This just in.
www2.cdn-news.com
FEBRUARY 16, 2000
Pacific Rim Mining Announces Additional Luicho Sampling
Boosts Target Confidence
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Pacific Rim Mining Corp. is pleased
to report the results of a further 985 rock chip channel samples
collected from its Luicho project in southern Peru. The Company
has now collected a total of 4,756 two-meter continuous chip
channel samples from the Luicho project, which have defined a
large, strong gold anomaly.
The average grade of all 4,756 samples collected to date is 1.56
g/t gold. Most of these samples were collected from the
'structural corridor'; a 1.85 kilometer by 250 meter wide zone in
which a series of north-south and northeast-trending strike slip
faults have intensely brecciated the host rock. The structural
corridor has been separated into the Northeast, Central and South
Zones, based on the intensity of brecciation and the degree of
mineralization. The cumulative results of Pacific Rim's sampling
to date in each zone are summarized in the table below.
/T/
Zone # of samples average grade % of samples average grade of
in total of total samples exceeding samples exceeding
0.31 g/t 0.31 g/t
gold cutoff gold cutoff
Northeast 859 1.27 g/t gold 71% 1.73 g/t gold
Central 1614 3.15 g/t gold 71% 4.39 g/t gold
South 580 1.08 g/t gold 52% 1.94 g/t gold
Total for
structural
corridor 3053 2.23 g/t gold 67% 3.24 g/t gold
/T/
Sampling in the Central Zone continues to delineate robust grades.
The results from five new sample strings include: 11 meters
averaging 2.83 g/t Au; 17 meters averaging 12.01 g/t Au; 7 meters
averaging 7.44 g/t Au; 40 meters averaging 6.67 g/t Au; and, 30
meters averaging 18.30 g/t Au. A wedge-shaped area of high grade
mineralization, measuring 400 meters long (north-south) by 150
meters wide at the southern end and 50 meters wide at the northern
end, is being delineated within the Central Zone. A total of 487
rock chip channel samples averaging 6.02 g/t Au have been
collected from within this high grade area.
Recent sampling in the Northeast Zone concentrated along the
eastern edge of the zone, which remains open for expansion. These
new samples were collected 75 to 100 meters into the stratigraphic
section below the shale unit and provide additional evidence of
the continuity and vertical potential for mineralization within
the Luicho system. The samples cover a strike length of 178 m and
average 1.07 g/t Au.
Additional samples taken along the Luicho Fault to the north and
outside the structural corridor have extended mineralization in
this area to nearly 400 meters of total strike length and at least
50 meters of width. This mineralization is located on the east
side of the Luicho Fault Zone and averages 1.11 g/t Au over the
approximately 400 meter strike length.
An independent petrographic report concludes that gold at Luicho
occurs: in late stage fracture fillings with quartz and iron
oxides; as fine grains; between mineral grains (not encapsulated);
and, generally in open spaces.
"Our confidence in the viability of Luicho continues to grow.
Chief Geologist David Ernst has made great progress in
understanding the complex structural geology which will be the key
to understanding the system in the third dimension. Our detailed
sampling effort continues to define the surface footprint of the
mineralization including the new sampling in the high grade area
of the Central Zone. The economic importance of outcropping high
grade material can not be over-emphasized. The nature of the gold
in late fractures suggests that cyanide solutions should be able
to access the gold. Finally, we continue to mount evidence that
the mineralization has a significant vertical component as we have
delineated gold mineralization 150 meters into the stratigraphic
section on the west side of the structural corridor and 100 meters
on the east side. The potential for mineralization to continue
deeper in the 400 plus meter thick sandstone stratigraphy is
excellent." states Thomas Shrake, CEO.
Pacific Rim has begun construction of a 6.5 kilometer access road
into the Luicho property. Upon completion, this road will be used
to mobilize drills for an upcoming 12,000 meter Phase I drill
program. A Peruvian technical climbing team has been contracted
and will begin this month to sample the steep slopes of the Luicho
target. Underground sampling from old tunnels is currently
underway for the purpose of locating bulk sample sites for
additional metallurgical work, including bottle roll tests and
small diameter column leach tests.
Individual samples collected by Pacific Rim are continuous rock
chip samples 2 to 3 meters in length. These samples are most
often strung together to produce continuous rock chip channels 10
to 100 plus meters in length. Sampling is supervised by Pacific
Rim's geologists David Ernst and Peter Dilles and the Luicho
program is ultimately supervised by Thomas Shrake, CEO of the
Company. Samples are assayed by Bondar Clegg, an
ISO9002-registered analytical laboratory in Vancouver, BC, after
first being prepared at their facility in Lima. A check assay
program is on-going with Chemex Labs.
A map outlining the new continuous rock chip samples is available
at the Company's website (www.pacrim-mining.com) or by fax from
the Company.
On behalf of the board of directors,
Thomas C. Shrake, CEO
This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding
upcoming programs and expected geological results. Actual results
may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such
statements.
Qd |
