October 20, 2011 Smash Minerals Corp.: First Drilling at Whiskey Property Identifies Anomalous Gold in Several Target Areas VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 20, 2011) - Smash Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "Smash") (TSX VENTURE:SSH) reports that assay results have been received for all drill core samples from the recently completed drill program on its 100 percent owned Whiskey Gold Property (the "Property") located in the White Gold District of west-central Yukon Territory, Canada. The Property encompasses 846 square kilometres (4,177 claims) and includes the placer gold-rich Black Hills and Barker Creeks.
Summary
The 2011 drill program, which ended on September 17th, represents the first diamond drilling ever completed on the Property. The drilling was focused in the northeast part of the Property and encompassed eight drill holes for a total of 1,665 metres in four target zones (Bushmills, Ben Nevis, Glen Breton, and Bowmore). All drill holes were sampled continuously from top to bottom. Each sample represents a 2-meter interval of halved NTW-sized (56 millimeter diameter) drill core except where major changes in lithology, alteration, or sulphide mineralization dictated shorter intervals. Anomalous gold values identified during this first drill program provide support to the interpretations by Smash's technical team that the alteration and mineralization along these structures are part of a larger mineralized system that remains to be fully discovered.
Upon receipt of the remainder of the 2011 geochemical results; interpretation of the integrated soil dataset in concert with new geological mapping results, radiometrics and magnetic data, and grab, trench, and drill assays, additional high priority drill targets are expected to be defined. For example, the recently identified Stranahan's Zone (6.44 g/t Au grab sample; October 3, 2011), and the Highland Park and CC Zones remain untested and are considered priority drill targets for the 2012 season.
Smash remains fully funded for its anticipated 2012 program of exploration drilling and further sampling.
A discussion on the results of the 2011 drill program follows:
Bushmills Zone
Four drill holes (WH11-03, WH11-04, WH11-05, and WH11-07) were completed within the Bushmills Zone for a total of 854 metres. These drill holes targeted a north trending sericite-quartz-pyrite alteration zone within felsic orthogneiss that was outlined by prospecting and trenching. All four drill holes intersected zones of strongly silicified and sericitized felsic orthogneiss with disseminated sulphide mineralization. Individual assay results from these holes ranged from below detection limit to a high of 0.88 g/t Au and from below detection limit to a high of 14.9 g/t Ag. From 198 to 201.7 metres downhole, drill hole WH11-05 returned a weighted average of 0.47 g/t Au and 9.0 g/t Ag over 3.7 metres from a pyrite and galena bearing quartz vein in strongly altered felsic orthogneiss. Previously reported channel sample results from trenching in this zone yielded an average of 0.40 g/t Au and 7.7 g/t Ag over six metres. In addition, two separate two-metre samples returned 1.99 g/t Au and 6.18 g/t Ag and 1.56 g/t Au and 26.1 g/t Ag.
Ben Nevis Zone
One drill hole (WH11-08) of 145 metres was completed within the Ben Nevis Zone. This drill hole targeted a north-trending alteration zone in felsic orthogneiss characterized by brecciated quartz veins and sericite alteration. A 4.3 metre interval, starting at 103.7 metres, returned individual assay values from 0.27 to 0.64 g/t Au and 8.7 to 20.3 g/t Ag which correspond to a weighted average of 0.37 g/t Au and 15.1 g/t Ag. Previously reported channel sample results from trenching across this zone yielded an average of 0.21 g/t Au and 6.57 g/t Ag over 4 metres, and 0.3 g/t Au and 11.4 g/t Ag over 4 metres in a separate interval along strike.
Glen Breton Zone
One drill hole (WH11-06) of 180 metres length was completed at the Glen Breton Zone. This hole targeted a north-trending structural lineament coincident with brecciated quartz veins, high-density stockwork quartz veinlets, and strong sericite alteration of felsic orthogneiss at the contact with metasediments. The drill rods became stuck at 180 metres within strongly altered felsic orthogneiss and the drill hole was abandoned prior to reaching the targeted felsic orthogneiss-metasediment contact. No anomalous Au values were returned.
Bowmore Zone
At the Bowmore Zone, the intersection of northwest and east-west trending structures coincident with a 1,400 meter strike length gold in soil anomaly were tested by drilling two drillholes (WH11-01 and WH11-02) for 492 metres. Nearby outcrops and trench exposures are comprised of metagabbro with abundant quartz veinlets. The drill holes intersected gabbro and pyroxenite with brecciated zones consisting of gabbro and pyroxenite fragments within a granitic matrix. These lithologies were cross cut by millimetre and centimetre-scale quartz and quartz carbonate veins. Assays values from the two holes ranged from below detection limit to a high of 0.29 g/t Au in one 2 metre sample. Elevated gold values correspond to intervals with 1 to 10 centimetre wide quartz veins and 10 to 20 centimetre zones of increased ductile deformation.
Sampling Summary
The 2011 soil sampling and prospecting program ended on October 17th and all personnel and equipment have been demobilized. From late May to mid-October, a total of 1,819 surface grab samples and 1,295 2-metre trench samples were collected and all assay results for these samples have been received. A total of 19,515 soil samples were collected, including both ridge and spur, and grid samples. Results are still pending for approximately 3,895 grid soil samples. In addition, a total of 179 stream sediment samples were collected. Results are pending for 76 stream sediment samples. Approximately 70% of the 83 trenches (2.5 line kilometres of trenching) cut during the 2011 program were reclaimed prior to onset of winter weather conditions.
The exploration program is being directed by Adrian Fleming, CEO and a director of Smash and formerly CEO of Underworld Resources (now Kinross Gold Corp.). Overall technical guidance for the program including specialist expertise in geology, geochemistry, and geophysics is being provided by Revelation Geoscience. A significant proportion of Smash's technical team formerly worked for Underworld Resources and was responsible for the first discovery in the White Gold District, Yukon, being the Golden Saddle discovery in 2008.
A comprehensive QA/QC program is in place to monitor precision and accuracy of the assay results. All rock, trench and drill core samples are submitted with certified reference materials and are analyzed by SGS Minerals Services. Gold analyses are by fire assay using a 50 g charge and an atomic absorption spectrometry finish. Gold assays greater than 3 g/t are routinely re-assayed using a gravimetric finish to confirm initial atomic absorption results. SGS Minerals Services are ISO 9001 accredited.
Phil Smerchanski, P.Geo., Principal Consultant, Revelation Geoscience Ltd. is a Qualified Person and has reviewed the technical content of this press release.
Additional information and maps displaying Smash Minerals' results to date and the identified drill targets can be viewed on the company website at www.smashminerals.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Adrian W. Fleming, CEO and Director |
