Recoveries of 70% Possible TSX-V Trading Symbol: HRC Tel.: +1 604 638 8005 E-mail: richard@helioresource.com Website: www.helioresource.com
VANCOUVER, May 26 /CNW/ - Helio Resource Corp. ("Helio" or the "Company") (TSX-V: HRC) is pleased to announce the results of initial heap-leach amenability testwork at the SMP gold project.
Previous metallurgical testwork on mineralised material from the Kenge Target indicated that gold recoveries of up to 96% were achievable by conventional processes (see Company press release dated August 11, 2008).
Following these highly encouraging results, further testwork was undertaken to assess the likely response of the mineralisation to heap-leaching. Testwork was undertaken by SGS Lakefield Research Limited ("SGS") in Ontario, Canada on material retained from previous work, which ranged in size from 1.7mm to 3.35mm. Results from this phase of testwork indicates that gold recoveries in the order of 70% gold are possible, coupled with low reagent consumptions.
The company is very encouraged by these initial heap-leach tests and intends to conduct further metallurgical testwork on other mineralisation from the SMP gold project (specifically from the Porcupine Target) during the course of the year.
Please refer to the Helio press release dated August 11, 2008, for more information regarding the sample. A copy of the new metallurgical testwork report is available on the Company's website at http://www.helioresource.com/i/pdf/SGS-Metallurgical-May2009.pdf.
ABOUT THE SMP GOLD PROJECT --------------------------
Helio, through its 100% owned subsidiary BAFEX Tanzania Ltd., can earn a 100% interest in five contiguous licences, which cover a 35km strike length of the Saza Shear Zone. The project covers the New Saza Gold Mine, which was the second largest gold producer, behind the Geita Mine, in pre-Independence era Tanzania.
Since June 2006, the Company has drill-tested eleven targets, nine of which are hosted by the Saza Shear Zone. All eleven targets have intersected bedrock-hosted gold mineralisation, the most advanced being the Kenge and Porcupine Targets (see the Corporate Presentation on the Home Page of the Company's website at www.helioresource.com). Drilling at Kenge has returned up to 22.0m grading 6.9g/t gold in the Main Zone and 48.7m grading 2.1g/t Au from the Mbenge Zone. The best mineralised intercept to date at the SMP was drilled at the Porcupine target (52.2m grading 3.3g/t Au). The company is well-financed and is currently drilling at the Porcupine Target.
Chris MacKenzie, M.Sc., C.Geol., Helio's COO and a Qualified Person as designated by NI 43-101, supervises the exploration at the SMP project, including the sampling and quality assurance/quality control programmes, and has reviewed the contents of this news release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Richard D. Williams" "Chris MacKenzie"
Richard D. Williams, P.Geo Christopher J. MacKenzie, C.Geol.
CEO COO
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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