VANCOUVER, April 11 /CNW/ -- VANCOUVER, April 11 /CNW/ - Great
Basin Gold Ltd. ("Great Basin Gold" or the "Company"), (TSX: GBG;
NYSE Amex: GBG; JSE: GBG) updates exploration, stope and block
delineation results for its Hollister Project and Burnstone Mine.
At Hollister, highlights include results from the Velvet target
drilling, the emergence of another high grade pay shoot on the
Clementine #18 vein structure in the western part of the Hollister
orebody, and significant advances in the integration of existing
geological and geophysical data with new structural
interpretations, leading to a number of new exploration follow-up
targets. HOLLISTER Underground Exploration Underground exploration
and stope delineation drilling has continued during the first
quarter of 2011 (Q1 2011). In total, two exploration holes at the
Velvet target, fifteen Blanket exploration holes (totaling 15,487
feet or 4,693 meters) and twenty-four stope delineation holes
(totaling 10,080 feet or 3,054 meters) were completed. Velvet
Target Two initial exploration holes have been completed, testing
the Velvet target north of the current mine infrastructure. The
boreholes were drilled at low angles across the Ordovician basement
strata, and were approximately 500 feet (160 meters) below the
Tertiary volcanic unconformity. HDB-432 was drilled laterally to
3,383 feet (1,025 meters) and HDB-433 to 2,854 feet (865 meters).
Of note, the current Hollister mine development, exposing the
Gwenivere and Clementine vein systems, extends vertically from
5,050 to 5,425 feet (1,530 to 1,644 meters) above mean sea level.
HDB-432 tested to an elevation of 4,600 feet (1,394 meters) and
HDB-432 to 5,000 feet (1,515 meters) above mean sea level.
Highlights of the drilling are shown below. Velvet Target
Intersections
_____________________________________________________________________________
| Veins | | Vein | | | Analytical Results | | | Drill |Intersection
| Drilled |True | | | | Hole | (ft) |Thickness|Width| |
|____________| ID |_____________| (ft) |(ft)
|__________________________| | Vein |Vein| | From | To | | |Au
(opt)|Au | Ag | Ag | |System | ID | | | | | | |(g/t)|(opt)|(g/t)|
|_______|____|_______|______|______|_________|_____|________|_____|_____|_____|
|Gloria?|VN25|HDB-432|648.2 |649.2 | 1.0 | | 0.065 |2.24 | 7.5 |
255 | |Gloria?|VN26|HDB-432|703.1 |703.8 | 0.7 | | 0.104 |3.55 |
5.5 | 190 |
|_______|____|_______|______|______|_________|_____|________|_____|_____|_____|
|Velvet | |HDB-432|875.4 |879.8 | 4.4 | | Silicification & |
|Velvet | |HDB-432|901.9 |906.5 | 4.6 | |brecciation, low grade Au
| |Velvet | |HDB-432|1047.1|1052.3| 5.2 | | Silicification & |
|Velvet | |HDB-432|1109.8|1116.7| 6.9 | |brecciation, low grade Au
| | | | | | | | | Silicification & | | | | | | | |
|brecciation, low grade Au | | | | | | | | | Silicification & |
| | | | | | | |brecciation, low grade Au |
|_______|____|_______|______|______|_________|_____|__________________________|
|Gloria?|VN25|HDB-433|635.0 |635.6 | 0.6 | | 0.106|3.64 | 5.0 | 173
|
|_______|____|_______|______|______|_________|_____|________|_____|_____|_____|
|Velvet | |HDB-433|1314.1|1326.9| 12.8 | | Silicification & |
|Velvet | |HDB-433|1370.8|1373.6| 2.8 | |brecciation, low grade Au
| |Velvet | - |HDB-433|1438.5|1447.0| 8.5 | 8.5 | &Ag | |Velvet
| - |HDB-433|1594.2|1604.7| 10.5 |10.5 | Silicification/veining |
|Velvet | - |HDB-433|2310.8|2333.4| 22.6 |22.6 | elevated Au |
|Velvet | - |HDB-433|2607.5|2607.8| 5.3 | 5.3 |
Silicification/veining | |Velvet | |HDB-433|2766.6|2795.0| 28.4
|28.4 | Silicification | | | | | | | | | Silicification/veining | |
| | | | | | | elevated Au | | | | | | | | | Quartz veining & |
| | | | | | | | silicification | | | | | | | | | Silicification |
|_______|____|_______|______|______|_________|_____|__________________________|
A number of significant silver assays (5.5 to 7.4 opt Ag, 190 to
255 g/t Ag) with anomalous gold values were received in the 630 to
705-foot (210 to 240-meter) zones. These are interpreted to be
southerly extensions of the Gloria vein system some 6,000 feet
(1,820 meters) to the north-northwest. The correlation would imply
structural continuity with the Gloria vein system and, as such,
constitutes a very significant vein extension target, requiring
further exploration drilling. The metal zoning is considered
indicative of mineralized structures in the lower zones of a
Hollister equivalent epithermal mineral system. Borehole HDB-432
also intersected multiple mineralized vein and silicified zones
