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Freewest Intersects 34.1% Cr2O3 Over 174 Metres at Black Thor on Its 100%-Owned McFaulds Property, Northern Ontario
15:33 EDT Tuesday, June 02, 2009
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MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - June 2, 2009) - Freewest Resources Canada Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FWR) (the "Company") is pleased to announce additional assay results recently obtained from the Company's Black Thor chromite occurrence on its 100%-owned McFaulds property (the "Property"). The Property, consisting of 1,036 hectares, comprises one of three properties in which the Company is currently exploring, on its own and in strategic joint-venture agreement arrangements in the "Ring of Fire" metals district.
BLACK THOR DIAMOND DRILLING RESULTS:
Up to the spring break-up, when Freewest temporarily halted its drilling operations, 31 drill holes have been completed on the Black Thor chromite occurrence, comprising 10,908 metres of drilling. Chromite analyses have subsequently been received for all of the 31 drill holes as summarized in Table 1. As such, it represents a complete list of significant chromite assay intervals up to the latest cessation of diamond drilling. Since the last release of diamond drilling results documenting Black Thor mineralization, up to and including drill hole BT-09-17 (see Freewest News Release of March 25, 2009), an additional 18 drill holes were completed.
The highlight of recently received drill results and of all of the drilling completed to date is the broad high-grade zone of chromite mineralization intersected in drill hole BT-09-37. Hole 37 comprises an upper zone of mineralization yielding 34.1% Cr2O3 over a core length of 174 metres that contains 3 higher-grade intervals; 40.4% Cr2O3 over 38.0 metres, 43.1% Cr2O3 over 64.0 metres and 41.6% Cr2O3 across 35.0 metres. In addition to the upper zone, a lower zone of chromite mineralization was also intersected in the same drill hole, returning 31.5% Cr2O3 across 25.0 metres (including 40.1% Cr2O3 over 10.0 metres). Company management is of the view that the pronounced increased thicknesses of the chromite encountered on this portion of the Black Thor occurrence, are indicative of proximity to a possible feeder zone, which would propagate such robust zones of mineralization. Clearly, this portion of the mineralized zone will receive the highest priority, when diamond drilling resumes.
Other recent significant drill intercepts returned from the Black Thor occurrence include 40.2 Cr2O3 over 25.0 metres (CS09-19), 41.9% Cr2O3 over 14.0 metres (BT-09-20), 40.3% Cr2O3 across 31.0 metres in drill hole BT-09-23, 36.2% Cr2O3 over 22.0 metres (BT-09-24), 38.3% Cr2O3 across 23.0 metres (BT-09-33) and 41.3% Cr2O3 over 11.0 metres in drill hole BT-09-50.
Currently, the Black Thor chromite occurrence has been drilled over an intermittent strike length of 2600 metres (from drill sections 500N to 3100N) and to a maximum vertical depth of about 350 metres. It currently remains open-ended along strike and to depth (Map 1). A residual gravity anomaly closely associated with Black Thor, indicates a further 1000 metres of potential strike length for chromite mineralization, in addition to the 2600 metres already defined.
Map 1 comprises part of this news release and is posted on the Freewest website at www.freewest.com.
Preliminary chrome to iron ratios (Cr:Fe) at Black Thor are 2.04 for drill intercepts averaging greater than 40% Cr2O3 (as high as 2.27) and 1.81 for drill intersections averaging greater than 30% Cr2O3 (as high as 2.16). Such ratios compare favorably to those seen in established chromite mining camps globally, including deposits in the Bushveldt Igneous Complex (1.60) in South Africa and the Kemi deposit (1.53) located in Finland.
Equally encouraging to the strong widths and grades encountered at Black Thor, is the high frequency of intersecting significant chromite mineralization in diamond drilling over its current 2.6 kilometre strike length. Of the total 31 drill holes completed at Black Thor, 27 intersected significant chromite mineralization, representing a success rate of 87%. Notably, two of the 4 holes that missed, BT-09-21 and BT-09-40, were drilled at shallow depths on drill sections 1600N and 500N, respectively. Deeper holes completed on these sections both returned significant chromite, including 33.2% Cr2O3 over 29.0 metres in drill hole BT-09-22, drilled beneath BT-09-21 and 39.0% Cr2O3 over 8.0 metres in drill hole BT-09-42, and drilled beneath BT-09-40. The lack of mineralization in the shallow holes coupled with mineralization present in deeper holes may be explained by possible plunges or rakes to chromite mineralization. Additional drilling is clearly warranted to fully test this structural premise.
FREEWEST MOVING FORWARD:
Currently, all of the assay, diamond drilling, geological, geophysical and geochemical data is being compiled and interpreted by the Company. This will allow Freewest to prioritize drilling targets in preparation for the onset of drilling, anticipated for late June. A minimum of 3 and likely 4 drill rigs will be employed upon resumption of drilling, with at least 2 testing the Black Thor chromite occurrence and the other rigs testing the Black Label chromite occurrence, the F2 nickel-copper-platinum group element (PGE) occurrence as well as several nickel-copper-PGE targets situated near the base of the ultramafic intrusion.
