TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 1, 2008) - Dundee Precious Metals Inc. (TSX:DPM)(TSX:DPM.WT) (the "Company" or "DPM") announced that exploration along the western margin of the Timok Magmatic Complex ("TMC") in northeastern Serbia has confirmed the limestone hosted belt of gold mineralization extends more than 25 km.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Initial excavation and sampling of trenches, using a notional trench spacing of 800m, along the strike extent of the target zone has confirmed significant gold mineralization over the entire 25 km length sampled to date.
- All identified anomalous areas have returned gold mineralized intercepts, using a cut off grade of 0.5g/t Au.
- In addition, broad zones of strongly anomalous gold mineralization have been outlined, using a notional 0.1g/t Au 'geological' cut off grade.
- Gold mineralization is associated with deformed and silicified limestones, marbles and skarns, intruded by andesites and monzonites.
- Key trench gold intercepts include the following (from North to South):
Korkan
-- JASTR009 45m at 3.0g/t from 0m
-- JASTR009 37m at 3.9g/t from 86m
Bigar
-- BITR001 6m at 2.9g/t from 164m
-- BITR001 24m at 1.0g/t from 376m
-- BITR002 12m at 1.1g/t from 66m
-- BITR002 12m at 2.8g/t from 88m
-- BITR002 36m at 1.1g/t from 108m
Kraku Pester
-- PETR002 18m at 1.8g/t from 0m
-- PETR002 28m at 3.0g/t from 26m
Umka
-- PCTTR010 11m at 1.9g/t from 193m
-- UMTR011 10m at 1.5g/t from 212m
-- UMTR012 6m at 1.8g/t from 174m
- The gold mineralized zone is open in both directions and DPM has secured exploration licences to cover all prospective parts of the limestone sequence along the western margin of the TMC.
- Exploration will continue to further determine the controls on gold mineralization and to generate drill targets.
- In addition, final gold assays have been received from the remainder of the 'proof of concept' drilling program from the limestone hosted gold Bozuluj Prospect in the Tilva Njagra Concession Licence and highlights include the following:
-- BZDD008 12m at 1.3g/t from 54m
-- BZDD009 17m at 0.7g/t from 0m
-- BZDD010 7.4m at 1.2g/t from 6.6m
-- BZDD012 12m at 1.1g/t from 36m
-- BZDD014 18m at 3.2g/t from 167m
BACKGROUND
Following the successful 'proof of concept' exploration results on the limestone hosted gold target at Bozuluj, a program of detailed geological mapping and trench sampling has been carried out along the 25 km length of soil sampling anomalies within the Potoj Cuka and Jasikovo exploration licenses within the TMC. The location of the two licenses is displayed in Figure 1.
Geological mapping of the 'limestone hosted' gold belt has determined a complex geological and structural sequence of limestone, marble, skarn, monzonite, diorite dykes, andesite, schist and sediments. Further work is required to determine, in more detail, the structural and lithological controls on the gold mineralization.
The initial program of 'scout' trenching has used a notional 800m spacing between trenches within the four main anomalous areas (from north to south as follows): Korkan, Bigar, Kraku Pester and Umka. Figure 2 displays the location of the key prospects with the background image of Au-Ag-As-Sb-Hg correlation from the soil sampling data. The figure also summarizes the geological association at each prospect.
For the majority of the trench sampling program a two metre sample interval has been used and the samples have been prepared at the SGS managed laboratory facility at Bor, eastern Serbia and have been assayed at the SGS managed laboratory at Chelopech in Bulgaria. Following DPM exploration standard procedures, a full suite of field and laboratory duplicates and replicates along with internationally accredited standards have been submitted with each batch of samples. A one metre sampling interval has been used for the Bozuluj 'proof of concept' diamond drilling program. Composite samples for metallurgical testing have been collected and compiled from the Bozuluj core and have been dispatched to SGS Lakefield, Toronto, Canada for first pass metallurgical testing. Results from the metallurgical test work are awaited.
