Avalon cuts mineralization at East Braintree tantalum project

Vancouver — Two holes drilled at the Lucy North prospect, part of the East Braintree tantalum project in southeastern Manitoba, have returned encouraging values for partners Avalon Ventures (AVL-V) and Global Canada.

Part of a 10-hole program designed to test five prospective areas, hole 1 cut 0.051% tantalum oxide and 1.4% cesium oxide over 1.65 metres. Hole 2 cut 0.03% tantalum oxide and 0.11% cesium oxide over 44.4 metres. Hole 3 and 4 were also collared, but failed to hit significant mineralization.

The Lucy pegmatite hosts fine-grained, disseminated tantalum oxide minerals associated with zones of cleavelandite, lepidolite and tourmaline.

At the Artdon prospect, numerous pegmatites were cut, returning values of up to 0.12% tantalum oxide over 0.47 metre.

Assay results for the remaining four holes are pending.

Meanwhile, the partners have begun a third round of drilling at the Lilypad Lakes tantalum project, near Pickle Lake, Ont. A $908,000 budget has been approved for the project this year.