The emphasis on Black Thor drilling will be to continue to expand the limits of chromite mineralization beyond the 2600 metres and also to fill-in the current 200-metre drill spacing at more detailed 100-metre centres, along the same strike length. The immediate goal of all of this, is to complete sufficient drilling at optimal spacing enabling the Company to complete a National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate as soon as practically possible.
In concert with the major upcoming diamond drilling program, the Company will complete a preliminary assessment on chromite metallurgy in an effort to refine the various styles of mineralization identified at Black Thor and Black Label and to provide estimates of the quality of the final chromite concentrates derived from same. Additionally, the Company will tender for the completion of an environmental base-line study, a soil and groundwater investigation conducted to establish the baseline level of potential contaminants in soils and groundwater beneath a concerned site.
INDEPENDENT QUALITY CONTROL AND ANALYTICAL PROTOCOL:
A thorough quality control program has been implemented for the McFaulds project including grouping samples into batches of 35 into which are added 2 certified reference material standards, 2 field blanks composed of barren drill core and a field duplicate. Coarse reject and pulp duplicates also from part of the Quality Control program. The Company is confident that all assays reported in this news release have passed rigorous control guidelines as set out by Freewest's independent Quality Assurance/Quality Control person.
All samples were submitted to Activation Labs (Actlabs) of Ancaster, Ontario for analyses. The samples were analyzed for multi-elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP analyses. Gold, platinum and palladium were assayed by the Fire Assay method on 30 grams of prepared sample. For higher grade chromium analyses (greater than 1%), the samples are analyzed by the Neutron Activation method wherein they are irradiated prior to final reading. This method yields analyses in percent for elemental chromium, Cr2O3 and elemental iron. Additional information on the analytical techniques employed can be accessed on the Actlabs website at www.actlabsint.com.
Additional quality control measures have also been recently adopted for Cr and Fe including the insertion of a certified reference material SARM 8, purchased from Mintek in South Africa. This quality control method provides a check for high-grade chrome samples yielded by INAA analyses provided by Actlabs.
Donald Hoy, P. Geo. (Ontario),Vice President of Exploration and a Director of Freewest Resources Canada Inc. is the Qualified Person (under National Instrument 43-101) on the McFaulds project and is responsible for the preparation of this news release.
Freewest is a well-financed mineral exploration corporation with over C$3.0 million in working capital. It is actively exploring for gold, base-metals and chromite within eastern Canada. Corporate information can be accessed on the Internet at www.freewest.com. Freewest's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol FWR.
TABLE 1
DIAMOND DRILLING RESULTS
BLACK THOR CHROMITE ZONE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOLE GRID FROM TO INTERVAL
NO. COORDINATES DIP (METRES) (METRES) (METRES) %CR2O3 CR/FE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-08-01 L1100N, 175W -50 236.2 337.0 100.8 29.5 1.56
degrees includes
277.8 337.0 59.2 37.1 1.91
that
includes
289.0 335.3 46.3 40.6 2.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-08-02 L900N, 267W -50 hole stopped short of Black Thor
degrees mineralized zone
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-08-03 L2700N, 229W -50 226.0 335.7 109.7 21.4 1.22
degrees includes
227.0 236.8 9.8 39.1 1.86
and also
includes
242.5 253.8 11.3 23.4 1.32
and also
includes
285.6 335.7 50.1 30.4 1.77
that
includes
313.6 335.1 21.5 40.0 2.10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-08-04 L2700N, 120W -50 no significant chromite mineralization
degrees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-08-05 L2700N, 339W -50 386.0 478.0 92.0 21.2 1.27
degrees includes
386.0 409.3 23.3 30.7 1.73
and also
includes
453.1 478.4 25.3 27.5 1.60
that
includes
461.1 478.4 17.3 30.0 1.62
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-08-10 L1100N, 100W -50 124.7 174.2 49.5 24.3 1.40
degrees includes
124.7 146.9 22.2 24.7 1.38
and also
includes
153.7 174.2 20.5 29.7 1.64
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-08-11 L1000N, 100W -45 150.5 210.0 59.5 24.6 1.28
degrees and also
includes
185.0 209.0 24.0 34.0 1.61
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-08-12 L1000N, 100W -65 220.5 367.0 146.5 27.6 1.42
