Benton & Royal Roads Intersect Nickel-Copper Sulphides at Portage Prospect, Long Range Joint Venture
19 November 2009 - 2:32AM
Marketwired
Benton Resources Corp. ((TSX VENTURE: BTC) ("Benton") and Royal
Roads Corp. (TSX VENTURE: RRO) ("Royal Roads") announced results
from a recently completed four-hole diamond drilling program
designed to test the recently discovered Portage Nickel-Sulphide
Prospect on the Long Range property in central Newfoundland. The
265 metre program was undertaken as a shallow test of trenched
bedrock mineralization where recent sampling returned assays up to
2.70% nickel, 0.58% copper and 0.24% cobalt in grab samples, as
well as sawed channel samples assaying up to 2.18% nickel, 0.19%
copper and 0.11% cobalt over 1.0 metre. Three of the holes
intersected mineralization including an intersection of 1.36%
nickel, 0.36% copper and 0.039% cobalt over a 1 metre core length.
Highlight assay results for these three holes are presented in the
table below. Assay results for the fourth hole are not yet
available, but are not anticipated to return significant base metal
mineralization.
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Intercept
From Width
Hole (m) To (m) (m) Cu% Ni% Co%
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LR-09-03 12.0 24.0 12.0 0.13 0.31 0.016
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Including 23.2 24.0 0.8 0.35 0.93 0.043
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LR-09-04 10.0 22.0 12.0 0.22 0.44 0.016
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Including 14.0 20.0 6.0 0.27 0.63 0.021
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Including 18.0 18.5 0.5 0.28 1.00 0.027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Including 18.5 19.0 0.5 0.44 1.72 0.050
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LR-09-05 3.5 11.5 8.0 0.20 0.21 0.006
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The drill program targeted mineralized gabbro containing 5 to
15% disseminated sulphides and a 10 to 15 centimetre thick
sulphide-rich band with approximately 30-40% pyrrhotite and
pentlandite and lesser chalcopyrite exposed by recent trenching.
Sawed channel samples taken across the sulphide-rich band including
adjacent gabbro returned assays of up to 2.18% nickel, 0.19%
copper, and 0.11% cobalt over 1 metre, while a grab sample of the
band assayed 2.70% nickel, 0.58% copper and 0.24% cobalt. Channel
samples taken from adjacent gabbro also returned favourable assays,
including 0.40% nickel, 0.19% copper, and 0.17% cobalt over 1
metre. The sulphide-rich band was exposed over a minimum strike
length of 5 metres and likely continues under overburden to the
east and west. This band is also believed to be correlative with a
weak VTEM conductive anomaly estimated to have a minimum strike
length of 200 metres. This anomaly is considered to be more
extensive than previously defined, as the conductor appears to be
screened by conductivity associated with overhead power lines.
Please visit our website (www.royalroadscorp.ca) for a map and
photographs of the mineralization exposed in the trench.
Interpretation of the drill results suggest the sulphide-rich
band represents one of several sulphide-rich segregations within
the gabbro as similar sections of sulphide-rich gabbro were
intersected in hole LR-09-03 between 23.2 and 24.0 metres, and in
hole LR-09-04 between 18.0 and 19.0 metres. Each of the four holes
was drilled along a single section line. Hole LR-09-03, was drilled
at an angle of 45 degrees towards azimuth 315 degrees and collared
55 metres southeast of the mineralized zone. LR-09-04 was drilled
at an angle of 45 degrees towards azimuth 135 degrees, and collared
16 metres northwest of the targeted mineralized zone. Hole LR-09-05
was drilled vertically into the mineralized zone, but was
unsuccessful in coring the sulphide-rich band as the bedrock was
found to be too oxidized and crumbly to allow recovery in core.
Hole LR-09-06 was collared vertically, 20 metres southeast of the
zone and intersected only weakly mineralized gabbro (assays
pending).
Management's Opinion
Will Felderhof, President and CEO of Royal Roads stated, "We are
very excited about these initial drill results as we believe the
style and tenor of the mineralization in these drill intercepts,
and channel samples may reflect nickel mineralization high up in a
magmatic nickel sulphide system similar to the Voisey-Bay deposit,
except in much younger rocks. This points to a potential massive
sulphide deposit at depth which according to the accepted model
should show higher nickel tenors. In addition to targeting a
potential high grade underground deposit, further drill programs
will test for a potential bulk tonnage style of deposit somewhat
similar to the Aguablanca deposit being mined by Lundin Mining in
Spain. The gabbro body being explored has never been explored
before and measures approximately 20 km by 5 km. We think this is a
very exciting development and look forward to continuing the
exploration effort on this new discovery."
