Continental Gold Drills 18.1 m @ 24.89 g/t Gold and 63 g/t Silver at Veta Sur and Announces New Sediment-Hosted Gold-Silver-Zinc-Lead Discovery at the Buritica Project, Colombia
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 07/12/11 -- Continental Gold Limited ('Continental' or the 'Company') (TSX: CNL) is pleased to announce results for nineteen diamond drill-holes from the Company's ongoing program at its Buritica Project in Antioquia, Colombia. Over 69,000 metres of diamond drilling have been completed on the property to date and nine drills are currently on schedule to complete approximately 100,000 metres of surface and underground drilling by the end of 2011.
Highlights
-- Drilling on Veta Sur system focused on easterly and westerly parts of
the system with two holes in the central zone. Significant new
intercepts include:
18.1 m @ 24.89 g/t Au and 63 g/t Ag including 5.8 m @ 55.77 g/t Au and
123 g/t Ag in BUSY-163, interpreted as part of a plunging high grade
gold shoot
-- Drilling around the margins of Veta Sur has added to the Buritica silver
story:
-- BUSY-166 intersected 11.9 m @ 3.19 g/t Au and 216 g/t Ag with 8.6%
zinc and 3.3% lead in a sulphide matrix breccia hosted by silicified
basement sediments in southwest Veta Sur, a newly recognized style
of mineralization at Buritica
-- BUSY-174 intersected 0.55 m @ 2.05 g/t Au, 2,906 g/t Ag with 2.6%
zinc and 0.16% lead on the margin of silicified sediments to the
northeast of Veta Sur
-- These intercepts demonstrate the potential of the 1,200m x 1,000m
polymetallic soil anomaly to the south and east of Veta Sur, much of
which is underlain by basement sediments and is yet to be drilled
-- Five holes were drilled in the western part of the Yaragua system and
were successful in intersecting both the main northern and southern vein
systems above and below the Diatreme Fault. A newly recognized WNW-
trending vein set yielded two high grade intercepts including 1.52 m @
40.0 g/t Au and 330.0 g/t Ag
-- Drilling in the eastern part of Yaragua and Yaragua South (although
primarily for geotechnical purposes) has resulted in the recognition of
a new vein south of the Murcielagos vein family, which has also been
extended to substantial depths below historical developments
-- A new longitudinal section that incorporates all drilling and
underground channel sampling shows that 10 g/t Au intercepts occur
along 1,000 metres of combined Yaragua-Veta Sur strike and are open
below the 600 vertical metres drill tested to date. The shell defined by
those dimensions is 70-200 metres wide and contains 4-12 individual
high-grade veins
Details
Continental's 100%-owned, 22,457-hectare project, Buritica, contains several known areas of high-grade vein mineralization. The two most extensively explored of these areas (the Yaragua system and the Veta Sur system, Figure 1) are central to this land package. The Yaragua System has been drill-outlined along 550 metres of strike and 600 vertical metres and partially sampled in underground developments. The Veta Sur system has been drill - intersected along 500 metres of strike and 470 vertical metres. Both systems are characterized by multiple veins and both remain open at depth at high grades.
Veta Sur Area
Table 1 presents a summary of results for the eight holes recently drilled in the Veta Sur system.
