VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 4, 2009) - Messina Minerals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:MMI) has received results from prospecting, mapping, and soil surveying and identified new drill targets located 1 kilometer northeast of the Boomerang zinc-lead deposit on Messina's Tulks South property in central Newfoundland.
Summary
Prospecting and mapping have documented a new untested zone of stockwork mineralization at Boomerang over a distance of 900 meters. A soil survey has returned anomalous zinc-lead-silver results over 900 meters coincident with the stockwork zone. The zone is significant because it is located 300 meters in the hangingwall of the Boomerang horizon and establishes a new parallel target not tested by drilling.
The soil survey also detected a second untested 300 meter long zinc-lead-silver anomaly along strike from Hurricane on the Boomerang massive sulphide horizon. The anomaly is significant because it provides a new target also untested by drilling located 400 meters from zinc-lead massive sulphide mineralization.
Work Results
Messina staff completed an updated geological compilation and detailed re-evaluation of Boomerang area results in May through August 2009. The re-evaluation identified areas with potential for Boomerang-style alteration or mineralization that warrant ground follow-up; the potential of the 2.8 kilometer distance northeast of Boomerang between the Hurricane zinc-lead massive sulphide zone (Line 38E) and the TouchDown pyritic massive sulphide zone (Line 66E) was highlighted.
Prospecting and mapping in September and October between L39E and L50E focused on follow-up of an outcropping zone of silica-pyrite stockwork containing sphalerite (zinc) and galena (lead) identified on Line 39E and located 300 meters in the hangingwall of the Boomerang horizon. This work traced the stockwork zone on surface between L39E to L48E over a distance of 900 meters. The zone is significant because it establishes a new target parallel to the Boomerang horizon that has not been tested by drilling.
A soil survey was designed to test between L39E and L50E, an area not previously covered by historical soil surveys, to target both the new stockwork zone and the strike extension of Hurricane and the Boomerang mineralized horizon. 290 soils were collected (see protocols below).
Soil results anomalous in zinc-lead-silver coincident with the new stockwork zone extend from L39E to L48E over 900 meters with values ranging from 104 to 270 ppm Zn, 14 to 115 ppm Pb, and 0.6 to 2.2 ppm Ag.
Soil results anomalous in zinc-lead-silver coincident with the inferred position of the Boomerang horizon, in an area with no outcrop or drilling information, yielded results ranging from 106 to 143 ppm Zn, 10 to 16 ppm Pb, and 0.5 to 0.7 ppm Ag between L43E and L46E over 300 meters. This anomaly is significant because it provides an untested new target 300 meters along strike from nearest drilling.
On-going Work:
Planning and budgeting continues for the next phases of work to advance the Boomerang zinc-lead massive sulphide deposit. The next phases include bench-scale metallurgical investigation, as well as drilling to upgrade the Boomerang 1.4 Mt indicated mineral resource to measured category, and drilling to test newly identified exploration targets.
Sample Protocols
290 soil samples were collected from Bf (95%) or Bm (5%) soil horizons as per Canadian System of Soil Classification. Samples were submitted to Eastern Analytical of Springdale, NF for geochemical analysis for copper, lead, zinc, and silver by ICP (inductively coupled plasma). Pulps from these samples have been retained. Results from this survey were analyzed statistically; "anomalous" values are three standard deviations from the mean for the population.
About Messina
Messina Minerals Inc. is a leading explorer for zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold massive sulphide deposits in Newfoundland, Canada on its extensive 450 square kilometer mineral lands, in a region known historically for its zinc resources and where the Company has made massive sulphide discoveries including "Boomerang" and "Domino". See our website for more information.
Kerry Sparkes, P.Geo., Vice President of Messina Minerals Inc. is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and is responsible for the technical data contained in this news release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
MESSINA MINERALS INC.
"Peter Tallman"
President
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