VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - March 3, 2006) - True North Gems (TSX VENTURE:TGX) is very pleased to announce its exploration results from the Company's wholly owned Corundum Dome property in the Watson Lake Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada. The 2005 program was focused on due diligence sampling and confirmation of target areas identified during the Company's 2004 regional gemstone exploration program.
High grade nickel analyses ranging from 7.08% to 15.85%, associated primarily with arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), bismuth (Bi) and lead (Pb), were recovered during sampling of the property near the end of the 2005 field season.
The metal values were sourced from several discrete areas of frost shattered bedrock and the adjacent talus material. The suite of eleven rock samples collected in 2005 exhibited highly anomalous multi-element metal values including: Ni to 15.85%, As to 9.84%, Sb to 1.54%, Cu to 1.22%, Bi to 1.36%, and Co to 1125 ppm. Precious metal values typically were subdued with Au to 36 ppb, Pd to 23 ppb and Pt to 3.6 ppb.
The 2005 analytical data for the six nickel-rich samples are tabulated below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Sample Ni As Sb S Co Cu Pb Bi Ge # % % % % % ppm ppm ppm ppm --------------------------------------------------------------------- A478709 7.57 0.27 0.08 0.01 0.012 2870 134.5 64 2.37 A478710 9.55 0.60 1.15 0.06 0.037 181 163.5 13550 2.76 A478711 8.47 0.46 0.11 0.01 0.018 273 24.9 82 2.43 A478712 13.40 3.39 0.87 0.01 0.087 359 62.7 1325 4.08 A478713 15.85 9.84 1.54 0.02 0.100 1575 142.5 3640 4.86 A478714 7.08 4.54 1.00 0.01 0.034 118 91.4 1235 2.52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
The predominant minerals included abundant green annabergite (Ni3(AsO4)2(8H2O), also known as nickel bloom, with malachite, azurite, specularite, manganese oxides, pyrite and chalcopyrite within oxide-cemented breccias and veins.
"The presence of base metals, dominated by Ni, As, Sb, Bi, Cu and Pb, coincident with the specular hematite, rare earths and other incompatible elements (including Be), elevated potassium (K) and only traces of sulphur (S) within a discrete airborne radiometric anomaly provides an exciting exploration target for 2006," said Greg Davison, Vice President Exploration.
All rock and soil samples were sent to ALS Chemex in North Vancouver. Als Chemex employs its own ISO certified testing procedures for quality assurance. Duplicate samples will be submitted to a second commercial laboratory according to True North Gems' in-house QA/QC protocols.
The company intends to fund a 2006 exploration program aimed toward advancing its base metal prospects in order to attract interest from joint venture partners. The planning and execution of the base and precious metal exploration and quality control programs at the Company's properties, including Corundum Dome, are under the supervision of Greg Davison, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
True North Gems is a public company listed on the TSX Venture exchange and is engaged in the exploration and development of coloured gemstone deposits in North America and Greenland.
The Company relies on litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
True North Gems Inc.
Greg Davison, P. Geo.
Vice President Exploration
(604) 687-8055 or 1-800-399-8055
greg@truenorthgems.com
www.truenorthgems.com