between 875 and 1,117 feet (265 to 338 meters). HDB-433 intersected
similar zones between 1,314 and 2,795 feet (398 to 847 meters). The
silicified zones ranged from 2.6 to 28.4 feet (0.8 to 8.6 meters)
in width. These zones correlate with existing structural features
as well as historic mercury diggings such as Butte #2 and Velvet
north of the current mine development. Multi-element geochemical
analyses and clay mineralogy studies are in progress. The Velvet
targets will be further tested by surface drilling during the
upcoming summer field season. Blanket Zone During the quarter
fifteen boreholes were completed, testing the extensions of Blanket
zone mineralization exposed by trial mining at 3000N 1E; assays
from nine boreholes are still awaited. The drilling is indicating
structural cutoffs of this mineralization in-line with the
structures controlling the Clementine #18 vein pay shoot below. The
evaluation strategy for the Blanket zone mineralization is being
modified as mining and drilling advance. It is clear that the bulk
sample exposures are proving to be a more accurate in evaluating
the variable extent of the bonanza grade mineralization. Planned
infrastructure will allow ramping up to 5478 level, followed by
phased short distance fan drilling. The close relationship of the
development of bonanza grades with underlying high grade
"pay-shoot" epithermal veins is becoming evident. As a consequence,
the Blanket drilling program is being modified and extended to test
other targets within the mine development. Stope Delineation The
stope delineation drilling has continued evaluating the main
Gwenivere (#8) and Clementine (#14-19) veins. Of note is -- the
emergence of another significant pay shoot on and around the
Clementine #18 structure, in the western section of the mine, from
which trial mining is currently grading at a diluted average of
2.844 opt (97.50 g/t) Au and 22.2 opt (761 g/t) Ag over stope
lengths of approximately 162 feet (49 meters) and average vein
width of 2.4 feet (0.73 meters);
____________________________________________________________________
|5050 WB 8 sub 2 & 9 sub 1 Trial Stopes |
|____________________________________________________________________|
| |Stope Length| Average |Average|Average| Average | Average | | |
Feet |vein width|vein Au|vein Ag|Dilution |Dilution | | | | feet
|oz/ton |oz/ton |Au oz/ton|Ag oz/ton|
|________|____________|__________|_______|_______|_________|_________|
|WB9 Sub1| 169 | 2.5 | 7.819 | 52.1 | 2.818 | 19.8 |
|________|____________|__________|_______|_______|_________|_________|
|WB8 Sub2| 156 | 2.3 | 6.170 | 58.0 | 2.881 | 25.4 |
|________|____________|__________|_______|_______|_________|_________|
|Average | | 2.4 | 7.145 | 54.5 | 2.844 | 22.1 |
|________|____________|__________|_______|_______|_________|_________|
and
-- the intersection of a number of unmodelled veins (VN #99) with
significant gold and silver grades. These are interpreted as splays
of existing high grade veins. Highlight Stope Delineation
Intersections
________________________________________________________________________________________
| Veins | | Vein | Drilled | Analytical Results | | | Drill |
Intersection |Thickness| | | | Hole | (ft) | (ft) | |
|_______________| ID |________________|
|___________________________________| | Vein |Vein| | | | | Au | Au
| Ag | Ag | | System | ID | |From | To | |(opt) |(g/t) |(opt)
|(g/t) |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
|Clementine|VN15|HDB11-442|137.3| 139.3 | 2.0 | 1.177 | 40.34 | 0.6
| 20 | |Clementine|VN18|HDB11-445|296.8| 299 | 2.2 | 0.945 | 32.40
| 2.2 | 76 | |Clementine|VN18|HDB11-445| |including | 0.8 | 1.516 |
51.98 | 3.9 | 132 |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
|Clementine|VN17|HDB11-446| 293 | 293.6 | 0.6 | 2.704 | 92.72 |
13.0 | 446 |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
|Gwenivere |VN8 |HDB11-470|36.8 | 37.4 | 0.6 | 3.491 | 119.70 |
17.2 | 591 |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
|Clementine|VN17|HDB11-470|247.2| 248 | 0.8 | 1.837 | 62.98 | 12.5
| 429 | |Clementine|VN18|HDB11-470|283.9| 285.4 | 1.5 | 11.579 |
397.00 | 39.3 | 1346 | |Clementine|VN18|HDB11-470|288.9| 289.4 |
0.5 | 1.772 | 60.76 | 7.4 | 254 | |Clementine|VN19|HDB11-470|306.9|
307.5 | 0.6 | 1.652 | 56.64 | 16.5 | 567 |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
|Clementine|VN13|HDB11-472|199.3| 200 | 0.7 | 4.941 | 169.40 | 15.0
| 515 |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
