Northgate Minerals Intersects 4.31 Grams per Tonne Gold Over 79.6 Metres at Young-Davidson
TORONTO, June 7, 2011 /CNW/ --
Hole YD11-234B Intersects One of the Best Intervals Ever Drilled on the
Property
TORONTO, June 7, 2011 /CNW/ - Northgate Minerals Corporation (TSX: NGX,
NYSE Amex: NXG) is pleased to report that Hole YD11-234B in the YD West
zone intersected 4.31 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 79.6 metres (m)
(estimated true thickness is 55.0 m), including 5.66 g/t over 49.9 m.
The YD West zone is a newly discovered zone, just west of the currently
known reserves at Young-Davidson in northern Ontario. Hole YD11-234B is
one of the best intervals ever intersected on the property and follows
on the excellent results received since Discovery Hole YD10-198
intersected 3.46 g/t over 79.5 m last year.
Hole YD11-234B and YD West Zone Highlights
-- Hole YD11-234B returned 4.31 g/t gold over 79.6 m.
o The hole contains a higher grade section of 5.66 g/t over 49.9 m at
the base (footwall) of the zone.
-- This new intersection is located about 130 m above and 55 m
east of Discovery Hole YD10-198. Both 234B and 198 are in a
new gold zone west of the currently defined reserves and
resources, confirming the fault offset model relating the YD
West zone to the main Young-Davidson orebody.
-- Hole YD11-234B and YD10-198 are amongst the highest
grade-thickness intervals intersected to date on the property.
The zone remains open up and down dip and to the west.
-- Two diamond drills continue to explore in the YD West zone
area.
'Exploration at Young-Davidson continues to achieve outstanding results
as recent drilling has returned one of the best holes ever intersected
on the property' Ken Stowe, President and Chief Executive Officer,
remarked. 'While last year's Hole 198 was very exciting resulting in
the discovery of the YD West zone, Hole 234B is equally exciting,
confirming the fault offset model along the western edge of the
Young-Davidson deposit. The results of this and other higher-grade
follow-up holes in 2011 underline the tremendous potential to expand
the currently known 2.8 million ounces of reserves(1) on the property, which will ultimately extend the initial 15-year
mine-life or increase the average annual gold output when production
commences in 2012.'
Diamond Drill Program
The purpose of the 2011 diamond drill program on the west flank of the
Young-Davidson deposit is to explore for new resources west of a major
north-south trending diabase dyke that appeared to have truncated the
zone. To date, seven holes have intersected the YD West zone and all
but one has returned ore-grade intersections. This is a technically
challenging area to drill due the depths of the holes and the presence
of poor drilling conditions within ultramafic flows located well into
the hanging wall. The target is blind due to its depth and thick
younger post mineral Proterozoic sedimentary cover. Therefore, geology
in the area is being interpreted as drill holes are completed. A number
of drill holes have potential intercepts that have been either
partially or completely 'dyked out' by diabase at zone horizon (i.e.
either occupies the entire width of the auriferous zone or a
substantial part of the zone (see Figures 1 and 2, Holes 234, 234A and
239)). Currently, a hole is being drilled perpendicular to the
exploration holes in the YD West area in order to resolve the location
and correlation of the north-south trending diabase dykes. An improved
understanding of the diabase dykes in the YD West zone will provide a
more accurate resource model to be generated at year-end.
Hole YD11-234B instills confidence that the YD West zone is a highly
prospective area evident from thick auriferous intersections in drill
Holes 198 and 234B. Other drill holes (198A, 198B and 234) also had
very significant gold intercepts (see Table 1 below for complete
results). The gold mineralization here is hosted in mildly-hematitic
coarse grained syenite with quartz vein stockwork and pyrite
mineralization, which is similar to what is observed in the main
Young-Davidson deposit.
This new YD West intersection is considered significant as this zone is
open up and down dip and to the west. The YD West zone appears to have
excellent potential to add significant gold resources to the project.
Two diamond drills continue to focus on the YD West target until a
sufficient number of intercepts have been obtained to estimate an
initial resource by the end of the year. Subsequent drilling will focus
on a broader scale to explore the limits of the zone towards the west.
Overview of Young-Davidson Exploration Area
Gold mineralization on the Young-Davidson property is present primarily
in an intrusive syenite host rock dipping at approximately 70 degrees
to the south. Figure 1 illustrates a longitudinal view of the YD West
zone with current reserves illustrated in dark red to the east.
Figure 1 - YD West Zone-Longitudinal Section
www.northgateminerals.com/Theme/Northgate/files/Releases/2011/234B
Fig1.JPG
Figure 2 - 9300m Level Plan
Figure 2 presents a level plan (horizontal slice) of the property's
geology immediately adjacent to the main Young-Davidson reserves. The
currently defined reserves terminate against the brown diabase dyke
that was the western limit of the reserve. Holes 234B, 234A, 234, 198
and 198A (holes are projected either 75 m up dip or 175 m down dip to
the 9300 m level) clearly demonstrate that the younger diabase dyke
occupies a fault with an apparent offset of 50 m to 100 m to the north
on the western side of the dyke. The actual displacement on the fault
could be to the north, downwards or a combination of the two.
