High Grade Gold Discovery at Osikonmaki Prospect Confirmed and Extended
TORONTO, CANADA -- (Marketwire) -- 04/24/12 -- REBgold Corporation (TSX VENTURE: RBG) ("The Company") is pleased to announce final results from the recently completed drill program at the Osikonmaki East prospect on the Rantasalmi gold property. The most significant hole since the last news release, BELOSI 081, continues to develop and extend the Upper East HW Zone discovered in the 2011 drilling campaign. BELOSI 81 was mineralized almost its entire 205m length with the most significant intercept of 18m averaging 5.7g/t gold within a 35m zone averaging 3.2g/t. This zone has now been intersected by four drill holes whose results are tabulated below, and represents a significant new discovery. The zone, though still requiring further delineation, appears to be steeply dipping to the south and occurs from bedrock surface, has a true thickness of at least 12 metres, a strike of at least 100 m and remains open at depth and along strike. Adjacent to the high grade zone in the hanging wall of the main shear there appears to be a zone of lower grade mineralization, representing potential for a bulk tonnage target.
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Hole_ID From To Interval Au (g/t) Au gram metres
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BELOSI044(i) 4.31 27.35 23.04 5.8 133.6
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including 7.53 21.71 14.18 9.14 129.6
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BELOSI077(i) 26.4 42.05 15.65 9.96 155.9
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BELOSI078(i) 46.04 100.3 54.26 2.91 157.9
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including 46.04 65.9 19.86 6.32 125.6
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BELOSI081 55.23 90.81 35.58 3.2 113.9
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including 58.72 77.05 18.33 5.69 104.4
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(i) Previously announced in a news release May 17, 2011, Sept 14, 2011 and
Feb 28, 2012
Table 1: All intersections into Upper East HW zone. Intersections are based on a 0.3 g/t Au cut-off (higher grade intervals at 1.0 g/t Au cut-off) with a grade thickness greater than 2 gram metres. No top cut is applied. Maximum grade is 69.6 g/t Au over 0.67 metres (BELOSI081), one of 20 individual samples over 10 g/t Au (0.32 oz/t). Intersections are estimated to be 70-90% of true width.
Mark Burridge, Chairman, comments, "The latest drilling continues to increase the potential for Osikonmaki East to become a significant gold deposit. Every intersection into the new eastern hanging-wall zone has yielded greater than 100 gram metres, displaying potential for both high grade and bulk tonnage mineralization. There is strong evidence to suggest that the Osikonmaki East deposit extends at depth and along strike. While the Osikonmaki East project has been the focus of recent work, we also remain excited about the overall potential of the Rantasalmi project. Several other target areas, including the historical resources at Osikonmaki West and Pirila are yet to be tested."
Additional drill hole results not previously announced are published below.
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Hole_ID From To Interval Au (g/t) Au gram metres
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BELOSI081 17.16 20.15 2.99 1.15 3.4
BELOSI081 55.23 90.81 35.58 3.2 113.9
BELOSI081 96.33 130.88 34.55 0.69 23.7
BELOSI081 160.38 165.7 5.32 1.65 8.8
BELOSI081 178.93 188.12 9.19 0.36 3.3
BELOSI082 189.8 193.97 4.17 0.51 2.1
BELOSI084 125.24 131.23 5.99 1.49 8.9
BELOSI084 163.11 172.93 9.82 0.93 9.1
BELOSI086 96.33 97.25 0.92 2.52 2.3
BELOSI086 110.06 118.14 8.08 0.43 3.4
BELOSI090 9.09 18.04 8.95 0.65 5.8
BELOSI091 68.62 73.64 5.02 0.49 2.5
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Table 2: Intersections are based on a 0.3 g/t Au cut-off with a grade thickness greater than 2 gram metres. No top cut is applied. Intersections are estimated to be 70-90% of true width.
Other drill holes confirmed the depth and western strike potential of the systems. BELOSI 84 was drilled to target the main shear zone at depth on the eastern portion of the shear zone. The hole intersected 9.8m at 0.9g/t and identified additional mineralization in the hanging wall, including 6m at 1.5 g/t.
BELOSI 82 was drilled to test the depth extension of the main shear zone 700 m further to the west, and it confirmed the extension of the shear zone at depth but assay results were modest, at around 0.5g/t. The hole appears to have intersected the low grade zone in-between the higher grade chutes identified in previous holes.
BELOSI 83 and BELOSI 85-91 were shallow exploratory holes drilled to test the shear zone as it continues westwards towards the Osikonmaki West mineralization. The main shear was intersected in all holes but from the limited drilling undertaken, grades appear generally lower in this portion of the shear zone, with individual samples up to 2.75 g/t gold recorded.
Other ongoing work related to the project include: the surveying and QA/QC assaying of historic holes not used in the previous resource estimates. These, combined with the results from this year's drilling program, will form the basis for updating the mineral resource estimate.
