Alberta Star Intersects 43.50 Meters of 40.9 g/ton Silver Mineralization at the Eldorado IOCG & Uranium Project
March 17, 2008
Alberta Star Development Corp. (the “Company”) listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (ASX), OTCBB (ASXSF) and on Frankfurt (QLD), is pleased to report that the Company has received assay results from the final four drill holes from the Company’s eighteen-hole 2007 Phase 2 drill program at Eldorado, NT. The Company continues to intersect poly-metallic mineralization in its drilling at Eldorado. Drill hole PR-07-11 intersected 0.5 meters of 2.3 g/ton gold as well as another 0.3 meters of 2.3 g/ton gold. Drill hole PR-07-27 Intersected 43.50 meters of 40.9 g/ton silver, 0.20% copper, 0.14% lead, and 0.15% zinc. Drill hole PR-07-26 intersected 32.20 meters of 0.33% zinc, 0.20% lead and 4.4 g/ton silver and drill hole PR-07-25 intersected 1.45 meters of 39.9 g/ton silver, 0.403% copper 0.333% lead, 0.207% zinc, 0.123% Nickel and 0.123% cobalt.
All four drill holes intersected a thick mineralized zone enriched in gold, silver, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, cobalt and vanadium.
The accompanying table gives a summary of significant mineralized down hole intervals and assay results from drill holes PR-07-11, PR-07-25, PR-07-26 and PR-07-27:
PR-07-11 intersected:
- 0.5 meters of 2.3 g/ton gold as well as another 0.3 meters of 2.3 g/ton gold
PR-07-25 intersected:
- 1.45 meters of 39.9 g/ton silver, 0.403% copper, 0.333% lead, 0.207% zinc, 0.123% nickel, and 0.126% cobalt.
- 1.5 meters of 1.89% zinc, 1.04% lead and 14.2 g/ton silver.
- 49.7 meters of 0.145% zinc
- 212.05 meters of vanadium (V2O5)
PR-07-26 intersected:
- 32.20 meters of 0.33% zinc, 0.20% lead and 4.4 g/ton silver.
- 0.85 meter of 2.12% zinc, 4.29% lead, 0.27% copper and 62.5 g/ton silver.
- 11.65 meters of 0.19% vanadium (V2O5)
PR-07-27 intersected:
- 43.50 meters 40.9 g/ton silver, 0.20% copper, 0.14% lead, and 0.15% zinc.
- 15 meters of 0.24% copper as well as another 15 meters of 0.22% zinc.
- 1.5 meters of 1.80% copper and 24.3 g/ton silver.
- 1.5 meters of 1.65% copper and 24.3 g/ton silver.The accompanying table gives a summary of drilling highlights and assays from drill holes PR-07-11, PR-07-25, PR-07-26 and PR-07-27 at Eldorado, NT:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copper Lead Zinc Silver Gold Drill From To Interval Cu Pb Zn Ag Au Hole (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) (%) (g/ton) (g/ton) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- PR-07-11 25.45 25.95 0.50 0.042 0.067 0.087 1.0 2.3 --------------------------------------------------------------- 195.15 195.45 0.30 0.008 0.012 0.023 0.1 2.3 --------------------------------------------------------------- 260.06 260.11 0.05 0.002 0.003 0.005 0.1 2.0 --------------------------------------------------------------- 275.74 277.24 1.50 0.019 0.007 0.125 0.1 0.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sil- Cop- ver Nick- Cob- Vana- Inter- per Lead Zinc Ag el alt dium Drill From To val Cu Pb Zn (g/ Ni Co V2O5 Hole (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) (%) ton) (%) (%) (%) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- PR-07-25 3.4 215.45 212.05 - - - - - - 0.073 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.4 6.50 3.10 0.039 0.291 0.074 1.7 0.018 0.009 0.089 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 8.9 10.90 2.00 0.014 0.003 0.016 0.3 0.009 0.005 0.126 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.3 13.80 1.50 0.031 0.041 0.108 1.1 0.019 0.013 0.013 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 16.8 66.50 49.70 0.091 0.081 0.145 2.8 0.037 0.022 0.049 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 20.15 22.85 2.70 0.315 0.036 0.089 2.3 0.010 0.014 0.006 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 56.00 57.50 1.50 0.120 1.040 1.890 14.2 0.050 0.016 0.057 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 60.50 66.50 6.00 0.186 0.224 0.167 11.7 0.068 0.053 0.071 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 63.55 65.00 1.45 0.403 0.333 0.207 39.9 0.123 0.126 0.045 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 74.00 83.00 9.00 0.043 0.121 0.168 1.7 0.028 0.012 0.056 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 88.00 89.40 1.40 0.112 0.036 0.047 1.3 0.068 0.055 0.053 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 99.50 101.00 1.50 0.110 0.040 0.159 1.3 