Nov 18 2010
Entrée Gold Inc. (TSX:ETG; NYSE AMEX: EGI; Frankfurt:EKA) has confirmed the existence of a potentially viable shallow copper oxide resource and additional deeper sulphide mineralization at Blue Hill.
Assays received from recent drilling on the Blue Hill target define a zone of shallow copper oxide mineralization over an area of 700 by 500 metres. Blue Hill is located approximately 3 kilometres west-northwest of the Company's Ann Mason deposit within the Yerington copper camp of Nevada.
The presence of extensive copper oxide mineralization at Blue Hill is important as this type of mineralization could allow mining at significantly lower grades and reduced costs using heap leach-solution extraction technology in comparison to a conventional sulphide milling operation. Many profitable copper oxide mines in the southwest US are currently mining grades of less than 0.30% Cu.
Recent deep-penetrating induced polarization geophysical surveys, combined with drill results, indicate the underlying Blue Hill sulphide zone is larger than previously identified. The Blue Hill mineralization is believed to be a faulted portion of the Ann Mason deposit that has the potential to develop into a significant discovery with continued exploration. Entree will focus its ongoing exploration efforts on expanding the 7.1 billion pound inferred resource at Ann Mason and delineating the oxide and sulphide systems at Blue Hill.
Entrée's President & CEO, Greg Crowe, commented, "Exploration work undertaken on Blue Hill has enhanced our expectations of the Yerington district and the Ann Mason and Blue Hill projects in particular. The developing copper oxide and underlying sulphide targets at Blue Hill, in such close proximity to our Ann Mason deposit, indicate this is a larger system than originally envisaged. The results to date are very encouraging and justify an expanded work program, which we are currently planning."
Assay Results - Blue Hill
Fourteen holes totalling 2,364 metres of reverse circulation ("RC") drilling have been completed at Blue Hill with an additional 6 holes planned. Significant copper oxide mineralization extends from surface to an average depth of 124 metres, over an area of 700 by 500 metres. The copper oxide minerals occur along with abundant iron oxides. Mixed oxide/sulphide mineralization with minor chalcocite is present below the oxide mineralization to depths of 185 metres. The copper oxide zone remains open to the northwest and southeast.
Copper sulphide mineralization at the bottom of drill holes EG-BH-10-001, 002, 003, 005, 008, 009 and 010 indicates the presence of underlying porphyry-style sulphide mineralization at Blue Hill which may extend more than 1000 metres to the southwest from PacMag hole BH-08-001 (512 metres averaging 0.24% Cu). Significant molybdenum mineralization was also intersected in drill holes EG-BH-10-005 and 009. Additional RC drilling is planned at Blue Hill to the northwest and southwest of current drilling once the permitted area is expanded.
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTROL
Split core samples were prepared and analyzed at ALS Minerals in Reno, Nevada and Vancouver, BC. Prepared standards, blanks and duplicates are inserted at the project site to monitor the quality control of the assay data. Drill intersections described in this news release are based on core lengths and may not reflect the true width of mineralization.
QUALIFIED PERSON
Robert Cann, P.Geo., Entrée's Vice-President Exploration, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed the technical information contained in this release.