Friday, December 15, 2006 8:44:01 PM
Astral Mining Corporation (AST.V, Frankfurt WKN# A0JDX3) is very pleased to announce channel sample results from the Phase II infill and extension trenching program at the JJ Main Zone discovery on the Jumping Josephine "JJ" Project in southeastern British Columbia (Figure 1). Trench-02a graded 31.19 g/t* gold over 7m, including 133.91 g/t gold over 1m. The JJ Main Zone now has a cumulative strike length of 270 metres and remains open in both directions.
All surface results from the 2006 summer and fall exploration programs are currently being compiled and a comprehensive Phase I drill program is being planned for early 2007. To view all of the results to date from Astral's summer work programs visit www.astralmining.com.
Highlights from the Phase II trenching include:
• 31.19 g/t* gold over 7m, including 133.91 g/t gold over 1m from Trench 02a (0.91 opt** over 22.97 feet including 3.906 opt over 3.28 feet)
• 25.24 g/t gold over 4m from Trench 02c (0.736 opt over 13.12 feet)
• 14.1 g/t gold over 5m from Trench 03a (0.411 opt over 16.40 feet
• 9.28 g/t gold over 1m from Trench 03b (0.271 opt over 3.28 feet)
*grams per tonne **ounces per ton
The Phase I trenches (October 2 and 16, 2006 and November 14, 2006 News Releases) spaced at 50m along the strike of the zone were infilled during October 2006 with eight trenches on 10m intervals (Figure 2). In addition two trenches north of Trench 04 and one located 50m south of Trench 01 were designed to test for extensions to the JJ Main Zone (Figure 2). Channel sample assays confirm the previously reported high-grade gold values from the central portion of the quartz stockwork zone at JJ Main.
All new Phase II infill and extension channel samples from the quartz stockwork zone at JJ Main reported herein were analyzed using the Metallic gold assay method. Trenching has now identified the auriferous quartz stockwork zone over a strike length of 270m when the dextral fault-offset observed in Trench 03 is restored. Grades exceeding 5 g/t gold were encountered in most trenches between Trench 01 and the eastern zone of Trench 03 over a strike length of 145m when the dextral fault-offset is restored. This trenching confirms the continuity of the mineralized zone, which remains open to the southwest and northeast. A summary of the metallic gold assay results from the new trenching is tabulated below in Table 1.
Table 1: Phase II Infill and Extension Trenching -- Significant Metallic Gold Assays
Trench From To Interval Metallics Grade Interval Metallics Grade
^ 30gm Fire Assay- not Metallic Gold Analysis
The Company is planning further trenching and initial drill-testing of JJ Main for the spring of 2007 and will be carrying out an extensive exploration program to identify additional "JJ Main style" zones and to advance a number of other prospects on the JJ Property during the balance of the 2007 field season. Updated maps and photographs of the JJ Project and JJ Main Zone discovery are available on the Company's website (www.astralmining.com).
Technical Summary:
Astral is earning a 60-per-cent interest from Kootenay Gold Inc. in the 11,785-hectare JJ Gold Project. The JJ property is located in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia in a mining district that has had historical production in excess of nine million ounces of high-grade gold, yet has remained under-explored since before the Second World War. Numerous gold showings were discovered on the JJ property during 2003 by Kootenay Gold through intensive prospecting efforts. Kootenay Gold subsequently assembled a claim position in the area, surrounding and including several small past producers in the Granville Mountain (Bonanza pass) area.
The JJ property is primarily underlain by fine to medium-grained granodiorite, monzonite and diorite, thought to belong to the mid-Jurassic Nelson intrusive suite, and by quartz syenite and monzonite of the Eocene age Coryell intrusive suite. The stockwork zone at JJ Main is hosted by granodiorite and monzonite of probable mid-Jurassic age that are cut by north-south trending faults often occupied by syenite (Coryell) or lamprophyre dykes. Gold mineralization is currently interpreted as being temporally-related to the Eocene magmatic episode and may have occurred during the early stages of widespread extensional faulting that accompanied it.
The airborne survey magnetic data places the JJ Main Zone within a large circular magnetic feature, roughly 2km in diameter, that Astral interprets as a buried intrusive stock -- potentially a magmatic source of the siliceous gold-bearing mineralizing fluids for JJ Main. The JJ Main stockwork zone itself corresponds with a distinct, laterally extensive, northeast-trending linear magnetic low feature centred above the inferred stock, and represents a possible structural conduit for fluids emanating from the buried intrusion. Gold mineralization at JJ Main is hosted in silicified breccias, quartz-filled shear zones and sheeted quartz veins, and is associated with arsenic-antimony-silver-lead and to a lesser extent cadmium-mercury-copper. Astral is currently applying an intrusion-related gold genetic model (i.e. Tintina Gold Province of the Yukon Territory and Alaska) to the JJ Project. One of the primary aims of the 2007 field program on the property will be to identify JJ Main style occurrences elsewhere on the large project, particularly within the circular magnetic feature referred to above.
