Extorre Announces High Grade Drilling Results at Cerro Moro
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 03/05/12 -- Extorre Gold Mines Limited (TSX: XG)(NYSE Amex: XG)(FRANKFURT: E1R) ('Extorre' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce high grade gold-silver assays from drilling at Cerro Moro, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. The assays relate to 83 drill holes, 36 from in-fill and step-out drilling at Zoe and 47 from testing other veins on the property.
The Zoe vein drilling is part of a program to increase the density of drill holes within the known mineralized envelope. The results include high grade mineralization in many drill holes.
Assay highlights from Zoe in-fill drilling include:
MD1434A intersected 2.50 metres ('m') at 41.4 grams per tonne ('g/t') gold + 2,234 g/t silver (86.1 g/t gold equivalent(i)), including 0.35 m at 108.1 g/t gold and 5,812 g/t silver (224.3 g/t gold equivalent(i)).
MD1447 intersected 3.72 m at 52.8 g/t gold + 4,299 g/t silver (138.7 g/t gold equivalent(i)), including 1.37 m at 131.4 g/t gold + 9,521 g/t silver (321.8 g/t gold equivalent(i)).
MD1452 intersected 4.52 m at 8.2 g/t gold + 1,819 g/t silver (44.6 g/t gold equivalent(i)), including 1.18 m at 27.9 g/t gold + 5,794 g/t silver (143.8 g/t gold equivalent(i)).
MD1457 intersected 1.50 m at 50.7 g/t gold + 6,426 g/t silver (179 g/t gold equivalent(i)), including 0.54 m at 137 g/t gold + 17,419 g/t silver (485 g/t gold equivalent(i)).
MD1498 intersected 1.80 m at 13.1 g/t gold + 1,111 g/t silver (35.4 g/t gold equivalent(i)), including 0.50 m at 25.1 g/t gold and 1,641 g/t silver (57.9 g/t gold equivalent(i)).
(i)Gold equivalent grade is calculated by dividing silver grades by 50 and adding this figure to the gold grade and assuming 100% metallurgical recovery.
Two of the significant intercepts at Zoe (MD1452 and MD1457) are near surface, 60 and 40 metres respectively, vertically from surface.
At Zoe, 15 of the 36 holes returned significant results and are presented in the table below, the remaining holes were narrow and/or low grade.
Drilling on other Targets
The 47 holes drilled towards the end of 2011 tested 19 other prospects at Cerro Moro, with over 10 of these prospects requiring additional follow-up. A total of 17 holes returned significant results with the remaining holes returning low grade, no significant results or require additional drilling to determine the significance. Exploration activities also continue to focus on the discovery of high grade gold-silver mineralization along interpreted eastward extensions to the Zoe mineralization. A combination of detailed geological mapping, geochemistry and ground geophysics is being utilized to prioritize target areas for drill testing.
Encouraging high grade gold-silver assays have been returned from new drilling on under-explored targets such as Mosquito, Tres Lomas and Belen. At the Mosquito prospect, located 4 kilometres north of Escondida Far West, drill holes MD1392 (0.3 m at 8 g/t gold + 1,935 g/t silver (46.7 g/t gold equivalent(i))) and MD1501 (0.7 m at 1.33 g/t gold + 1,270 g/t silver (26.7 g/t gold equivalent(i))) have intersected very narrow but high grade mineralization. Follow-up drilling on the structure is in progress, with the latest drill hole MD1542 having intersected visual silver and base metal mineralization (assays awaited). Overall the Mosquito vein structure is confirmed over 600 metres in strike length and remains open to the southeast.