Future Exploration
Royal Roads and Benton are encouraged by these initial results
from the Portage Nickel prospect and are currently planning further
exploration work consisting of, line cutting and deep-seeking,
electromagnetic geophysical surveys over the Portage Nickel
prospect and surrounding area to explore for accumulations of
nickel-rich massive sulphides. This work is expected to commence
later this month and will likely extend into 2010. The Companies
are also planning a comprehensive exploration program for 2010 that
will include additional diamond drilling of the Portage Nickel
prospect and adjacent conductive anomalies as well as further
drilling to test the joint venture's Range Zone discovery where the
companies recently intersected semi-massive to massive sulphides
assaying 0.39% copper and 0.032% cobalt over 29.11 m (estimated
true width). The Companies also anticipate undertaking airborne
geophysical surveys over recently staked properties comprising over
180 km2 in five additional properties covering other nearby
prospective gabbro bodies. Details will be released once programs
and budgets have been finalized.
Background
The Long Range joint venture controls 1,674 map staked claims in
central Newfoundland covering an area of 41,850 hectares (418.5
km2). The project was acquired to explore for magmatic
nickel-copper sulphide deposits within a previously unexplored
area, recently recognized to be prospective for magmatic sulphide
deposits. The project is well situated with ready access to a paved
highway, power and port facilities. The project is a 50/50 joint
venture between Royal Roads and Benton with Royal Roads as the
operator. Portions of the property are subject to net smelter
royalties of up to 2%, of which 1% can be purchased for $1 million
and are also subject to underlying option agreements requiring cash
payments and share issuances for the joint venture to earn a 100%
interest.
Qualified Person
Paul Moore, M.Sc., P.Geo., (NL), Royal Road's Vice President of
Exploration, is acting as Qualified Person in compliance with
National Instrument 43-101 with respect to this release and has
reviewed the contents for accuracy. The drilling program was
supervised by David Butler, B.Sc. (Hons), P. Geo (NL), Royal Roads'
Exploration Manager. Logging, sampling and assaying procedures were
completed as per Royal Roads' QA/QC protocols as described in Royal
Roads' press release dated February 27th, 2007. All assays were
completed by Eastern Analytical Limited of Springdale, Newfoundland
by the ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission
Spectroscopy) method (ICP-11) and Ore Grade Assay for Ni, Cu and Co
by the atomic absorption (AA) method. Gold assays were completed by
standard 1/2 assay ton fire assay using the AA method. Appropriate
QA/QC protocols were applied, including duplicate analyses and
monitoring of assay results through the insertion of control
standards.
About Royal Roads
Royal Roads is a resource company based in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada and is primarily focused on exploring and developing mineral
properties in the famous historic Buchans mining camp in central
Newfoundland, Canada. Acadian Mining Corporation (ADA-TSX) owns
29.18% of Royal Roads.
About Benton Resources
Benton is a Canadian based junior with multiple joint ventures
and a diversified property portfolio in Gold, Nickel, Copper, and
Platinum group elements which can be view on the company's web site
post below. The company currently has approximately $15.0 million
in cash, owns a 32.2% interest in Coro Mining Corp (TSX: COP.TO),
holds an approximate 5% interest in Marathon PGM Corp (TSX: MAR.TO)
and retains a 2% Net Smelter Royalty on the northern portion of the
Marathon PGM deposit.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain information contained herein may constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable
securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates,
plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or
other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Royal
Roads and Benton (the "Companies") believe that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they
can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have
been correct. The Companies caution that actual performance will be
affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond their
control, and that future events and results may vary substantially
from what the Companies currently foresee. The Companies'
forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their
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forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.
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Contacts: Royal Roads Corp Will Felderhof President & CEO
(902) 444-3637 Halifax, Nova Scotia Royal Roads Corp. David
Felderhof Vice-President (902) 444-3637 Halifax, Nova Scotia
www.royalroadscorp.ca Benton Resources Corp. Stephen Stares
President & CEO (807) 475-7474 (807) 475-7200 (FAX) Thunder
Bay, Ontario www.bentonresources.ca Benton Resources Corp. 611
Montreal Street Thunder Bay, ON P7E 3P2 Investor Relations AGORACOM
Investor Relations BTC@agoracom.com http://agoracom.com/ir/benton
Clair Calvert (204) 799-2086
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