|Clementine|VN15|HDB11-475| 83 | 84 | 1.0 | 4.769 | 163.50 | 49.5 |
1697 |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
|Clementine|VN8 |HDB11-476| 26 | 26.7 | 0.7 | 4.509 | 154.60 | 12.2
| 420 | |Clementine|VN99|HDB11-476| 61 | 61.4 | 0.4 | 1.076 | 36.90
| 16.1 | 551 |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
|Clementine|VN99|HDB11-478|104.4| 105.1 | 0.7 | 3.179 | 109.00 |
13.5 | 463 | |Clementine|VN99|HDB11-478| 243 | 243.5 | 0.6 | 0.800
| 27.43 | 16.4 | 563 |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
|Clementine|VN16|HDB11-479|231.7| 236.3 | 4.8 | 0.963 | 33.00 |
31.9 | 1094 |
|__________|____|_________|_____|__________|_________|________|________|________|________|
Surface Exploration Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
approvals for surface drilling at Hollister have been received.
Budgeting and planning of the surface exploration drilling for
Q2-Q3 2011 are now being advanced, and include a further eight
boreholes on the Hatter Graben target and surface follow up of the
Velvet underground drilling. Significant progress has also been
made on the sub-regional and minesite scale collation and
interpretation of geophysical data, specifically, airborne
magnetic, ground CSMAT (high resolution resistivity), and gravity.
This work is in process of being integrated with a first-pass
structural interpretation of the larger Hollister area. The
structural work has significantly advanced the understanding of the
timing and geometry of ore fluid controlling basement structures,
given that the Hollister mineralization is approximately 15 million
years old, and hosted in 430 million year old Vanini
metasedimentary rocks and unconformably overlying 16 million year
old mid Miocene volcanic rocks. The whole target rationalization
and prioritization at Hollister is in the process of being
reviewed, and there are number of new plays to be investigated over
the forthcoming exploration drilling seasons. These include a
number of structures that are similar to those that control the
geometry of the Gwenivere and Clementine vein systems. To the
southeast, altered intrusive rocks have been interpreted from the
geophysical data, interfacing with the Hatter Graben vein system. A
further phase of surface drilling is planned for the Hatter Graben
during Q3 2011. The existence of Carlin age (38-43 Million year
old) mineralization in the southeastern portion of the claim block
cannot be ruled out. In this area, a conspicuous structural
interface with the Carlin Trend has been identified which warrants
further investigation. CSMAT high resolution resistivity data
is being integrated with empirical borehole data, and a number of
new vein system targets are emerging from this work. BURNSTONE
Underground and Surface Exploration Infill drilling from surface is
being undertaken to tighten up on the evaluation and structural
geometry of certain mining blocks. Results received during Q1 2011
are tabulated below. Summary Burnstone Mine Surface Drilling
Intersections Q1 2011
_____________________________________________________________________
| | Intersection | | |Au Grade|Au Content| | |Drill
|________________|Reef | | g/t | cmg/t | Target | |Hole ID| From |
To |Cm|Width|Geology | | | Area | | | | | | Cm | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
|_______|______|______|__|_____|_________|________|__________|________|
|BGM029 |392.66|393.07|41| 38 |Kimberley| 13.48 | 512 |B2 SOUTH| |
| | | | | Reef| | | WEST |
|_______|______|______|__|_____|_________|________|__________|________|
|BGM048 |462.71|463.20|49| 45 |Kimberley| 1.55 | 70 |B2 SOUTH| | |
| | | | Reef| | | WEST |
|_______|______|______|__|_____|_________|________|__________|________|
|BGM049 |283.30|283.82|52| 48 |Kimberley| 9.72 | 467 |B2 NORTH| | |
| | | | Reef| | | |
|_______|______|______|__|_____|_________|________|__________|________|
|BGM050 |277.46|277.60|14| 12 |Kimberley| 1.12 | 13 |B2 NORTH| | |
| | | | Reef| | | |
|_______|______|______|__|_____|_________|________|__________|________|
|BGM051 |335.47|336.06|59| 57 |Kimberley| 5.70 | 325 | C-UP | | | |
| | | Reef| | | |
|_______|______|______|__|_____|_________|________|__________|________|
|BGM052 |416.83|417.07|24| 21 |Kimberley| 16.64 | 349 |B2 NORTH| |
| | | | | Reef| | | WEST |
|_______|______|______|__|_____|_________|________|__________|________|
Underground evaluation is principally effected by channel sampling
of exposed sidewalls of development drives and stope panels.
