Incredible results again.
FOR: NEVSUN RESOURCES LTD.
TSX SYMBOL: NSU
DECEMBER 17, 2003 - 11:07 ET
Nevsun Resources Ltd.: Further Assay Results From Bisha
Project, Eritrea
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Nevsun Resources Ltd. (NSU/TSX)
announces assay results from an additional 38 drill holes at its
Bisha Project located in western Eritrea. These results confirm
the existence of high-grade gold and copper in the oxide and
supergene zones in the southern extension area of the main Bisha
Zone. The current drill program also intersected significant
additional high grade zinc zones within the primary massive
sulphides.
Some of the high-grade assays include: Hole B-82 grading 6.96 g/t
Au over 18.0 meters, Hole B-89 grading 13.62 g/t Au over 18.0
meters, Hole B-105 grading 13.21 g/t Au over 13.21 meters, Hole
B-72 grading 13.10% Cu over 19.3 meters, Hole B-74 grading 7.39%
Cu over 24.0 meters, Hole B-81 grading 7.25% Cu over 28.5 meters,
Hole B-85 grading 4.84% Cu over 27.0 meters. There are several
high-grade zinc intercepts in the primary sulphides such as Hole
B-40 grading 9.20% Zn over 32.1 meters, Hole B-72 grading 9.38%
Zn over 27.5 meters, Hole B-78 grading 8.70% Zn over 35.2 meters
and 8.0% Zn over 22.5 meters, Hole B-99 grading 7.78% Zn over
41.1 meters and Hole B-102 grading 13.03% Zn over 27.6 meters.
The results from Bisha Main are listed below by mineral zones:
O-Oxide, S-Supergene sulphides, Str-Stringers, P-Primary
sulphides. The primary sulphides are further divided into copper
and zinc zones.
/T/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter-
Hole val Au Ag Cu Pb Zn
# From To (m) g/t g/t % % % Zone Section
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-72 34.0 50.7 16.7 1.47 188.41 0.02 0.92 0.02 O 1715550
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-74 19.1 49.0 29.9 4.59 16.15 0.22 0.78 0.13 O 1715550
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-82 19.0 37.0 18.0 6.96 11.92 0.27 1.04 0.09 O 1715450
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-85 31.0 46.0 15.0 2.98 51.00 0.20 0.88 0.06 O 1715350
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-89 10.0 28.0 18.0 13.62 6.06 0.13 0.40 0.09 O 1715300
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-93 16.6 55.0 38.4 4.30 113.46 0.19 1.50 0.13 O 1715650
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-105 17.5 41.0 23.5 13.21 28.02 0.13 0.47 0.13 O 1715600
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Supergene
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-72 50.7 70.0 19.3 1.26 121.73 13.10 0.02 0.17 S 1715550
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-74 49.0 73.0 24.0 0.79 67.20 7.39 0.53 0.06 S 1715550
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-81 53.5 82.0 28.5 0.74 57.76 7.25 0.22 0.08 S 1715450
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-84 67.0 84.2 17.2 0.74 22.27 0.86 0.11 1.84 S 1715350
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-85 46.0 73.0 27.0 0.92 37.08 4.84 0.26 0.49 S 1715350
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-88 61.6 71.9 10.3 0.41 17.61 1.18 0.05 0.73 S 1715300
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-92 61.6 71.5 9.9 0.48 21.53 0.46 0.10 1.48 S 1715250
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-93 55.0 64.0 9.0 1.11 319.33 2.29 0.46 0.03 S 1715650
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-95 45.8 47.9 2.1 0.38 34.86 0.69 0.16 2.17 S 1715250
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-96 61.0 97.0 36.0 0.37 17.35 2.24 0.06 0.10 S 1715650
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-108 65.7 128.5 52.8 0.70 23.43 0.49 0.14 1.60 S 1715500
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary-Cu rich
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-76 202.0 223.0 21.0 0.72 30.75 1.55 0.01 0.39 P 1715450
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-78 169.0 181.9 12.9 0.67 33.02 1.68 0.01 0.29 P 1715450
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-87 79.0 110.5 31.5 0.003 0.50 1.44 0.00 0.03 Str 1715950
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-99 164.5 173.0 8.50 0.58 31.51 1.72 0.01 0.78 P 1715150
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-107 196.0 212.5 16.5 0.50 52.46 2.52 0.00 0.20 P 1715150
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Primary-Zn rich
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-40 112.8 144.9 32.1 0.64 59.66 1.02 0.34 9.20 P 1715250
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-72 82.9 110.4 27.5 0.90 86.33 2.51 0.29 9.38 P 1715550
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-76 80.5 122.8 42.3 0.52 17.79 0.33 0.11 1.87 P 1715450
---------------------------------------------------------------------
and 188.5 202.0 13.5 0.85 47.00 1.48 0.13 6.44 P
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-78 133.8 169.0 35.2 0.88 34.26 0.68 0.12 8.70 P 1715450
---------------------------------------------------------------------
and 192.0 214.5 22.5 0.88 43.12 0.79 0.34 8.00 P
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-99 134.5 147.7 13.2 0.63 49.03 1.32 0.14 4.95 P 1715150
---------------------------------------------------------------------
and 211.0 252.0 41.1 0.57 55.97 1.0 0.26 7.78 P
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-102 150.4 178.0 27.6 0.93 81.05 1.35 0.48 13.03 P 1715600
---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-107 226.0 233.5 7.5 0.71 36.8 0.73 0.24 8.14 P 1715150
---------------------------------------------------------------------
and 254.5 298.5 44.0 0.69 51.96 0.98 0.16 5.48 P
---------------------------------------------------------------------
and 170.45 214.0 43.55 0.66 34.15 1.01 0.11 2.81 P
---------------------------------------------------------------------
incl 175.0 181.0 6.0 0.45 50.85 0.68 0.53 13.28 P
---------------------------------------------------------------------
/T/
Drill hole B-40 was deepened during the current program.
