VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - June 23, 2006) - True North Gems (TSX VENTURE:TGX) is pleased to announce the commencement of the 2006 airborne and ground exploration program for its wholly owned Bandito (formerly known as Corundum Dome) nickel property in the Watson Lake Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada. The property comprises a total of eighty claims of the Amigo and Bandito groups comprising 1,670 hectares over an area of 3.6 x 6.4 kilometres covering high grade nickel occurrences (see press release of March 7, 2006).
True North has contracted McPhar Geosurveys Ltd. based in Newmarket, Ontario to carry out a low altitude airborne geophysical survey over the Property. The survey will evaluate an area of 38 square kilometres and will cover a total of 416 line kilometres at a planned line spacing of 100 metres with tielines at a 1000 metre spacing oriented perpendicular to the flight lines. The survey will be comprised of a THEM time domain EM system installed on a Eurocopter A-Star helicopter. The TDEM system will be complemented with a Geometrics G-822A high sensitivity cesium magnetometer, GSM-19T proton magnetometer base station, real-time GPS Navigation, and Terra TRA-3000 radar altimeter using an optimum terrain clearance of 30-57 metres. The daily project data will be assessed from the forward base of operations in Coal River, British Columbia.
The ground-based exploration, conducted by True North Gems' geologists, will comprise geological and structural mapping, rock lithogeochemistry, soil and silt geochemistry including ICP-MS multi-element analysis for 47 elements, and mobile metal ion (MMI) analysis focused on base metals, and hand trenching.
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 (see press release of February 3, 2006). The predominant minerals included abundant green annabergite (Ni3(AsO4)2 8H2O), also known as nickel bloom, with malachite, azurite, pyrite and chalcopyrite within oxide-cemented breccias and veins. The base metals were accompanied by abundant specular hematite and manganese oxides, rare earths and other incompatible elements (including K, Ta, Nb, Be, Cs, Y, Zr) within an airborne radiometric anomaly.
"The Company believes that the airborne geophysical survey data will contribute to the recognition of structural and geological controls associated with the high grade nickel oxide," said Greg Davison, True North Gems' VP Exploration. "The Company is seeking joint venture partners to advance the project."
The planning and execution of the base and precious metal exploration and quality control programs at the Company's Canadian properties, including Bandito, 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 primarily 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 Toll Free: 1-800-399-8055
greg@truenorthgems.com
www.truenorthgems.com
