Strong Gold-Copper Results at Pitha ProjectNews Release
Northern Lion Gold Corp.: Strong Gold-Copper Results at Pitha Project, Cyprus
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, May 13, 2010 (Marketwire via COMTEX News Network) --
Northern Lion Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:NL)(FRANKFURT:N3E)(the "Company" or "Northern Lion") wishes to provide this update on the 2010 exploration programs for the Company's exploration projects in Cyprus.
The Republic of Cyprus
Initial results from the ongoing Phase I exploration programs in Cyprus are now being received for the Philani, Pitha and Red Hill projects. Grid based mapping, soil and rock sampling programs were initiated on each of these properties to build on the historical data available from the Cyprus Department of Geology
The Pitha project forms part of the Kambia Exploration Permits, which incorporate the Pitha and Peristerka massive sulphide bodies. Peristerka which consisted of two adjacent vertical massive sulphide bodies, was mined in the 1970's for pyrite, but also contained a high grade copper and zinc portion in the western orebody. The Peristerka orebodies contained 1.12 million tones at an average of 0.8% copper, and an unknown gold grade.
At Pitha (1km to the west) the area was partially pre-striped preparing for production when the Turkish invasion of 1974 halted activities. The company operating Peristerka went bankrupt when their ore stockpile sitting at the port of Famagusta was seized during the invasion. Historical drill data indicates a vertically oriented massive sulphide body in excess of 500,000 tons. No gold assays were carried out during the period when the massive sulphide was drilled.
In order to determine the gold potential of this area a chip sampling program was carried out over the exposed benches, and any exposures of massive sulphide visible in the pit. The Pitha massive sulphide body is located in the Basal Group rocks within 200m of the contact with the overlying Pillow Lava Series. Dykes within the Basal Group in this area trend north northeasterly and have a near vertical dip, as do the major structural trends.
A total of 132 chip and grab samples were collected from all prospective exposures of altered and mineralized rocks, along with a suite of samples from fresh outcrop for reference material. The results of this work show an excellent clustering of gold and copper values at the west end of the pit, with the highest values shown in the following table. Anomalous gold and copper values were returned from an area of 75m by 60m as shown on the Pitha sampling map that can be found at https://www.northernliongold.com/s/Cyprus.asp. Follow up sampling will concentrate on defining the western limits of this mineralization and exploring to the north and south along the local structural trend. To this end a grid has been established to the north of the pit with east-west lines covering the potential extension of this mineralization. Soil sampling has been completed over this grid and results are anticipated this month.
South of the Pitha pit (0.75km) another historical showing known as Mandres was partially evaluated at the same time as the Pitha stripping. Surface sampling by Northern Lion crews has shown anomalous gold values up to 2.5 grams per tonne ("g/t") over 2m in gossanous outcrops.
John Lando commented, "Our initial view was that the Cyprus VHMS deposits had been overlooked for their gold potential and we are very encouraged from the consistent initial gold and copper results we have received to date. These results indicate that there is a gold component to these deposits and we have developed a number of drill targets to test the geological model."
The following table contains a summary of the significant values returned from the chip samples collected. The results of that work clearly illustrate the potential of the Cyprus type massive sulphide bodies to host significant gold mineralization along with high grade copper, zinc and silver.
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Sample # Length (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Pb ppm Zn ppm
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11904 0.4 0.336 15.8 1.615 86 279
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11917 grab 1.03 7.6 2.88 158 512
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11919 0.25 4.67 33.6 3.91 847 3940
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11920 grab 0.452 5.9 0.68 112 706
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11921 0.2 3.12 40.0 0.85 1125 726
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11922 grab 3.04 21.3 0.29 1580 1290
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11923 grab 0.37 4.7 0.1 234 250
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11926 grab 0.436 1.9 0.05 28 240
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11930 2.2 0.751 15.0 0.04 1850 230
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11932 grab 0.598 14.8 0.1 93 334
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11934 1.3 1.12 6.5 0.4 88 281
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11940 grab 0.781 2.4 0.13 639 1335
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11941 4.5 1.045 22.7 0.76 441 955
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11942 4.4 0.423 10.0 0.05 210 787
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11945 2.3 0.614 8.1 0.03 115 530
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11946 grab 2.59 38.4 0.03 403 736
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11951 0.3 0.695 7.6 0.07 3110 908
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11954 5.6 0.676 25.4 0.13 1550 1930
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11955 grab 0.37 4.2 0.12 396 1285
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11957 3.5 0.012 0.2 1.465 10 5440
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11958 1.7 0.989 40.5 0.67 168 1080
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11960 0.4 0.558 2.4 0.01 83 150
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11961 0.2 0.73 11.9 0.19 197 898
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11962 3.2 2.64 62.1 0.09 255 317
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11963 2.2 0.88 25.6 0.14 513 518
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11965 1.4 1.16 28.0 0.07 260 156
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The history of mineral exploitation (copper, gold and other metals) on the island of Cyprus dates back to the Bronze Age, approximately 5,000 years ago. The Phoenicians were the first to process copper on the island, followed by the Romans and this activity has continued to the present day. The evidence of this long history of mining is readily observed in the abundant ancient surface and underground workings along with extensive slag heaps. Mineral exploration in the Republic of Cyprus has been at a very low level over the last few decades, and management believes that there is a high probability of additional massive sulphide bodies being present that did not outcrop, as nearly all of the known deposits did.
The metal deposits of Cyprus are dominantly copper-bearing volcanogenic hosted massive sulphide "VHMS" deposits. These deposits are hosted within the pillow lava sequence of the Troodos Ophiolite Complex. The pillow lava sequence is divided into Upper and Lower Pillow Lavas, with the majority of massive sulphide bodies located along the contact between pillow lava sequences, and the remainder between the Lower Pillow Lavas and the Basal Group. All of the Company's applications overlie these important contacts. Gold mineralization associated with the massive sulphide ores has not historically been evaluated.
Quality Control and Assurance
The Company's field activities in Cyprus are under the direction of Jim Chapman, P.Geo. (BC), consultant to the Company and "qualified persons", as defined by NI 43-101, who are responsible for the technical content of this news release.
About Northern Lion
Northern Lion Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Frankfurt Exchange. The Company is committed to building a strong portfolio of projects within mining-friendly and infrastructure-rich areas of Europe. The Company is well funded to continue to define and explore its existing projects and to acquire and explore new projects.
In addition to its exploration permits in Cyprus, the Company holds a 100% interest in its Moura Licence in Portugal and 100% interest in two projects in the historic Bergslagen mining district of southern Sweden.
NORTHERN LION GOLD CORP.
John Lando, President