Northern Empire Results from 2015 Exploration at Richardson, Alaska
Democrat Pit Zone: High Grade Rock Samples and Anomalous Soil Sample Lines Outline Potential for a North-South Gold Bearing Structural Corridor
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Nov 5, 2015) - Northern Empire Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE:NM) ("Northern Empire"), today announced results from the first phase of an exploration program at the 28,763 acre Richardson Project gold property ("Richardson") located 115 km southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. The program included review of all available historic data, prospecting, and the collection of 256 soil samples and 25 rock samples.
Highlights from this work include:
- Rock grab samples from outcrop in the Democrat Pit zone returned highlight assays: 71.2 g/t gold "Au" and 48.6 g/t silver "Ag"; 4.6 g/t Au and 111 g/t Ag; 2.0 g/t Au and 233 g/t Ag; 5.88 g/t Au and 6.09 g/t Ag; and 1.78 g/t Au and 67.3 g/t Ag;
- Soil samples collected on two east to west soil lines to the north, 800 metres and 400 metres respectively, of Democrat Pit both returned anomalous gold-in-soils values. Soils collected here are also statistically high in silver;
- Soils collected along two east to west reconnaissance lines in the Wide Zone returned anomalous gold and copper values;
- Exploration targeting in 2016 will now be based upon the 2015 results, supported by a compilation and review of historic results which includes data from a bulk sample and drilling at Democrat Pit, more than 2000 soil, rock and stream samples collected in the Richardson gold district and trenching.
"Richardson is one of the few gold exploration properties in Alaska which is road accessible, bound on two sides by high transmission power lines, located in a mining friendly jurisdiction, and host to multiple, large gold footprints," stated Northern Empire's Chairman, John Robins, P.Geo. "The initial results from both the Democrat Pit area and the Wide Zone, including finding high grade gold and silver in outcrop at the Democrat Pit, have greatly refined our areas of focus for the 2016 exploration season."
2015 Program Summary:
The work program at Richardson was completed in two phases (Phases 1 and 2) between June and August 2015, and focused on soil sample lines north of the Democrat Pit, portions of the adjacent intrusive body known as the Wide Zone, and at Tenderfoot Creek. Both the Phase 1 and 2 rock sampling and Phase 1 and 2 soil programs resulted in assay results anomalous in gold, silver and/or copper. Phase 2 included the collection of soils taken 400 metres to the north of the brecciated quartz feldspar porphyry "QFP" in the Democrat Pit and highlighted the potential for a gold bearing structural corridor extending at least 800m to the north from the northern margin of the Democrat Pit. According to historic reports a 1990 State of Alaska publication entitled "ALASKA'S MINERAL INDUSTRY, 1989," Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys SPECIAL REPORT 44 (Bundtzen, Swainbank, Deagen, and Moore), the Democrat Pit was the site of a 70,000 short ton bulk sampling program in 1988 where 2,000 ounces of gold was recovered.
23 rock samples were taken in or near to the Democrat Pit zone, with values ranging from a high of 71.2 g/t Au to a low of 0.005 g/t Au; a high of 233 g/t Ag to a low of 0.01 g/t Ag. Rock grab samples from an outcropping brecciated QFP from within the exposed Democrat Pit zone returned highlight assays, including:
- 71.2 g/t gold and 48.6 g/t silver, Rock sample #660836;
- 2.0 g/t gold and 233 g/t silver, Rock sample #660827.
A review by Northern Empire of drill logs and drill core from drilling conducted in 1988 and 2005 by previous exploration groups, shows that mineralization in the Democrat Pit and along the mineralized Richardson Lineament is hosted in fault bounded brecciated Rhyolite Porphyry and coeval fine grained intrusives. The Wide Zone, though not exposed, shows a high degree of QFP and quartz vein components in chip and rock fragments noticed in soil samples collected in the "B" soil horizon throughout the area.
View Richardson maps and images at http://www.northernemp.com/projects/richardson/.
About the Richardson Project
The Richardson Project is an exploration stage gold project of Northern Empire Resource's located 115 kilometers southeast of Fairbanks Alaska and 40 kilometres northwest of Delta Junction in the Yukon Tanana Terrain of east-central interior Alaska. The 28,763 acre property is bordered on the south by the all-weather and paved Richardson Highway including a highway power line transit and, on the north by the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and another high power transmission line. Access into the interior of the property from the paved highway is via a system of gravel roads and trails which makes most points within the project area very accessible.
Geologic Description
Broad outcrop patterns and drill hole descriptions within the mid-Cretaceous Richardson Gneiss Dome (paragneiss: psammite, pelite-meta-pelite, quartzite and conglomerate) define a central core of migmatite, mantled by layered and folded gneiss which in turn is surrounded by generally outward dipping schists. A number of district scale faults cut the project area; the most prominent being the WNW to NW striking Richardson Lineament which is a +- 1 km wide fault zone dipping NE and located along the boundary of gneiss to the east and schist to the west. Local granitic, QFP to monzonitic intrusions and dikes have an age date of +- 90Ma and occupy litho-stratagraphic structures along the faulted contact between the Gneiss and Schist and along orthogonal to oblique cross cutting structures and established structural corridors.
Analytical Procedures
All soil samples were sent to Activation Labs in Ancaster Ontario, an ISO accredited Laboratory. Gold analysis was by FA-AA (Fire Assay - Atomic Absorption), details of the procedure can be found at: http://www.actlabs.com/page.aspx?page=473&app=226&cat1=549&tp=12&lk=no&menu=64
Soil samples were also subjected to Enzyme Leach analysis. Details of the procedure can be found at: http://www.actlabs.com/page.aspx?page=746&app=226&cat1=549&tp=12&lk=no&menu=64
Rock samples were assayed using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry) and FA-AA and submitted to ALS Chemex in Fairbanks Alaska.
On-site Quality Assurance/Quality Control "QA/QC" Measures
Soils samples are collected in the field using wet strength Kraft bags. Samples returned to the field office are organized and dried before shipping making sure that physical and hydromorphic contact between bags does not occur. Once dry, the sample bags are placed into labelled, secure rice sacks for shipment. Northern Empire has implemented a quality-control program to comply with best practices in the sampling and analysis of field collected samples. This program includes inserting field duplicates, standards and blanks, equivalent to 10% of the sample set, into the sample stream.
The scientific and technical data contained in this news release was reviewed by William J. (Bill) Cronk, P.Geo., a non-independent qualified person to Northern Empire Resources Corp. Mr. Cronk is responsible for ensuring that the geologic information provided in this news release is accurate and who acts as a qualified person "QP" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Northern Empire
Northern Empire follows the "Project Generator" business model to take advantage of the depressed market conditions in the resource sector to acquire low acquisition and low holding cost properties with significant exploration potential.
A Project Generator identifies, acquires, and performs early stage exploration on compelling exploration targets before finding project partners to bear the financial risk associated with advanced exploration.
Northern Empire's experienced board and management team feels that executing the Project Generator business model is the most practical way to provide investors the potential excitement and value creation of mineral discoveries, without the financial risks and equity dilution of standard exploration programs.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF Northern Empire Resources Corp.
Jim Paterson
Director, President and CEO
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 NEWS RELEASE.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" including forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Northern Empire Resources Corp. Statements regarding mineral exploration operations and objectives are subject to risk, including, but are not limited to, exploration and geologic risk, inflation and costs of goods and services, property title issues and regulatory approvals. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Northern Empire does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.