0.055 0.034 0.055 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 110.00 111.50 1.50 0.057 0.046 0.143 1.4 0.034 0.019 0.058 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 141.50 144.50 3.00 0.064 0.015 0.111 0.9 0.016 0.011 0.090 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 162.50 167.00 4.50 0.054 0.024 0.040 0.8 0.034 0.012 0.203 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 173.30 174.80 1.50 0.005 0.095 0.122 0.6 0.006 0.010 0.021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sil- Cop- ver Nick- Cob- Vana- Inter- per Lead Zinc Ag el alt dium Drill From To val Cu Pb Zn (g/ Ni Co V2O5 Hole (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) (%) ton) (%) (%) (%) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- PR-07-26 3.20 35.40 32.20 0.07 0.20 0.33 4.4 0.04 0.03 0.12 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 20.25 21.10 0.85 0.27 4.29 2.12 62.5 0.02 0.03 0.08 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 41.10 45.50 4.40 0.04 0.12 0.40 2.2 0.04 0.02 0.18 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 54.50 61.25 6.75 0.05 0.23 0.49 3.3 0.05 0.02 0.03 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 64.25 65.22 0.97 0.06 0.02 0.33 0.9 0.04 0.03 0.03 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 66.40 72.25 5.85 0.03 0.07 0.22 0.6 0.02 0.01 0.20 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 72.25 83.90 11.65 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.3 0.03 0.01 0.19 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 103.00 106.00 3.00 0.04 0.06 0.38 0.9 0.03 0.01 0.06 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 112.90 113.65 0.75 0.26 0.06 0.04 2.9 0.20 0.09 0.10 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 127.00 130.10 3.10 0.04 0.09 0.31 1.4 0.04 0.01 0.12 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 134.20 135.00 0.80 0.14 0.01 0.04 1.0 0.06 0.02 0.06 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 158.30 159.80 1.50 0.07 0.13 0.71 1.0 0.04 0.02 0.03 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 168.80 169.70 0.90 0.20 0.03 0.03 2.4 0.16 0.06 0.05 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 171.20 172.10 0.90 0.02 0.02 0.13 0.3 0.02 0.01 0.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 176.00 179.00 3.00 0.04 0.07 0.31 0.7 0.02 0.01 0.08 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 202.50 205.50 3.00 0.01 0.06 0.14 0.4 0.01 0.01 0.05 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 217.50 219.00 1.50 0.01 0.07 0.22 0.3 0.00 0.01 0.03 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sil- Cop- ver Nick- Cob- Vana- Inter- per Lead Zinc Ag el alt dium Drill From To val Cu Pb Zn (g/ Ni Co V2O5 Hole (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) (%) ton) (%) (%) (%) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- PR-07-27 6.50 8.00 1.50 0.02 0.05 0.12 1.0 0.016 0.009 0.014 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 11.50 55.00 43.50 0.20 0.14 0.15 40.9 0.030 0.021 0.032 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 31.00 32.50 1.50 0.05 1.04 0.64 4.7 0.028 0.014 0.011 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 44.50 46.00 1.50 1.80 0.05 0.04 24.3 0.076 0.072 0.017 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 52.00 53.50 1.50 1.65 0.04 0.06 21.0 0.084 0.060 0.031 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 49.00 64.00 15.00 0.24 0.02 0.05 3.2 0.032 0.020 0.093 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 71.50 79.00 7.50 0.03 0.06 0.16 0.6 0.019 0.011 0.028 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 80.50 82.00 1.50 0.03 0.05 0.14 0.6 0.022 0.010 0.015 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 91.00 92.50 1.50 0.05 0.03 0.12 0.8 0.047 0.022 0.024 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 98.50 113.50 15.00 0.04 0.06 0.22 1.1 0.030 0.013 0.064 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 94.00 101.50 7.50 0.03 0.01 0.05 0.5 0.029 0.014 0.102 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 113.50 117.96 4.46 0.21 0.01 0.01 1.5 0.038 0.061 0.046 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Metal values as at today’s market price. Gold $999.70 US per ounce, Copper $3.85 US per pound, Silver $20.63 US per ounce, Cobalt $52.50 US per pound, Zinc $1.15 US per pound, Lead $1.39 US per pound, Nickel $14.66 US per pound, $15.00 Vanadium and Uranium $74.00 US per pound as of March 14, 2008.