www.northgateminerals.com/Theme/Northgate/files/Releases/2011/234B
Fig2.JPG
Table 1: Assay Results from YD West Zone
_____________________________________________________________________
|Hole ID |From (m)|To (m)|Interval | True |Gold Uncut|Gold Cut 20|
| | | | (m) |Thickness | (g/t) | g/t |
| | | | | (m) | | |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|YD11-234B| 1064.8 |1144.4| 79.60 | 55.0 | 4.31 | 4.21 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|incl | 1094.5 |1144.4| 49.90 | 34.4 | 5.66 | 5.51 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|incl | 1128.0 |1142.9| 14.90 | 10.3 | 10.62 | 10.10 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
| | | | | | | |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|YD11-234A| 1202.6 |1221.8| 19.20 | 13.4 | 1.22 | 1.22 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
| | | | | | | |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|YD10-234 | 1216.9 |1234.7| 17.80 | 9.5 | 4.37 | 4.37 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|incl | 1217.8 |1226.1| 8.30 | 4.4 | 6.82 | 6.82 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
| | | | | | | |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|YD10-198 | 1258.0 |1337.5| 79.5 | 53.5 | 3.46 | 3.46 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
| | | | | | | |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|YD10-198A| 1333.7 |1355.0| 20.20 | 14.2 | 6.31 | 5.42 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
| | | | | | | |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|YD10-198B| 1353.5 |1364.4| 10.9 | 7.7 | 5.43 | 5.43 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
| | | | | | | |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|YD10-226A| 1097.3 |1134.0| 36.7 | 25.3 | 0.74 | 0.74 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
| | 1115.1 |1125.5| 10.4 | 7.2 | 1.19 | 1.19 |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
| | | | | | | |
|_________|________|______|_________|__________|__________|___________|
|YD11-239 | Target zone occupied by diabase dyke ('dyked out') |
|_________|___________________________________________________________|
* * * * * * *
Quality Control - Analyses and Sample Location
Details of quality assurance/quality control procedures for sample
analysis and drill hole survey methodology are reported in detail in
the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects ('NI 43-101') compliant Technical Report filed on
SEDAR (www.sedar.com) on August 21, 2009.
Qualified Persons
The program design, implementation, quality assurance/quality control
and interpretation of the results are under the control of Northgate's
geological staff, which includes a number of individuals who are
qualified persons as defined under NI 43-101. Carl Edmunds, PGeo,
Northgate's Exploration Manager, is responsible for the overall
supervision of the program.
* * * * * * *
Note to Investors:
The terms 'Qualified Person', 'Mineral Reserve', 'Proven Mineral
Reserve', 'Probable Mineral Reserve', 'Mineral Resource', 'Measured
Mineral Resource', 'Indicated Mineral Resource', and 'Inferred Mineral
Resource' used in this news release are defined in accordance with NI
43-101.
* * * * * * *
Northgate Minerals Corporation is a gold and copper producer with mining operations, development
projects and exploration properties in Canada and Australia. Our
vision is to be the leading intermediate gold producer by identifying,
acquiring, developing and operating profitable, long-life mining
properties.
* * * * * * *
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information:
This Northgate press release contains 'forward-looking information', as
such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation and
'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning
Northgate's future financial or operating performance and other
statements that express management's expectations or estimates of
future developments, circumstances or results. Generally,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as 'expects', 'believes',
'anticipates', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts',
'intends', 'plans' and variations of such words and phrases, or by
statements that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'will',
'could', 'would' or 'might', 'be taken', 'occur' or 'be achieved'.
Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and
estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the
business and markets in which Northgate operates, are inherently
subject to significant operational, economic and competitive
uncertainties and contingencies. Northgate cautions that
forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause Northgate's actual
results, performance or achievements to be materially different from
those expressed or implied by such information, including, but not
limited to gold and copper price volatility; fluctuations in foreign
exchange rates and interest rates; the impact of any hedging
activities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production,
between actual and estimated reserves and resources or between actual
and estimated metallurgical recoveries; costs of production; capital
expenditure requirements; the costs and timing of construction and
development of new deposits; and the success of exploration and
permitting activities. In addition, the factors described or referred
to in the section entitled 'Risk Factors' in Northgate's Annual
Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2010 or under the
heading 'Risks and Uncertainties' in Northgate's 2010 Annual Report,
both of which are available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com,
should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this
press release. Although Northgate has attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to
differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information,
there can be other factors that cause results, performance or
achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can
be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that
management's expectations or estimates of future developments,
circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should
not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The
forward-looking information in this press release is made as of the
date of this press release, and Northgate disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by
applicable law.
Cautionary Note to US Investors Regarding Mineral Reporting Standards:
Northgate prepares its disclosure in accordance with the requirements of
securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements
of US securities laws. Terms relating to mineral resources in this
press release are defined in accordance with National Instrument
43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects under the
guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and
Petroleum Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. The
Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') permits mining
companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those
mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or
produce. The Corporation uses certain terms, such as, 'measured mineral
resources', 'indicated mineral resources', 'inferred mineral resources'
and 'probable mineral reserves', that the SEC does not recognize (these
terms may be used in this press release and are included in the
Corporation's public filings which have been filed with securities
commissions or similar authorities in Canada).
(1) See press release dated January 25, 2010.
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2011/07/c3679.html
Ms. Keren R. Yun
Director, Investor Relations
Tel: 416-216-2781
Email: ngx@northgateminerals.com