TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2005--Alamos Gold Inc. (Alamos)
(TSX:AGI) announces that six surface reverse circulation holes
recently drilled in the Escondida Hanging Wall Zone have encountered
very high grade to bonanza grade gold mineralization. Vertical hole
05EI034 intersected 28.97 meters of 70.96 g/t Au, including 9.14m of
198.9 g/t Au. The Escondida Zone is located 500 meters northeast of
the Estrella Pit, which is currently being mined. Preliminary uncapped
results from the zone are summarized below:
ESCONDIDA HANGING WALL ZONE COMPOSITE INTERVALS
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DRILL HOLE TOTAL
(Azimuth/ DEPTH FROM TO INT. GOLD
Inclination) (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
05EI024 76.22 45.73 56.40 10.67 12.29
(0/-90) 60.98 62.50 1.52 5.35
68.60 76.22 7.62 0.85
--------------------------------------------------------------------
05EI031 79.27 59.45 73.17 13.72 14.98
(0/-90) Includes:
62.5 64.02 1.52 105.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
05EI032 76.22 56.40 68.60 12.20 36.92
(0/-90) 71.65 76.22 4.57 0.73
Includes:
57.93 59.45 1.52 227.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
05EI033 67.07 47.26 67.07 19.81 11.86
(0/-90)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
05EI034 79.27 50.30 79.27 28.97 70.96
(0/-90) includes:
54.88 64.02 9.14 198.90
70.12 77.74 7.62 24.71
--------------------------------------------------------------------
05EI036 79.27 57.93 76.22 18.29 3.89
(155/-70)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The high-grade zone is a previously unrecognized style of
mineralization consisting of coarse-grained native gold in the
highest gold concentrations encountered to date in the greater
Mulatos deposit area. Coarse visible gold to 2mm grain size was
panned from drill cuttings and frequently seen in coarse reject
material, and reflects an entirely different mode of occurrence from
the Estrella portion of the deposit. The high-grade zone is
stratiform and occurs hanging wall to the lower grade portion of the
Escondida deposit. Assay results from drill holes to date combined
with three isolated higher-grade holes previously drilled delineate
an area approximately 115m long by 50m wide that is open to the
northeast and southeast. Drill intercepts are believed to be true
thickness of the hanging wall zone. Assays results are pending from
seven additional holes containing visible gold. This discovery
appears to confirm the Escondida deposit being the faulted extension
of the historic high-grade deposit at Mina Vieja, which was
responsible for the majority of previous gold production at Mulatos.
Reverse circulation drilling was chosen as the preferred drilling
method, as core holes previously drilled to define the Escondida
deposit had poor recovery in the upper part of the deposit where the
high-grade mineralization occurs. All holes were drilled dry with a
center-return bit and had excellent sample recovery. The samples are
believed to be of high quality and more reliable than the previously
drilled core samples, due to the drilling conditions. A total of 20
holes (1380 meters) have been drilled to date. Additional step-out
drill sites have been prepared and will be drilled in the immediate
future. Drill hole 05EI033 ended in 69.6-g/t mineralization and will
be deepened.
The intercepts are also identifying mineralization where no
previous resource blocks and/or low-grade resource blocks occur in
the existing block model and are expected to significantly increase
resource ounces. Bulk sampling in the underground exploration drift
confirms higher-grade mineralization in the area with 20.9 g/t and
22.0 g/t Au assay from 30-ton rounds. The exploration drift is
generally located nine to thirteen meters below the base of the
high-grade zone.
The Escondida exploration program is being carried out under the
direction of Ken Balleweg, BSc. Geological Engineering, M.S. Geology,
Alamos' Vice President of Exploration and the Qualified Person as
defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities
Administrators. Mr. Balleweg also previously supervised the Escondida
initial and step-out drilling programs for Placer Dome Exploration.
Strict sampling and QA/QC protocol are followed, including the
insertion of standards and blanks on a regular basis. Sample
intervals are 1.5 meters, with two splits taken and bagged on site.
One split is sent to ALS Chemex Inc. in Hermosillo, Mexico for sample
preparation and then to Vancouver, British Columbia for analysis. The
second split is saved in secure facilities at the on-site exploration
camp. Analytical method is fire assay with atomic adsorption finish
and gravimetric finish for individual samples with a gold
concentration greater than 3.0 g/t. Drill hole samples since
recognition of coarse visible gold are being analyzed by 1000-gram
screen fire assays to fully test coarse gold distribution. A 0.5g/t
cut-off grade was used for calculation of composite intervals, with
only a single 1.5m interval of sub-0.5 g/t material allowed within a
composite interval. Holes commonly ended in low-grade mineralization,
as the objective was to solely test the high-grade upper zone.
Underground infill drilling is in progress with two rigs in the
Escondida zone, with 1837 meters completed in 19 holes to date. A
third underground core drill is expected to arrive in January 2006.
Additional underground core holes will be drilled into the high-grade
zone to further define limits and grade.
A map of drill hole locations can be accessed at the following
website: www.alamosgold.com [ See Map - PDF ]
Alamos common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
under the symbol "AGI" and convertible debentures under the symbol
AGI.DB".
Safe Harbor Statement under the United States Private Securities
Litigation Act of 1995: Statement in this release that are
forward-looking, including statements relating to the future recovery
of the Mulatos Project, are subject to various risks and
uncertainties concerning the specific factors identified about in
Alamos's periodic filings with the Ontario Securities Commission and
the U. S. Securities Exchange Commission. Such information contained
herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof
based on information currently available. The Company does not intend
to update this information and disclaims any legal liability to the
contrary.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for th
e adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Alamos Gold Inc. (TSX:AGI)
CONTACT: Alamos Gold Inc.
John A. McCluskey
President and Chief Executive Officer
416-368-9932 x203
OR
Alamos Gold Inc.
Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski
Investor Relations
416-368-9932 x201
vvargas@alamosgold.com
SOURCE: Alamos Gold Inc.
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