Sep. 10, 2009 (PR Newswire) -- ROK: TSX.V
VANCOUVER, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Roca Mines Inc. (ROK: TSX-V) ("Roca" or "the Company") announces that it has recently completed a recent geological review and program-planning visit to the Nuevo Milenio Gold/Silver project.
The work included a comprehensive review of past drill sites, trenches, Spanish-era workings, new mapping by Cream Minerals ("CMA") and re-logging of eight diamond drill holes. The work took place in late August 2009 and was conducted by Mr. Robert Lane, P.Geo., Mr. Luis Igreda, P.Geo and Mr. Paul Albers. Field reports have now been received that confirm the potential and geological opportunities at Nuevo Milenio:
- The known mineralized system at the Veta Tomas, Dos Hornos and Once
Bocas Zones extends over a five kilometer strike length and includes
an extensive low-sulphidation epithermal area contained within a
Miocene age caldera;
- Re-logging of core confirms that past drilling resulted in poor core
recovery (as low as 20%) in many high-grade zones and that free gold
and silver grades would be additionally impaired by poor drilling
techniques;
- High-grade intervals correspond with areas of discrete quartz veining
and dense stockwork and/or sheeted veins;
- Highest silver values are associated with colliform banded quartz
veins that include fine grained acanthite and other silver-bearing
minerals with very fine grained disseminated pyrite; and,
- The property-wide review highlights the untested exploration
potential at targets not included in the current resource estimate.
The geological team has recommended a new diamond drill program be undertaken to provide confirmation of selected drillholes for direct comparison to grades in zones of known poor recovery. Initially these will include twinning diamond drill holes DDH02-06, DDH07-23, DDH06-03 (or DDH03-12) and possibly DDH 01-06 and DDH07-32. It is anticipated that significantly improved drilling techniques will enhance core recovery and will capture previously unrecorded free gold and silver possibly resulting in much improved drill assay results. In part, the objective of the program is to reconcile the wide differences in CMA drill assay results versus much higher underground channel sample assays particularly in respect to gold values. To facilitate this program, roads and ditches will be improved to provide access to various parts of the property.
Other geological tasks to be undertaken include; a review of assays, extending the sampling of existing core to test bulk tonnage potential, mapping and examining zones for extensions to the NW under basalt caps and to the SE under rhyolite caps and re-logging and re-sampling core on shorter sample intervals.
Following successful completion of the confirmation program, a Phase 2 exploration drilling program will be conducted with up to 25 new diamond drill holes to test extensions of mineralized zones at depth. Many of these new holes will utilize the existing drill setups and access established at the site. Roca will also advance plans for an underground bulk-sampling program.
Through an option agreement announced previously, Roca has a right to acquire up to a 70% interest in CMA's Nuevo Milenio Gold/Silver Project. The Nuevo Milenio Project encompasses 2,560 Hectares (Ha) and is located 27 kilometres (km) by road from Tepic, the capital city of Nayarit State, Mexico. Tepic is an important commercial centre with a population of over 300,000 people located 150 km northeast of Puerto Vallarta. Access to railway, airport, power lines and water are within reasonable distance of the Nuevo Milenio Project providing cost effective access to infrastructure.
Scott E. Broughton, P.Eng, is the qualified person responsible for the technical content of this news release under National Instrument 43-101.
