Alpha Minerals JV Reports Recently Discovered R600W Zone Expands to 30m Strike Length at PLS, Athabasca Basin
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Nov 27, 2013) - Alpha Minerals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:AMW)(E2GA.F), (the "Company" or "Alpha"), and its 50% Joint Venture partner Fission Uranium Corp. are pleased to announce results for the final eleven holes of the current program at their Patterson Lake South (PLS) property in Canada's Athabasca Basin. The holes tested land-based targets west of the initial discovery zone. Holes PLS13-123 and PLS13-124 at the recently discovered sixth zone - R600W - returned significant radioactivity. Their location confirms continuity of the zone over a 30m strike length (585W to 615W). The zone remains open in all directions. Assays for 40 holes from the summer program are still pending.
Drilling Highlights include:
PLS13-124 (line 615W)
37.0m total composite mineralization (within 97.5m - 208.5m)
PLS13-123 (line 585W)
32.5m total composite mineralization (within 95.0m - 163.5m)
Current drilling ends with 1.77km strike length of mineralized trend and six zones along trend
Nine additional regional holes were drilled along or proximal to the southernmost PL-3B resistivity corridor, west of the Discovery zone (R00E), between lines 150W and 840W; PLS13-110, PLS13-111, PLS13-112, PLS13-113, PLS13-114, PLS13-115, PLS13-117, PLS13-119 and PLS13-120. Drill hole PLS13-110 (line 405W) intersected anomalous radioactivity up to 1,227 cps from 96.6m to 98.6m as observed with the down hole triple gamma probe (2GHF-1000), however, drill core was not recovered to confirm whether the radioactivity was within the overburden or bedrock.
The remainder of the regional drill holes did not intersect anomalous radioactivity, but the geology, alteration, and structure showed a favorable environment for more basement-hosted uranium mineralization along the conductor corridor. Specifically, prospective pelitic gneiss (+/- graphite and sulphides), varying degrees of localized hydrothermal alteration, and shear and brittle fault zones were encountered. Particularly in light of the results of the newly discovered R600W zone, further drilling is warranted to evaluate this land based area for additional mineralization.
Ben Ainsworth, President of Alpha Minerals Inc comments that: "The Joint Venture has achieved in this 12 month program of drilling almost what was completed in 4 years of work on Hathor's Roughrider discovery. Alpha management is very pleased with the close working of the two JV partners which ESO Uranium Corp initiated with Strathmore Minerals Corp in January 2007 and continued with the transition to Fission Energy, the Spinco of the Canadian assets of Strathmore, that has allowed this to happen. These last holes indicate how important it is to continue to maintain a disciplined and tight drill pattern with proper instruction to drill crews, who have completed a remarkable program this year, as to where to start coring when the overburden thickness is reasonably predictable and allows this."
Summer Drilling Highlights to date include:
16,485m drilled and 53 completed drill holes (assays from 40 drill holes still pending and to be announced)
Strike length of mineralized trend: 1.77km with 6 zones along trend
1.77km from PLS13-124 (line 615W) to PLS13-103 (line 1155E)
38 holes, primarily lake-based barge collared holes along the 1,140m trend from lines 075W to 955E:
100% mineralization hit rate
Expansion of the three known high-grade zones (R00E, R390E and R780E)
Discovery of two new high-grade zones (R585E and R945E) and one area of potential continuation of the mineralized system at line 1155E
15 land-based holes including discovery of the R600W zone
9 regional holes testing or proximal to the PL-3B EM conductor and coincident radon in soil gas anomalies
6 holes delineating the R600W zone which remains open in all directions
R600W Zone
The R600W zone discovery was the result of follow-up by drilling of a radon in soil gas anomaly identified by RadonEx during the summer program. The radon anomaly is located between 540W and 630W and may be associated with inferred north-south cross cutting structures. This anomaly lies along an ENE trend, parallel and just north of the PL-3B EM conductor.
PLS13-123 (line 585W) was collared as a vertical hole and completed to a depth of 260.0m. Five intervals of weak to locally moderate radioactivity were encountered ranging in width from 1.0m to 20.0m wide, for a total composite of 32.5m of mineralization within a 68.5m section (95.0m to 163.5m). Basement rock was encountered at 100.0m depth, directly below a 9.3m wide horizon of Devonian sandstone. Pelitic gneiss was encountered from 100.0m to 179.8m transitioning to a semipelitic gneiss from 179.8m to the end of hole depth of 260.0m. Sulphide mineralization was present from 132.8m to 165.4m.