Horizontal or shallow dipping cover drilling is undertaken for
development control. Over 10,000 channel samples have been
taken to date. During Q1, 2,686 channel samples were taken. The
summary gold grade (g/t), channel width (cw) and gold content
(cmg/t) statistics for the various mining blocks are shown below.
___________________________________________ | | No. |Channel| Gold
| Gold | | Block |Samples| Width |Content|Grade | | | | cm | cmg/t
|Au g/t| |____________|_______|_______|_______|______| |B2 | 1,956
| 56 | 461 | 8.22 | |____________|_______|_______|_______|______|
|B3 | 6,441 | 101 | 276 | 2.74 |
|____________|_______|_______|_______|______| |C3 | 1,162 | 32 |
559 |17.61 | |____________|_______|_______|_______|______| |Decline
1287| 531 | 73 | 442 | 6.09 |
|____________|_______|_______|_______|______| |1320 Access | 54 |
23 | 415 |18.04 | |____________|_______|_______|_______|______|
|C-Upper | 190 | 65 | 902 |13.93 |
|____________|_______|_______|_______|______| |Connecting 5| 147 |
25 | 184 | 8.05 | |____________|_______|_______|_______|______|
|Decline Loop| 177 | 70 | 222 | 3.26 |
|____________|_______|_______|_______|______| |Decline | 94 | 42 |
210 | 4.87 | |____________|_______|_______|_______|______|
|Raise-4A | 34 | 9 | 26 | 2.74 |
|____________|_______|_______|_______|______| |Overall |10,786 | 81
| 473 | 5.88 | |____________|_______|_______|_______|______| These
results are in-line with or better than mine development
expectations. Although current channel widths are skewed due to the
higher number of samples for Block B3 sampling, the Life-of-Mine
plan indicates an average channel width of 68 cm. Surface
Exploration Outside the Burnstone Mining Right Surface exploration
has recommenced at Burnstone, with the initiation of the shallow
basin edge target evaluation program, run under the South Rand
Basin Project. Historic surface diggings and limited stoping
of the Kimberley Reef is being investigated on the farm Rietbult,
approximately 7 kilometers northwest from the Burnstone Mine
infrastructure. The first two diamond holes intersected a Kimberley
Reef stope approximately 55 meters below surface, and the Kimberley
Reef at 87 meters below surface. Assay results are awaited.
Previous exploration in the area included historic drilling in the
1960's, as well as validation underground channel sampling of reef
exposures. This work, albeit restricted in extent, showed the
Kimberley Reef to be narrow (10 to 30 cm) but with grades ranging
from trace to 35 g/t Au. The current drilling program will
test in the order of 4 kilometers of potential strike, with a view
to evaluating satellite, shallow, narrow reef/high grade
underground development. Ferdi Dippenaar, Great Basin Gold
President and CEO, commented: "Our decision to continue with
exploration at Hollister during 2010 continues to deliver
results. The emergence of a new payshoot will deliver
short-term benefits, and our work on the larger Hollister Property
indicates the existence of a similar orebody to the one currently
being trial mined. The geological teams at both Hollister and
Burnstone are continuing to hone their evaluation and exploration
skills. An excellent geological and structural platform is
emerging at Hollister for the discovery of further gold and
silver-bearing vein systems. Continued integration of the data
available is paying dividends in improving our predictive
models. At Burnstone, the team is integrating existing
geological information with the detail afforded by underground
exposures. This will, in due course, provide real-time updating of
the geological and structural models, which will, in turn, assist
with short to medium term mine planning." Technical information
herein has been reviewed and approved by Phil Bentley, Pr.Sci.Nat.,
Great Basin Gold's Vice President: Geology & Exploration. Mr
Bentley is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities
Regulations in National Instrument 43-101. Ferdi Dippenaar
President and CEO
_____________________________________________________________________
|Samples collected from the Hollister Project are delivered to |
|Inspectorate America Corporation (Inspectorate) in Sparks, Nevada.
| |Vein samples are analyzed by standard fire assay procedures. For
| |standard fire assay, vein sample preparation consists of drying
and | |jaw-crushing the entire sample to 90% passing 10-mesh,
taking a 300 g| |sub-sample using a Jones splitter, and then
pulverizing the 300 g | |sub-sample to 90% passing 150-mesh using a
large capacity ring and | |puck pulverizer. A 30 g charge is fire
assayed. All metal | |determinations are by gravimetric finish.
