Alexander Nubia step-out drilling continues to build on surface trench results and intersects semi-massive sulphide mineralization at depth in the Western VMS Zone at Hamama, Egypt:
Alexander Nubia step-out drilling continues to build on surface trench results and intersects semi-massive sulphide mineralization at depth in the Western VMS Zone at Hamama, Egypt:
Hole AHA-23 returned 66 metres grading 1.10 g/t gold and 24.8 g/t silver (AuEq 1.53 g/t) including 7.0 metres grading 2.14 g/t gold and 62.6 g/t silver (AuEq 3.23 g/t)
Toronto, Ontario CANADA, February 05, 2013 /FSC/ - Alexander Nubia International Inc. (AAN - TSX Venture), is pleased to announce results of a step-out and deeper drilling program at its Hamama volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit in Egypt's Eastern Desert. An extensive trenching program and recent drill results (AHA-22 and AHA-24) confirm the gold-silver mineralization extends from surface to at least 100 metres in depth and 400 metres along strike at that depth. To-date, 400 metres of the total of 1,300 metres of the strike length of the Western VMS Zone have been tested by drilling; pending drill results (AHA-225 and AHA-26) test below AHA-24; AHA-26 is the deepest drill hole on the property to-date.
The Hamama VMS deposit contains a main mineralized unit, the Main VMS Horizon, a steeply dipping, overturned iron-rich gossan and ankerite-rich exhalite that is traceable on surface for 3,000 metres along strike. Previous mapping identified three separate VMS zones (Western, Central and Eastern). Recent mapping confirms that these are connected as one continuous mineralized unit that was formed along and just below the seafloor. The style and size of precious and base-metal mineralization, the presence of a gold cap, and drilling results to-date show that Hamama has similar characteristics to other major gold-rich VMS systems in the Arabian-Nubian shield.
Drilling and Exploration Highlights
Main VMS Horizon
* Significant strike length and potential to expand: Trenching, mapping and drilling confirm the Central, Western and Eastern VMS zone comprise one mineralized unit that was formed along and just below the seafloor; it has been traced along strike on surface for 3,000 metres.
Central VMS Zone (previously reported)
* High-grade gold-zinc mineralization continues at depth: AHA-20: 170 metres down-dip from the surface outcrop and 23 metres down-dip from the previously deepest hole on the section (AHA-5), returned 11.3 metres grading 5.27% zinc, 1.18 g/t gold, 69.8 g/t silver, and 0.19% copper (AuEq 2.48 g/t gold-equivalent [considering only gold and silver]), including 7.60% zinc, 1.36 g/t gold, 90 g/t silver (AuEq 3.04), and 0.27% copper over 7.5 metres (see the cross-section in Figure 1.3).
Western VMS Zone
* Continuity of high-grade semi-massive sulphide mineralization below the gold cap: AHA-21: 53.4 metres grading 1.2 g/t gold and 65.3 g/t silver (AuEq 2.42 g/t), including 8 metres grading 5.52 g/t gold, 325 g/t silver (AuEq 11.6 g/t), and 1.9% Zn, within a 75.6 metre alteration zone that returned 0.93 g/t gold and 50.8 g/t silver (AuEq 1.81 g/t). AHA-23: 66.0 metres grading 1.10 g/t gold, 24.8 g/t silver (AuEq 1.53 g/t), and 0.38% zinc, including a 7-metre interval grading 2.14 g/t gold and 62.6 g/t silver (AuEq 3.23 g/t) (see the cross section in Figure 1.5).
* Additional zones of disseminated gold and silver mineralization from near surface in a highly brecciated and silicified footwall felsic dome, AHA-22 and 24 expand the zone at depth by 57 metres along strike. Previous drill holes that contain disseminated gold and silver mineralization include AHA-16, -18, and -19.
* 100% of the drill holes in the Western VMS Zone intersected mineralization. The results demonstrate the mineralized unit outlined in trenches continues at depth at least from AHA-12 to AHA-24 and is open down dip.
Gold-silver mineralization cap is open in all directions. Trenching identified an oxidized gold-silver mineralized zone (gold cap) 650 metres along strike and up to 114 metres in width within the 1,300-metre-long Western VMS Zone. Drilling confirms that at depth the gold-silver mineralization extends at least 400 metres along strike and is open to the west and east and at depth.
