VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Nov. 17, 2005) - True North Gems (TSX VENTURE:TGX) is pleased to announce that the Company's exploration team, working near Kimmirut on Baffin Island at the 2005 Beluga sapphire project, has discovered an extremely-rare, cobalt-rich variety of the gemstone mineral commonly known as spinel.
The Beluga spinel has an unusually-intense and strikingly-beautiful blue colour, the chromophore (colouring agent) of the new mineral find is the rare element cobalt. The preliminary field identification by True North's Chief of Operations, William Rohtert, has been corroborated through laboratory testing by Dr. George Rossman, a world-renowned expert on colour in gemstones, working at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California.
Dr. Rossman has confirmed cobalt 2+ in natural cobaltian spinel and noted that even though the cobalt content is minor, it has a great effect on the color. "Cobalt in spinel is rather rare in nature," said Dr. Rossman. It is seen in traces from only a few classic sites in Asia and in the Yakutia kimberlite pipe in Russia.
True North's discovery of a rare and beautiful variety of cobaltian spinel confirms the continued prospective nature of the Beluga property for new and unusual varieties of exotic and rare gemstones. True North anticipates further gemstone discoveries will be made at Beluga as the Company continues to systematically explore the property at increasingly finer scale.
The new cobalt-spinel was discovered by True North Gem's field geologist Mr. Massoud Robatian, 900 metres south of the original sapphire discovery at Beluga.
True North is currently defining the potential for economic concentrations of gemstone sapphire mineralization at the Beluga sapphire project on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada.
For images and additional information regarding this new discovery and True North Gems' other projects, visit the Company's website at www.truenorthgems.com.
True North Gems Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and is engaged in the exploration and development of North American coloured gemstone prospects. The Company is a pioneer in coloured gemstone exploration and owns 100% interest in the Yukon-based Tsa da Glisza emerald property and the rights to earn 100% interest in the Baffin sapphire property located on Baffin Island and the Fiskenaesset ruby and pink sapphire property in Greenland.
The Company relies on litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
True North Gems Inc.
William Rohtert
C.O.O.
(604) 687-8055 or 1-800-399-8055
True North Gems Inc.
Ken Shortt
Investor Relations
(604) 687-8055 or 1-800-399-8055
ken@truenorthgems.com
www.truenorthgems.com