Following the original drilling of B-40 it was inferred by drill
hole data from subsequent holes that the hole had probably been
stopped short of a massive sulphide zone. To test the hypothesis,
drill hole B-40 was extended during the current program and did
indeed intercept significant copper/zinc primary massive
sulphides. The newly intersected primary sulphides are presented
above.
Holes B-86, B-94, B-100, B-104 and B-106 intersected
mineralization, but with less combined metal content than the
holes tabulated above. Exploration hole B-90 targeted an EM
anomaly to the west of the deposit. It did not intersect
significant sulphide mineralization. Holes B-91, B-97 and B-98
did not intersect sulphide mineralization either due to not being
drilled deep enough or else due to intersecting later event
felsic dykes. Exploration hole B-103 was drilled to the east of
the main zone and did not intersect mineralization.
Hole B-101 was drilled and subsequently extended to determine if
the massive sulphides encountered in holes B-99 and B-107 were
still present up-dip from that encountered in the previously
mentioned holes. They have now been interpreted to be have been
cut off by a later felsic dyke. The mineralization identified in
hole B-107 indicates that strong base metal mineralization is
still present at depths in excess of 200 meters.
The recently completed drill program was designed to in-fill the
previously reported Bisha Main mineralization to a minimum
distance between sections of 50 meters apart. This was achieved
over a total strike length of 1150 meters. In addition, one unit
of 100 meter strike length has been largely in-filled to a
minimum of 25 meter drill hole spacing in the region of the main
gossan outcrop. A 25 meter drill spacing is considered to be the
likely pattern required for reserve definition at the Bisha Main.
Reverse circulation drilling had already been selected as the
preferred future drill method to complete the 25 meter in-fill
program for the Bisha Main resource/reserve definition work. A
multi-purpose drill rig is currently being mobilized to site to
conduct this reverse circulation drill program. This will release
both of the Longyear 44 diamond drill rigs for further
exploration drilling at the Bisha Project.
The first drill programs at the Bisha Main were focused on
outlining a significant gold bearing oxide resource and
copper/gold bearing supergene sulphides resource for the
development of an economic mining operation. Current indications
are that the 1150 meter Bisha Main strike length may already have
sufficient resource potential to proceed to a feasibility study
on these mineral horizons alone. Nevsun plans to commence an
appropriate feasibility study for the oxide and supergene zones
during the first quarter of 2004.
The new multipurpose drill rig is being scheduled to collect the
representative metallurgical samples that will be required for
metallurgical testing of the gold bearing oxides and the copper
supergene massive sulphides of the Bisha Main zones.
Metallurgical drilling will utilize PQ core in order to provide
adequate size for mill and crusher abrasion and work index
studies as well as to provide bulk samples for gold and copper
recovery test work. Initial metallurgical testwork has indicated
that the Bisha Main oxide material may be amenable to traditional
CIL processing, and that the supergene copper sulphides may be
processed to a copper flotation concentrate.
As the exploration and in-fill drilling has progressed at the
Bisha Main it has become apparent that the primary sulphides
below the oxide gold zone and copper supergene zone may also
become a significant resource. Preliminary metallurgical testing
of representative copper rich and zinc rich sulphide
intersections within the primary massive sulphides zones will
commence early 2004.
In addition to the Bisha Main drilling outlined above, holes
B-77, B-79, B-80 and B-83 were drilled into the Northwest zone.
They did not intersect significant sulphide mineralization. A
series of later felsic dykes appear to have intruded the sulphide
mineralization much the same as occurs at the south end of the
Bisha Main Zone.
A recent detailed study of the geological and geophysical data
available to date suggest that it is possible that the NW Zone
and the Bisha Main Zone are one in the same body but offset 1.6
kilometers by a northwest trending fault. The NW Zone appears to
be relatively flat lying. Recent interpretations indicate that
the sulphides are likely quite highly leached accounting for the
low silver, lead and zinc values. Additional drilling is required
in the NW zone to more fully define the vertical and horizontal
extent of the recognized sulphide mineralization.
Bill Nielsen, Vice-President of Exploration for Nevsun, a
qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, supervised and
directed all work associated with the drilling program.
Nevsun implemented a QA/QC program, consisting of certified
standards, for the drill program. The analytical methods used for
gold and silver are fire assay with atomic absorption or
gravimetric finish. Induced Coupled Plasma (ICP) is used for
silver trace level values. The analytical methods used for the
base metals are aqua-regia digestion and atomic absorption finish
or ICP for trace level values. Sample preparation and analysis
were conducted at ALS Chemex of Vancouver, Canada.
Forward Looking Statements:The above contains forward looking
statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated in our
forward looking statements. Factors that could cause such
differences include: changes in world gold markets, equity
markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining
industry, change in government and changes to regulations
affecting the mining industry. Although we believe the
expectations reflected in our forward looking statements are
reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.
NEVSUN RESOURCES LTD.
Dr. John A. Clarke, President & Chief Executive Officer
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Nevsun Resources Ltd.
Don Halliday
Manager, Investor Relations
(604) 623-4700 or 1-888-600-2200
Email: dhalliday@nevsun.com |
