VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - July 20, 2006) - True North Gems (TSX VENTURE:TGX) is pleased to announce the commencement of its 2006 exploration program for the Beluga sapphire property located near Kimmirut, along the south coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. The original property is comprised of two claims, NAIPI and NAIPI2 with an area of 9.9km2.
True North Gems is also pleased to announce the expansion of the Beluga property by staking two additional claims, NAIPI3 and NAIPI4 comprising 6.5km2 contiguous to the west of the existing claims. The new claims were staked to cover occurrences of scapolite and corundum extending southwest from the known sapphire mineralization, and an area of prospective marble units to the south occurring along the contact with the high grade granulite terrane. The NAIPI 3 and NAIPI 4 claims are subject to the terms and conditions of the option agreements signed in 2003 on the adjacent NAIPI and NAIPI2 claims.
In addition, True North Gems is pleased to report that its Water License from the Nunavut Water Board (NWB) and an extension to its Land Use Permit from Community and Governmental Services Nunavut (C&GS) were received and the expiration date for the operating permit was extended for a period of one year to July 7, 2007.
The 2006 exploration will centre on the high priority targets hosting visible, colorless to deep blue, pink and yellow sapphire and intervals of intense metasomatic alteration in outcrop, drill core and surface trench samples. Pale blue spinel, scapolite, muscovite and mauve, aluminous diopside are key indicators which occur in the areas of sapphire mineralization. Gem-quality, blue cobaltian spinel, a very rare mineral species, also has been identified.
"The Beluga property continues to provide exceptional high quality, colorless to naturally colored, multi-carat gem sapphires and the 2006 exploration will advance the project with detailed geological and geochemical mapping accompanied by mini-bulk sample evaluation of gemstone potential from each of the known occurrences", said Greg Davison, True North Gems' Vice President Exploration.
The 2005 rough gem concentrate from the 22.5 tonne Beluga mini bulk sample has been received and an update on the 2005 results, including the final gem distribution data, will be provided shortly.
The planning and execution of the sapphire exploration programs at the Company's Canadian properties, including Beluga, 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' 43-101 compliant report on the Beluga project and other public documents are available at www.sedar.com or, at the company's website, www.truenorthgems.com.
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 1-800-399-8055
greg@truenorthgems.com
True North Gems Inc.
Greg Fekete
President
(604) 687-8055 or 1-800-399-8055
fekete@truenorthgems.com
www.truenorthgems.com
