Firestone's Torlon check test returns 25 m of 26.77% Zn
2007-10-04 15:01 ET - News Release
Mr. Lori Walton reports
FIRESTONE VENTURES REPORTS ON CHECK ASSAY PROGRAM, CONFIRMS 25.0 METRES OF 26.77% ZINC AT TORLON HILL
Independent consultants Watts, Griffis and McOuat Ltd. (WGM) have completed extensive check assaying as part of Firestone Ventures Inc.'s rigorous quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. The results have been integrated into Firestone's existing database of drill assay results for the Torlon Hill zinc-lead-silver project, located 18 road kilometres northwest of the city of Huehuetenango, Guatemala.
The check assaying component of Firestone's QA/QC program helps determine the effectiveness and accuracy of current laboratory, and assaying techniques, and is of particular importance due to the high-grade nature of the non-sulphide zinc mineralization (smithsonite) at Torlon Hill.
Using a 3-per-cent zinc cut-off grade, WGM's new assay intervals confirm the high-grade nature of Firestone's original intersections announced in previous news releases.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECALCULATED INTERVALS
(using a 3-per-cent zinc cut-off)
Drill hole TH06-01: 28.8 metres of 10.91% zinc, 1.89% lead and 6.72 g/t silver(i)
Drill hole TH06-02: 25.0 metres of 26.77% zinc, 1.42% lead and 5.98 g/t silver(i)
and 4.0 metres of 11.24% zinc, 2.14% lead and 20.65 g/t silver
Drill hole TH06-05: 6.5 metres of 11.32% zinc, 5.93% lead and 38.60 g/t silver
and 21.0 metres of 8.16% zinc, 2.54% lead and 22.15 g/t silver
Drill hole TH06-13: 53.3 metres of 9.66% zinc, 1.86% lead and 12.21 g/t silver(i)
Drill hole TH06-14: 13.7 metres of 9.79% zinc, 1.32% lead and 12.50 g/t silver
and 31.3 metres of 14.28% zinc, 0.20% lead and 1.27 g/t silver
Drill hole TH06-23: 21.3 metres of 19.07% zinc, 3.74% lead and 48.84 g/t silver
Drill hole TH06-31: 10.6 metres of 10.96% zinc, 7.75% lead and 41.25 g/t silver
Drill hole TH07-53: 42.5 metres of 9.50% zinc, 5.17% lead and 34.39 g/t silver
(i) Intersection begins on surface (0.0 metre)
Check sampling program
A total of 4,936 metres of diamond drilling has been completed since January, 2005. A lengthy check sampling program was completed under the supervision of WGM. WGM has a large body of experience relevant to the Torlon Hill project, having worked on similar non-sulphide zinc deposits in Thailand, Yemen, Iran and Peru.
The check sampling included reassaying 116 of Firestone's drill core rejects which were stored in a secure facility at the project site. Reassaying was conducted by Global Discoveries Laboratory in Vancouver, B.C. WGM also carried out independent check sampling during site visits to Torlon Hill by recutting and reassaying selected drill core intervals and reassaying 42 drill core pulps.
The check assay data have been compiled and independently reviewed by WGM. WGM found the check values to be within acceptable variances for most samples. Zinc values showed good correlation (85 per cent of the check samples were within 10 per cent of the original assays), and no bias was observed. Greater variance was seen in lead and silver values, with 4 per cent and 16 per cent of the respective populations occurring as outliers.
WGM concluded that the more erratic nature of the galena mineralization within the Torlon deposit, its brittle character and the problems of ensuring that heavy minerals are adequately homogenized within the sample assayed contribute to the higher variances between original and check assay values for lead and silver, and recommends additional work to further investigate the outliers identified.
Metallurgy and 2007/2008 exploration program
Metallurgical testing of a representative 200-kilogram sample of Torlon mineralization is under way at SGS Lakefield Research and final results are expected later this year. Firestone is working on the 2007/2008 field program and budget for the Torlon Hill project, and will finalize in the coming weeks.
Sample preparation and analytical procedures have been described in news releases in Stockwatch dated March 2, 2006, and Jan. 11, 2007. All drill core sampling has been carried out under the constant supervision of Firestone's geologist John Cleary (CPG) and qualified person for the Torlon Hill project, with technical guidance from WGM. All laboratory analysis is by the ALS Chemex facility in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. In addition to its own independent sampling carried out during 2006 and again during 2007, WGM also provided guidance concerning Firestone's internal check assaying program.
This news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Cleary, (CPG), qualified person, and by Al Workman, PGeo, vice-president of WGM, and the independent qualified person for the Torlon project.