PLS13-124 (line 615W) was collared as a vertical hole and completed to a depth of 257.0m. A total composite of 37.5m of mineralization within 8 discrete intervals of variably weak to moderate radioactive mineralization was intersected within a 111.0m section (97.5m to 208.5m), in interval widths ranging from 0.5m to 11.5m. The upper part of the basement lithologic sequence (99.0m to 213.5m) is comprised primarily of pelitic gneiss with several intervals of mylonites from approximately 2m to 5m wide. From 213.5m to the end of hole depth of 257.0m, basement is predominantly a semipelitic gneiss.
R600W Zone | ||||||||||||||||||||
Collar | * Hand-held Scintillometer Results On Mineralized Drillcore (>300 cps / >0.5M minimum) | Devonian Sand-stone | Basement Uncon-formity | Total Drill-hole | ||||||||||||||||
Hole ID | Grid Line | Az | Dip | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | CPS Peak Range | From - To (m) | Depth (m) | Depth (m) | ||||||||||
PLS13-123 | 585W | 83 | -87 | 95.0 | 115.0 | 20.0 |
| 90.7 - 100.0 | 100.0 | 260.0 | ||||||||||
132.5 | 140.0 | 7.5 |
| |||||||||||||||||
142.5 | 145.0 | 2.5 | 320 - 2300 | |||||||||||||||||
158.5 | 160.0 | 1.5 | 350 - 980 | |||||||||||||||||
162.5 | 163.5 | 1.0 | 340 - 360 | |||||||||||||||||
PLS13-124 | 615W | 200 | -89 | 97.5 | 104.0 | 6.5 | 450 - 5500 | 97.5 - 99.0 | 99.0 | 257.0 | ||||||||||
107.0 | 109.0 | 2.0 | 700 - 2000 | |||||||||||||||||
114.0 | 121.5 | 7.5 |
| |||||||||||||||||
139.0 | 144.5 | 5.5 |
| |||||||||||||||||
147.5 | 150.0 | 2.5 |
| |||||||||||||||||
184.5 | 185.0 | 0.5 | 470 | |||||||||||||||||
187.5 | 188.5 | 1.0 | 360 - 460 | |||||||||||||||||
197.0 | 208.5 | 11.5 |
| |||||||||||||||||
* Scintillometer Instrument: GR-110G | ||||||||||||||||||||
Regional Holes
Nine land-based drill holes (PLS13-110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, 119 and 120) were drilled west of the R00E zone, along the same geophysics defined lithologic corridor (PL-3B EM conductor) which hosts the R00E, R390E, R585E, R780E and R945E zones, between lines 150W and 840W. The holes were targeted to test the east-northeast trending corridor in conjunction with interpreted cross cutting north-south faults, and in particular where radon anomalies were located. All holes intersected varying amounts of pelitic gneiss with associated localized development of weak to moderate clay alteration, overlying a semipelitic gneiss. In addition, a common feature to most holes was an intersection of a diabase dyke, ranging in widths from 2.1m to 17.1m wide. Drill hole PLS13-110 (line 405W) intersected anomalous radioactivity up to 1,227 cps from 96.6m to 98.6m as observed with the down hole triple gamma probe (2GHF-1000), however, drill core was not recovered to confirm whether the radioactivity was within the overburden or bedrock.
Anomalous radioactivity was not encountered in the other regional drill holes. However, varying degrees of secondary hydrothermal alteration and favourable structure were observed in all holes, which strengthens the understanding and potential for basement hosted mineralization along the land-based western strike extension of the PL-3B corridor.
PLS13-120 (line 150W) was collared as s steeply dipping north oriented hole, completed to 161.0m. Bedrock was encountered at 66.8m depth and consisted of a pelitic gneiss to 118.3m transitioning to a semipelitic gneiss from 118.3m to 150.3m. Diabase was encountered from 150.3m to the end of hole depth of 161.0m. Weak clay alteration was encountered throughout.