Note: True thickness is unknown.
Both drill holes PR-07-25 and PR-07-26 have 45 degree inclination and 135 degree azimuth and were drilled in a NW-SE trending row with 50 meters distance between these holes. Drill hole PR-07-27 has a with 45 degree inclination and 135 degree azimuth and was drilled in another NW-SE trending row 100 meters away from the previous row. Drill hole PR-07-11 has a 60 degree inclination and 315 degree azimuth was drilled in a NW-SE trending row 100 meters NE of the above row.
All drill core samples were prepared, bagged and sealed by the Company’s supervised personnel and were transported by plane to Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd. (“ACME”) in Yellowknife, NT where they were crushed and pulped, and then transported to ACME’s main laboratories in Vancouver, British Columbia for assaying. Acme is a fully registered analytical lab for analysis by ICP-MS and ICP-FA techniques. All samples were analyzed for a wide spectrum of minerals: Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, As, U, Au, Th, Sr, Cd, Sb, Bi, V, Ca, P, La, Cr, Mg, Ba, Ti, Al, Na, K, W, Zr, Ce, Sn, Y, Nb, Ta, Be, Sc, Li, S and Rb, by inductivity coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following a four acid digestion (HF, HClO4, HNO3 and HCl). All analyses for Cu, Ag, Au, U, Co, Ni, Bi, Pb, Zn and W which exceeded upper limits were re-assayed using the ICPFA method to validate values.
The drilling program was designed to re-evaluate the economic potential of the former Eldorado-Echo Bay silver and uranium mines. Previous significant results from the Company’s 2007 drill program include drill hole PR-07-21 which intersected 12.34 meters of 1.01% zinc and 15 meters of 0.15% V2O5. Drill hole PR-07-23 intersected 185.40 meters of 0.12% V205. The drill results continue to expand the poly-metallic mineralization that is associated with zones of strong hydrothermal alteration and brecciation which are locally enriched in uranium, silver, gold, copper, nickel, cobalt, lead, zinc and vanadium. The Eldorado IOCG and uranium target is located on the Company’s property, on the north side of Echo Bay. The 2007 drill program was completed in October with 19,614 meters (72 Holes) of drilling completed on IOCG & uranium targets, with 10,202 samples having been collected and submitted for assaying including 18 holes and 3095 samples from the Eldorado IOCG target zone.
The Company has now released 43 holes form its 72 hole 2007 drill program. The remaining 29 holes will be released when the assays have been received.
THE ELDORADO-IOCG & URANIUM TARGET
In 2006, the Company discovered a new zone of hydrothermal and structurally controlled poly-metallic vein breccias at Eldorado on the North side of Echo Bay. The 2006-2007 programs were designed to reevaluate the economic potential of the former Eldorado-Echo Bay silver and uranium mines. Seven of the nine holes drilled in 2006 encountered widespread poly-metallic and uranium mineralization. The Company intersected 5.0 meters of 0.22% U3O8 including 0.70 % U3O8 over 1.5 meters as well as 1.05% U3O8 over 1.0 meter and 2.07% U3O8 over 0.5 meters. Another significant intercept was 1.5 meters of 514.0 g/ton silver and 0.81% copper. (NR January 29, 2007). Other significant poly-metallic IOCG and uranium mineralization has been intersected this year. The newly discovered hydrothermal and structurally controlled breccias are believed to be enriched in uranium, silver, gold, copper, cobalt, nickel, cobalt, lead, zinc and vanadium. The Company’s 2007 drill program continues to confirm additional widespread poly-metallic and uranium mineralization. The Company has encountered uranium mineralization in four of the 2007 drill holes released to date, which assayed 0.25 meters of 1.41 % U3O8, 0.53 meters of 0.17% U3O8 and 0.30 meters 0.21% U3O8 within poly-metallic core. (NR September 24, 2007). In February, the Company announced drill hole PR-07-24 which intersected 9.37 meters of 0.573% copper, 0.043% uranium (U3O8) and 0.089% vanadium (V2O5) including 1.50 meters of 0.097% uranium (U3O8) as well as 1.06 meter of 1.854% copper, 0.142% uranium (U3O8) and 0.110% vanadium (V2O5)(NR-Feb 27/08).
