East Asia Minerals Corporation (TSX VENTURE:EAS) announces that drilling has extended the east-northeast trend of the Miwah Main Zone approximately 200 metres to the East Block M area at the Miwah Gold Project in Aceh Province, Northern Sumatra, Indonesia.
EXD004 encountered 1.47 g/t gold over 40.4 metres within a broader interval of 0.6 g/t gold over 165.7 metres containing 0.89 g/t gold over 90 metres. In addition, a deeper capacity drill rig has commenced the extension of EMD024, which ended in high-grade gold mineralization due to previous drill rig limitations.
EXD004 was drilled with an 80 degree azimuth and 65 degree dip to test the extension of alteration/mineralization to the southeast of Moon River and northeast of Block M where recent channel sampling encountered 2.22 g/t gold over 27.5 metres in the East Block M area. This target is located 220 metres northeast of drill hole EMD016, the furthest east that East Asia Minerals has previously drilled the Miwah Main Zone. The hole was completed at 213 metres and encountered 0.60 g/t gold from 0 to 165.7 metres (165.7 metres), including 0.89 g/t gold from 0 to 90 metres (90 metres) with 1.47 g/t gold from 11.6 to 52 metres (40.4 metres), and 0.34 g/t gold from 116 to 165.7 metres (49.7 metres).
EXD004 demonstrates an improvement in thickness and grade from EMD016, the nearest hole to the west (news release February 9, 2010). The alteration/mineralization is open in all directions and at depth, and is interpreted to be contiguous to gold-rich holes drilled to the west. Surface gold mineralization has been encountered further southeast within the East Block M area, where EXD005 was recently completed.
EXD005 was drilled with a 75 degree azimuth and 50 degree dip to test the extension of alteration/mineralization to the southeast of EXD004 where recent channel sampling encountered 1.23 g/t gold over 12 metres, including 3.04 g/t gold over 3 metres in the East Block M area. The target is located 400 metres east of drill hole EMD016. EXD005 was completed at 167.1 metres and encountered patchy favourable alteration/mineralization from 0.7 to 58.5 metres, and 69.5 to 92.4 metres. The alteration/mineralization is open in all directions and at depth.
EXD006 is commencing with a 45 degree azimuth and 50 degree dip to test northeast from EXD003 (1.31 g/t gold over 46 metres, including 11.78 g/t gold over 3.5 metres at the end of hole) towards Moon River.
EMD046 was drilled with a 22 degree azimuth and 55 degree dip to test for continuity of mineralization northeast from EMD041/045, towards Moon River. The hole was completed at 220 metres and encountered favourable alteration/mineralization from 97.7 to 220 metres. The alteration/mineralization is open to the north and at depth, and is interpreted to be contiguous to gold-rich holes drilled in all other directions. Assays are pending.
EMD047 was drilled with a 30 degree azimuth and 63 degree dip to test for continuity of mineralization northeast from EMD044 towards Moon River. The hole was completed at 350 metres and encountered favourable alteration/mineralization from 130.7 to 350 metres. The alteration/mineralization is interpreted to be contiguous to gold-rich holes drilled to the south, and is open in all other directions and at depth. Assays are pending.
EMD048 was drilled with a 90 degree azimuth and 55 degree dip to test for continuity of mineralization due east from EMD045. The hole was completed at 220.5 metres and encountered favourable alteration/mineralization from 29.9 to 36.9 metres and 139 to 206.3 metres. The alteration/mineralization is open to the north and at depth, and is interpreted to be contiguous to gold-rich holes drilled in all other directions. Assays are pending.
EMD049 is commencing with a 205 degree azimuth and 55 degree dip to test for continuity of mineralization northeast from EMD041 (1.02 g/t gold over 113.8 metres, including 3.87 g/t gold over 14 metres and 1.35 g/t over 16 metres) towards Moon River.
