VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 10, 2010) - Nevsun Resources Ltd. (TSX:NSU)(NYSE Amex:NSU) is pleased to report the final assays from the seventeen infill diamond drill holes at the Harena deposit within its Bisha exploration license in Eritrea. Harena lies 9.5 km southwest from the Bisha Main deposit and the exploration license is contiguous to the Company's Bisha Mining license.
Highlights
-- Third VMS near surface deposit on Bisha -- Mainly base metal (zinc) with some gold -- Additional feed for the Bisha mine
The infill drilling took place in the fall, 2009 and was carried out to confirm a previously identified discovery. Harena was originally selected as a potential exploration target based on an alteration anomaly defined on Landsat imagery. A subsequent airborne EM survey defined a moderate conductor over a limited strike length on what was interpreted to be the same stratigraphic horizon as the Bisha Main deposit. Diamond drilling in 2005 intersected various widths of oxide and sulphide mineralization over a strike length of 400 meters confirming the presence of a satellite VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) deposit. As a result of the Company's efforts to advance the Bisha Main Zone through feasibility and development, the Harena area was left until the fall of 2009 for further exploration.
The results are summarized as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Zn (%) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-029 61.50 68.50 7.00 2.71 51.86 1.01 0.14 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 67.50 68.50 1.00 16.60 155.00 0.79 0.03 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-030 118.30 119.30 1.00 0.27 12.00 0.34 2.27 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 148.75 153.00 4.25 0.43 12.01 0.54 2.34 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-031 20.50 44.90 24.40 1.63 8.90 0.06 0.68 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 30.00 35.75 5.75 3.31 10.56 0.03 0.47 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 38.00 43.90 5.90 2.26 10.25 0.05 0.18 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-032 62.57 100.00 37.43 0.13 9.72 0.37 3.51 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 68.00 75.00 7.00 0.11 6.43 0.13 4.21 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 81.00 99.00 18.00 0.13 8.67 0.48 4.58 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-033 105.70 137.70 32.00 0.15 11.19 0.33 5.42 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 106.70 114.70 8.00 0.12 18.88 0.16 7.91 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 127.70 132.70 5.00 0.06 3.20 0.21 6.59 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-034 106.57 134.00 27.43 0.69 39.62 0.74 4.93 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 110.50 121.40 10.90 0.23 19.38 0.52 6.38 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 124.80 128.80 4.00 0.10 7.50 0.27 8.32 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 128.80 134.00 5.20 2.62 134.42 1.95 1.35 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-035 36.00 38.00 2.00 1.24 30.50 0.10 0.96 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 42.00 73.00 31.00 2.41 12.71 0.05 0.06 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 49.50 57.00 7.50 3.71 4.60 0.02 0.05 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 58.50 64.00 5.50 4.93 4.73 0.01 0.04 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 67.00 71.50 4.50 3.47 12.67 0.16 0.04 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-036 77.30 115.00 37.70 0.32 27.18 0.74 3.00 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 93.95 102.00 8.05 0.58 38.39 1.59 7.57 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 108.00 113.00 5.00 0.14 6.20 0.41 5.07 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-037 131.50 154.50 23.50 0.61 30.52 1.09 4.50 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 131.50 142.90 11.40 0.33 33.64 1.08 8.51 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-038 150.30 162.60 12.30 0.50 30.91 1.13 3.85 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 150.30 155.30 5.00 0.28 31.40 0.78 8.45 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-040 74.50 94.20 19.70 0.41 23.40 0.65 5.04 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 75.30 83.50 8.20 0.57 34.21 0.97 8.58 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 83.50 88.20 4.70 0.92 39.96 0.99 5.60 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-041 121.00 124.00 3.00 0.19 27.00 0.59 4.51 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- and 145.20 147.00 1.80 0.54 26.50 0.68 3.26 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-042 167.25 187.00 19.75 0.85 37.20 0.72 3.82 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 167.25 172.00 4.75 0.35 57.40 1.11 5.81 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incl. 172.00 180.00 8.00 0.29 15.00 0.23 5.75 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-043 149.55 160.00 10.45 0.38 19.04 0.51 4.79 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holes 28, 39, and 44 showed no significant mineralization. Historic holes 1 through 27 were carried out and published in 2005. The drill hole locations were selected to infill drill the gossanous oxide cap and underlying sulphide structure on 50m spacings. All holes were done at 45 or 65 degrees. The results were positive, and have provided added confidence to the widths and grades of the third VMS near surface deposit on the Bisha concession.
A number of dykes have cut the near surface mineralization at Harena making determinations of actual widths of the zone somewhat difficult but have been estimated to range between 5m to 35m over a 400m strike length. The deposit is hosted by a sequence of felsic to intermediate volcanics with a distinct footwall often containing kyanite and andalusite. The footwall rocks are often noticeably chloritized.
Nevsun views the Harena deposit as a very likely source of supplemental feed for the processing plant at Bisha which is currently under construction. Supplemental feed can provide valuable cash flow as an extension to mine life without having to absorb start up plant capital expenses. A map is attached to this release showing the locations of the holes.
Darin Wasylik, Senior Geologist for Nevsun, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, supervised and directed all work associated with the drilling program.
Sample preparation and analysis were conducted at ALS Chemex of Vancouver, Canada.
The Bisha Main zone is a significant gold/copper/zinc deposit that has been developed through feasibility, engineering and construction. It is approximately 50% complete to production, with operations planned to commence in late 2010. The Bisha Main deposit is open at depth and there exists at least two additional satellite deposits within the Company's exploration and mining licensed areas.
The State of Eritrea is a strong supporter of a responsible mining industry and is a partner with the Company in the ownership and development of the Bisha mine.
