High grade gold mineralization identified on surface on the Alexandria block, east of the Joanna gold project
August 31 2009 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Shares Listed: Toronto Stock Exchange - Ticker Symbol - ARZ NYSE
Amex: - Ticker Symbol - AZK U.S. Registration: (File 001-31893)
VANCOUVER, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aurizon Mines Ltd.
(TSX: ARZ; NYSE Amex: AZK) is pleased to report the discovery of a
high grade grab sample on surface, which is surrounded by an
extensive gold anomaly, on the Alexandria claims block, east of the
Joanna gold project. The Joanna property is located 20 kilometres
east of Rouyn-Noranda, in north-western Quebec and the Alexandria
block comprises nineteen (19) mineral claims optioned by Aurizon
from Alexandria Minerals Corporation (see Aurizon news release
dated September 15, 2008). The previous exploration completed in
this area was mainly restricted to the area along the Cadillac
fault where the eastern extension of the Hosco deposit was
projected. Aurizon previously reported results from diamond
drilling (see Aurizon news release dated June 1, 2009 ) which
intersected 3.0 grams of gold per tonne over 4.6 metres including
one sample at 9.0 grams of gold per tonne, 200 metres south of the
main Hosco zone. The follow up of this discovery hole with ground
prospecting was successful in discovering east-west veins, with a
thickness between 0.1 to 1 metre, included in strongly foliated,
biotite altered and arsenopyrite bearing sediments. One grab sample
returned a grade of 11.8 grams of gold per tonne. The
mineralization found is located 1.2 kilometres East and 200 metres
South of the Hosco deposit. Of the 22 variable spaced grab samples
taken in this area to date, 9 returned grades above 0.1 gram of
gold per tonne. The anomaly identified covers an area of over
approximately 750 metres on strike and 200 metres in a north-south
direction. The geological context is similar to the Hosco deposit
and might represent a possible eastern extension of known
mineralization located 200 metres farther south than expected.
"These preliminary results could explain why the previous drilling
campaign did not succeed in extending the Hosco deposit further
east along the Cadillac fault." said Martin Demers P.Geo.,
Exploration Manager. "A possible displacement of the mineralized
zone to the south could open up excellent exploration potential."
he added. Outlook During the next few weeks, exploration on the
Joanna project will focus on the systematic surface investigation
of the property including hammer prospecting, and soil and
geophysical surveys. This work will define targets for a follow up
drill program, which should commence early in the fourth quarter,
2009. A prefeasibility study is currently in progress on the Hosco
deposit, incorporating a measured and indicated resources estimate
of 29,600,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.4 grams of gold per
tonne, or approximately 1.27 million ounces, together with the
results of the ongoing metallurgical tests. The pre-feasibility
study will be completed in accordance with the Company's global
development principles supporting technical, economical,
environmental and social considerations. It is anticipated that the
study will be completed in the fourth quarter, 2009. Quality
Control Grab samples assays are performed typically on 1 to 2
kilogram rock samples by standard fire assay procedures and atomic
absorption finition. Sample duplicates and assay checking on pulp
and coarse rejects are carried out on approximately 10% of samples
returning grades above the threshold of 0.1 gram of gold per tonne.
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/, as well as on the
Aurizon website. Exploration primary assaying was performed at ALS
Chemex of Val d'Or, Quebec and check assays were carried out by
Laboratoire d'Analyse Bourlamaque of Val d'Or, Quebec. 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. Sampling program 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. All other information previously released,
together with all technical reports on the Joanna Project are
available on the Aurizon website. 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 "measured";
"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 y
uses the term" measured" and "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. 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: ; Maurice Dagenais: ; Media:
Fran ois Tr panier: , Tel: (514) 939-3989, Fax: (514) 939-3717
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