Significant drilling results from the Zoe vein (at a 1.0 g/t gold equivalent(i) cut-off grade):
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Gold
Gold Equiv-
Equiv- alents
Core True alents (i)
From To Length Width Gold Silver (i) (oz/
Drill Hole (m) (m) (m) (m)# (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) ton)
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MD1434A 225.30 227.35 2.50 1.30 41.4 2,234 86.1 2.50
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including 226.65 227.00 0.35 0.20 108.1 5,812 224.3 6.50
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MD1447 233.00 236.72 3.72 2.55 52.8 4,299 138.7 4.02
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including 235.05 236.42 1.37 0.95 131.4 9,521 321.8 9.33
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including 235.05 235.50 0.45 0.30 204.2 18,716 578.5 16.78
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MD1452 66.36 70.88 4.52 3.00 8.2 1,819 44.6 1.29
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including 69.30 70.48 1.18 0.80 27.9 5,794 143.8 4.17
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including 69.30 69.65 0.35 0.25 60.1 12,569 311.5 9.03
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MD1457 49.70 51.20 1.50 0.90 50.7 6,426 179.2 5.20
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including 49.70 50.24 0.54 0.30 137.0 17,419 485.4 14.08
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MD1476 144.60 146.68 2.08 1.20 7.2 918 25.5 0.74
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including 146.20 146.68 0.48 0.30 12.1 3,048 73.1 2.12
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MD1478 306.70 310.00 3.30 1.90 1.9 119 4.3 0.12
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including 308.50 308.80 0.30 0.20 8.9 569 20.3 0.59
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MD1480 223.00 226.10 3.10 1.95 6.3 558 17.5 0.51
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including 224.80 225.10 0.30 0.20 32.0 1,961 71.2 2.06
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MD1482A 275.00 278.64 3.64 2.20 8.0 529 18.5 0.54
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including 276.61 277.00 0.39 0.25 21.6 1,796 57.5 1.67
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MD1483 218.10 221.00 2.90 1.65 5.2 413 13.5 0.39
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including 219.58 221.00 1.42 0.80 7.9 528 18.4 0.53
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MD1485 217.46 218.24 0.78 0.50 8.2 678 21.7 0.63
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MD1487 375.18 375.90 0.72 0.45 3.3 500 13.3 0.39
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MD1489A 188.85 189.70 0.85 0.50 21.3 1,176 44.9 1.30
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MD1492 418.00 423.30 5.30 3.20 1.0 199 4.9 0.14
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including 420.80 422.05 1.25 0.75 2.1 386 9.8 0.28
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MD1494A 158.80 159.10 0.30 0.20 14.7 878 32.3 0.94
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MD1498 204.20 206.00 1.80 1.30 13.1 1,111 35.4 1.03
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including 205.00 205.50 0.50 0.35 25.1 1,641 57.9 1.68
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# True widths have been estimated in cross sectional view utilising
Micromine software following the construction of an interpretation of the
mineralization using geological logging, surface information and adjacent
drill holes.
Other Prospects
Significant drilling results from other prospects (at a 1.0 g/t gold equivalent(i) cut-off grade):
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Gold
Gold Equiv-
Core Equiv- alents
Length alents (i)
From To ## Gold Silver (i) (oz/
Drill Hole (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) ton)
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Carlita Vein
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MD1380 65.00 67.00 2.00 5.0 3.1 5.0 0.15
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MD1401 97.00 99.00 2.00 4.9 11 5.1 0.15
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MD1404A 20.62 24.00 3.38 4.3 46 5.2 0.15
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MD1409A 75.90 77.50 1.60 1.3 89 3.1 0.09
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MD1495 81.50 82.00 0.50 7.1 26 7.6 0.22
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and 109.10 109.50 0.40 24.4 1,260 49.6 1.44
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Mosquito Vein
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MD1392 222.70 223.00 0.30 8.0 1,935 46.7 1.35
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MD1501 299.00 300.70 1.70 0.7 589 12.5 0.36
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including 300.00 300.70 0.70 1.33 1,270 26.7 0.77
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Belen Vein
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MD1471 162.70 164.00 1.30 2.1 32 2.8 0.08
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including 162.70 163.00 0.30 6.0 17 6.4 0.19
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MD1479 83.44 86.00 2.56 2.4 8 2.5 0.07
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including 84.10 84.47 0.37 8.4 13 8.6 0.25
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and 139.00 145.00 6.00 10.0 158 13.2 0.38
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including 140.05 140.50 0.45 40.6 774 56.1 1.63
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MD1490 79.00 83.00 4.00 1.3 84 3.0 0.09
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Tres Lomas NW Veins
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MD1415A 71.00 71.50 0.50 3.8 340 10.6 0.31
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and 78.00 78.50 0.50 3.3 4 3.4 0.10
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and 81.00 81.50 0.50 9.9 11 10.1 0.29
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MD1428 119.00 120.00 1.00 4.8 3 4.9 0.14
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MD1437 95.00 96.50 1.50 4.1 28 4.7 0.14
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MD1446 159.33 163.00 3.67 2.5 59 3.7 0.11
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including 159.33 159.90 0.57 5.2 318 11.5 0.33
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MD1449 87.00 88.00 1.00 19.4 7 19.5 0.57
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Jannet
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MD1431 91.60 92.18 0.58 5.4 132 8.0 0.23
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Gabriela SE Vein
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MD1436 72.00 73.75 1.75 14.0 1,959 53.2 1.54
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including 72.70 73.43 0.73 32.6 4,556 123.7 3.59
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## NOTE: The significant results from the other prospects are at an early
stage of drilling and as such the details to estimate the true widths
require additional follow up surface work or drilling. Since the beginning
of 2008 the majority (over 90%) of exploration diamond drill holes have a
dip of -55 degrees. Refer to the drill trace orientations on the
accompanying plans for the location and azimuth of the significant results
presented above.
Click here to view Project and target maps and Zoe long sections: http://www.extorre.com/pdf/release/diagram_32.pdf
Quality Control and Assurance
Gold assay results presented above are preliminary with no cutting of high grades. All diamond drill core samples are split on regular metre intervals or on geological contacts and represent sawn half HQ-size core. Samples were prepared at the Acme Analytical Laboratories ('Acme Labs') preparation facility on-site at Cerro Moro (managed and staffed by Acme Labs), and assayed by fire assay (50 gram charge) at the Acme Labs laboratory in Chile, an ISO-9001:2000 certified laboratory. Acme Labs is independent of Extorre.