Table 1 - Veta Sur System Drill Results
Hole ID From To Interval Gold Silver Zinc Elevation
(m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (ppm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUSY-111 213.30 215.50 2.20 5.94 6.0 1140 1612
235.35 236.60 1.25 5.32 18.2 1441 1594
250.45 253.70 3.25 4.77 9.7 521 1580
258.70 261.40 2.70 11.01 85.7 669 1573
274.75 275.15 0.4 5.98 18.0 142 1560
BUSY-157 101.45 102.00 0.55 0.81 218.0 9973 1782
182.00 183.25 1.25 12.42 5.7 379 1706
218.80 220.00 1.20 5.23 114.0 4349 1672
BUSY-163 105.50 106.00 0.50 17.03 158.0 931 1627
325.05 343.15 18.10 24.89 63.3 4101 1417
including 333.00 338.80 5.80 55.77 123.5 7771
including 337.50 338.80 1.30 135.48 163.7 20083
345.00 347.00 2.00 16.49 13.2 3557 1395
376.50 380.30 3.80 14.58 13.0 366 1365
432.00 432.45 0.45 21.38 68.0 259 1315
BUSY-166 199.60 211.50 11.90 3.19 216.1 86634 1693
including 206.00 208.60 2.60 6.72 424.4 214000
BUSY-171 142.80 144.50 1.70 0.37 201.7 6827 1760
BUSY-174 53.10 54.60 1.50 0.28 271.0 2095 1720
136.00 137.50 1.50 0.62 218.0 3645 1660
193.45 194.00 0.55 2.05 2906.0 25900 1619
219.00 219.5 0.50 11.56 9.9 1581 1600
BUSY-175 156.50 158.00 1.50 8.77 20.0 1433 1584
200.30 201.80 1.50 56.10 19.0 269 1545
262.25 262.6 0.35 31.50 115.0 713 1488
BUSY-177 172.30 175.70 3.25 3.33 59.6 2614 1621
199.50 201.00 1.50 10.34 1.18 362 1596
261.00 261.50 0.50 0.52 1040.0 1055 1541
280.20 284.90 4.70 4.61 14.8 315 1521
362.70 363.85 1.15 22.18 70.7 8978 1447
440.70 441.70 1.00 4.22 11.0 1159 1378
(a) True widths not known but estimated at 50% or higher of the quoted
intercept
(b) Grades are uncut and an external grade cutoff of 1.0 g/t Au used to
determine intersection thickness and grade
(c) BUSY- sequence drilled from the surface, BUUY- sequence from
underground
(d) Holes BUSY-164, BUSY-165 and BUSY-167 awaiting final assays
Holes BUSY-111 and BUSY-163 (Figure 1 and Figure 2) were drilled in the central part of the vein corridor. BUSY-163 cut five significant veins, with the main intercept being 18.1 m @ 24.89 g/t Au and 63 g/t Ag, including 5.8 m @ 55.77 g/t Au and 123 g/t Ag. As can be seen in the longitudinal section (Figure 2), this intersection further defines the deeper part of a high grade shoot which appears to plunge to the southwest in this part of the vein. BUSY-111 hit four veins including 2.7 m @ 11.01 g/t Au and 85 g/t Ag. This grade is similar to other intersections in this area which is (vertically) between the two known high grade shoots.
Drilling around the margins of Veta Sur has continued to add to the emerging silver story in these areas:
BUSY-166, in the southwest of Veta Sur (Figure 1) cut 11.9 m @ 3.19 g/t Au, 216 g/t Ag, 8.66% Zn, and 3.06% Pb in a style of mineralization previously not recognized at Buritica. The intersection is in a massive sulfide-cemented, matrix supported breccia characterized by sphalerite and galena with lesser pyrite. The host rock is present as breccia fragments of entirely silica-replaced sedimentary rocks from the Cretaceous basement sequence, which crops out just to the south.
Hole BUSY-174 was drilled 150 metres to the east of the Veta Sur trend (Figures 1 and 2) and also intersected the intrusion-basement sediment contact. The hole intersected several intervals of high Ag/Au mineralization including 0.55 m @ 2.05 g/t Au, 2,906 g/t Ag, 2.59% Zn, and 0.16% Pb. BUSY-174 also intersected a gold-rich vein, the first encountered in this area.
BUSY-166 & BUSY-174 demonstrate potential for more silver-rich mineralization in or around the altered basement sediments, which underlie much of the greater than one square kilometre, Au-Ag-Zn-Pb soil anomaly south and east of Veta Sur (see Press Release dated August 9, 2010 at www.continentalgold.com). The great majority of this area is yet to be drilled.
BUSY-157 and BUSY-171 intersected high Ag/Au mineralization respectively to the north and south of main Veta Sur trend (Figure 1) extending the silver rich vein sets in these areas.
In northeastern Veta Sur, BUSY-177 intersected 0.52 m of 2.05 g/t Au, 1,040 g/t Ag among a group of more gold-rich veins Veta Sur. The silver-rich mineralization may correlate with veins further to the east and the intersection also shows that silver rich mineralization may occur relatively deeply in the Veta Sur system.
Yaragua Area
Table 2 presents results for new holes drilled in the Yaragua area.
