Dec. 9, 2009 (TheNewswire.ca) --
Vancouver B.C.: TNR Gold (TSXV:TNR) Corp. ("TNR" or the "Company") and wholly-owned International Lithium Corp. ("ILC") are pleased to announce results of the 2009 fall field program demonstrating strong and widespread tantalum mineralization on its 100% owned Mavis Lake property located 15km northeast of Dryden in northwestern Ontario.
Key Point Summary:
-38% or 78 of 204 grab and channel samples returned assay values >150 ppm Ta2O5;
-1349 ppm and 1246 ppm Ta2O5 from 2 grab samples, amongst highest reported in NW Ontario;
-Highly evolved lithium-tantalum zonation identified similar to producing Tanco mine; and
-Underexplored tantalum zone is significant exploration target.
"We are observing both high-grade well-evolved Lithium and Tantalum zonation as well as significant levels of Cesium and Rubidium on the Mavis Lake property" states Gary Schellenberg, President and CEO of TNR Gold and continues "The project is clearly emerging as a premier multi-element rare metals project and warrants a major exploration program in 2010".
2009 Sampling Programs
Two field programs were undertaken in 2009 to assess the lithium (Li), tantalum (Ta) and other rare metals potential of the Mavis Lake property. The initial field program consisted of reconnaissance prospecting and sampling. Samples collected from Pegmatite 18 returned strong results for both Ta and Li with peak assay values of 3.61 Wt% Li2O (lithium oxide) in a grab sample and 1.24 Wt% Li2O over 5.3 metres in a composite channel sample (Company News Release - October 5th 2009).
The follow-up program consisted of detailed mapping and sampling of the known pegmatite occurrences that returned high grade lithium values up to 2.1 wt% Li2O in grab sample and 1.4 wt% Li2O over a 4.7 metre composite channel sample. In addition, a lithogeochemical survey over a 1200m by 900m grid extended the lithium dispersion anomaly (>50 ppm Li) by 1.1kms to 4.5kms in total length (Company News Release - November 19th, 2009). Of special note, 38% (78 of 204 samples) graded better than 150 ppm Ta2O5 (tantalum oxide) demonstrating strong and widespread highly anomalous Tantalum mineralization.
The highest tantalum values came from Pegmatites 13, 14 and 16 which occur within an area of 500 by 800 metres that represents the known southeastern exploration limit for rare metal mineralization on the property. This highly prospective area of elevated tantalum values is underexplored and completely open to the east and southeast and will be the major subject of field investigation in 2010. Samples from this area returned peak Ta2O5 values of 1349 ppm (0.135%) and 1246 ppm (0.125%) from the No.16 and No.14 pegmatites, respectively.
Dr. Frederick Breaks, Special Advisor for TNR Gold stated "The peak tantalum values observed are amongst the highest reported in north western Ontario and when taken in conjunction with the strong widespread nature of the mineralization, this indicates significant exploration potential at the Mavis Lake property".
Other highlights include Ta2O5 values of 723 ppm, 614 ppm and 593 ppm from the No.13, No.17 and No.19 pegmatites, respectively (see Table 1).
Table 1: Highlighted Grab Sample Results
Sample Number Sample Type Pegmatite Lithology Li2O (ppm) Cs2O (ppm) Rb2O (ppm) Ta2O₅ (ppm) H373049 Grab No.16 Aplite 24 4 7 1349 H373047 Grab No.14 Pegmatite 74 20 10 1246 H373046 Grab No.14 Pegmatite 109 80 755 796 H372758 Grab No.14 Pegmatite-Aplite 1550 1537 10021 782 H373050 Grab No.16 Aplite 143 8 31 757 H373043 Grab No.16 Aplite-Pegmatite 175 30 10 736 H372603 Grab No.13 Pegmatite 28 17 13 723 H372645 Grab No.17 Aplite 70 6 40 613 H372759 Grab No.19 Aplite 147 245 2812 593 H372710 Grab No.17 Pegmatite 8634 164 2604 328 H372628 Grab No.17 Pegmatite 17202 164 2166 275 H372761 Grab No.19 Pegmatite 20109 583 3752 223
Table 2: Highlighted Channel Sample Results
Pegmatite Width Li2O Ta2O5 Cs2O Rb2O (m) (Wt%) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) 11 1 1.02 90.1 114 3370 11 1 1.74 60.6 121 2472 11 1 1.66 87.3 129 2297 11 1 1.50 82.5 157 2932 11 0.7 0.90 185.0 250 4223 Wt. Avg. 4.7 1.39 95.6 148 2985 11 1 0.004 164 119 2779 2779 11 1 0.004 164 119 2779 2779
Samples with very high tantalum values tend to have low lithium values as is typical of sodic aplite and albitite-rock units that represent important host-rocks for tantalum mineralization as exemplified by the Tanco Mine in Manitoba and the Wodgina and Greenbushes Mines of Western Australia. However, there are samples with very high lithium values that also carry strongly anomalous tantalum. Examples of this strong multi-element signature can be found in both grab samples in Table 1 and channel samples of Table 2.
