Strongbow Extends Strike Length of the Main Zone to 2,600 m at Nickel King, Northwest Territories
Thu Sep 18, 8:30 AMVANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 18, 2008) - Strongbow Exploration Inc. (TSX VENTURE: SBW.V) has received assay results for the final fourteen drill holes of the 2008 drilling program at the Company's wholly owned Nickel King property in southern Northwest Territories. All fourteen holes tested the Main Zone. Highlights include:
- NK08-45 has extended the Main Zone by an additional 400 m bringing the total strike length to over 2,600 m; - Continued confirmation of the along strike continuity of higher grade mineralization in the Lower Sill highlighted by holes NK08-39 (12.50 m grading 1.07% Ni, 0.26% Cu and 0.041% Co) and NK08-60 (9.00 m grading 1.16% Ni, 0.24% Cu and 0.051% Co); - Drill hole NK08-54 has returned 9.3 m grading 0.62% Ni including 2.4 m grading 1.02% Ni, 0.23% Cu and 0.045% Co at a depth of 69.55 m indicating potential for important near surface grades and thicknesses in the southeastern Main Zone; A primary goal for 2008 drilling program was to test the along strike, up dip, and down dip continuity of mineralization within the Lower Sill and Upper Sill of the Main Zone. Drilling in 2007 and 2008 has defined mineralized zones within these stacked, south dipping sills over an arcuate strike length of 2,600 m. Mineralization within both sills is continuous along this strike length, and the Main Zone has been informally broken into three geographic areas: the southeast Main Zone, central Main Zone, and southwest Main Zone. The Lower Sill has been traced along strike length of over 1,900 m and remains open to the southwest and southeast. Higher grade mineralization can be traced over a strike length of approximately 1,000 m extending from NK08-57 (3.29 m grading 0.85% Ni) westward and southwestward through AN95-06 (7.0 m grading 0.82% Ni), NK08-62 (10.5 m grading 0.74% Ni), 10240 (13.72 m grading 1.21% Ni), NK07-01 (7.18 m grading 0.69% Ni), NK08-60 (9.00 m grading 1.16% Ni), NK07-12 (32.88 m grading 1.02% Ni), NK08-36 (12.0 m grading 1.13% Ni), NK07-11 (14.15 m grading 0.85% Ni), NK08-39 (12.50 m grading 1.07% Ni), NK08-33A (14.85 m grading 1.00% Ni), NK08-28 (8.0 m grading 1.20% Ni), and NK08-22 (9.95 m grading 0.97% Ni). The top of this zone plunges to the west from 117 metres below surface at NK08-57 to 235 metres at NK08-22, where it remains open to the southwest. Previously reported drill hole NK08-23 (9.0 m grading 0.42% Ni and 9.0 m grading 0.33% Ni; Strongbow news release #08-07 - April 30, 2008), extended the Lower Sill a further 350 m along strike to the southwest of drill hole NK08-22, indicating significant potential to further expand higher grade mineralization in this direction. In the southeast Main Zone, the Lower Sill has been defined by five drill holes over a 600 m strike length to the southeast of NK08-57. Each of these holes has intersected mineralization typically grading 0.22% Ni to 0.62% Ni over intervals ranging from 4.5 m to 19.0 m at 20 m to 50 m below surface, including NK08-54 (9.3 m grading 0.62% Ni, 0.14% Cu and 0.027% Co). Strong geophysical conductors located in this area of the southeast Main Zone represent priority drill targets. Mineralization in the Lower Sill also remains open in both the up dip and down dip directions over much of its strike length. A preliminary estimate suggests that the mineralized zone, as defined by a 0.5% Ni cut-off, ranges from 50 to 100 m in width. Prior to the 2008 program, mineralization in the Main Zone's Upper Sill was generally considered to be of secondary importance to the better grades and thicknesses reported from the Lower Sill. However, Upper Sill mineralization can now be traced along strike for over 2,300 m and, more importantly, a thickening zone of significant mineralization can be traced for over 1,050 m starting near surface within the central Main Zone at hole NK08-43 and plunging west and southwestward to a 160 m depth in hole NK08-24. Significant mineralized intercepts along this trend includes 0.93 m grading 1.23% Ni (NK08-43), 1.0 m grading 1.06% Ni (NK08-40), 2.10 m grading 0.79%Ni (NK08-33A), 4.00 m grading 0.78% Ni (NK08-29), 9.44 m grading 0.83% Ni (NK08-22), 9.0 m grading 1.02% Ni (NK08-26), 12.0 m grading 1.08% Ni (AN95-11), 7.8 m grading 0.92% Ni and 5.50 m grading 1.06% Ni (NK08-23), 8.76 m grading 1.01% Ni (NK08-30) and 13.35 m grading 0.91% Ni (NK08-24). These higher grade intervals are located within an envelope of lower grade mineralization that ranges from 12.4 m to 63.7 m in thickness (e.g. 63.7 m grading 0.48% Ni in NK08-23). Assay results reported today from drill hole NK08-45 (45.65 m grading 0.40% Ni) extend this lower grade mineralized envelope a further 420 m to the south of NK08-24. Additional drilling will be required to determine if higher grade mineralization also extends this far to the south. Modelling of ground and airborne geophysical datasets is underway to prioritize target areas along this trend. Upper Sill mineralization traced to the east of NK08-43 from the central Main Zone into the southeast Main Zone tends to be more sporadic with generally lower grades, although better grade intervals have been identified in NK08-20 (2.00 m grading 1.10% Ni) and NK07-12 (2.13 m grading 1.33% Ni and 1.0 m grading 1.52% Ni) as well as in several historical drill holes. The width of mineralization in the Upper Sill appears to be quite variable and grades can change significantly over short distances both up dip and down dip. An initial interpretation indicates the width of the higher grade zone defined above (determined at a 0.5% Ni cut off) ranges from approximately 30 m to 50 m, although it remains open over much of its strike length. A complete evaluation of drill results from the Main Zone is currently underway. This evaluation will include creation of three dimensional models of the mineralized zones and the host norite sills, incorporating geophysical, geochemical, bedrock mapping and structural information. The models will be used to best evaluate and characterize the Main Zone and the upside potential of this prospect. An updated long section and drill hole plan for the Main Zone is posted on the Company's website (http://www.strongbowexploration.com/s/NickelKing.asp) as well as a complete listing of the most significant mineralization encountered in the 2008 drilling program. Highlight results for the Lower Sill from the final fourteen holes testing the Main Zone in 2008 include (ordered from east to west; note NK08-45 did not test the Lower Sill):