Table 2 - Yaragua & Yaragua South System Drill Results
Hole ID From To Interval Gold Silver Zinc Vein
(m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (ppm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUSY-151 221.50 222.95 1.45 6.95 5.4 4870 South Yaragua
311.00 313.00 2.00 6.78 2.7 1760 Murcielagos South
392.60 399.00 6.40 3.74 21.8 2436 Murcielagos Family
BUSY-159 14.00 15.35 1.35 14.39 35.0 3859 Vein E
49.00 49.50 0.50 26.31 81.0 889 NW Vein
116.00 120.00 4.00 2.46 14.2 5531 San Antonio
151.50 152.50 1.00 23.03 9.7 5196 HW
156.50 160.50 4.00 5.66 6.8 11496 Sofia
BUSY-169 30.48 32.00 1.52 40.00 330.0 349 NW Vein
BUSY-170 515.50 521.80 6.30 3.27 26.0 2442 Murcielagos South
BUSY-172 173.74 175.26 1.52 6.87 1.5 1035 FW
188.70 189.20 0.50 31.12 401.0 83500 San Antonio
227.60 229.40 1.80 4.41 17.8 19111 HW
BUSY-173 159.65 160.40 0.75 12.96 89.0 89800 Murcielagos South
208.90 209.50 0.60 10.46 32.0 21500 Murcielagos Family
226.00 227.00 1.00 14.09 5.6 450 Murcielagos Family
254.50 256.10 1.60 8.49 12.6 5312 Murcielagos Family
301.80 303.40 1.60 16.47 41.2 2691 Murcielagos Family
329.50 331.00 1.50 7.68 10.0 1492 Murcielagos Family
397.20 399.00 1.80 6.63 15 4784 Murcielagos Family
BUUY-056 9.80 42.60 32.80 1.20 3.9 4438 Breccia
57.60 58.60 1.00 15.26 1.7 822 Murcielagos Family
117.30 122.30 5.00 4.82 4.1 6430 Murcielagos Family
181.10 181.60 0.50 15.11 6.0 6204 Murcielagos Family
192.50 194.00 1.50 6.81 1.5 361 Vein B
BUUY-057 51.10 62.50 11.40 1.78 4.7 6316 Breccia
70.50 71.50 1.00 32.32 7.5 446 Murcielagos Family
82.85 90.00 7.15 6.55 6.0 5696 Murcielagos Family
93.00 104.50 11.50 5.14 4.0 4383 Murcielagos Family
136.50 137.50 1.00 6.33 6.03 2460 Vein B
171.15 171.70 0.55 11.00 3.08 175 Vein C
BUUS-001 4.20 9.50 5.30 10.98 9.5 1492 HW
BUUS-002 1.50 7.50 6.00 14.46 60.1 6801 San Antonio
BUUS-003 15.40 16.80 1.40 1.46 6.9 12600 FW
(a) True widths not known but estimated at 50% or higher of the quoted
intercept
(b) Grades are uncut and an external grade cutoff of 1.0 g/t Au used to
determine intersection thickness and grade
(c) BUSY- sequence drilled from the surface, BUUY- sequence from
underground
(d) BUUS- sequence drilled with 'B' diametre core from underground
BUSY-159, -169, -172 were drilled in the western part of the Yaragua corridor (Figure 1). As is typical of holes in the Yaragua system, as many as six individual veins are present in the holes. The best intercepts include: 1.0 m @ 23.03 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag in BUSY-159; 1.52 m @ 40.00 g/t Au and 330 g/t Ag in BUSY-169; and 1.6 m @ 16.47 g/t Au and 41 g/t Ag in BUSY-173. Although uncertain due to proximity of the Diatreme Fault system, correlations with modeled veins further east in the Yaragua system are given in Table 2. High grade intersections in BUSY-159 and BUSY-169 are correlated with the recently modeled NW Vein set which has a Centena vein-like orientation about 30 degrees north of the main Yaragua vein orientation. Such high grade vein sets are increasingly recognized in Yaragua. The high grade intercept (0.5 m @ 31.12 g/t Au and 401 g/t Ag) in BUSY-172 is correlated with the San Antonio vein in the footwall of the Diatreme Fault.
BUUY-056 & BUUY-057 were also drilled into western Yaragua, targeting mineralization in the footwall of the Diatreme Fault. Both drill-holes intersected thick intervals of breccia hosted mineralization and potentially economic grades and thicknesses in the Murcielagos Family of veins, Vein B and (in BUUY 57) Vein C. Unfortunately, both holes were lost before reaching the targeted San Antonio vein set, deep in the footwall of the Diatreme Fault. Vein B has now been intersected along a minimum 300 metres of strike.
