OceanaGold announces further down dip extensions of mineralisation at Panel
2: Frasers underground mine
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES./
MELBOURNE, Australia, July 21 /CNW/ - OceanaGold Corporation (ASX: OGC, TSX: OGC, NZX: OGC) ("the Company") is pleased to announce further results from an underground diamond drilling program at the Frasers underground mine in Otago, New Zealand.
Highlights
- Underground diamond drilling has identified further extensions to
the gold mineralisation at depth and down dip from the current
mine workings in Panel 2 at the Frasers underground mine.
- Hangingwall Shear intercepts (estimated true widths) including
5.0m @ 5.55g/t (UDH6036), 5.0m @ 3.17g/t Au (UDH6025),
11.0m @ 2.72 g/t Au (UDH6026), 6.0m @ 2.71 g/t Au (UDH6024)
and 5.5m @ 2.96g/t (UDH6035) demonstrate grades and lode
thicknesses similar to the current Panel 2 mining area.
- Significant intercepts (estimated true widths) below the
Hangingwall Shear of 4.0m @ 4.87 g/t Au (UDH6013),
6.0m @ 4.90 g/t Au (UDH6021), 6.0m @ 5.08 g/t Au (UDH6031),
6.0m @ 3.00 g/t Au (UDH6032) and 3.5m @ 7.98 g/t Au
(UDH6022) indicate potential for a new sub parallel structure
similar to the P2 Deeps mineralisation under Panel 2C.
N.B. The Hangingwall Shear refers to the geologically continuous mineralised zone immediately below the over-laying waste sequence. In the underground operation this is the principally targeted zone for mining due to its higher and more consistent gold grades.
Figure 1 - Frasers Underground drilling programs in relation to current underground development design
To view the full company release, including images please refer http://www.oceanagold.com/images/documents/files/100721_frasers_underground_update.pdf
Diamond drilling from the underground exploration drive tested up to 250 metres east (down dip) of the current mine design (Figure 1) and extended out towards the significant surface drilling intercepts (RCD5085 and RCD5090) announced 3 May 2010. All holes completed to date successfully intercepted the main mineralised Hangingwall Shear structure.
Assay results from 20 diamond holes drilled east and south of the exploration drive and outside the current indicated resource boundary are listed in Table A below.
Significant intercepts 10-20 metres beneath the Hangingwall Shear were also recorded in a number of holes. This is the first indication of a new possible area of mineralisation and these intercepts may represent one or more sub-parallel lodes similar to the Panel 2 Deeps discovery announced last year.
Table A - Significant intercepts from the Frasers Underground Expansion drill program
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Hole ID From To Intercept True Grade
(m) (m) Length Thickness (g/t Au)
(m) (m)
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UDH6009 38.00 42.95 4.95 3.0 3.25
UDH6010 45.4 49.2 4.00 1.0 1.94
UDH6011 72.7 79.5 6.80 2.0 2.45
UDH6012 105.55 108.15 2.60 2.0 2.31
And 124.00 128.00 4.00 3.0 3.67
UDH6013 127.7 132.25 4.55 3.0 1.72
And 156.40 163.15 6.75 4.0 4.87
UDH6014 134.45 139.00 4.55 3.0 1.61
And 152.90 157.00 4.10 2.5 3.90
And 173.00 177.00 4.00 2.5 4.41
UDH6015 230.10 231.00 0.90 0.5 2.17
UDH6016 230.65 231.30 0.65 0.5 0.88
UDH6020 272.10 274.00 1.90 0.7 1.55
UDH6021 145.60 157.35 11.75 6.0 1.76
And 188.00 199.5 11.50 6.0 4.90
UDH6022 116.05 126.70 10.65 7.5 2.63
And 143.00 148.00 5.00 3.5 7.98
UDH6024 132.65 143.00 10.35 6.0 2.71
UDH6025 299.90 311.00 11.10 5.0 3.17
UDH6026 111.30 126.00 14.70 11.0 2.72
UDH6027 166.80 178.00 11.20 6.0 2.46
UDH6031 275.55 285.10 9.55 4.0 2.15
And 310.00 323.00 13.00 6.0 5.08
UDH6032 246.05 256.00 9.95 4.4 2.68
And 283.00 296.00 13.00 6.0 3.00
UDH6034 209.60 224.80 15.20 10.0 0.77
And 236.95 240.30 3.35 2.0 6.06
UDH6035 164.50 172.85 8.35 5.5 2.96
And 212.45 217.00 4.55 3.5 4.23
UDH6036 228.25 236.00 7.75 5.0 5.55
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Figure 2 below is a plan view of the Frasers Underground Expansion Project area showing reported drill intersections outside the indicated resource boundary and current mine design.