From To Length Ni Cu Co
DDH Angle Az. (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-54 -64 234 65.05 74.35 9.30 0.62 0.14 0.027
Including 69.55 71.95 2.40 1.02 0.23 0.045
85.20 92.55 7.35 0.28 0.06 0.011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-57 -85 010 107.65 120.34 12.69 0.51 0.12 0.021
Including 119.54 120.34 0.80 2.20 0.32 0.088
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-61 -85 350 112.80 117.69 4.89 0.31 0.06 0.014
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-62 -72 350 105.10 134.32 29.22 0.60 0.16 0.028
Including 128.60 133.91 5.31 0.85 0.23 0.038
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-51 -85 350 129.00 133.50 4.50 0.35 0.07 0.016
136.50 153.00 16.50 0.21 0.05 0.009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-52 -60 350 139.00 144.50 5.50 0.21 0.05 0.010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-60 -85 350 106.89 151.00 44.11 0.66 0.15 0.030
Including 133.00 142.00 9.00 1.16 0.24 0.051
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-63 -85 350 NSR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-43 -81 350 165.03 200.00 34.97 0.43 0.10 0.016
Including 182.00 186.00 4.00 0.73 0.15 0.026
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-40 -65 350 193.88 222.30 28.42 0.34 0.07 0.012
Including 196.38 198.00 1.62 1.55 0.24 0.054
226.75 241.50 14.75 0.25 0.06 0.010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-39 -77 350 175.50 231.00 55.50 0.53 0.13 0.021
Including 177.50 190.00 12.50 1.07 0.26 0.041
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-41 -88 350 174.00 219.00 45.00 0.54 0.14 0.022
Including 195.00 205.00 10.00 0.90 0.21 0.035
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-42 -81 170 NSR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highlight results for the Upper Sill from the final fourteen holes testing the Main Zone in 2008 include (ordered from east to west; note NK08-54 did not test the Upper Sill and holes NK08-51, -52, -62, and 63 did not return significant results):
From To Length Ni Cu Co
DDH Angle Az. (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-57 -85 010 33.60 37.50 3.90 0.36 0.07 0.012
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-61 -85 350 43.00 47.00 4.00 0.20 0.05 0.010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-60 -85 350 3.14 6.00 2.86 0.22 0.05 0.008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-43 -85 350 15.00 37.00 22.00 0.24 0.05 0.013
Including 30.98 31.91 0.93 1.23 0.23 0.087
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-40 -65 350 2.35 24.00 21.65 0.29 0.06 0.012
Including 15.00 16.00 1.00 1.06 0.27 0.048
37.00 65.14 28.14 0.18 0.04 0.008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-39 -77 350 1.78 29.50 27.72 0.32 0.07 0.015
38.00 59.00 21.00 0.16 0.04 0.008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-41 -88 350 3.00 14.00 11.00 0.24 0.05 0.012
39.50 79.00 39.50 0.21 0.05 0.008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-42 -81 170 8.05 11.58 3.53 0.52 0.12 0.024
46.50 65.00 18.50 0.26 0.06 0.009
79.70 80.25 0.55 1.03 0.44 0.045
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK08-45 -76 050 160.50 206.15 46.65 0.40 0.08 0.014
Including 196.35 200.50 4.15 0.62 0.14 0.021
213.20 220.55 7.35 0.23 0.05 0.011
Current exploration of the Nickel King and related Snowbird nickel projects is part of Strongbow's ongoing evaluation of the nickel-copper-PGE potential of the Snowbird Tectonic Zone (SBTZ). The SBTZ is a major crustal scale structure and represents an underexplored region of Canada that is prospective for magmatic sulphide nickel deposits. Strongbow maintains a 100% interest in approximately 900,000 acres of mineral claims and permits along a 240 km strike length of the southern SBTZ. Strongbow's 2008 exploration programs are conducted under the supervision of David Gale, P.Geo. (BC), Vice-President of Exploration for Strongbow and a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. All samples from the 2008 drilling program are split with one half of the core submitted to Acme Analytical Laboratories of Vancouver, BC for analysis. Each sample is weighed, dried and crushed to better than 70% passing a 2 mm screen. A split of up to 250g is taken and pulverized to better than 95% passing a 100 micron (150 mesh) screen. The prepared sample is subjected to an aqua regia digestion and the resulting solution is analyzed by inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples that return nickel results greater than 5,000 ppm are automatically re-analyzed using a larger sample size and laboratory inserted ore grade standards to provide optimum precision and accuracy. Strongbow conducts an internal quality assurance/quality control program, with the regular insertion of standard, blank and field duplicate samples into the sample stream. STRONGBOW EXPLORATION INC. Kenneth A. Armstrong, President and CEO The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of this release.ContactsKen Armstrong Strongbow Exploration Inc.
President and CEO
(604) 668-8355
(604) 668-8366 (FAX)
Email: info@strongbowexploration.com
Website: www.strongbowexploration.com
100.26 (1.10%)
