VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Aug 18, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX News Network) --
Expedition Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EXU) (the "Company") wishes to announce the results from the Phase I work program on the Joy property located in the Rackla Gold Belt in the Yukon. This work consisted of mapping, prospecting, stream sediment sampling and rock sampling from a helicopter supported camp on the Joy property.
The Phase I work program was guided by an airborne geophysical survey which was flown in the spring of 2011. The Joy property survey demonstrated that the strongest geophysical anomalies are east-west trending and appear to coincide with the projected locations of the Kathleen Lakes fault and the Dawson thrust fault. The majority of the secondary drainages in this area are north-south trending providing good sections and exposure through the stratigraphic sequence.
The stream sampling program included a series of Bulk Leachable Extractable Gold (BLEG) samples which gave a lower detection limit and greater sensitivity of analyses. In this area not all streams are amenable to BLEG sampling due to the high topographic gradient and active water flow which flushes out the fine sediment required for this form of sampling. A total of 91 stream, 7 BLEG, and 46 rock samples were collected from the Joy property and analysed for gold and a 51 element ICP package at AGAT Laboratories in Mississauga, Ontario.
The majority of the streams drain to the north, and anomalous values were derived from all of these drainages. Only three drainages occur on the southern flank of the property, which also returned locally anomalous results in arsenic and mercury. Anomalous values are considered to be anything over the 95th percentile of values for that element. Several samples contained statistically anomalous gold values which correlate with the multi-element anomalies. The following table highlights the most significant results.
Table 1: Significant Stream Sediment Samples
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Sample Au Ag As Cd Co Cr Cu Hg Ni Sb Tl Zn
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Number ppb ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm
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5267362 0.09 4.0 0.11 61.1 486 35.9 0.04 1133 0.3 0.04 69
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5267384 5.93 0.06 7.6 0.04 80.9 639 13.2 0.01 1830 0.0 0.01 22
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5267387 1.30 62.9 2.94 12.8 68 64.8 0.51 143 4.5 0.40 599
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5267389 0.96 62.0 6.98 11.2 42 77.1 0.50 109 4.6 0.36 649
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5267390 6.36 0.40 21.0 1.60 23.0 99 76.0 0.20 119 1.8 0.30 310
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5267391 7.14 0.84 25.8 1.92 19.2 41 176.0 0.37 53 2.8 0.41 291
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5267393 8.88 0.89 31.1 2.54 19.7 30 156.7 0.36 70 2.8 0.49 261
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5267195 0.38 18.2 0.72 42.2 308 46.3 4.63 617 1.2 0.19 130
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5267196 17.2 0.40 25.0 2.20 39.0 254 45.0 1.00 485 1.4 0.20 406
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5267204 0.52 20.1 2.30 13.4 45 45.2 0.20 93 1.5 0.25 2
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5267205 0.60 29.9 1.68 15.5 59 41.1 0.23 121 1.5 0.18 2
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5267209 14.1 0.27 17 0.60 17 35 44 0.4 63 0.8 1.00 1
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5267233 10.6 0.60 14 0.50 12 16 34 0.2 29 0.4 0.10 153
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95th % 5 0.60 49.0 2.20 42.0 254 80.0 0.70 631 1.7 0.40 305
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The strongest multi-element anomalies are located in the northwest and northeast corners of the property from streams that drain an easterly trending ridge through the centre of the claim block. Initial reconnaissance mapping suggests that the stratigraphic units in the area may have an east-west orientation as demonstrated by the geophysical results.
The rock sampling results completed to date have corroborated the stream sediment sampling. Sulphide bearing outcrops in the northwest of the property have been named the Virga showing. This drainage also contained strongly anomalous sediment samples, indicating that the geochemical program is an effective tool in this environment. Rock samples 5267332 to 337 in the table below are from the Virga showing, which appears to be underlain by sediments and ultramafic units.
Table 2: Rock Sample Results
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Sample Ag As Cd Cr Cu Hg Ni Pb Sb Tl Zn
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Number ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm
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less
than
5267332 0.05 1.2 0.02 1260 6.4 0.01 1790 2.9 0.28 0.05 21.1
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5267333 0.03 97.1 0.01 353 2.5 2.69 142 3.4 11.7 0.24 15.6
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5267334 0.06 1920 0.02 271 3.1 6.71 355 1.3 50.7 2.74 11.8
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5267335 0.19 1770 0.51 992 13.8 2.31 2140 8.4 34.3 0.77 91.1
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5267336 5.11 3670 595 665 199 82.5 642 5.24% 89.5 0.61 8.51%
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5267337 0.28 658 5.72 12.5 9.2 0.62 79.7 113 1.47 0.07 505
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5267276 0.56 252 7.06 174 27.4 3.32 328 769 13.7 0.04 63.2
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less less
than than
5267277 0.02 0.9 0.02 1290 1 0.02 1870 1.7 0.05 0.02 23.1
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5267289 0.44 4.5 0.19 882 3810 0.02 1040 1.5 0.05 0.03 136
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95th % 0.56 592 3.9 914 184 2.6 1532 75 29 0.48 348
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To view the Rock Sampling and Stream Sediment Sampling maps on our website, please click here.
A fully winterized camp has been established to support the current Phase II work program. This program will include mapping and rock sampling, along with both grid and contour soil sampling to further refine the nature of the known showings, along with additional prospecting to evaluate the remainder of the property. Geological and logistical support for the program is being provided by Aurora Geosciences.
The Company also completed field work on the Mt. Mervyn property and results are expected shortly. The Mt. Mervyn property is comprised of 314 unpatented mining claims, approximately 6,564 hectares (65.64 sq km), and located in the Mayo Mining District of central Yukon. It is five kms from ATAC Resources' Rau Gold Property, where Carlin-type gold mineralization has been discovered, and adjacent to Strategic Metal's claim block.
Information with respect to the Joy property contained in this news release is approved by James Chapman, PGeo, a qualified person required under National Instrument 43-101.
Expedition is a publicly held Canadian exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring and developing gold properties located in favourable geo-political climates. The company is led by a highly skilled, experienced board and management team with significant successes in managing early stage mineral exploration companies. For additional information concerning Expedition Mining Inc. or its various exploration projects please visit Expedition's website at