BUUS-001 to BUUS-003 are the first of a program of short diamond holes (utilizing a small underground rig) to augment the underground channel sampling of Yaragua vein sets (CNL Press Release, March 3, 2011). Whereas the channel sampling demonstrated the very high grades of the Yaragua vein sets sampled, mineralization was commonly observed in the tunnel walls and thus the thickness of the vein sets was underestimated in some segments. BUUS-001 encountered 4.60 m (true width) @ 12.26 g/t Au in the hanging wall (HW) vein to the south of the San Antonio. BUUS-002 added a 5.60 m (true width) @ 7.28 g/t Au and 21 g/t Ag on the northern side of the San Antonio vein.
Yargagua South
BUSY-173 is the first of a series of holes targeting the largely undrilled eastern Yaragua vein sets (Figure 1). It encountered a new vein, Murcielagos South (0.75 m @ 12.96 g/t Au and 89 g/t Ag) and also intersected a further six veins of potentially economic grade in the Murcielagos Family at depths substantially below historical development on this vein set (Figure 3).
BUSY-151 and BUSY-170 were drilled primarily to investigate ground conditions on the path of the proposed ramp, which is planned to provide access for underground deep exploration drilling, delineation drilling and ultimately development of the Buritica mine. Lithologies drilled and the limited degree of alteration seen in the holes is consistent with generally good ground conditions. Both drill holes had intercepts that correlate with the newly defined Murcielagos South vein (see above), indicating that this vein has a strike length of more than 200 metres and a substantial vertical extent. BUSY-151 was completed deep in the Murcielagos family of veins. This drill hole also encountered a previously unknown vein, South Yaragua, deep below a surface geochemical anomaly.
Yaragua-Veta Sur Longitudinal Section
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section looking north through all drilling and underground sampling done to date on the Yaragua and Veta Sur vein systems. This section appears to foreshorten the Veta Sur system and is a projection of up to 12 vein sets onto the section plane. However, it usefully illustrates the lateral and vertical extents of Buritica mineralization explored to date. About 1,000 strike metres have been drill tested in the combined Yaragua and Veta Sur systems to a maximum depth of over 600 metres. High-grade gold (including many intercepts of over 100 g/t) has been encountered over these full horizontal and vertical extents and is open downward in all areas.
A significant characteristic of this type of carbonate base metal gold system world-wide is a very large vertical extent of economic gold mineralization (ex, Porgera, Kelian). Construction of a 1,100-metre tunnel programmed to begin later in 2011 will eventually provide deep access for underground drilling from about the 1,200-metre level. In the shorter term, Continental is mobilizing a larger surface drill capable of testing the system to at least the 900-metre level.
Technical Information
The results of the Company's drilling program have been reviewed, verified and compiled by Vice President Exploration, Stuart Moller, P.Geol., a qualified person for the purpose of Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Moller has over 30 years of mineral exploration experience and is a Licensed Professional Geologist in the Province of British Colombia and a Fellow of the Society of Exploration Geologists.
The company utilizes an industry-standard QA/QC program. HQ and NQ diamond drill-core is sawn in half with one-half shipped to a sample preparation lab in Medellin run by SGS Colombia. 100% of BQ diametre drill samples are shipped. Samples are then shipped for analysis to SGS certified assay laboratory in Lima, Peru. The remainder of the core is stored in a secured storage facility for future assay verification. Blanks, duplicates and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance and a portion of the samples are periodically check assayed at ACME laboratories in Vancouver and/or Inspectorate Labs in Reno.
About Continental Gold Limited
Continental Gold Limited is an advanced-stage exploration company with nine gold projects covering more than 197,000 hectares in Colombia. Spearheaded by a management team with over 40 years of exploration and mining experience in South America, the Company has begun an aggressive exploration program on its extensive portfolio of properties with a focus on its flagship high-grade gold project, Buritica, and the highly prospective Berlin gold project. Additional details on the Buritica project and the rest of Continental Gold's suite of gold exploration properties is available at www.ContinentalGold.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains or refers to forward-looking information under Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the estimation of mineral resources, exploration results, potential mineralization, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions, and is based on current expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled 'Risks of the Business' in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and other regulatory filings which are posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update them or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances other than as required by applicable securities law.
To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/cnl0712fig1.pdf.
To view Figure 2, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/cnl0712fig2.pdf.
To view Figure 3, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/cnl0712fig3.pdf.
Contacts:
Continental Gold Limited
Elina Chow
Director, Investor Relations
1.416.583.5611
info@continentalgold.com
www.continentalgold.com