Int’l Northair collects further samples from Lobos

Following the release of encouraging sample results from the Lobos gold prospect in Mexico’s Sinaloa state, International Northair Mines (INM-V) is being approached by interested parties.

The property lies along the western flanks of the Sierra Madre Occidental, 40 km from the city of Culiacan. Topography is gentle, with elevations ranging from 250 to 400 metres.

Northair holds a 1.4-sq.-km core concession, optioned from a private owner, and has staked a surrounding concession that measures 5 by 6 km. To earn a 100% of the internal concession, Northair must pay US$100,000 over three years, followed by a final buyout of US$400,000.

Lobos hosts zones of epithermal, low-sulphidation gold mineralization related to a hot-springs-type system. The mineralization consists of sub-sinter level silica replacement, veining, micro-veinlets and hydrothermal breccias, and occurs in a fine-grained flow-banded unit paralleling the southwestern flank of a rhyodacite porphyry dome.

The main corridor of mineralization has been mapped over a 1.8-km strike length and remains open to northwest. An additional 400 metres of strike of mineralization occur in the northwestern target area, running perpendicular to the northwest-striking corridor.

The flow-banded unit has been intensely fractured throughout much of the length of the corridor by both northwest and intersecting northeast fault zones.

The true width of the alteration and mineralization varies from 25 to more than 100 metres. A fairly thin veneer of colluvium and soil obscures 75% of the corridor. Sampling has tested less than 40% of the corridor and has focused on the Northwest, Central and Southeast zones, which are marked by abundant old mine workings. Small adits and shafts were developed by previous owners, in the 1950s, who were chasing bonanza gold.

Mechanized trenching

Northair initially collected 294 surface and underground channel samples from within the corridor for an average grade of 1.2 grams gold per tonne. Mechanized trenching was completed in October. Fourteen trenches were excavated, and a further 121 continuous channel samples taken. Highlights of the program included:

– 15 metres grading 1.19 grams gold per tonne in trench 3, 15 metres of 2.95 grams in trench 5, and 8 metres of 2.25 grams in trench 6 — all on the Northwest zone; and

– 30 metres of 1.29 grams in trench 11 on the Central zone.

Northair notes that trench 12, which returned 35 metres of 1.58 grams, was dug in an area of the Central zone that is concealed by colluvium. Trenches 11 and 12 were both dug sub-parallel to the strike of the zone, owing to topographic restrictions.

A single trench on the edge of the Southeast zone cut 27 metres of 1.01 grams in trench 13. Additional surface sampling on the Southeast zone has since yielded 12 metres of 6.6 grams, 27 metres of 1.1 grams, 16 metres of 1.07 grams and 10 metres of 2.42 grams. Previously unreported underground channel sampling of old workings in the Southeast zone has returned 30 metres of 0.96 grams, 45 metres of 2.8 grams and 60 metres of 4.23 grams. As well, sampling of old workings in the Northwest zone returned 50 metres of 2.7 grams, plus 15 metres of 4.27 grams.

An additional 20 samples were recently taken from the Northeast zone, which lies outside of the main corridor. There, mineralization occurs along a wide, braided regional structure within the rhyodacite porphyry. About 40% of the samples taken to date in this area exceed 0.5 gram, with a high of 4.92 grams.

Silver values in the main corridor typically average 10 grams, with a high of 89 grams. Preliminary bottle-roll tests performed by Chemex Labs on 26 surface and underground samples indicate that the gold mineralization is highly amenable to cyanide leaching.