The Company also encountered uranium mineralization at the Camel Back target in CB-07-13a which intersected 10.0 meters of 0.22% copper as well as 10.5 meters 0.13% copper and 0.25 meters of 0.12% U3O8 (NR- Feb 13/08).
The Contact Lake & Eldorado district is being targeted by the Company for silver and uranium and polymetallic mineralization. The mineralization occurs within the same suite of volcano-plutonic rocks that host other poly-metallic zones in the Eldorado & Contact Lake mineral belt, including the former El Bonanza Silver (Ag) and the Eldorado Uranium (U-Ag-Cu-Co-Ni-Bi) mines. Veins of the former Eldorado and Echo Bay mines are situated in tuff/metasedimentary rocks, near the margins and apices of porphyry stocks, between underlying batholiths and overlying volcanic rocks.
THE ELDORADO & CONTACT LAKE IRON OXIDE COPPER, GOLD, SILVER AND URANIUM PROJECTS
The Eldorado & Contact Lake Permit Areas are located on the east side of Great Bear Lake in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The permit areas are situated 470 kilometers north of the city of Yellowknife. The total size of the Eldorado & Contact Lake Permit area covers over 39,671.83 hectares (98,027.77 acres) in size. The Eldorado & Contact Lake IOCG + uranium project areas include six past producing high grade silver and uranium mines. These include the Echo Bay Silver Mine which produced 23,779,178 ounces of silver and the Eldorado Uranium Mine which produced 15 million pounds of uranium and 8 million ounces of silver (Normin NTGO: Senes Report 2005). The Contact Lake Silver and Uranium Mine, Bonanza and El Bonanza Silver and Uranium mines are included within the Company’s land ownership package. Olympic Dam style volcanic-hosted hydrothermal iron-oxide copper, gold style of deposits are attractive targets for exploration and development due to their poly-metallic nature, high unit value and enormous size and grade tonnage potential. The Eldorado Mineral Belt which is situated in the Great Bear Magmatic Zone, NT, has long been recognized by geologists as one of the most prospective iron oxide copper, gold, silver and uranium regions in northern Canada.
ALBERTA STAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Alberta Star is a Canadian mineral exploration company that identifies, acquires and finances advanced stage mineral exploration projects in Canada. The Company is committed to creating long term shareholder value through the discovery of base and precious metals and uranium.
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Investors are welcomed to contact Mr. Allan Feldman, Alberta Star’s In-house Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Specialist, for all corporate updates at (604) 948-9663 and Mr. Mario Drolet at MI3 Communications Company at (514) 904-1333.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Tim Coupland, President and CEO
Alberta Star Development Corp.
Tel 604.681.3131 Fax 604.408.3884
www.elyseedevelopment.com
ALBERTA STAR DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Tim Coupland
President & CEO
Lou Covello, B.Sc., P.Geo. is the qualified person for the Eldorado & Contact Lake IOCG Projects.
These results have been prepared under the supervision of Lou Covello, B.Sc., P.Geo, who is designated as a Qualified Person with the ability and authority to verify the authenticity and validity of this data. All rock samples were analyzed by Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd. (“ACME”) in Vancouver B.C., Canada using ICP-MS and ICP-FA analysis techniques.
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this News Release.
This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects”, “plans” “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “projects”, “potential” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “could” or “should” occur. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling results and information concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to be forward looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. For further information investors should review the Company’s filings that are available at www.sedar.com or contact Tim Coupland, President at (604) 681-3131.