Check assaying of all samples assaying greater than 1.0 g/t gold is completed by Acme Labs. Samples returning greater than 10 g/t gold and/or greater than 100 g/t silver are assayed using gravimetric analyses.
Standard and blank samples are used throughout the sample sequence as checks for the diamond drilling reported in this release.
Assaying by the screen fire assay method has been implemented in conjunction with standard 50 gram fire assaying, for diamond drill cores that contain visible gold. The procedure for screen fire assaying involves crushing and sieving of a nominal 500 or 1,000 gram sample to a particle size of 100 microns. All material which does not pass through the 100 micron sieve is then assayed. Two fire assays are undertaken on the undersize material as a check on homogeneity. The total gold content is then calculated.
Matthew Williams, Extorre's Exploration Manager and a 'qualified person' ('QP') within the definition of that term in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has supervised the preparation of the technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Drill core samples are collected under the supervision of Company geologists in accordance with standard industry practice. The QP regularly audits this process during site visits. In addition yearly or every two year audits by an independent QP are conducted, which includes the collection of additional samples that are analyzed at another laboratory to ensure Acme Labs laboratory performance meets required standards. The QP receives the raw data results directly from the independent laboratory (as do the relevant Company geologists) and significant visual checks are performed to ensure there are no data entry issues in the main database. The QP personally verifies the results of the quality assurance and quality control samples (standards and blanks). Core recovery is also checked and if below 90% for the reported mineralized intervals this is highlighted below the tables (however at Cerro Moro there appears to be no correlation between assay results or core recovery for the majority of intervals). The QP calculates all of the weighted grade average intervals using a 1.0 g/t gold equivalent(i) cut-off that are presented in the tables of significant results. The QP also prepares and validates all of the figures presented in the release.
About Extorre
Extorre is a Canadian public company listed on the Toronto and NYSE Amex Exchanges (symbol XG). The Company has scheduled the release of a Preliminary Economic Assessment before March 31, 2012. That report is expected to include mineral resources on the Escondida-Zoe, Loma Escondida, Gabriela, Nini-Esperanza, Carla and Deborah mineralized zones. It should be noted that a Preliminary Economic Assessment is by definition preliminary in nature as it includes some mineral resources that are too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as reserves at this time. As such there is no certainty that a preliminary assessment and project economics will be realized.
Four drill rigs are currently dedicated to both new resource and mine development-related drilling at the Cerro Moro Project. The current program includes a combination of infill drilling at Zoe, wherein the primary goal is to convert high grade Inferred Category gold-silver resources to the higher confidence level Indicated Category Resources. Discovery stage drilling is progressing on the Zoe East, Tres Lomas, Mosquito, Alejandra, and Carlita targets. Limited mine-development related drilling, including water and geotechnical drilling is also in progress. Drill target generation activities continue on both the Cerro Moro property and the Company's other Santa Cruz Province regional tenement holdings.
You are invited to visit the Extorre web site at www.extorre.com.
Safe Harbour Statement - This news release contains 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' (together, the 'forward-looking statements') within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including our belief as to the extent and timing of its drilling programs, various studies including the Preliminary Economic Assessment, and the Environmental Impact Assessment, and exploration results, the potential tonnage, grades and content of deposits, timing, establishment and extent of resources estimates, potential production from and viability of its properties, production costs and permitting submission and timing. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions include, among others, the effects of general economic conditions, the price of gold and silver, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking information.
In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks associated with project development; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; uncertainties and risks related to carrying on business in foreign countries; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain of our officers, directors or promoters of with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations; competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price and volume; tax consequences to U.S. investors; and other risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Cerro Moro project and general risks associated with the mineral exploration and development industry described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2010, dated March 25, 2011 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors - The information contained herein and incorporated by reference herein has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. In particular, the term 'resource' does not equate to the term 'reserve'. The Securities Exchange Commission's (the 'SEC') disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning 'measured mineral resources', 'indicated mineral resources' or 'inferred mineral resources' or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute 'reserves' by SEC standards, unless such information is required to be disclosed by the law of the Company's jurisdiction of incorporation or of a jurisdiction in which its securities are traded. U.S. investors should also understand that 'inferred mineral resources' have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Disclosure of 'contained ounces' is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute 'reserves' by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
NEITHER THE TSX NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE
Contacts:
Extorre Gold Mines Limited
Eric Roth
President and CEO
extorre@extorre.com
Extorre Gold Mines Limited
Rob Grey
VP Corporate Communications
604.681.9512 or Toll free: 1.888.688.9512
604.688.9532 (FAX)
www.extorre.com
Extorre Gold Mines Limited
Suite 1660, 999 West Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6C 2W2