OTMN 2006 Field Work Begins at the Ruby, Montana Property
The O.T. Mining Corporation is pleased to announce that the 2006 field season has begun on its 21.3 square mile Ruby, Montana exploration project. This year’s work will refine and further delineate the previously announced geophysical and geochemical anomalies and associated porphyry copper system.
Crews from Matrix GeoTechnologies are currently on site. They will conduct additional detailed IP surveys within the previously announced 9,000 by 1,500 foot (plan dimension) 2005 chargeability anomaly. O.T.’s technical team interprets this geophysical anomaly as the signature of porphyry copper mineralization at depth. The more detailed geophysics will allow drill holes to be more precisely located. Matrix will also conduct first-pass geophysical surveys in fringe areas to evaluate extensions of the mineralized system.
Additional MMI (Mobile Metal Ion) soil geochemistry will be conducted in the fringe areas. O.T.’s discovery drill hole into the porphyry system was sited on an MMI anomaly. Dr. Mark Fedikow, O.T.’s Vice President of Exploration stated, “MMI geochemistry followed by the Matrix IP surveys have led us to this porphyry system. We have every reason to believe that the continued use of the cutting-edge technologies will further delineate it.”
The porphyry system remains open in all directions. O.T. staked 383 new unpatented mining claims (11 square miles) in late 2005 to cover all possible extensions of the zone. Limited deep drilling will be conducted as a first attempt to determine the extent of the core potassic and phyllic alteration and associated copper mineralization. This includes the deepening of Hole 05C-8 described below.
Hole 05C-8 was drilled in late 2005 to 1,386 feet. It is located approximately 1.5 miles north of O.T.'s earlier drill holes into the porphyry system. O.T.’s regional mapping suggests that this area is underlain by a higher level of the porphyry than that drilled to the south. The hole was terminated in December due to seasonal drilling restrictions on U.S. Forest Service lands. Only traces of chalcopyrite were present. However, the upper 1,117 feet of the hole encountered widespread tourmaline, suggesting elevated temperatures associated with an active hydrothermal mineralizing system. Tourmaline is known to occur above porphyry copper ore in some deposits. O.T. plans to deepen this hole this season to determine whether substantial alteration and mineralization occur at depth.
Subsequent to permitting and geophysical surveys of the large 1,150’ by 575’ (350 m by 175 m) gold-silver MMI anomaly, it will be drill tested. This anomaly was delineated in 2005 in association with the North Anomaly porphyry copper mineralization. Additional areas of copper and zinc base metal MMI anomalies will be surveyed with geophysical surveys by Matrix Geo Technologies and prioritized for drill testing. A drill hole is planned for this season on the Kit Carson to test the Boulder Batholith at depth.
O.T.’s technical team has initiated a regional, project-specific research program. All O.T. and earlier data on the property has been synthesized. X-Ray diffraction, thin section, X-Ray fluorescence, and radiometric studies of O.T. drill core are in progress.
Voluminous historical data on the nearby Butte district is also being compiled, and a number of compelling similarities between the Ruby and Butte systems are emerging. Both formed during the Late Cretaceous, in the Boulder Batholith, and along the axis of the Great Falls Tectonic Zone. Most of the historic metal production from Butte came from underground mining of Main Stage Veins. The wider and more continuous Main Stage Veins trend East-West. O.T.'s structural modeling indicates that this was an extensional orientation during the late Cretaceous, with the dextral Great Falls Tectonic Zone constituting the principal displaced zone. O.T.'s previously announced IP anomalies also trend East-West, and could represent blind Main Stage-type mineralization along extensional structures.
For further information contact:
James W. Hess, President
4333 Ste. Catherine St. West, Suite #610
Montreal, Quebec, H3Z 1P9 Canada
Tel: (514) 935-2445 Fax: (514) 935-8161
E-mail: info@otmining.com Web site: www.otmining.com
Disclaimer: This news release contains certain “Forward-Looking Statements”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
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