PLS13-119 (line 195W) was collared as a steeply dipping north oriented hole, completed to 227.0m. Bedrock was encountered at 62.7m and consisted of a pelitic gneiss to 193.7m, transitioning to a semipelitic gneiss from 193.7m to the end of hole depth of 227.0m. Weak to locally moderate clay alteration was encountered throughout.
PLS13-115 (line 360W) was collared as a steep dipping east oriented hole, completed to a depth of 251.0m. Bedrock was encountered at 81.7m and consisted of a quartzitic gneiss to 119.3m, overlying a dominantly pelitic gneiss to 226.4m. Diabase was encountered from 226.4m to 230.6m, overlying a semipelitic gneiss from 230.6m to the end of hole depth 251.0m. Moderate to locally strong clay alteration was present from 81.7m to 145.1m. Sulphide mineralization was present from 156.7m to 224.2m.
PLS13-117 (line 360W) was collared 10m grid north of PLS13-115 as a steep dipping north oriented hole, completed to a depth of 221.0m. Bedrock was intersected at 83.1m and consisted of a pelitic gneiss to 160.1m. Diabase was intersected from 160.1m to 167.5m, overlying a semipelitic gneiss from 167.5m to the end of hole depth of 221.0m. Moderate to strong clay alteration was present from 83.1m to 111.6m.
PLS13-110 (line 405W) was collared as a steep dipping east oriented, completed to a depth of 251.0m. Bedrock was anticipated at a down hole depth ranging between 80.0m to 90.0m, and instead was encountered at 116.6m as a narrow 0.3m pelitic gneiss interval overlying semipelitic gneiss from 116.9m to 223.7m. A wide intersection of Diabase was encountered from 223.7m to 240.8m, which was underlain by semipelitic gneiss to the end of hole depth of 251.0m. Weak pervasive clay alteration was encountered from 122.0m to 251.0m.
The down hole triple gamma probe (2GHF-1000) results suggest bedrock was actually encountered at a depth of 92.3m. Anomalous radioactivity from the gamma probe results showed up to 1,227 cps from 96.6m to 98.6m, which would have been mineralized bedrock if drill core from this interval was not lost. It is likely that soft pelitic bedrock was washed away and not recovered from 92.3m to 116.6m during drilling.
PLS13-111 (line 405W) was collared 20m grid south of PLS13-110 as a steep dipping north oriented hole, completed to a depth of 254.0m. Bedrock was anticipated at a down hole depth ranging between 80.0m to 90.0m, and instead was encountered at 101.0m as pelitic gneiss to 219.6m transitioning to a semipelitic gneiss to the end of hole depth of 254.0m. Diabase was intersected from 221.8m to 226.8m. Weak pervasive clay alteration, locally hematized was present throughout. An interval with sulphide mineralization was encountered from 134.6m to 164.7m.
The down hole triple gamma probe (2GHF-1000) results suggest bedrock was actually encountered at a depth of 87.0m. It is likely that soft pelitic bedrock was washed away and not recovered from 87.0m to 101.0m during drilling.
PLS13-113 (line 405W) was collared 20m grid south of PLS13-111 as a steep north-east oriented hole, completed to a depth of 272.8m. Bedrock was intersected at an anticipated depth of 85.0m and consisted of a quartzitic gneiss to 102.3m overlying a pelitic gneiss from 102.3m to 264.4m. A semipelitic gneiss was intersected from 264.4m to the end of hole depth of 272.8m. Weak pervasive clay alteration is present throughout most of the basement. Local intervals with sulphide mineralization were intersected between 215.8m and 254.7m.
PLS13-114 (line 705W) was collared as a steep dipping northwest oriented hole completed to a depth of 206.0m. Bedrock was intersected at 104.2m and consisted of pelitic gneiss to 124.9m. From 124.9m to the end of hole depth of 206.0m basement lithology is primarily a semipelitic gneiss with localized quartzitic granofels. Diabase was intersected from 142.7m to 154.3m. Moderate to strong clay alteration, locally hematitic, is present from 104.2m to 124.9m.
PLS13-112 (line 840W) was collared as a steep dipping north-east oriented hole completed to a depth of 248.0m. Basement was intersected at 104.1m and consisted of pelitic gneiss to 145.1m, with a mylonitic interval from 119.5m to 122.4m. From 145.1m to 234.7m the basement consists of primarily a semipelitic gneiss with a 5.1m mylonitic interval from 190.4m to 195.5m. Diabase was encountered from 234.7m to 236.8m. From 236.8m to the end of hole depth of 248.0m the basement was comprised of a quartz-feldspar gneiss. Moderate to locally strong clay alteration was present from 100.9m to 223.0m.