A total of 187 one-metre channel samples were collected during Phase II trenching program from eleven trenches. Astral's sampling methodology is described in its October 2, 2006 News Release. Intervals representing the quartz stockwork zone or immediately adjacent wall rock material (91 samples) were identified on site and marked for analysis for gold using the 500g 'metallic gold assay' technique. Gold assay results from this sample suite ranged from below detection up to 133.91 g/t gold. The 96 remaining samples were analysed for gold by the traditional 30g fire assay and all samples were subjected to a 36-element suite analysis by aqua-regia digest and ICP-MS finish. Gold results from these samples ranged between below detection and 3.59 g/t gold
Visible gold has not been observed at JJ Main, though a nugget effect is suspected. The metallic gold assay method was described in Astral's November 14, 2006 News Release and is a preferable technique for analyzing high-grade samples as it uses a large 500g sample size compared to the 30g sample of the standard fire assay method, and is able to more accurately estimate the total gold content. Comparison of three assay methods showed an increase of up to 132% per interval when original fire assayed samples were re-analysed using the metallic gold technique (see November 14, 2006 News Release).
The Company is currently planning further trenching and initial drill-testing of JJ Main Zone discovery for the spring of 2007 and will be carrying out an extensive property-wide exploration program to advance a number of other prospects on the JJ Gold Project during the balance of the 2007 field season.
Samples were submitted to Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd, Vancouver for analysis. Exploration work reported in this release was completed under the supervision of Astral's Project Geologist Dale Brittliffe B.Sc.. Technical information contained in this release has been reviewed by Dr. David Terry, P.Geo., Director and Vice President of Exploration for Astral Mining Corporation, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.
Astral Mining Corporation, a Grosso Group company, is a Canadian-based company engaged in the exploration and development of precious mineral properties in North America. By focusing on exploration in mining-friendly districts the company minimizes the political and social risks encountered in many other parts of the world. With an experienced technical team and seasoned management Astral is poised to leverage this expertise into early exploration success.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Manfred Kurschner"
Mr. Manfred Kurschner, President & CEO
For further information please contact Manfred Kurschner, President & CEO, at 1-800-901-0058 or 604-687-1828, or fax 604-687-1858, or by email info@astralmining.com, or visit the Company's web site at http://www.astralmining.com.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note to US Investors: This news release may contain information about adjacent properties on which we have no right to explore or mine. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
All surface results from the 2006 summer and fall exploration programs are currently being compiled and a comprehensive Phase I drill program is being planned for early 2007. To view all of the results to date from Astral's summer work programs visit www.astralmining.com.
Highlights from the Phase II trenching include:
• 31.19 g/t* gold over 7m, including 133.91 g/t gold over 1m from Trench 02a (0.91 opt** over 22.97 feet including 3.906 opt over 3.28 feet)
• 25.24 g/t gold over 4m from Trench 02c (0.736 opt over 13.12 feet)
• 14.1 g/t gold over 5m from Trench 03a (0.411 opt over 16.40 feet
• 9.28 g/t gold over 1m from Trench 03b (0.271 opt over 3.28 feet)
*grams per tonne **ounces per ton
The Phase I trenches (October 2 and 16, 2006 and November 14, 2006 News Releases) spaced at 50m along the strike of the zone were infilled during October 2006 with eight trenches on 10m intervals (Figure 2). In addition two trenches north of Trench 04 and one located 50m south of Trench 01 were designed to test for extensions to the JJ Main Zone (Figure 2). Channel sample assays confirm the previously reported high-grade gold values from the central portion of the quartz stockwork zone at JJ Main.
All new Phase II infill and extension channel samples from the quartz stockwork zone at JJ Main reported herein were analyzed using the Metallic gold assay method. Trenching has now identified the auriferous quartz stockwork zone over a strike length of 270m when the dextral fault-offset observed in Trench 03 is restored. Grades exceeding 5 g/t gold were encountered in most trenches between Trench 01 and the eastern zone of Trench 03 over a strike length of 145m when the dextral fault-offset is restored. This trenching confirms the continuity of the mineralized zone, which remains open to the southwest and northeast. A summary of the metallic gold assay results from the new trenching is tabulated below in Table 1.
Table 1: Phase II Infill and Extension Trenching -- Significant Metallic Gold Assays
Trench From To Interval Metallics Grade Interval Metallics Grade
(m) (m) (m) (g/t gold) (ft) (oz/ton)
T00 17 21 5 0.66 16.40 0.019
T01c 8 10 2 2.46 6.56 0.072
T01d 8 9 1 5.43 3.28 0.158
T02a 0 7 7 31.19 22.97 0.910
(including) 2 3 1 133.91 3.28 3.906
and 5 6 1 71.55 3.28 2.087
and 6 7 1 9.71 3.28 0.283
T02b 7 15 8 3.73 26.25 0.109
(including) 12 14 2 8.13 6.56 0.237
T02c 6 10 4 25.24 13.12 0.736
(including) 6 8 2 46.21 6.56 1.348
and 7 8 1 66.91 3.28 1.952
T02c 13 14 1 3.59^ 3.28 0.105^
T02d 9 13 4 1.01 13.12 0.029
18 19 1 3.80^ 3.28 0.111^
T03a 12 17 5 14.1 16.40 0.411
(including) 15 16 1 65.32 3.28 1.905
T03b 13 14 1 9.28 3.28 0.271
T04a 10 15 5 0.42 16.40 0.012
T04b 10 14 4 0.53 13.12 0.015
^ 30gm Fire Assay- not Metallic Gold Analysis
The Company is planning further trenching and initial drill-testing of JJ Main for the spring of 2007 and will be carrying out an extensive exploration program to identify additional "JJ Main style" zones and to advance a number of other prospects on the JJ Property during the balance of the 2007 field season. Updated maps and photographs of the JJ Project and JJ Main Zone discovery are available on the Company's website (www.astralmining.com).
