Quality
Assurance and Quality control ("QA/QC"), can be found in the
"Technical Report - Resource modeling and Estimation update Joanna
gold deposit" prepared by SGS Geostat Ltd. dated April 7, 2009,
which can be found under Aurizon's profile on
http://www.sedar.com/. Exploration primary assaying was performed
at ALS Chemex of Val d'Or and check assays were carried out by
Laboratoire d'Analyse Bourlamaque of Val d'Or. ALS Chemex is a
fully accredited laboratory under ISO 9001-2000 standards, and
Laboratoire d'Analyse Bourlamaque is in the process of obtaining
ISO-9001-2000 certification. Drill hole planning, implementation
and the quality control program is supervised by Martin Demers
P.Geo., Exploration Manager, a "qualified person" as defined by
National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Demers is also responsible for the
scientific and technical information in this news release.
Additional Information One sketch is attached showing the Joanna
Project area. Detailed results from the additional holes drilled
are reported in separate tables attached to this news release. All
other information previously released, together with all technical
reports on the Joanna Project are available on the Aurizon website.
Click here to view the sketch:
http://files.newswire.ca/734/SketchJoanna060109.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
http://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.
Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to,
statements with respect to estimated mineral resources, anticipated
effect of the completed drill results on the Joanna project, timing
of a pre-feasibility study, and timing and expectations of future
work programs. Often, but not always, forward-looking information
can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects",
"is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", forecasts",
"intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or the negatives thereof
or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or
"will" be taken, occur or be achieved. The forward-looking
information contained in this news release is based on certain
assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including,
with respect to mineral resource estimates, the key assumptions and
parameters on which such estimates are based, as set out in the
technical report for the property, that the current price of and
demand for gold will be sustained or will improve, the supply of
gold will remain stable, that the general business and economic
conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that
financing will be available if and when needed on reasonable terms
and that the Company will not experience any material accident,
labor dispute, or failure of plant or equipment. 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, conclusions of economic evaluations,
the risk that actual results of exploration activities will be
different than anticipated, that cost of labour, equipment or
materials 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 unexpected variations in mineral resources, grade or
recover rates, of failure of plant, equipment or processes to
operate as anticipated, of accidents, labour disputes and other
risks generally associated with mining, unanticipated delays in
obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion
of development or construction 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 http://www.sedar.com/
and on Edgar at http://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 to not 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. CAUTIONARY NOTE TO US READERS As a British
Columbia corporation, the Company is subject to certain rules and
regulations issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission
("BC Securities Commission"). The Company is required to provide
detailed information regarding its properties including
mineralization, drilling, sampling and analysis, security of
samples and mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates.
Further, the Company describes mineral resources associated with
its properties utilizing terminology such as "indicated" or
"inferred" which terms are recognized by Canadian regulations but
are not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"). Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding
Mineral Resources The SEC allows mining companies, in their filings
with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits they can
economically and legally extract or produce. The Company may use
certain terms in this document, such as "mineral resources",
"indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" that
are recognized and mandated by Canadian securities regulators but
are not recognized by the SEC. This News Release may use the term
"indicated" mineral resources. U.S. readers are cautioned that
while that term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations,
the SEC does not recognize it. U.S. investors are cautioned not to
assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in this category
will ever be converted into mineral reserves. This News Release may
also use the term "inferred" mineral resources. U.S. readers are
cautioned that while this term is recognized and required by
Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize it. "Inferred
resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their
existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal
feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an
inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher
category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral
resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility
studies, except in rare cases. U.S. investors are cautioned not to
assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is
economically or legally mineable. Joanna North ------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Joanna (Feifer option) Mineralized intersections
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Length along Hole E From To Gold grade the hole (m) (m) (m) (g/t)
(m)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-475 5405 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-476 5141 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-477 5172 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-478 5435 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-479 5869 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-480 5857 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Joanna (Henriksen option) Mineralized intersections
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Length along Hole E From To Gold grade the hole (m) (m) (m) (g/t)
(m)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-481 4852 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-482 4879 160.5 163.5 6.8 3.0 inc. 162.0-163.5 10.0 1.5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joanna South ------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexandria Mineralized intersections
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Length along Hole E From To Gold grade the hole (m) (m) (m) (g/t)
(m)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-485 11232 106.9 108.0 3.9 1.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-490 10630 135.0 139.6 3.0 4.6 inc. 138.6-139.6 9.0 1.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-491 10275 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-492 10285 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-493 10300 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: N/S = No significant results
---------------------------------------------- Hosco Dip Extension
-------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feifer Mineralized intersections
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Length along True Hole E From To Gold grade the hole width Zone (m)
(m) (m) (g/t) (m) (m)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-467 8402 468.0 481.5 1.1 13.5 12.9 N 481.5 496.5 2.0 15.0
14.3 N 496.5 519.0 1.0 22.5 21.5 N 589.50 593.90 1.0 4.4 4.2 S
598.50 604.50 1.3 6.0 5.8 S 619.50 623.00 1.4 3.5 3.4 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-473 8100 559.5 562.5 1.3 3.0 2.4 N 574.5 594.0 1.1 19.5 16.0
N 597.3 604.5 1.7 7.2 5.9 N 612 620.8 1.0 8.8 7.3 N 667.5 670.0 1.6
2.5 2.1 S 685.5 703.5 1.2 18.0 15.0 S 718.5 735.0 1.1 16.5 13.8 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-472 8000 714.7 732.4 1.0 17.7 15.7 N 831 834 1.9 3.0 2.7 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-474 7868 745.5 771.8 1.0 26.3 23.1 N 780 784.25 1.4 4.3 3.8 S
1018.5 1020 4.4 1.5 1.4 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hosco East Lateral Extension ----------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexandria Mineralized intersections
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Length along True Hole E From To Gold grade the hole width Zone (m)
(m) (m) (g/t) (m) (m)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-468 9800 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-469 9900 118.5 126.0 2.1 7.5 7.3 S inc. 5.6 1.5 205.5 207.0
4.5 1.5 1.5 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-470 10100 54.0 55.5 2.7 1.5 1.5 S 102.0 109.5 1.6 7.5 7.3 S
119.0 121.0 2.4 2.0 1.9 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-471 10200 108.9 117.0 1.0 8.1 7.9 S inc. 3.8 1.5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-483 11448 118.5 120.0 2.2 1.5 1.4 S 126.0 129.0 1.5 3.0 155.9
157.0 2.8 1.1 1.0 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-484 11213 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-486 11030 58.5 61.5 1.5 3.0 S 92.0 95.0 1.2 3.0 2.8 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-487 10400 N/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-488 10830 118.3 119.3 5.4 1.1 0.9 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JA-09-489 10630 105.0 108.0 1.4 3.0 S 114.0 118.5 1.5 4.5 4.2 S
131.5 133.5 1.0 2.0 1.9 S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATASOURCE: Aurizon Mines Ltd. CONTACT: AURIZON MINES LTD., David
Hall, President and C.E.O., Telephone: (604) 687-6600, Toll Free:
1-888-411-GOLD, Fax: (604) 687-3932; Michel Gilbert, Vice
President, Telephone: (819) 874-4511, Fax: (819) 874-3391; Web
Site: http://www.aurizon.com/, Email: ; or Renmark Financial
Communications Inc., 2080 Rene-Levesque Blvd. West, Montreal, QC,
H3H 1R6, Barry Mire: , Henri Perron: ; Media: Vanessa Napoli: ,
Tel: (514) 939-3989, Fax: (514) 939-3717
Copyright