Nouveau Monde Intersects 3.91%Cg Over 94 m in Trench and 4.78%Cg over 43.9 M in Drill Core on the South-West Zone - Tony Block - Matawinie Project
GATINEAU, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Sept. 10, 2015) - Nouveau Monde Mining Enterprises Inc. ("Nouveau Monde") (TSX VENTURE:NOU) (OTC PINK:NMGRF)(FRANKFURT:NM9) is pleased to report its first drilling and trenching assay results for its ongoing 2015 program on the Matawinie graphite property which is located in the St-Michel-des-Saints area, some 130 km north of Montreal, Québec, Canada. An extensive trenching and 9000 meters drilling program was initiated on the property's Tony claim block in late June following repeated discoveries of high grade graphite showings coincident with multi-kilometric conductive anomalies reported earlier this summer (see press releases dated May 28 and July 9, 2015). The objective of the work program is to define the most promising graphite resource among the different mineralized zones on the project before year end in order to come up with a preliminary economic assessment during the first half of 2016.
The following files can be downloaded in support to the reading of the paragraphs below:
- Property zone location map: https://www.dropbox.com/s/im1yo65ctc1qq6o/PR_Tony_Block_20150909_V2.pdf?dl=0
- South-West zone close up location map: https://www.dropbox.com/s/va0onr5ev4vom65/PR_SouthwestZone_20150909.pdf?dl=0
- Section 1500: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wqzswvk6ld47ba6/Tony%20Section%20S1500%20English%20version%204.pdf?dl=0
- Section 1600: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sm5ev2rddzgccgu/Tony%20Section%20S1600%20English%20version%204.pdf?dl=0
- Section 1700: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vif7584qzh0meri/Tony%20Section%20S1700%20English%20version%204.pdf?dl=0
- Section 1800: https://www.dropbox.com/s/52b5l0ojh4dgb8x/Tony%20Section%20S1800%20English%20version%204.pdf?dl=0
Trenching-channel sampling
A total of five trenches ranging in length from 62 to 198 m were excavated and sampled. Laboratory results are pending, except for trench TO-15-TR-5 dug on the South-West Zone adjacent to drill section S-1500 for which complete assays have been received. Channel samples from the program each measured approximately 2 m in length, 4 cm in width, and 10 cm in height. Although the best individual channel sample result from this trench is 7.46 % graphitic carbon ("Cg") over 2 m, a total of 20 samples returned over 5% Cg. The northern contact of the mineralized horizon was intersected, but it remains open to the south where thick overburden (> 3 m) precluded excavation.
The samples were collected in excavated trenches using a portable gas-powered rock saw. The trenches were oriented approximately perpendicular to the gneissossity whose dip varies from 30° to 90° (vertical). Trench locations are seen on the property map, while assay results are available below (Table 1) and on drill section S-1500. Results from trenches TO-15-TR-06 through TO-15-TR-09 will be reported upon receipt.
Table 1: Summary of results from channel sampling in Trench TO-15-TR-5
| From (m) | To (m) | Total Interval Length (m)* | % Cg over Interval** |
| 0 | 4 | 4 | 1.77 |
| 9 | 27 | 18 | 2.04 |
| 37 | 61 | 24 | 2.84 |
| 61 | 155 | 94 | 3.91 |
| 185 | 193 | 8 | 5.18 |
| * Sampling of intervals not included in the table was not performed due to large obstacles or prohibitive overburden depth. | |||
| ** Interval length does not represent true width. All analyses were performed by ALS Minerals Laboratories and delivered as graphitic carbon (Cg), using internal analytical code C-IR18. | |||
Drilling
To date, 29 core drill holes ranging in length from 33 to 183 m were drilled for a total of 3,788 m. The operation generated more than 1,400 samples. This initial drilling program was concentrated in the South-West Zone of the Tony block where 22 of the holes (totaling 2,615 m) were drilled. For this reason, only the work performed in this zone will be discussed further at this time. Although results are pending for 14 of the holes drilled on the zone, some values already stand out: Hole TO-15-10 returned the highest grade, 4.78% Cg over 43.9 m (42.4 m true width), Hole TO-15-07 yielded the highest grade intersection, 4.92% Cg over 27.8 m (27.7 m true width) and Hole TO-15-12 showed the longest intersection, 3.36% Cg over 61.8 m (61.7 m true width). The location of the drill holes can be seen on the South-West work location map above, while the results received to date are presented in Table 2. As seen on the four sections presented above, from south to north, the drill holes intercepted a number of distinct layers: a first graphitic horizon (S1) about 30 m thick, followed by a mostly barren interval between 25 and 63 m thick, and finally, a second graphitic horizon (S2) around 50 m thick. These horizons dip from 45° to 55° south. Regarding the South-West Zone, drilling indicates that Zones S1 and S2 merge and narrow to the west between sections S-1200 and S-1400, while PhiSpy ground geophysics indicates that Horizons S1 and S2 disappear to the east between sections S-1900 and S-2000. In this context, we believe the geophysical methodology to be very reliable as it has not only been instrumental in discovering the mineralization, but also strongly supports its continuity between the drill sections.
Samples from the 2015 core drilling program were generally 2 m in length (see below). Core barrel size was BTW (4.2 cm). Except for Hole TO-15-05, all the holes on the South-West Zone were more or less oriented N336° (perpendicular to the long axis of the zone) with a dip of 45°.
