Aurelian samples high grade at Condor (October 20, 2003)

Vancouver Sampling results from Aurelian Resources (ARU-V) wholly-owned Condor gold project in southeastern Ecuador have returned eyebrow-raising assay results.

Aurelian has been busy sampling and mapping the Aguas Mesas Sur #3 pit, in preparation for a diamond drilling campaign, slated for the end of October. The pit is an active artesanal mining operation on the junior’s property.

Chip sample assays from the pit and tunnel sections of the prospect yielded 72 grams gold per tonne over 8 metres (true width actually about 6.8 metres). This included an impressive 330 grams gold over 1 metre.

“We’ve got a tiger by the tail and we’re not letting go,” commented Patrick Anderson, President of Aurelian Resources. “The results from the Aguas Mesas South mine face show us that the robust grades of the system are repeatable at depths of up to twenty metres below surface. We’re beginning to see great results in the third dimension which we will be following up in the coming weeks with our drill campaign.”

Aurelian commented that since the vein was not fully exposed in the crosscut tunnel it is still remains open towards the south. The two highest samples, 170211 and 170212 which returned 107.5 grams gold and 330 grams gold, respectively, were subject to a re-assay. The check values returned 109 grams gold and 326 grams gold, respectively.

Preparation work for the samples was performed at ALS Chemex’s laboratory facility in Quito. The samples were then sent to the Vancouver lab and gold was analyzed by 30 gram aliquot fire assay with ICP-AES instrumental finish. Samples yielding greater than 10 ppm were submitted to 30 gram fire assay with gravimetric finish.

Aguas Mesa has previously yielded assays averaging 63.5 grams gold over 2.8 metres and 92.03 grams gold over 2.9 metres. Recent blasting in the pit wall exposed more quartz vein material.

The most recent samples were taken across a milky white to translucent light-grey fractured and partly brecciated quartz vein which is described as having a “mesothermal appearance.” The vein is reported to by at least 7.5m thick and dips steeply to the northeast. Each of the 14 samples weighed between three and five kg and consisted of chips collected every 5 to 10 cm along a 1-metre-long interval.

Six of the samples were taken where the vein is perched on the steep side wall of the pit.

The remaining eight samples were taken horizontally, across the vein in a tunnel approximately 20 metres below surface that cross-cuts and terminates in vein material. Aurelian states that the tunnel is about 30 degrees off from being perpendicular to the vein.

Aurelian reports that part of the pit wall has collapsed since the samples were taken. The artesanal miners are currently hand excavating the rubble, however the pit is approximately 20 metres deep and probably near the end of its life unless the walls are substantially pushed back. Pit #3 will be Aurelian’s first drill target.