RESULTS
The initial trench sampling program has been extremely successful, with gold mineralization being encountered in almost all trenches excavated to date.
Table 1 highlights key intercepts from the trench sampling program, using a cut off grade of 0.5g/t Au, whilst Table 2 displays selected intercepts using a 'geological' cut off grade of 0.1g/t Au in order to illustrate the frequent broad zones of anomalous gold that surround the mineralized intervals using a 0.5g/t Au cut off.
Table 3 summarizes the results of the 'proof of concept' drilling program at Bozuluj, with intersections calculated using a cut off grade of 0.5g/t Au, a minimum intersection length of 5m and a maximum contiguous interval of waste of 5m. Note that holes BZDD001 to BZDD007 have previously been reported but are included in Table 3 for completeness. The 'proof of concept' program is considered to have been very successful as numerous encouraging intersections have been returned, given the wide spacing of the first pass drilling program.
It is of note that several of the trenches began or ended in mineralization, including BITR002, BITR004 and BITR010 at the Bigar prospect, PETR001, PETR002 and PETR005 at Kraku Pester and JASTR009 at Korkan.
Geological mapping has indicated that the mineralization is structurally controlled and is dominantly hosted within strongly altered limestone, marble and skarn which are spatially associated with intrusive rocks including monzonite, diorite dykes and andesite bodies. Further mapping and structural studies, coupled with re-interpretation of the extensive geophysical data that has been collected is required to further delineate the controls on mineralization prior to targeting further drilling. Infill trenching is also required to refine the numerous targets that have been identified to date.
Stream sediment sampling (both 'traditional' stream sediments samples and bulk leachable gold, or 'BLEG' samples) have been collected from the remaining exploration licences which have been staked to cover the remainder of the prospective geological trend. The stream sediment samples have been dispatched for multi-element analysis by inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) techniques using equipment at the ALS Chemex laboratory, Perth, Australia. The 'BLEG' samples have been sent to SGS Welshpool, Perth, Australia for leach analysis by method BLL62N. Soil sampling has also been initiated to extend coverage to the north and west of the Korkan prospect at the northern end of the currently identified anomalous zone.
The exploration to date has confirmed the existence of a greater than 25 km long zone of strongly anomalous gold mineralization. Much further work is required to begin to develop both a model of the controls and location of the gold mineralization in this newly discovered belt and to refine targets for follow up drilling. Nevertheless it is clearly evident that a new gold mineralized province has been outlined along the western margin of the TMC.
Dr. Julian F. H. Barnes, a qualified person under NI 43-101 and Executive Vice President of DPM, has supervised the preparation of the technical data included in this press release.
Dundee Precious Metals Inc. is a Canadian based, international mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and mining of precious metals. It currently owns the Chelopech Mine, a producing gold/copper mine, and the Krumovgrad Gold Project, a mining development project, both located in Bulgaria, and is engaged in mineral exploration activities in Serbia. In addition, Dundee Precious owns the Back River gold exploration project in Nunavut, Canada and a 95% interest in the Kapan Mine in Armenia.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release may contain certain information that constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices and other factors described above and in the Company's most recent annual information form under the heading "Risk Factors" which has been filed electronically by means of the Canadian Securities Administrators' website located at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
To view "Figure 1: Location of Potoj Cuka and Jasikovo exploration licenses within the Timok Magmatic Complex," please visit the link below:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/dunfig1.pdf
To view "Figure 2: Location of key prospects," please visit the link below:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/dunfig2.pdf
To view "Table 1," please visit the link below:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/dunt1.pdf
To view "Table 2," please visit the link below:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/dunt2.pdf
To view "Table 3," please visit the link below:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/dunt3.pdf
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Dundee Precious Metals Inc.
Jonathan Goodman
President & Chief Executive Officer
(416) 365-2408
Email: jgoodman@dundeeprecious.com
Dundee Precious Metals Inc.
Gabriela M. Sanchez
Vice President, Investor Relations
(416) 365-2549
Email: gsanchez@dundeeprecious.com