Regional West | ||||||||||||||||||||
Collar | * Hand-held Scintillometer Results On Mineralized Drillcore (>300 cps / >0.5M minimum) | Devonian Sand-stone | Basement Uncon-formity | Total Drill-hole | ||||||||||||||||
Hole ID | Grid Line | Az | Dip | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m) | CPS Peak Range | From - To (m) | Depth (m) | Depth (m) | ||||||||||
PLS13-110 | 405W | 352 | -83 | No Significant Radioactivity | No Sandstone | 116.6 | 251.0 | |||||||||||||
PLS13-111 | 405W | 18 | -87 | No Significant Radioactivity | No Sandstone | 101.0 | 254.0 | |||||||||||||
PLS13-112 | 840W | 315 | -68 | No Significant Radioactivity | 100.9 - 104.1 | 104.1 | 248.0 | |||||||||||||
PLS13-113 | 405W | 49 | -84 | No Significant Radioactivity | No Sandstone | 85.0 | 272.8 | |||||||||||||
PLS13-114 | 705W | 332 | -73 | No Significant Radioactivity | 104.1 - 104.2 | 104.2 | 206.0 | |||||||||||||
PLS13-115 | 360W | 356 | -81 | No Significant Radioactivity | No Sandstone | 81.7 | 251.0 | |||||||||||||
PLS13-117 | 360W | 338 | -74 | No Significant Radioactivity | 80.0 - 83.1 | 83.1 | 221.0 | |||||||||||||
PLS13-119 | 195W | 334 | -79 | No Significant Radioactivity | 59.7 - 62.7 | 62.7 | 227.0 | |||||||||||||
PLS13-120 | 150W | 334 | -78 | No Significant Radioactivity | No Sandstone | 66.8 | 161.0 | |||||||||||||
* Scintillometer Instrument: GR-110G | ||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gamma radiation in drill core that is reported in this news release was measured in counts per second (cps) using a hand held Exploranium GR-110G total count gamma-ray scintillometer. The reader is cautioned that scintillometer readings are not directly or uniformly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured, and should be used only as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive materials. The degree of radioactivity within the mineralized intervals is highly variable and associated with visible pitchblende mineralization. All intersections are down-hole, core interval measurements and true thickness is yet to be determined.
All holes are planned to be radiometrically surveyed using a Mount Sopris 2GHF-1000 Triple Gamma probe, which allows for more accurate measurements in high grade mineralized zones. The Triple Gamma probe is preferred in zones of high grade mineralization.
Split core samples from the mineralized section of core will be taken continuously through the mineralized intervals and submitted to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) of Saskatoon for analysis, which includes U3O8 (wt %) and fire assay for gold. All samples sent for analysis will include a 63 element ICP-OES, uranium by ICP-MS and boron. Assay results will be released when received.
For additional comments about the Summer 2013 Program, please watch a corporate video at the Alpha Minerals website: http://www.alphaminerals.ca/corporate-videos/
Patterson Lake South Property
The 31,000 hectare (76,000 acres) PLS project project is a 50%/50% Joint Venture held by Alpha Minerals Inc (AMW) and Fission Uranium (FCU). The Joint Venture property is 100% owned with no underlying royalties or vendor payments. For the present work, the exploration is still being operated as a Joint Venture under the direction of the Joint Venture Management Committee with Fission Uranium acting as the operator. The property is accessible by road with primary access from all-weather Highway 955, which runs 74km north to the former Cluff Lake mine, (>60M lbs of U3O8 produced from multiple open pit and underground mines), and passes through the claims covering the UEX-Areva Shea Creek discoveries located 58km to the north, currently under active exploration and development.
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of Alpha Minerals Inc, by Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration, a qualified person.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alpha Minerals Inc.
Ben Ainsworth, PEng BC/SK, President, CEO and Director
Please refer to the Alpha Minerals Inc. website (www.alphaminerals.ca) for the video and further updated information.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on Alpha's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect to Alpha's development plans. The words "will", "anticipated", "plans" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Alpha's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labour relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. Alpha disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
