During February 2016, diamond drilling totalling 1,861.7 m was completed in the mid to eastern Central Zone around the existing gold resource area and to the east-southeast along the trend of the Skiråsen Zone to the boundary of the exploitation concession. Since early October 2015, 12,848 metres have been drilled. A total of 1,631 samples were sent to the laboratory during February and 3,998 assay results were received. Gold assay values exceeding 20 g/t have been top-capped at 20 g/t.
Highlights of the latest exploration drill results include 3 intercepts in the Skiråsen Zone, with hole SKI 15001 of 61 metres core length (estimated 45.75 metres true thickness) grading 1.61 g/t gold, plus hole SKI 16001 of 20 metres core length (estimated 15 metres true thickness) grading 3.23 g/t gold and further down hole, 36.1 metres core length (estimated 27.1 metres true thickness) grading 2.40 g/t gold. These drill intercepts are located between 650 and 750 metres southeast of the core of the Central Zone deposit.
Highlights of the Barsele 2015-2016 Drilling Program to Date
| Barsele 2015-2016 Drilling Program (to February 29, 2016) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Core Length (m) | True Thickness (m) | Au (g/t) | Top-Capped at 20 g/t Au (g/t) |
| CNT 15001 | 209.40 | 214.00 | 4.60 | 3.45 | 14.65 | 5.47 |
| 423.00 | 427.00 | 4.00 | 3.00 | 2.72 | 2.72 | |
| CNT 15005 | 291.00 | 310.00 | 19.00 | 14.25 | 1.04 | 1.04 |
| CNT 15010 | 494.00 | 589.00 | 95.00 | 71.25 | 0.88 | 0.88 |
| CNT 15011 | 364.00 | 387.00 | 23.00 | 17.25 | 1.14 | 1.14 |
| CNT 15015 | 231.00 | 261.00 | 30.00 | 22.50 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| CNT 15017 | 211.00 | 219.00 | 8.00 | 6.00 | 1.87 | 1.87 |
| 309.00 | 323.00 | 14.00 | 10.50 | 1.73 | 1.73 | |
| 386.00 | 402.00 | 16.00 | 12.00 | 1.22 | 1.22 | |
| 490.00 | 504.00 | 14.00 | 10.50 | 1.05 | 1.05 | |
| 522.00 | 533.00 | 11.00 | 8.30 | 1.46 | 1.46 | |
| Assays | pending for | CNT 15017 | ||||
| SKI 15001 | 79.00 | 84.00 | 5.00 | 3.75 | 1.79 | 1.79 |
| 271.00 | 310.00 | 39.00 | 29.25 | 0.63 | 0.63 | |
| 323.00 | 384.00 | 61.00 | 45.75 | 1.96 | 1.61 | |
| 405.00 | 434.00 | 29.00 | 21.75 | 1.42 | 1.42 | |
| Includes | 421.00 | 434.00 | 13.00 | 9.75 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| SKI 16001 | 101.00 | 108.00 | 7.00 | 5.25 | 4.86 | 4.86 |
| 120.00 | 140.00 | 20.00 | 15.00 | 3.92 | 3.23 | |
| 179.00 | 187.00 | 8.00 | 6.00 | 2.46 | 2.46 | |
| 276.00 | 312.10 | 36.10 | 27.10 | 3.06 | 2.40 | |
Barsele's President, Gary Cope says, "We remain very pleased with the work Agnico Eagle has completed to date at Barsele. Drilling continues to yield very significant intercepts of good grade rock at Skiråsen in holes SKI 15001 and SKI 16001. We are optimistic that we will be able to outline a coherent zone of mineralization at Skiråsen."
Drilling is temporarily curtailed during spring breakup. This will allow time to interpret the geological and analytical results. Resumption of drilling is planned for mid-April, 2016. Presently 6 lines of Titan-24 Induced Polarization geophysics are being completed.
In addition to future diamond drilling and completion of the Titan-24 IP survey, activities planned for 2016 include: basal till sampling and hyperspectral scanning of drill core; and conducting basic environmental assessment and surface water characterization and hydrogeology studies.
As project operator, Agnico Eagle is continuously involved with a community relations program to engage the various stakeholders in the project area.
About the Barsele Gold Project
The Barsele Project is located on the western end of the Proterozoic "Skellefte Trend," a prolific volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits belt, where it intersects with the "Gold Line" in Northern Sweden. Both polymetallic deposits and intrusive hosted orogenic gold deposits are present in this region and on the property. Current and past producers in the region include Boliden, Kristineberg, Bjorkdal, Svartliden, and Storliden.
In November of 2012, mineral resource estimates by Orex Minerals Inc. -- (TSX.V: REX) ("Orex") were released for the Barsele Project in four zones, the Central, Avan and Skiråsen Gold Zones and the Norra VMS Zone (Orex News Release dated 21 November 2012). The resource estimate for the Central-Avan-Skiråsen Zones states an Indicated Resource of 14.1 million tonnes grading 1.21 g/t gold for 547,000 contained ounces, plus an Inferred Resource of 20.2 million tonnes grading 0.97 g/t gold for 627,000 contained ounces. The polymetallic Norra Zone contains an Indicated Resource of 110,000 tonnes grading 3.13 g/t gold, 30.3 g/t silver, 0.53 % copper and 0.72 % zinc, plus an Inferred Resource of 310,000 tonnes grading 1.62 g/t gold, 12.7 g/t silver, 0.26 % copper and 0.42 % zinc. All zones were estimated at a gold cut-off grade of 0.6 g/t.
Art Freeze, P.Geo. and Ben Whiting, P.Geo., are Qualified Persons as defined in NI 43-101 and take responsibility for the technical disclosure contained within this news release.
About Barsele Minerals Corp.
Barsele is a Canadian-based junior exploration company comprised of highly qualified mining professionals. Barsele's main property is the Barsele Gold Project in Västerbottens Län, Sweden, a joint venture with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gary Cope
President
For further information, please contact Barsele Minerals Corp. at (604) 687-8566 x227, email info@barseleminerals.com or visit our website at www.barseleminerals.com
Neither 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