Figure 2 - Plan view of Frasers Underground Expansion Project Area with Drill Intersections
To view the full company release, including images please refer http://www.oceanagold.com/images/documents/files/100721_frasers_underground_update.pdf
Diamond drilling from the underground exploration drive continues to infill gaps in the known mineral resources and is also testing for extensions to the north, south and southeast. Indications are that the Panel 2 mineralisation is likely to continue in these directions and may eventually join or extend beyond the intercepts recorded from the surface exploration holes RCD5085 and RCD5090 announced on 3 May 2010.
Paul Bibby, CEO commented, "The most recent results from the down dip drilling program at Panel 2 are very encouraging. These results confirm the continuity between Panel 2 and the surface drilling announced on May 3rd and consequently we will continue with this underground program to test for further extensions. The indication of a sub-parallel mineralised package similar to P2 Deeps will also be followed up with deeper drilling incorporated into the program. As we continue to expand the infill drilling program outwards we expect this to further improve the confidence of the resource and lead to increased mine life."
Qualified Persons
Rod Redden, Exploration and Development Manager and Jonathan Moore, Principal Resource Geologist, both of Oceana Gold New Zealand Limited are the "qualified persons" pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Both are members of the AusIMM.
The Qualified Persons, Mr Redden and Mr Moore have prepared the technical information and approved the contents of this news release.
Quality Control
Mr Jonathan Moore, B.Sc (Hons) Geology and Dip.Grad. Physics, is the Principal Resource Geologist with Oceana Gold (NZ) Ltd and is the Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") for the technical disclosure in this release and has verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information contained in this release. The geological interpretation was completed by Mr Peter Edwards, Senior Project Geologist, MSc (Hons) Geology, Grad. Dip. Business, Grad. Dip Computing, MAusIMM. Samples, collected at 1m intervals from sawn diamond core, were prepared and assayed by fire assay methods at the OceanaGold facilities at Macraes, New Zealand and the SGS facilities in Westport and Waihi, New Zealand. Standard reference materials were inserted to monitor the quality control of the assay data.
For further scientific and technical information (including disclosure regarding mineral resources and mineral reserves) relating to the Macraes Project, please refer to the NI 43-101 compliant technical report entitled "Independent Technical Report for the Macraes Project located in the Province of Otago, New Zealand" dated February 12, 2010, prepared by R Redden and J. G. Moore and available at sedar.com under the Company's name.
About OceanaGold
OceanaGold Corporation is a significant Pacific Rim gold producer with projects located on the South Island of New Zealand and in the Philippines. The Company's assets encompass New Zealand's largest gold mining operation at the Macraes goldfield in Otago which is made up of the Macraes open pit and the Frasers Underground mines. Additionally on the west coast of the South Island, the Company operates the Reefton open-pit mine. OceanaGold produces between 270,000 - 300,000 ounces of gold per annum from the New Zealand operations. The Company also owns the Didipio Gold-Copper Project in northern Luzon, Philippines.
OceanaGold is listed on the Toronto, Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges under the symbol OGC.
Cautionary Statement
Statements in this release may be forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements with respect to any future reserves attributable to the Macraes and Frasers Underground projects and estimated production from the Company's existing properties. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements including, among others, the accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and related assumptions, inherent operating risks and those risk factors identified in the Company's Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators in respect of its most recently completed financial year. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil such forward-looking statements and, subject to applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. It is also noted that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
For further information: Mr Darren Klinck, Vice President, Corporate and Investor Relations, Tel: +61(3) 9656 5300
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