- Resource Estimate Commenced
- Discovery of Tellurium
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 14, 2007) - Tumi Resources Limited ("Tumi" and/or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE:TM)(OTCBB:TUMIF)(FRANKFURT:TUY). David Henstridge, President of Tumi, announces the results of the third reverse circulation (RC) drill program comprising 15 holes totaling 2,381.5m (drill holes TRRC 36 to TRRC 50) on the Company's 100%-owned La Trini gold-silver project in Mexico. Best results from the current program include:
TRRC 48 - 20.3m grading 0.42 g/t gold and 225 g/t silver from 22.4m
including 2m grading 1.62 g/t gold and 1,389 g/t silver from 24.4m
TRRC 38 - 6.1m grading 2.8 g/t gold and 174 g/t silver from 136.2m
TRRC 43 - 8.1m grading 1.88 g/t gold and 96 g/t silver from 81.3m
In September, 2005, the Company announced the results of the initial 15 hole RC drill program (see press release dated September 29, 2005). In March, 2007, 11 RC holes totaling 1,953m were completed in the La Trini mineralized zone (see press release dated April 16, 2007). A full set of drill results and locations from the three programs is given in Table 1. Best results from all drill campaigns include:
TRRC 32 - 24.4m grading 6.4 g/t gold and 1,629 g/t silver from 130m
TRRC 48 - 20.3m grading 0.42 g/t gold and 225 g/t silver from 42.7m
TRRC 6 - 18.3m grading 3.1g/t gold and 150 g/t silver from 8.1m
TRRC 9 - 6.1m grading 1.1 g/t gold and 201 g/t silver from 18.3m
TRRC 10 - 10.1m grading 1.6 g/t gold and 130 g/t silver from 40.7m
TRRC 11 - 5.1m grading 5 g/t gold and 184 g/t silver from 84.3m
These drill programs, coupled with surface and underground sampling programs have defined a 400m long by 200m wide northerly trending mineralized zone. Within this zone there appears to be a higher grade corridor along the eastern edge, possibly adjacent to a major fault zone and along the mineralized subcrop that is probably related to supergene enrichment.
A review of the mineralogy of the high grade intercept in drill hole TRRC 32 by an independent geologist has identified the presence of silver telluride (hessite) in addition to silver sulphide (argentite and acanthite). Hence, the Company has completed assays for tellurium from 16 of the drill holes and the results are shown in Table 1. Results ranged from a high of 4,362 ppm to below the detection level of 10 ppm. These results are interpreted as material as tellurium has a value in excess of US$160/kg. Further analysis for this metal will be undertaken.
The host to the silver mineralization is a quartz eye rhyolite porphyry dyke that ranges from 20m to 40m in thickness. The dyke occupies a large strike-slip fault that has been rotated and now dips gently to the north. The control to the primary mineralization may in part be parallel to the direction of the dyke that has been enriched along steep, north-northeasterly dipping fault structures. The primary mineralization appears to be disseminated throughout the matrix of the rhyolite, but usually it is accompanied by silicification. No large, discrete veins are evident, and the mineralization would be best described as disseminated or stockwork in style.
A historical resource estimate was made in 1980 by Pincock, Allen & Holt Inc., an independent engineering consultancy firm. The resource estimate was based on the results from 26 diamond drill holes undertaken on behalf of National Lead Industries Inc. The estimate was calculated using vertical cross-sections constructed through the mineralized blocks at a spacing of 45m. Using a 2m minimum thickness at a cut-off grade of 32 g/t silver (1 oz) a resource of 1,262,000 tonnes grading 125 g/t silver and 1.24 g/t gold was calculated. A qualified person as defined in NI 43-101 has not completed the work necessary to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources. The Company is not treating the historical resource estimate as current and, therefore, it should not be relied upon.
Mr Henstridge stated: "Gold and silver mineralization was obtained within all holes in this last drill program including a substantial width in TRRC 48 (20.3m grading 0.42 g/t gold and 225 g/t silver from 22.4m). It is now believed that the higher grade mineralization discovered in hole TRRC 48 as well as TRRC 32, TRRC 11 and TRRC 12 are related to either supergene enrichment or high grade structures within the stockwork zone of the host rhyolite. The discovery of tellurium has the potential to add further value to the project and we will assay the mineralized zone in its entirety for this metal. An independent qualified geologist has now commenced a NI43-101 compliant resource calculation to aid in determining the future focus for the project."
The qualified person for Tumi's projects, David Henstridge, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, has visited the La Trini project area to observe the Phase 3 drill program and sampling procedures and has verified the contents of this news release.
Quality Control: RC drill samples were collected on 2.03m intervals. Each sample was split on site using a Jones splitter and stored for later use. The site geologist subsequently selected the intervals to be sampled, and the entire interval was run through the Jones splitter twice more to aid homogenization. One-half of this interval was split further to a nominal 5 kg size and sent to Sonora Sample Preparation, S.A. de C.V. in Hermosillo where the samples were crushed and pulverized prior to shipment to IPL Laboratories in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The rejects from all sample intervals split on site were saved. The Company has continued a program of inserting a sample standard and a blank as a means of checking on laboratory analytical reproducibility. Results from the quality control program are within acceptable limits of variability. Silver analyses performed by IPL Laboratories were determined using the ICP analytical method; all results that yielded greater than 100 ppm Ag were re-analyzed using a gravimetric finish. These are the results reported. Gold was determined by the fire assay-atomic absorption finish method. An independent qualified geologist, John Nebocat, P. Eng., visited the drill site to both observe the drilling and sampling procedures.
