Almaden Minerals Ltd. has announced results from the on-going drilling at the Ixtaca Zone with holes TU-11-45, 51, 53 to 55, 57, 58 and 60. Holes TU-11-51, 53 to 55, 57, 58 and 60 were drilled 180 degrees away from the known Ixtaca veining (at a 330 azimuth) and intersected the zone of mineralisation now referred to as Ixtaca North.
The orientation of the Ixtaca North zone remains poorly understood. Hole TU-11-45 was drilled at the southwest extent of the known Ixtaca zone and intersected veining in the overlying ash unit. This intersection shows that the Ixtaca Zone remains open to the southwest. Final assays remain pending for holes TU-11-56 and 59.
Highlights from the current group of assays include the following intercepts:
Hole TU-11-45 MAIN IXTACA ZONE SW EXTENSION:
81.30 meters @ 0.78 g/t gold and 4.6 g/t silver (0.9 g/t gold equivalent)
including: 8.15 meters @ 1.99 g/t gold and 4.2 g/t silver (2.1 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-11-51 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
98.58 meters @ 0.92 g/t gold and 76.3 g/t silver (2.5 g/t gold equivalent)
and: 53.50 meters @ 1.26 g/t gold and 120.2 g/t silver (3.7 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-11-53 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
41.96 meters @ 0.64 g/t gold and 49.1 g/t silver (1.6 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-11-54 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
11.94 meters @ 0.63 g/t gold and 52.0 g/t silver (1.7 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-11-55 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
11.45 meters @ 0.55 g/t gold and 100.4 g/t silver (2.6 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-11-57 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
15.85 meters @ 0.52 g/t gold and 38.3 g/t silver (1.3 g/t gold equivalent)
including: 7.80 meters @ 1.85 g/t gold and 140.6 g/t silver (4.7 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-11-58 ASH ABOVE MAIN IXTACA ZONE:
12.75 meters @ 0.43 g/t gold and 10.6 g/t silver (0.6 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-11-60 IXTACA NORTH ZONE:
1.48 meters @ 2.56 g/t gold and 223.3 g/t silver (7.0 g/t gold equivalent)
J.D. Poliquin, Chairman of Almaden commented, "These new holes continue to show that the Ixtaca zone is a robust and wide system of veining. The veining of the Ixtaca North zone indicates that the overall Ixtaca vein system is wider than previously known. Hole TU-11-45 shows that the Ixtaca zone remains open to the southwest. Overall, drilling to date on the Ixtaca zone also shows good continuity of mineralisation in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. We are very pleased with these new results which further expand the known extent of the Ixtaca zone. We now have three drills on site." The Company anticipates drilling operations will continue throughout 2011.
Source: www.almadenminerals.com