Eastern VMS Zone (previously reported)
* The Eastern VMS Zone is 500 metres along strike and returned the following assay results:
T-24 28 metres grading 1.14 g/t gold, 19.7 g/t silver, 0.09% copper and 2.11% zinc
and 24 metres grading 1.23 g/t gold, 21.2g/t silver, 0.10% copper and 2.27% zinc
T-25 48 metres grading 0.76 g/t gold, 24.8 g/t silver, 0.14% copper and 3.61% zinc
T-46 78 metres grading 0.26 g/t gold, 9.4 g/t silver, 0.08% copper and 1.37% zinc
Other VMS Zones
* Mapping and trenching identified additional zones north of the Main VMS Horizon that represent stacking of VMS units.
V.P. of Exploration, Dr. John Payne said, "This level of success from the drill and trench program is excellent; rarely does early-stage exploration drilling intersect such continuous mineralization. The recent drill results continue to validate the depth extension of the gold-silver zone identified in surface trenching and adjacent drill holes. We look forward to the additional assay results from holes AHA-25 and AHA-26, deeper holes on the same section as AHA-24."
Table 1: Significant Composite Assays at Hamama VMS
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Hole No.[1] From To Width[2] Au Ag
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(m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t
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AHA-021* 16 91.6 75.6 0.93 50.8
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including 38.2 91.6 53.4 1.2 65.3
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including 68 76 8 5.52 325
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--------------------------------------------
AHA-22 72 112.6 40.6 0.47 11.3
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107 112.6 5.6 1.5 25.8
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AHA-23 28 109 81 0.96 24
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including 43 109 66 1.1 24.8
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including 72 109 37 1.7 37.1
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including 75 82 7 2.14 62.6
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including 95 102 7 2.29 31
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--------------------------------------------
AHA-24 26 98.3 72.3 0.42 12.2
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including 29 32 3 0.15 23.7
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and 104 130.8 26.8 0.73 18.1
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including 116 130.8 14.8 0.94 20.7
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with 123 128 5 1.32 18.4
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Hole No.[1] AuEq3 Cu Zn Oxide (Ox)/ Zone
Mix (Mx)/
Sulphide
(Sul)
(g/t) (%) (%)
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
AHA-021 1.87 0.1 0.53 Mx Western
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including 2.41 0.11 0.55 Sul
------------------------------------------ --------------
including 11.57 0.3 1.9 Sul
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
AHA-22 0.68 tr tr Sul Western
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1.98 tr tr Sul
---------------------------------------------------------
AHA-23 1.41 tr 0.42 Sul Western
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including 1.53 tr 0.38
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including 2.39 tr 0.69 Sul
---------------------------------------------------------
including 3.3 tr 2.4 Sul
---------------------------------------------------------
including 2.87 tr 0.1 Sul
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
AHA-24 0.65 tr 0.15 Mx Western
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including 0.59 0.19 2.36 Ox
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and 1.07 tr 0.28 Sul
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including 1.33 tr 0.13 Sul
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with 1.66 tr tr Sul
--------------------------------------------------------
-****-
1 All drill holes were collared at an azimuth of 180 degrees and an inclination of -45 degrees except AHA-23, which was inclined at -70 degrees.
2 Given the orientation of the mineralized unit relative to the drill holes, true widths are 5-10% less than the reported intervals
3 Gold equivalent (AuEq) calculated using the 12-month trailing average for Au and Ag through 2013-01-11,US$ 1668/oz Au and US$ 31.02/oz Ag). Using ratio of US$Au:US$Ag (53.76, assuming 100% recovery and no NSR, the AuEq formula is AuEq = (Au g/t + Ag g/t / 53.76). Cautionary note: these figure can change over time. Source: Kitco.com
* Previously released
Detailed summary of drill results
The sites of drill holes were based on interpretation of geology and thickness/grade of the mineralized unit in trenches and, in some sections, on visual estimation of abundances of pyrite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite in shallower holes, and the intensity of siliceous alteration in the footwall. All drill holes were collared in footwall felsic rocks and continued until they entered the structurally deeper, (stratigraphically overlying) hanging wall rocks that consist of unaltered, commonly well bedded felsic to intermediate tuff and minor lapilli tuff, argillite, and minor banded iron formation. All holes were oriented at 180 degrees except for AHA-26 (170 degrees), and all were inclined at -45 degrees except for AHA-23 (-70 degrees) and AHA-25 and AHA-26 (-47 degrees).
* AHA-22 was collared 25 metres west of AHA-21 to test the western continuity of the gold cap along strike and sulphide mineralization below the gold cap. The hole cuts a moderately to strongly brecciated and reworked felsic dome that from 50 m to 112.6 metres (62.6 metres) contains moderate to locally strong semi-massive sulphide mineralization stratigraphically immediately below the hanging wall sequence. Brecciation and reworking of the felsic dome may have occurred as it was being formed.