Tantalum mineralization occurs as fine-grained tantalite-columbite group minerals that are hosted primarily in sodic aplite and related albitite (>8 wt% Na2O). Other tantalum-rich minerals may also be present as previous work confirmed wodginite associated with tantalite, columbite, lithium tourmaline and montebrasite at pegmatite 19 (Ontario Geological Survey, 2000 Miscellaneous Release Data 127).
Wodginite is the chief ore mineral for tantalum at the Tanco and Wodgina mines. The Tanco Mine had a historical reserve estimate of 1,879,000 tons grading 0.216% Ta2O5 and has proven to be a world class producer of tantalum, lithium, cesium and rubidium. The Wodgina mine has proven historical reserves of 0.4 million tonnes grading 0.128% Ta2O5. The high-tonnage low-grade Greenbushes mine contains proven and probable reserves of 88.6 million tonnes @ 0.022% Ta2O5.
TO VIEW FIGURE 1, PLEASE COPY AND PASTE URL: http://www.tnrgoldcorp.com/i/Mavislithogeochem%20sampling.jpg
Figure 1: Lithium-Tantalum Zonation and Pegmatite Location Map - Mavis Lake Project, Ont.
Mavis Lake Property
The Mavis Lake property is located 15 km Northeast of Dryden, Ontario. It is easily accessed via the Trans-Canada Highway and a series of logging roads. The claim block comprises a total of 2,544 ha and covers several known rare metal pegmatites.
Regional pegmatite mineralization is directly associated with the strongly peraluminous Ghost Lake pluton and related pegmatitic granite dykes. Rare metal mineralization in the Mavis Lake area occurs in zoned pegmatites hosted by mafic metavolcanic rocks. Rare metal mineralization has been noted to occur in four zones: internal beryl zone within the parent of the Ghost Lake pluton that evolves into external zones of beryl-columbite, spodumene-beryl-tantalite and albite-type pegmatites.
The known pegmatite dykes on the Mavis Lake property comprise spodumene-beryl-tantalite, albite-type or a combination of both. The adjacent Fairservice property is dominated by east trending spodumene-beryl-tantalite-type pegmatites, considered to be part of the same dyke swarm as on the Mavis Lake claim block, and has a historical (non NI 43-101 compliant) resource of 500,000 tons at 1.0% Li2O.
Ike Osmani, P.Geo, is the company's qualified person on the project as required under NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information contained in this press release. To help understand the technical aspects of Lithium and other Rare Metals please visit TNR's website at www.tnrgoldcorp.com.
ABOUT TNR GOLD / INTERNATIONAL LITHIUM CORPTNR is a diversified metals exploration company focused on exploring existing properties and identifying new prospective projects globally. TNR has a total portfolio of 33 properties, of which 16 will be included in the proposed spin-off of International Lithium Corp.It is anticipated that TNR shareholders of record will receive up to one share and one full tradable warrant of International Lithium Corp. for every 4 shares of TNR held as of the yet determined record date. This will result in TNR shareholders owning shares in both TNR and International Lithium. For further details of the spin-off please refer to TNR's April 27, 2009 news release or visit http://www.internationallithium.comThe recent acquisition of lithium, other rare metals and rare-earth elements projects in Argentina, Canada, USA and Ireland confirms the company's commitment to generating projects , diversifying its markets, and building shareholder value.
On behalf of the board,
Gary Schellenberg
President
The TSX Venture Exchange does not nor does its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Statements in this press release other than purely historical information, historical estimates should not be relied upon, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, are forward-looking statements. News release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business, including risks inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
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