Osikonmaki Geology: The Osikonmaki project occurs in a three kilometer long shear complex, hosted by a Proterozoic aged Tonalitic Intrusion. Most of the drilling to date has focused on the eastern 800m of the shear where the mineralization is primarily associated with a 45 degrees south dipping shear zone between 4 and 30 m thick. A series of higher grade chutes pitch at shallow angles across the plane of the main shear, plunging 20 degrees to the ESE contain the better part of the mineralization and extend for at least 600 m down plunge. These chutes have been grouped into three principle lode systems the S, T and U lode systems. The following resources have been outlined on the Rantasalmi Property to date:
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Resource Contained
Property Prospect Category Tonnes Au g/t Oz's
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Rantasalmi Osikonmaki East Indicated 1,296,000 1.7 68,000
Rantasalmi Osikonmaki East Inferred 3,542,000 2.09 244,000
Rantasalmi Osikonmaki West Historical 90,000 4.86 14,000
Rantasalmi Pirila Historical 150,000 8.9 43,000
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Table 3: Mineral Resources at Rantasalmi.
The drilling was undertaken by Drillcon SMOY of Finland, providing 42 mm diameter core. Samples are comprised of half diamond core. Intersections are estimated to be 70-90% of true width. No top cuts are applied with the highest individual assay being 47.8 g/t gold over 0.46 metres. Core samples are sawn in half on site, prepped and assayed by 30g fire assay with an AAS finish at the internationally accredited laboratories of ALS Chemex in Finland. The quality assurance-quality control (QAQC) program of Belvedere consists of the insertion of certified standards of known gold content every 20 samples, with blanks at the beginning of each batch. In addition, ALS Chemex inserts a number of blanks and standards into the analytical process. Standards, blanks and duplicates make up approximately 15% of the samples assayed. The remaining half core is retained on site for verification and reference purposes.
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hole_id x y z max_depth Azimuth Dip
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BELOSI078 3564360 6883202 117.8 101.50 180 45
BELOSI079 3564400 6883138 117.3 80.50 0 45
BELOSI080 3564440 6883126 117.4 101.55 0 60
BELOSI081 3564400 6883195 120.0 205.30 180 65
BELOSI082 3563760 6882865 102.7 221.40 0 60
BELOSI083A 3563600 6882890 105.3 56.50 0 60
BELOSI083 3563600 6882888 105.3 156.85 0 60
BELOSI084 3564400 6883080 114.1 200.15 0 65
BELOSI085 3563440 6883015 105.5 57.90 0 45
BELOSI086 3563600 6882935 105.6 131.70 0 60
BELOSI087 3563440 6882970 110.0 71.40 0 60
BELOSI088 3563240 6883040 115.7 68.20 0 45
BELOSI089 3563240 6882995 115.3 89.15 0 45
BELOSI090 3563320 6883050 114.3 49.53 0 45
BELOSI091 3563315 6883005 114.8 79.95 0 45
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Table 4: Details of drillhole locations.
The resources were previously announced in a press release on 11th October, 2011. An NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report "Mineral Resource Estimate of the Rantasalmi Gold Project in Finland" filed on SEDAR October 19th, 2011. The mineral resource estimate for Osikonmaki East was prepared by Golder Associates (UK) Ltd under the supervision of Alexandra Akyurek (CSci, MSc MIMMM), acting as an independent "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mrs Akyurek is a member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (Member #447670). The Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates at Osikonmaki West and Pirila as current resources under NI 43-101, and suggests that the historical estimates should be considered an historical reference of tonnes and grade, and not resources. These historical estimates have not been validated by Golder and no reliance should be placed on these figures.
About the Joint Venture with Belvedere Resources (TSX VENTURE: BEL)
REBgold Corporation has the right to earn up to a 50% interest in a special purpose joint venture company which holds the Kiimala and Rantasalmi projects by contributing expenditures of C$6 million over a 4 year period. If REBgold proceeds with and completes the feasibility study it will increase its stake in the projects to between 55% and 75% depending on the level of Belvedere's contribution to the study. A further 5% can be earned if REBgold's bioleaching technology can lead to a material improvement in the project economics.
Forward Looking Statement:
Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company (including statements relating to future drill results) are forward-looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements.
Qualified Person
The technical aspects of this news release have been prepared by Dr Toby Strauss (CGeol), who is acting as Qualified Person in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 with respect to this release. Toby Strauss is Chief Operating Officer of Belvedere Resources Ltd. The data supporting this news release has been provided in a Surpac database and has been verified against the original laboratory assay certificates. The Qualified Person has not undertaken any independent sampling of the drill core, but has reviewed the QA/QC procedures, and considers the results to be within expected margins of error.
About REBgold
REBgold is in the process of acquiring and developing economic interests in gold assets, in particular, where it can utilize its competitive advantages, to create shareholder value. The Company's key competitive advantages include an experienced board and management team, strategic investor backing and proprietary technology. The Company's bacterial oxidation and bioleaching technologies are commercially proven for the liberation of precious metals from difficult-to-treat sulphide ores and concentrates, with environmental and economic benefits. To date, the Company's BACOX technology has been used at three gold mines located in Western Australia, Tasmania and China.
Shares outstanding 182,258,486
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 release.
Contacts:
REBgold Corporation
EJ Spencer
Corporate and Investor Relations
416-646-1850 X 242
