Aurizon Mines Ltd. - Infill drilling extends Principal zone mineralization at Casa Berardi
October 26 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, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aurizon Mines Ltd.
(TSX: ARZ; NYSE Amex: AZK) is pleased to report the results of
infill drilling along Zone 124 at its Casa Berardi Mine,
north-western Quebec. The current exploration program at Casa
Berardi is focussing on the discovery of new lenses and increasing
mineral resources. One of the current targets is Zone 124, located
within the Principal area, one kilometre east of the West Mine
production shaft. Underground drilling from the 280 metre level
exploration drift has completed sixteen (16) new holes on a 50
metre spacing. The drill program is targeting two parallel
mineralized structures that have over 100 metres of strike and 250
metres of vertical extension between a depth of 100 metres (4,900 m
elevation) and 350 metres (4,650 elevation). Sixteen (16) new
mineralized intersections out of thirty (30) had a metal factor
(grade x width) of greater than 10. The best results reported for
Zones 124-1 and 124-2 were 59.4 grams of gold per tonne over 7.0
metres in hole CBP-0062 and 16.2 grams of gold per tonne over 4.2
metres in hole CBP-0056, respectively, which indicate high grade
trends within the zones, a feature that is similar with Zones 113
and Lower Inter, which contain the bulk of the current mineral
reserves. Results of all holes are reported in the attached table.
In Zones 124-1 and 124-2, mineralization is in the form of an array
of near vertical veins and stockworks with widths of several
metres, enclosed in strongly altered and deformed volcanic or
conglomerate units. The mineralized lenses are approximately 20 to
30 metres apart, at a distance of approximately 80 metres (Zone
124-1) and approximately 100 metres (Zone 124-2) from the Casa
Berardi fault. Graphitic schist and brittle fault zones are minor
in comparison with mineralization along the Casa Berardi fault.
"The continuity of the quartz veins on Zone 124 indicates potential
to extend mineral reserves east of the current production shaft",
said Jeannot Boutin P. Eng., Mine Geology Superintendant. Outlook A
budget of $15 million approved for this year at Casa Berardi will
include a total of 40,000 metres of underground and surface
drilling and 1,900 metres of underground exploration drift access.
Ten drill rigs are active on site, of which, two rigs are currently
drilling from the 280 metre level exploration drift to better
define and test the depth extension of the current mineral
resources in the Principal area. An updated mineral resource
estimate is expected to be completed at year end. Quality Control
Core assays are performed on core sawed in half, with standard fire
assay procedures and atomic absorption finish. 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 5% of samples. Additional information
on Quality Assurance and Quality control ("QA/QC"), can be found in
the "Technical report on the Casa Berardi Mine" dated February 9,
2009 by Scott Wilson RPA, which can be found under Aurizon's
profile on http://www.sedar.com/. Primary exploration assaying was
performed at the mine site laboratory and at Swastika laboratory in
Ontario. The QA/QC program is performed at ALS Chemex laboratory in
Val d'Or. Drill hole planning, implementation and the quality
control program is supervised by Jeannot Boutin, P.Eng ., Mine
Geology Superintendant at Casa Berardi and a "qualified" person
under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Boutin is also responsible
for the scientific and technical information in this news release.
Additional Information One sketch is attached showing the Casa
Berardi mine. All other information previously released, together
with all technical reports on Casa Berardi, 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 effects of drill results on the Casa Berardi
project, estimated mineral reserves and timing and expectations of
future development, exploration, mineral reserve and mineral
resource estimates, and 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 reserve and 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, labour 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 reserves and
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 reserves and
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.
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Zone 124-1 Length along Gold True Hole East From To the hole grade
Width (metres) (metres) (metres) (metres) (grams/tonne)(metres)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0038 12481 243 246.2 3.2 6.4 3.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0039 12474 233.3 235.9 2.6 4.9 2.6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0040 12415 196.9 200 3.1 22.5 3.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0051 12411 215.7 217.2 1.5 15.4 1.3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0052 12438 215.9 217.9 2.0 17.3 2.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0053 12424 221 222.3 1.3 14.5 1.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0054 12435 229.2 233.6 4.4 9.0 4.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0062 12496 285 292.7 7.7 59.4 7.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0063 12502 277.5 281.2 3.7 6.2 3.6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Zone 124-1, holes CPB-0036, CPB-0041, CPB-0049, CPB-0055,
CPB-0056 and CBP-0061 have returned results below the metal factor
(grade x width) threshold of 10 and are not listed on the table.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zone 124-2 Length along Gold True Hole East From To the hole grade
Width (metres) (metres) (metres) (metres) (grams/tonne)(metres)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0036 12489 278 289.2 11.2 4.8 8.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0041 12415 183.1 186.4 3.3 14.8 3.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0048 12409 184.2 192.9 8.7 5.8 8.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0049 12411 180.5 188.5 8.0 6.0 8.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0055 12443 208.6 210.6 2.0 8.8 1.5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0056 12444 215 220.2 5.2 16.2 4.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBP-0061 12492 332.8 339.8 7 5.7 5.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Zone 124-2, holes CBP-0038, CBP-0040, CBP-0051, CBP-0052,
CBP-0053, CBP-0054, CBP-0062 and CBP-0063 have returned results
below the metal factor (grade x width) threshold of 10 and are not
listed on the table. To see map, please see URL:
http://files.newswire.ca/734/Sketch_NR102609.pdf 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, Executive Vice
President, Operations, 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,
Francois Trepanier, , Tel: (514) 939-3989, Fax: (514) 939-3717
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