Technical Summary:
Astral is earning a 60-per-cent interest from Kootenay Gold Inc. in the 11,785-hectare JJ Gold Project. The JJ property is located in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia in a mining district that has had historical production in excess of nine million ounces of high-grade gold, yet has remained under-explored since before the Second World War. Numerous gold showings were discovered on the JJ property during 2003 by Kootenay Gold through intensive prospecting efforts. Kootenay Gold subsequently assembled a claim position in the area, surrounding and including several small past producers in the Granville Mountain (Bonanza pass) area.
The JJ property is primarily underlain by fine to medium-grained granodiorite, monzonite and diorite, thought to belong to the mid-Jurassic Nelson intrusive suite, and by quartz syenite and monzonite of the Eocene age Coryell intrusive suite. The stockwork zone at JJ Main is hosted by granodiorite and monzonite of probable mid-Jurassic age that are cut by north-south trending faults often occupied by syenite (Coryell) or lamprophyre dykes. Gold mineralization is currently interpreted as being temporally-related to the Eocene magmatic episode and may have occurred during the early stages of widespread extensional faulting that accompanied it.
The airborne survey magnetic data places the JJ Main Zone within a large circular magnetic feature, roughly 2km in diameter, that Astral interprets as a buried intrusive stock -- potentially a magmatic source of the siliceous gold-bearing mineralizing fluids for JJ Main. The JJ Main stockwork zone itself corresponds with a distinct, laterally extensive, northeast-trending linear magnetic low feature centred above the inferred stock, and represents a possible structural conduit for fluids emanating from the buried intrusion. Gold mineralization at JJ Main is hosted in silicified breccias, quartz-filled shear zones and sheeted quartz veins, and is associated with arsenic-antimony-silver-lead and to a lesser extent cadmium-mercury-copper. Astral is currently applying an intrusion-related gold genetic model (i.e. Tintina Gold Province of the Yukon Territory and Alaska) to the JJ Project. One of the primary aims of the 2007 field program on the property will be to identify JJ Main style occurrences elsewhere on the large project, particularly within the circular magnetic feature referred to above.
A total of 187 one-metre channel samples were collected during Phase II trenching program from eleven trenches. Astral's sampling methodology is described in its October 2, 2006 News Release. Intervals representing the quartz stockwork zone or immediately adjacent wall rock material (91 samples) were identified on site and marked for analysis for gold using the 500g 'metallic gold assay' technique. Gold assay results from this sample suite ranged from below detection up to 133.91 g/t gold. The 96 remaining samples were analysed for gold by the traditional 30g fire assay and all samples were subjected to a 36-element suite analysis by aqua-regia digest and ICP-MS finish. Gold results from these samples ranged between below detection and 3.59 g/t gold
Visible gold has not been observed at JJ Main, though a nugget effect is suspected. The metallic gold assay method was described in Astral's November 14, 2006 News Release and is a preferable technique for analyzing high-grade samples as it uses a large 500g sample size compared to the 30g sample of the standard fire assay method, and is able to more accurately estimate the total gold content. Comparison of three assay methods showed an increase of up to 132% per interval when original fire assayed samples were re-analysed using the metallic gold technique (see November 14, 2006 News Release).
The Company is currently planning further trenching and initial drill-testing of JJ Main Zone discovery for the spring of 2007 and will be carrying out an extensive property-wide exploration program to advance a number of other prospects on the JJ Gold Project during the balance of the 2007 field season.
Samples were submitted to Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd, Vancouver for analysis. Exploration work reported in this release was completed under the supervision of Astral's Project Geologist Dale Brittliffe B.Sc.. Technical information contained in this release has been reviewed by Dr. David Terry, P.Geo., Director and Vice President of Exploration for Astral Mining Corporation, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.
Astral Mining Corporation, a Grosso Group company, is a Canadian-based company engaged in the exploration and development of precious mineral properties in North America. By focusing on exploration in mining-friendly districts the company minimizes the political and social risks encountered in many other parts of the world. With an experienced technical team and seasoned management Astral is poised to leverage this expertise into early exploration success.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Manfred Kurschner"
Mr. Manfred Kurschner, President & CEO
For further information please contact Manfred Kurschner, President & CEO, at 1-800-901-0058 or 604-687-1828, or fax 604-687-1858, or by email info@astralmining.com, or visit the Company's web site at http://www.astralmining.com.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note to US Investors: This news release may contain information about adjacent properties on which we have no right to explore or mine. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
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