Extension of EMD024 has commenced, continuing from the previously drilled due north azimuth and 55 degree dip. Previous drill hole EMD024 was terminated in high-grade gold mineralization at 209 metres due to drill rig limitations, and encountered 3.96 g/t gold from 98 to 209 metres (111 metres), including 15.74 g/t gold from 187 to 209 metres (22 metres), indicating increasing grade and thickness to the north. The penultimate and ultimate metre intercepts downhole graded 17.25 g/t gold and 20.6 g/t gold respectively (news release April 9, 2010). This extension hole will also undercut EXD003 located to the north, which encountered 1.31 g/t gold from 174.5 metres to the end of hole at 220.5 metres (46 metres), including 11.78 g/t gold from 217 to 220.5 metres (3.5 metres) where it finished in high-grade gold mineralization due to drill rig limitations. The penultimate 1.25 metre interval graded 30.37 g/t gold (news release September 21, 2010). This extension hole is being drilled with a 500-metres depth capacity rig.
East Asia has diamond drill validated the 1.2 kilometre east-west outcropping width of the shallow, laterally extensive Miwah Main Zone, and has encountered significant gold mineralization in more than 95% of all holes analyzed to date. The Miwah Main Zone remains open in all directions with the Moon River area expanding the north-south potential to more than 600 metres, whilst remaining open further to the north towards Sipopok. Drilling has extended the Miwah Main Zone towards a similar northing as Moon River. Sampling west of the Miwah Main Zone in the Signal area has potentially expanded the east-west width another 600 metres and remains open. Recent sampling east of the Miwah Main Zone in the East Block M area has potentially expanded the east-west width another 400 metres and remains open.
Miwah BackgroundThe Miwah Gold Prospect was partially defined by approximately 3,100 metres of drilling in twelve holes by a previous explorer in 1997. All holes drilled during this program intersected significant alteration and mineralization with intercepts including 71 metres of 1.4 g/t gold and 58 metres of 1.1 g/t gold. The previous explorer suggested potential for 100 Mt at 1.1 to 1.2 g/t gold, however a review of the historical data indicates that early drilling was parallel to higher grade (greater than 5 g/t gold) structures at surface. Hence, in addition to greater mineralized tonnage, significantly higher overall grades are anticipated from better geological understanding, results of the Company's detailed sampling, and from the ongoing drill program which is based on increased geological understanding. An example is the intersection of 3.96 g/t gold over 111 metres, including 15.74 g/t gold over 22 metres from East Asia's diamond drill hole EMD024.
Based on the Company's work Miwah is resolving into two components; a large 1,200 metre long, at least 450 metre wide, approximately 200 metre thick tabular zone; and vertical diatreme breccia feeder zones that are beneath and cut through this. At Miwah Gold Zones, East Asia has almost 2,500 metres of rock sawn channel samples which average 2.35 g/t gold. Grade expectations in Main Miwah Gold Zone exceed 1.5 g/t gold. Ongoing sampling verified the Company's confidence that higher overall gold grades can be achieved due to the presence of multiple high grade rock sawn channel samples throughout the strike, including 4.11 g/t gold over 200 metres at the eastern part of the Main Miwah Gold Zone, and 4.35 g/t gold over 27 metres at the western part. Recent drilling has supported this. In addition to the tabular zone the Company has begun to characterize some of the diatreme breccia feeder zones, with rock sawn channel samples including 83.59 g/t gold over 24 metres and 20.14 g/t gold over 12 metres. Recent drilling has supported this. These feeder zones have great potential to develop into substantial tonnages of higher grade gold mineralization in an area adjacent to the Main Miwah Gold Zone.
The Miwah Property is in a very similar volcanic setting to the Martabe gold-silver deposit, also located in North Sumatra (Purnama and Baskara resources: 127.8 million tonnes at 1.4 g/t gold (5.5 million ounces gold) and 15 g/t silver (60 million ounces silver), and the alteration system is of a comparable size. Miwah also exhibits a likeness to the size, style and geometry of the alteration system developed at the Pierina gold deposit in Peru (67.7 Mt grading 2.98 g/t gold and 22 g/t silver, giving a total 6.49 million ounces gold and 47.9 million ounces silver).
Samples reported were assayed at Intertek assay laboratories in Jakarta. Lionel Martin, P.Geo., the designated QP within the meaning of NI 43-101, has reviewed and approves the content of this release. East Asia has not verified the classification of the resource references and is not treating them as NI 43-101 defined resources verified by a QP. Although the references of resources are relevant to recognizing the potential of the Miwah project, they should not be relied upon.
Source: East Asia Minerals Corporation