On behalf of the Board,
David Henstridge, President & CEO
Forward Looking Statements. This Company Press Release contains certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of the Company's management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, competitive factors, general economic conditions, customer relations, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, the interest rate environment, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, changes in industry practices, and one-time events. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein.
TABLE 1: LA TRINI DRILL RESULTS
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GRID
HOLE COORDINATES FROM TO GOLD SILVER TELLURIUM
NUMBER N E (m) (m) METRES (g/t) (g/t) (g/t)
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TRRC-02 5050 4900 22.4 26.4 4 1.5 102
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TRRC-03 5050 4950 22.4 28.5 6.1 0.1 74
32.5 36.6 4.1 3.7 215
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TRRC-04 5000 4950 4.1 18.3 14.2 0.1 108
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TRRC-05 5100 4950 50.8 57 6.2 2.0 54
109.8 113.8 4 0.1 90
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TRRC-06 5000 5000 8.1 26.4 18.3 3.1 150
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TRRC-07 5050 5000 26.4 36.6 10.2 1.1 78
61.0 65.0 4 0.2 45
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TRRC-08 5100 5000 50.8 56.9 6.1 0.2 53
63.0 67.1 4.1 0.4 43
75.2 81.3 6.1 0.3 69
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TRRC-09 5000 5050 18.3 24.4 6.1 1.1 201
26.4 36.6 10.2 0.3 72
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TRRC-10 5050 5050 32.5 71.1 38.6 0.7 66
including 40.7 50.8 10.1 1.6 139
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TRRC-11 5100 5050 71.0 77.2 6.2 1.6 92
84.3 89.4 5.1 5.0 184
91.5 97.6 6.1 0.4 87
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TRRC-12 4950 5100 20.3 22.4 2.1 1.7 463
30.5 38.6 8.1 0.3 58
44.7 48.8 4.1 0.8 69
50.8 54.9 4.1 0.1 36
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TRRC-13 5000 5100 52.8 61 8.2 0.2 46
73.2 77.2 4 0.1 102
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TRRC-14 5050 5100 48.8 50.8 2 0.4 134
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TRRC-15 5100 5100 69.1 71.1 2 0.5 70
91.5 97.6 6.1 1.0 198
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TRRC-25 5350 5050 150.4 158.5 8.1 0.3 87
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TRRC-26 5050 5250 8.1 10.2 2.1 0.2 65
121.9 124 2.1 0.2 114
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TRRC-31 5100 5200 91.4 93.5 2.1 - 59
160.5 162.6 2.1 - 44
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TRRC-32 5200 5050 130 154.4 24.4 6.4 1,629 783
including 132.1 144.3 12.2 12.1 3,188 1526
158.5 160.5 2.0 0.9 188
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TRRC-33 5200 4950 71.1 79.2 8.1 0.1 113
87.4 89.4 2.0 0.2 59
93.5 95.5 2.0 0.04 67
103.6 105.7 2.1 0.02 33
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TRRC-34 5350 4950 152.4 158.5 6.1 0.1 59
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TRRC-36 5150 5050 103.7 111.8 8.1 1.86 93 61
117.9 126.0 8.1 0.43 39 25
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TRRC-37 5175 5050 113.8 126.0 12.2 0.79 48 35
130.1 142.3 12.2 0.43 47 30
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TRRC-38 5225 5050 136.2 142.3 6.1 2.80 174 171
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TRRC-39 5250 5050 138.2 140.2 2.0 0.75 42 30
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TRRC-40 5150 5150 83.3 89.4 6.1 0.52 56 19
101.6 107.7 6.1 0.03 33 less than 10
115.8 117.9 2.1 0.19 60 15
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TRRC-41 5200 5000 103.7 111.8 8.1 0.53 70 23
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TRRC42 5250 4950 105.7 107.7 2.0 0.10 191 less than 10
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TRRC43 5150 4950 81.3 89.4 8.1 1.88 96 77
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TRRC44 5250 4950 77.2 79.3 2.1 0.08 99 less than 10
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TRRC45 5150 5100 134.1 140.2 6.1 0.13 80 less than 10
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TRRC46 5200 5075 140.2 142.3 2.1 0.27 41
150.4 152.4 2.0 0.04 43 less than 10
154.5 158.5 4.0 0.17 38 less than 10
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TRRC47 5275 5050 140.2 142.3 2.0 0.61 81 28
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TRRC48 4960 5150 8.1 10.2 2.0 0.27 37 62
22.4 42.7 20.3 0.42 225 151
including 24.4 26.4 2.0 1.62 1,389 764
50.8 52.8 2.0 0.13 37 33
65.0 67.1 2.1 0.12 38 85
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TRRC49 5109 4996 83.3 93.5 10.2 1.53 68 31
97.6 99.6 2.0 0.78 69 37
105.7 107.7 2.0 0.2 37 18
109.7 111.8 2.1 0.96 60 20
113.8 117.9 4.1 0.92 201 66
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TRRC50 5150 4900 42.7 44.7 2.0 0.15 125 less than 10
46.7 48.8 2.1 0.08 74 less than 10
50.8 52.8 2.0 0.03 89 less than 10
71.1 73.2 2.1 0.08 70 less than 10
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Tumi Resources Limited
Mariana Bermudez
(604) 699-0202
(604) 683-1585 (FAX)
Email: mbermudez@chasemgt.com
Website: www.tumiresources.com
Mining Interactive
Nick L. Nicolaas
(604) 657-4058
Email: nick@mininginteractive.com