Table 2: Summary of results received to date for drilling on the South-West Zone
| Section | Hole | Horizon | From | To | Width | True Width | Grade |
| S1800 | TO-15-06 | S1 | 13.7 | 48.8 | 35.1 | 35.0 | 35.1m @ 4.74% |
| S2 | 92.7 | 143.5 | 50.8 | 49.1 | 50.8m @ 2.79% | ||
| S1700 | TO-15-07 | S1 | 42.4 | 70.2 | 27.8 | 26.9 | 27.8m @ 4.92% |
| S2A | 114.1 | 151.5 | 37.4 | 36.1 | 37.4m @ 3.28% | ||
| S2B | 162.8 | 171.3 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.5m @ 3.25% | ||
| S1600 | TO-15-09 | S1A | 3 | 12.3 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 9.3m @ 4.11% |
| S1B | 23.9 | 31 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 7.1m @ 3.21 | ||
| S1C | 36.5 | 50.7 | 14.2 | 13.7 | 14.2m @ 4.88% | ||
| S1D | 57.2 | 64.4 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.2m @ 4.55% | ||
| S2 | 129.7 | 162 | 32.3 | 31.2 | 32.3m @ 3.09% | ||
| S1500 | TO-15-10 | S1A | 12.6 | 56.5 | 43.9 | 42.4 | 43.9m @ 4.78% |
| S1B | 67.2 | 70.5 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.3m @ 4.58% | ||
| S2 | 84.9 | 122.5 | 37.6 | 36.3 | 37.6m @ 4.10% | ||
| S1400 | TO-15-11 | S1 | 13.4 | 35 | 21.6 | 20.9 | 21.6m @ 4.57% |
| S2A | 49.9 | 53.2 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.3m @ 4.33% | ||
| S2B | 64.9 | 71.1 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.2m @ 3.62% | ||
| S2C | 80.2 | 94.5 | 14.3 | 13.8 | 14.3m @ 3.79% | ||
| S2D | 98.5 | 103.5 | 5 | 4.8 | 5.0m @2.56% | ||
| S1300 | TO-15-12 | S1 | 18.3 | 80.07 | 61.77 | 61.7 | 61.77m @ 3.36% |
| S2 | 114.5 | 119.8 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.3m @ 2.23% | ||
| S1200 | TO-15-13 | S1 | 15.29 | 44.7 | 29.41 | 28.4 | 29.4m @ 3.35% |
| TO-15-14 | S1 | 4.5 | 17.74 | 13.24 | 12.8 | 13.24m @ 4.02% | |
| S1900 | TO-15-15 | S1A | 22.91 | 29.33 | 6.42 | 6.2 | 6.42m @ 3.14% |
| S1B | 43 | 72 | 29 | 28.0 | 29.0m @ 4.53% | ||
| S2A | 94.27 | 98.33 | 4.06 | 3.9 | 4.06m @ 3.55% |
QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
The 2015 drilling program was supervised by Yvan Bussières, P.Eng. (Québec), B.Sc., and the trenching by Antoine Cloutier, P.Geo. (Québec), B.Sc. A strict protocol, including the insertion of duplicate and blank samples within the sample stream was adopted as part of a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Graphite standards were also included within the borehole sampling protocol. Duplicate, blank and graphite standard sample results returned values within acceptable limits. Verification, preparation and sample submittal for the drilling were done by Mr. Bussières whereas Mr. Cloutier was responsible for the same for the channel sampling.
All channel samples were thoroughly washed and individually bagged prior to shipping. Mineralized core samples were chosen for analysis either by Mr. Bussières or Mr. Bernard-Olivier Martel, P.Geo. (Québec), B.Sc. The mineralized drill core was split into quarters using a rock saw. The quarter core samples were then individually bagged and sent for analysis, and the remaining core was kept as a reference and for possible metallurgical testing. Samples were analyzed for graphitic carbon (Cg) content by a LECO analyzer (ALS code; C-IR18) at the ALS Minerals laboratory in North Vancouver (BC), Canada. This laboratory is ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 17025 accredited.
Metallurgical testing
Although the graphite ore head grade remains a moderately important parameter, Nouveau Monde recognizes that a dominant criteria in the evaluation of the various mineralized zones on the Tony block is dependent on its metallurgy and graphite flake size distribution. Thus, numerous 10 kg samples from each zone were recently collected in trenches and on drill core and delivered to two known laboratories. This exercise will provide crucial information in order to assess graphite ore response to basic metallurgical processes namely crushing, grinding and flotation. The quality of the concentrate produced during these initial metallurgical scoping studies in terms of flake size distribution and concentrate purity will be instrumental in determining which mineralized zone (s) will most likely deliver the best economic potential. These results will be announced once received and compiled. The first metallurgical results (see October 22nd 2014) from the western area of the Tony block were considered exceptional and are repeated in the table below.
Table 3: Summary of metallurgical results received from the western area of the Tony block (see October 22nd 2014 for details)
| Flake size concentrate | % of Weight | % Ct1 |
| +32 mesh | 5,5 | 98,4 |
| +48 mesh | 24,6 | 99,3 |
| +65 mesh | 21,2 | 98,4 |
| +80 mesh | 9,0 | 96,9 |
| +100 mesh | 7,4 | 95,8 |
| +150 mesh | 9,1 | 95,4 |
| Total of 76.8% | Average of 97.9% |
The technical information in this news release was prepared by Yvan Bussières, P.Eng., drill program supervisor, and Antoine Cloutier, P.Geo., chief geologist for Nouveau Monde, and reviewed by Eric Desaulniers, MSc, P.Geo., President and CEO of Nouveau Monde. All three are qualified persons under National Instrument 43-101.
Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) has in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction or approved or disapproved the contents of this press release.
Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated by such statements. Nouveau Monde will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by Nouveau Monde.
Contact
Eric Desaulniers, M.Sc., P.Geo.
President and Chief Executive Officer of Nouveau Monde
(819) 923-0333