Laboratory Quality | |Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) is
monitored using coarse reject | |blanks and assay standards,
duplicate fire assays, and Inspectorate's| |internal standards and
blanks. Coarse blanks (barren rhyolite or | |landscape marble) and
assay standards are inserted into the sample | |sequence as blind
samples prior to submitting the samples to the | |laboratory.
Inspectorate also inserts assay standards and blanks | |into the
sample stream. QA/QC results are within acceptable limits.| | |
|Samples collected from the Burnstone Mine are delivered to ALS
Chemex| |in Johannesburg, South Africa. Borehole core and channel
samples of | |Kimberley Reef are analyzed by standard fire assay
procedures. For | |standard fire assay, vein sample preparation
consists of drying and | |jaw-crushing the entire sample to 70%
passing 10-mesh (2mm), taking a| |400 g sub-sample using a Jones
splitter, and then pulverizing the 400| |g sub-sample to 90%
passing 150-mesh using a large capacity ring and | |puck
pulverizer. Three 50 g charges are fire assayed. All metal |
|determinations are by gravimetric finish. Laboratory Quality |
|Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) is monitored using coarse reject
| |blanks and assay standards, duplicate fire assays, and ALS
Chemex | |internal standards and blanks. Coarse blanks (barren
basalt or | |quartzite) and assay standards are inserted into the
sample sequence | |as blind samples prior to submitting the samples
to the laboratory. | |ALS Chemex also inserts assay standards and
blanks into the sample | |stream. QA/QC results are within
acceptable limits. |
|_____________________________________________________________________|
This document contains "forward-looking statements" that were based
on Great Basin Gold's expectations, estimates and projections as of
the dates as of which those statements were made. Generally, these
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "anticipate",
"project", "target", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend",
"should" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity,
performance or achievements to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These
include but are not limited to: -- uncertainties and costs related
to the Company's exploration and development activities, such as
those associated with determining the extent of mineral resources
or reserves which exist on a property; -- uncertainties related to
feasibility studies that provide estimates of expected or
anticipated costs, expenditures and economic returns from a mining
project; uncertainties related to expected production rates, timing
of production and the cash and total costs of production and
milling; -- uncertainties related to the ability to obtain
necessary licenses, permits, electricity, surface rights and title
for development projects; -- operating and technical difficulties
in connection with mining development activities; -- uncertainties
related to the accuracy of our mineral reserve and mineral resource
estimates and our estimates of future production and future cash
and total costs of production, and the geotechnical or
hydrogeological nature of ore deposits, and diminishing quantities
or grades of mineral reserves; -- uncertainties related to
unexpected political, judicial or regulatory proceedings; --
changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and
government policies affecting our mining operations, particularly
laws, regulations and policies relating to o mine expansions,
environmental protection and associated compliance costs arising
from exploration, mine development, mine operations and mine
closures; o expected effective future tax rates in jurisdictions in
which our operations are located; o the protection of the health
and safety of mine workers; and o mineral rights ownership in
countries where our mineral deposits are located, including the
effect of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act
(South Africa); -- changes in general economic conditions, the
financial markets and in the demand and market price for gold,
silver and other minerals and commodities, such as diesel fuel,
coal, petroleum coke, steel, concrete, electricity and other forms
of energy, mining equipment, and fluctuations in exchange rates,
particularly with respect to the value of the U.S. dollar, Canadian
dollar and South African rand; -- unusual or unexpected formation,
cave-ins, flooding, pressures, and precious metals losses (and the
risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to
cover these risks); -- changes in accounting policies and methods
we use to report our financial condition, including uncertainties
associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates; --
environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining
including processing and stock piling ore; -- geopolitical
uncertainty and political and economic instability in countries
which we operate; and -- labour strikes, work stoppages, or other
interruptions to, or difficulties in, the employment of labour in
markets in which we operate mines, or environmental hazards,
industrial accidents or other events or occurrences, including
third party interference that interrupt the production of minerals
in our mines. For further information on Great Basin Gold,
investors should review the Company's annual Form 40-F filing with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission www.sec.com
and home jurisdiction filings that are available at
www.sedar.com. To view this news release in HTML formatting,
please use the following URL:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2011/11/c2915.html
p For additional details on Great Basin Gold Ltd. and its gold
properties, please visit the Company's website at a
href="http://www.grtbasin.com"www.grtbasin.com/a or contact
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