Post by
NewsFlash10 on Mar 17, 2005 8:51am
FWR discovery:contiguous/on strike to MPM
This Freewest discovery is contiguous and on strike to one of Maple Minerals' properties in the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt
Freewest adds to Sungold resource
2005-03-16 18:28 ET - News Release
Shares issued 94,308,045
FWR Close 2005-03-16 C$ 0.36
Mr. Mackenzie Watson reports
FREEWEST OBTAINS UP TO 12.49% COPPER AND 32.80% ZINC IN NEW BASE METAL DISCOVERY IN THE SHEBANDOWAN GREENSTONE BELT, NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
Freewest Resources Canada Inc. has discovered high-grade volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) mineralization on the company's 100-per-cent-owned Sungold property. The subject property comprises 4,660 hectares (46.6 square kilometres) and is located approximately 120 kilometres west of Thunder Bay in the Shebandowan greenstone belt of Northwestern Ontario.
Highlighting recent sampling of the new discovery are assays of 12.49 per cent copper and 10.01 per cent zinc in one sample and 0.25 per cent copper and 32.80 per cent zinc in another. Significant in-situ, heavily disseminated, stringer (footwall) and massive sulphide mineralization has to date been traced intermittently over a minimum strike length of 800 metres. The significant assays from a series of small blasted pits along the 800-metre strike length are as follows:
Sample No. Copper (%) Zinc (%)
22372 0.25 32.80
13200 2.58 0.50
26531 12.49 10.01
26532 0.85 27.19
26533 3.13 7.32
26534 2.81 0.43
26535 3.58 14.27
26536 2.93 14.10
26538 1.32 9.54
26539 0.30 4.70
13174 1.95 9.60
13175 0.18 4.96
13176 0.33 2.50
13177 0.63 7.27
13178 2.79 2.26
13179 0.33 7.52
13186 2.35 0.05
13187 1.12 0.02
Assays performed by Accurrassay Laboratories of Thunder Bay, Ont.
Massive sulphide mineralization was encountered in one pit at the northeast extremity of the location blasted and consists of fine-grained, crudely banded sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and subordinate chalcopyrite. The initial grab sample collected from the pit assayed 33.2 per cent zinc. Stringer, heavily disseminated and semi-massive sulphide mineralization was encountered in the balance of the pits located along stratigraphic trend, an additional 800 metres to the southwest. Mineralization remains completely open-ended along strike. Based on very limited exposure, the host rocks comprise heavily oxidized, rhyolitic flows and fragmentals characterized by chloritic and silicic alteration.
A one-kilometre-long airborne electromagnetic anomaly (Geotech time-domain EM) is coincident with the mineralization. Notably, the multichannel lense-shaped anomaly attains a maximum width of 100 metres along its trend. A map showing the sample locations relative to the airborne electromagnetic anomaly will be posted on the Freewest website at www.freewest.com.
The new discovery was made by prospectors, Richard Weenusk, Norbert Weenusk (Explorateurs-Innovateurs de Quebec Inc.) and Daron Slaney during the course of a beep mat survey intended to follow up on the results of the airborne geophysical survey. The VHMS mineralization was detected by the beep mat under one metre of snow and 0.5 to one metre of overburden.
Freewest management stated: "We are extremely optimistic about the prospects of the massive sulphide mineralization discovered to date and also the excellent probability of making further discoveries in the district. Typically, VHMS occurrences tend to occur in clusters and our other numerous airborne electromagnetic anomalies contained within our large property position in the belt, provide us with some first priority targets that will see systematic follow-up work. Clearly, this is a new discovery and rejuvenates the Shebandowan greenstone belt as a bona fide belt prospective for VHMS deposits."
As a result of the new discovery, Freewest has staked an additional 3,934 hectares (39.3 square kilometres) of prospective ground, for a total ground position at the Sungold property of 8,594 hectares (85.9 square kilometres). The new claims cover favourable stratigraphy coincident with airborne electromagnetic anomalies situated to the southwest of the new discovery (Ontario Geological Survey airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey, Shebandowan belt, 1991).
The company will shortly embark on a systematic program to explore the new occurrences that will involve backhoe trenching, line cutting as well as ground geophysical surveys. This is anticipated to begin within the next few weeks.
Donald Hoy, PGeo (Ontario) and vice-president of exploration for Freewest Resources Canada, is the qualified person on the SunGold property and is responsible for the preparation of this press release.