degrees includes
243.0 367.0 124.0 30.0 1.51
that
includes
306.0 358.0 52.0 40.0 1.92
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-13 L1200N, 100W -45 128.0 162.0 34.0 24.0 1.38
degrees that
includes
150.0 162.0 12.0 38.4 1.88
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-14 L1400N, 150W -45 99.0 132.0 33.0 21.1 1.26
degrees includes
100.0 121.0 21.0 25.5 1.46
followed
by 143.0 182.0 39.0 29.6 1.70
that
includes
161.0 178.0 17.0 38.3 2.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-08-15 L1200N, 200W -45 253.0 314.7 61.7 30.7 1.55
degrees that
includes
279.0 309.0 30.0 40.3 1.93
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-16 L1400N, 150W -60 120.0 159.0 39.0 30.0 1.57
degrees followed
by 183.0 213.0 30.0 30.8 1.70
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-17 L1800N, 175W -65 57.0 78.0 21.0 24.3 1.53
degrees followed
by 148.0 153.0 5.0 24.0 1.57
followed
by 171.0 181.0 10.0 24.0 1.58
followed
by 242.0 252.0 10.0 23.6 1.56
followed
by 268.0 289.0 21.0 33.4 2.01
followed
by 319.0 338.0 19.0 31.1 1.54
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-18 L1800N, 175W -45 35.0 53.0 18.0 24.0 1.57
degrees followed
by 89.0 94.0 5.0 22.6 1.26
followed
by 100.0 108.0 8.0 23.0 1.36
followed
by 133.0 139.0 6.0 20.6 1.34
followed
by 165.0 183.0 18.0 35.1 1.96
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-19 L2000N, 175W -60 84.0 111.0 27.0 32.4 1.75
degrees followed
by 196.0 225.0 29.0 24.3 1.49
followed
by 241.0 266.0 25.0 40.2 2.25
followed
by 294.0 309.0 15.0 32.6 1.90
followed
by 316.0 323.0 7.0 22.2 1.42
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-20 L2000N, 175W -45 76.0 90.0 14.0 35.8 1.95
degrees followed
by 142.0 151.0 9.0 29.6 1.73
followed
by 160.0 166.0 6.0 33.6 2.00
followed
by 175.0 189.0 14.0 41.9 2.27
followed
by 198.0 210.0 12.0 29.5 1.74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-21 L1600N, 150W -45 no significant chromite mineralization
degrees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-22 L1600N, 250W -50 212.0 216.0 4.0 27.8 1.73
degrees followed
by 232.0 261.0 29.0 33.2 1.81
that
includes
242.0 254.0 12.0 40.2 2.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-23 L2200N, 200W -60 58.0 63.0 5.0 41.6 2.10
degrees followed
by 258.0 282.0 24.0 37.9 2.11
followed
by 298.0 346.0 48.0 37.0 1.87
that
includes
314.0 345.0 31.0 40.3 1.90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-24 L2200N, 200W -45 93.0 107.0 14.0 25.7 1.60
degrees followed
by 182.0 204.0 22.0 36.2 2.12
followed
by 220.0 224.0 4.0 38.6 2.16
followed
by 242.0 250.0 8.0 39.2 1.81
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-33 L2900N, 225W -45 155.0 185.0 30.0 30.5 1.54
degrees that
includes
155.0 162.0 7.0 40.8 1.87
and also
includes
173.0 185.0 12.0 42.5 1.96
followed
by 210.0 218.0 8.0 33.2 1.77
followed
by 370.0 393.0 23.0 38.3 2.11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-35 L800N, 100W -45 153.0 161.0 8.0 31.5 1.53
degrees followed
by 189.0 210.0 21.0 33.9 1.73
followed
by 219.0 225.0 6.0 29.5 1.39
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-36 L800N, 100W -60 317.0 331.0 14.0 34.2 1.75
degrees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-37 L2900N, 225W -60 198.0 372.0 174.0 34.1 1.63
degrees that
includes
198.0 236.0 38.0 40.4 1.94
and also
includes
252.0 316.0 64.0 43.1 1.97
and also
includes
337.0 372.0 35.0 41.6 2.03
followed
by 443.0 468.0 25.0 31.5 1.69
that
includes
456.0 466.0 10.0 40.1 2.04
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-40 L500N, 050W -45 no significant chromite mineralization
degrees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-41 L3100N, 100W -45 216.0 223.0 7.0 37.5 1.90
degrees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-42 L500N, 060W -60 299.0 307.0 8.0 39.0 1.83
degrees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-44 L3100N, 100W -60 160.0 172.0 12.0 38.3 1.83
degrees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-47 L3600N, 075W -45 no significant chromite mineralization
degrees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-49 L2400N, 200W -45 158.0 173.0 15.0 37.1 2.02
degrees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-09-50 L2400N, 200W -60 238.0 250.0 12.0 29.8 1.32
degrees followed
by 283.0 294.0 11.0 41.3 2.17
followed
by 307.0 312.0 5.0 40.4 2.18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Freewest Resources Canada Inc.
Mackenzie I. Watson
President and CEO
(514) 878-3551 or 1-888-878-3551
(514) 878-4427 (FAX)
info@freewest.com
www.freewest.com
or
Bay Street Connect
Michael D'Amico
Investor Relations
(647) 500-6023
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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