Solitaire Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE: SLT) (Solitaire) is pleased
to announce that Terra Ventures Inc. (TSX VENTURE: TAS) has
completed a diamond drilling program on the Wheeler River uranium
properties, adjoining the Denison Mines property and the Phoenix
Zone, in the Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan. The exploration
program consisted of various geophysical surveys and 2,603 metres
of NQ-size diamond drilling.
Prior to commencing the drill program, the C5 Property was
subjected to ground gravity, Lamontagne Surface UTEM large loop
electromagnetic and Insight Induced Polarization surveys. These
confirmed historical basement conductors and exhibited numerous new
basement conductors / resistivity lows, within structurally
interesting contexts, to create unconformity uranium exploration
targets. Gradient chargeability data was also collected. Historical
airborne Falcon gravity and magnetic data were used as a base map
for understanding the basement geology. The location of a quartzite
ridge was interpreted from the airborne gravity, and basement
magnetic lows were interpreted as smaller quartzite units, both of
which could relate to a McArthur River / Phoenix exploration
model.
To test these geophysically indicated targets, five diamond
drill holes totaling 2,603 metres were drilled. No mineralization
was intersected, but silicification was encountered in Athabasca
sandstones in three holes, and there was low-level elevated
radioactivity (more than twice and locally up to four times
background), also in sandstones, in all five holes. Samples were
collected for geochemical analysis and reflectance spectroscopy,
but have not yet been processed.
Drill hole TV-11-01 was drilled vertically to 500 metres, to
test coincident resitivity and magnetic lows. There was extensive
elevated radioactivity in sandstones between 173 and 329 metres.
The hole entered basement at 393.4 metres; the basement consisted
of quartzite (similar to the "quartzite ridge" at McArthur River)
including 2.5 metre hematized fault zone with numerous graphitic
fragments.
Drill hole TV11-02 was drilled vertically to 525 metres, to test
coincident magnetic and resitivity highs, at the edge of coincident
resistivity and magnetic lows, near an interpreted 020 trending
fault. It encountered minor elevated radioactivity between 287 and
293 metres before entering basement at 422.0 metres. The basement
comprised graphitic pelite including a 12.7 metre fault zone, and
the hole ended in quartzite.
Drill hole TV11-03 was drilled vertically to 551 metres, to test
a coincident magnetic high and resitivity low, at the edge of
coincident resistivity and magnetic lows, within a ground gravity
low. It encountered elevated radioactivity between 284 and 305
metres, and a silicified section of Manitou Falls "b" Formation
(Mfb) from 343.2 to 376.8 metres. It entered basement at 383.2
metres. Basement lithologies were: quartzite including an 8.5 metre
fault zone, followed by pelite, and ending in graphitic pelite.
Drill hole TV11-04 was drilled at -78 degrees to a depth of 494
metres, to test a magnetic low coincident with an alternating
resitivity high, low and high, within a ground gravity low, under a
lake. It encountered moderate to strong silicification in Mfb from
318.5 to 375.7 metres and patchy silicification in Mfa from 375.7
to 398.6 metres, in which was a section of elevated radioactivity
from 386 to 392 metres. The hole entered basement at 402.3 metres
after a 3.7 metre section of regolith. Basement consisted of a
short section of graphitic pelite, followed by a pyritiferous
psammo-pelite.
Drill hole TV11-05 was drilled vertically to 533 metres, to test
a coincident basement conductor, ground gravity low and
intra-sandstone resistivity low. It encountered elevated
radioactivity between 344 and 377 metres, and a minor amount of
silicification in Mfb from 388.9 to 413.1 metres. It entered
basement at 434 metres. The basement consisted mostly of an
intrusive diorite, but the hole ended in a pelite.
Terra has the option to earn up to a 95% interest in three
dispositions, from Solitaire, known as C-4, C-5 and C-6, with an
aggregate area of 4,011 acres (1,624 hectares) adjoining the
northwest side of the Wheeler River property of Denison Mines Corp.