* AHA-23 was collared at the site of AHA-21 at an inclination of -70 degrees to test the depth extension of gold-silver mineralization in AHA-21. The hole cuts a moderately to strongly brecciated and reworked felsic dome that contains moderate to strong semi-massive sulphide mineralization from 28.0 to 36.6 metres (8.6 metres), weak to moderate mineralization from 43.0 to 63.0 (20 metres), and moderate to strong semi-massive sulphide mineralization from 63 to 109 metres (46.0 metres), the deepest interval being stratigraphically immediately below the hanging wall sequence.
* AHA-24 was collared 25 metres west of AHA-22 to test the western strike extension of the gold cap and semi-massive sulphide mineralization below. It cuts a broad zone of moderately to strongly brecciated and reworked felsic dome that from 114 to 129.98 metres (15.8 metres) consists of strongly brecciated and reworked felsic dome containing moderate to locally strong siliceous and sulphide mineralization, stratigraphically immediately below the hanging wall sequence.
Upcoming Results
* The assay results from drill holes AHA-25 and AHA-26 are pending; they test the section below AHA-24. These results will be released as soon as the interpretation is complete.
For an updated corporate presentation and fact sheet please visit www.alexandernubia.com
Maps, sections and images are available at
http://www.alexandernubia.com/pages/cms_pages/58
For a complete and comprehensive list of previous assay trench results please see the October 2, 2012 press release.
Qualifying Person
The technical information contained in this news release was prepared or reviewed under the direct supervision of Mr. Ralph Gonzalez (P.Geo.), Alexander Nubia Inc.'s Project Manager for exploration in Egypt. Mr. Gonzalez is a qualifying person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
Alexander Nubia employs an on-site sample preparation facility where core is diamond sawed into two equal halves; and one half of the core is returned to its core box for permanent, on-site storage and the other half, weighing approximately 2 kilograms, is crushed to minus 5 mm and riffle split to 500 g. The 500 g sample is divided into two halves. One half is delivered to the Egyptian Mineral Resource Authority for storage and the other half is shipped for analysis to the ALS Minerals laboratory in Romania. ALS Minerals is an internationally recognized and accredited analytical facility. ALS pulverizes the entire samples to insure the samples are homogenized and removes a one-assay/ton cut (approximately 30 grams) for gold analysis followed by an atomic absorption finish using industry-accepted fire-assaying techniques. In addition, a 5-10 g sample is removed for Ag-Cu-Zn analysis by atomic absorption after digestion in aqua regia. Over-range copper (>10,000 ppm), zinc (>10,000 ppm) and silver (>100 ppm) are re-analyzed using readjusted atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) techniques. Selected samples are determined by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry - atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) after a four-acid digestion for 'near-total' digestion. This technique scans a total of 33 elements. A quality control program consisting of insertion of blanks and analytical control standards has been implemented to monitor laboratory performance; this is in addition to ALS's internal QA/QC program. Discrepancies have been few, and when discovered, the 'laboratory batch' (usually 20 samples in a batch) is re-analyzed.
About Alexander Nubia International Inc.
Alexander Nubia International Inc. is an established Canadian mineral exploration company that has operated in the Eastern Desert of Egypt since 2007. It is committed to identifying, focusing on, and advancing gold and base-metal projects in the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS), which is known for the quality of its VMS deposits.
The Company holds a highly prospective land package, consisting of two exploration concessions, Abu Marawat and Fatiri, which cover areas of 1,027 km2 and 1,745 km2, respectively. These have an established history of mining dating back to the Pharaonic era, with three past-producing gold mines and four major prospects. The land package is enhanced by excellent and nearby infrastructure, which includes access to highway and railway, a high-capacity electricity grid, and nearby major cities: Qena, on the Nile River, and Port of Safaga, on the Red Sea.
The Company is focused on exploration within the Abu Marawat Concession, which contains its two main properties, the Abu Marawat mesothermal vein deposit, with an NI 43-101-compliant inferred gold-copper-rich resource, and the Hamama volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit.
Presently, the Company is advancing the Hamama VMS deposit where excellent first-stage drill results have intersected high-grade semi-massive and massive sulphide mineralization, a broad zone of VMS gossan at-surface containing high-grade gold and silver (a "gold cap"), and an extensive mineralized footwall stringer and breccia zone.
For more information on Alexander Nubia please contact:
A. Alexander Massoud
President and Chief Executive Officer
Egypt: +2 (0) 22 287 6914
Email: amassoud@alexandernubia.com
Andrea E. Clark
Director, Investor Relations
Canada: +1 (604) 727-1813
Email: acark@alexandernubia.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. The securities of Alexander Nubia International Inc. described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions; by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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Source: Alexander Nubia International Inc. (TSX.V - AAN) http://www.alexandernubia.com
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