(TSX: DML) (60 percent), Cameco Corp. (TSX: CCO) (30 percent) and
JCU (Canada) Exploration Co. (10 percent). Denison has announced an
indicated mineral resource for its Phoenix Zone of 35.6 million
pounds of U3O8, with a grade of 18.0% U3O8. The Phoenix B Zone has
an additional inferred resource of 3.8 million pounds grading 7.3%
U3O8.
The highlights of Terra's property are:
-- Property lies midway between the McArthur River mine and the former
producing Key Lake mine;
-- Several conductors defined by previous airborne EM surveys;
-- Extensive clay alteration found in boulder sampling;
-- Uranium and pathfinder element geochemical anomalies in boulder
sampling;
-- Quartzite ridge in basement rocks was defined by previous diamond
drilling on the C-5 property; similar quartzite ridges at the Phoenix
Zone and the McArthur River mine are believed to localize uranium
deposition;
The three properties lie on a structural corridor located along
a belt of Aphebian metasediments in the subAthabasca basement.
Previous airborne EM surveys have defined conductors on the C-4 and
C-5 blocks. Previous drilling in the area has resulted in the
recognition of a broad zone of clay alteration of the type that is
always associated with unconformity-type uranium mineralization in
the Athabasca basin. There is also evidence from prior drilling
that a quartzite ridge in the basement, similar to that which
appears to be at least partially responsible for localizing the
giant McArthur River orebody and the Phoenix zones, is present on
the C-5 block.
The McArthur River uranium mine owned by Cameco (70 per cent)
and AREVA Resources Canada (30 per cent) is mining an orebody with
estimated proven and probable reserves of approximately 334 million
pounds of U3O8 grading 19.53 per cent U3O8, a measured and
indicated resource of 30 million pounds of U3O8, an inferred
resource of 159 million pounds of U3O8, and past production of
171.2 million pounds of U3O8 (Cameco 2009 annual report). This
uranium deposit (approximate size of 700 million pounds of U3O8) is
the world's largest high-grade uranium mine.
Although the drilling program did not intersect economic grades
of uranium mineralization, initial drill results are very
encouraging, confirming that favourable geology hosts anomalous
radioactivity and alteration.
Terms of Option Agreement
Upon regulatory approval, Terra has already paid $100,000 and
issued 100,000 shares to Solitaire. In order to acquire an initial
55% interest, on or before December 31, 2011 Terra must pay
Solitaire an additional $100,000, issue an additional 50,000 shares
and incur at least $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the
properties. Upon the exercise of this initial option, Terra will
have the right to increase its interest to 75% on or before
December 31, 2012 by paying an additional $150,000, issuing an
additional 50,000 shares and incurring an additional $1,000,000 in
expenditures. For a period of five years after the exercise of this
second option, Terra may increase its interest to 95% by paying
Solitaire $5,000,000, whereupon Solitaire's remaining 5% interest
will be converted into a production carried interest.
Terra currently holds a 2% Net Smelter Returns Royalty on the
properties.
Technical information in this news release has been prepared
and/or revised by Mike Magrum, PEng, director and qualified person
as defined in NI 43-101 for Terra.
About Solitaire Minerals Corp.
Solitaire Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE: SLT) is a diversified
Junior Canadian Mineral Exploration Company with a specific focus
on precious and base metal properties in North America.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
SOLITAIRE MINERALS CORP.
Charles Desjardins, President and Director
Cautionary note:
This report contains forward looking statements. Resource
estimates, unless specifically noted, are considered speculative.
Any and all other resource or reserve estimates are historical in
nature, and should not be relied upon. By their nature, forward
looking statements involve risk and uncertainties because they
relate to events and depend on factors that will or may occur in
the future. Actual results may vary depending upon exploration
activities, industry production, commodity demand and pricing,
currency exchange rates, and, but not limited to, general economic
factors. Cautionary Note to US investors: The U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission specifically prohibits the use of certain
terms, such as "reserves" unless such figures are based upon actual
production or formation tests and can be shown to be economically
and legally producible under existing economic and operating
conditions.
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: Solitaire Minerals Corp. Charles Desjardins President
and Director 604-683-5445 604-687-9631 (FAX)
info@solitaireminerals.com www.solitaireminerals.com
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