22nd Dec 2006 10:06
Frontier Mining Ltd22 December 2006 22 December 2006 AIM: FML Frontier Mining Ltd ("Frontier" or "the Company") Koskuduk Gold Prospect Update Frontier is pleased to announce the preliminary results from a second stagedrilling programme carried out during 2006 at its Koskuduk Gold Prospect inKazakhstan. On the basis of the drilling completed by Frontier in 2005, a stateapproved C2 and P1 oxide resource of 268,000 ounces of gold and a P1 sulphideresource of 125,000 ounces of gold were defined at Koskuduk in 2005. The 2005drilling programme targeted gold mineralisation identified in historic diamonddrill holes and gold soil geochemical anomalies identified by Frontier. Mapping of colluvial cover by Frontier during the 2006 field season indicatedthat large areas of the Koskuduk Prospect are blanketed by relatively thickQuaternary soils whose geochemical signature may not reflect underlying bedrockchemistry. Reprocessing of induced polarisation ("IP") geophysical data by SRK ExplorationServices indicates that gold mineralisation occurs coincident with coherentchargeability anomalies which have a cumulative strike length of over fourkilometres. This interpretation is consistent with evidence from diamond drillcore which indicates an association between gold mineralisation and thedistribution of pyrite/arsenical pyrite. In 2006 Frontier drilled at Koskuduk 150 angled reverse circulation ("RC") holesto an average depth of 35 metres. The holes were drilled as a series of fencelines across IP anomalies and were designed to penetrate Quaternary cover inorder to provide bedrock geochemical samples. Assay results have only beenreceived for nine holes, of which two holes drilled at the margin of an IPanomaly terminated in oxide gold mineralisation and returned near surfaceintercepts of 12 metres at 0.34 g/t Au and 8 metres at 0.53 g/t Au. Assayresults from all other holes, including those which drilled the core of the IPanomalies, are pending. Preliminary results suggest that bedrock RC samplingwill be a cost effective tool in defining gold anomalous bedrock targetsassociated with IP anomalies. A total of 30 angled diamond drill holes totalling 2,841 metres were drilled atKoskuduk in 2006. Assay results have only been received for four holes locatedmarginal to the main IP and geochemical anomalies: intercepts included 22metres at 1.87 g/t Au and 16.0 g/t Ag from a downhole depth of 42 metres and 14metres at 1.73 g/t Au and 38.0 g/t Ag from a downhole depth of 12.5 metres.Evidence from drill core indicates that gold mineralisation in these holes isassociated with oxide ore and cyanide leach metallurgical tests are planned. Assay results from diamond drill core indicate that gold-silver mineralisationat Koskuduk is associated with strongly anomalous lead-zinc assays and in thisrespect shares similarities with the oxide and sulphide gold-silvermineralisation at Frontier's Naimanjal gold/silver mine in northeast Kazakhstan. Moreover, both systems are associated with regional structures and arecharacterised by disseminated and vein-type mineralisation with significantstrike length. Significant Drill Core Intercepts Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) KK-001 15.0 61.5 46.5 1.03 - KK-002 50.2 66.7 16.5 1.91 - KK-006 145.7 163.5 16.0 6.75 - KK-007 111.0 130.0 19.0 1.27 18.2 KK-009 1.20 8.8 7.6 2.46 - KK-022 42.0 58.0 22.0 1.87 16.0 KK-023 12.5 26.0 14.0 1.73 38.0 __________________________________________________________________________ Holes KK-001 to KK-009 were drilled in 2005. Holes KK-022 to KK-023 weredrilled in 2006. All holes are angled holes and reported intervals are drillhole lengths. Brian Savage, CEO of Frontier commented, "while soil geochemical surveys havebeen important in the exploration for oxide-porphyry copper deposits innortheastern Kazakhstan, they have been of limited use as an exploration tool atKoskuduk. Understanding the limitations of using soil geochemistry as anexploration tool for gold mineralisation at Koskuduk has been very important inbetter planning our 2007 drilling campaign. Frontier is encouraged bypreliminary results from the 2006 drilling programme which has identified nearsurface oxide gold ore over mineable widths. Together with the historic drillresults and the results of Frontier's 2005 drilling programme, all indicationsare that Koskuduk is a large and potentially significantly mineralised system.Frontier Mining Ltd will continue to release drill results from the 2006 drillprogramme as they become available. A 2007 drill programmed is planned to testthe downdip and strike extensions of mineralisation intercepted in 2006." Qualified Persons and QA/QC: Frontier Mining Ltd employ a robust QA/QC protocol which was designed by SRKExploration Services. The quality control programme is independent of the assaylaboratories internal QA/QC and involves the insertion of certified referencestandards, quality control blanks and staged duplicates into each batch ofsamples. SRK Exploration Services have reviewed the assay results for thecertified reference standards, quality control blanks and staged duplicatesinserted during the 2006 exploration programme and confirm that samplepreparation and assaying has been of a very high standard. Diamond drill core is cut into equal halves using a diamond drill saw at theCompanies core handling facility in Kurchatov. Samples are crushed andpulverized by Geochem Exploration LLP in Almaty and are assayed by Alex StewartAssayers at Kara Balta in Kyrgyzstan. Alex Stewart Assayers Kara Balta operateand ISO accredited laboratory, participate in the biannual Geostats Pty Ltdround robin surveys of laboratory quality and are an international subsidiary ofthe Alex Stewart Group. SRK Exploration Services conducted an unannounced audit of Alex StewartsAssayers laboratory at Kara Balta prior to the commencement of the Companies2006 field programme and subsequent check visits. Alex Stewart Assayersperformed very well during these audits and demonstrated appropriate accuracy,precision and overall QA/QC. Enquiries: Frontier Mining Ltd Brian Savage +44 (0) 20 7898 9019Parkgreen Communications Cathy Malins / Annabel Leather +44 (0) 20 7851 7480 About Frontier Frontier Mining Ltd. is a mineral exploration and development company that wasincorporated in the state of Delaware, USA, on August 5, 1998 for the purpose ofexploring and developing gold and copper deposits in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, Frontier locates, evaluates,acquires, explores and develops mineral properties. Frontier has two licenses owned by its wholly owned subsidiaries in Kazakhstan.They are the Naimanjal exploration and mining licence, held by FML Kazakhstan,and the Baltemir exploration licence, held by Baltemir LLP. Frontier has oneproducing gold mine, Naimanjal; one pre-feasibility stage gold project,Koskuduk; and one exploration stage gold prospect, Baltemir. Frontier also has one potential copper porphyry deposit with associated gold andmolybdenum, Baitimir; and several copper/gold prospects along a 25-km trendincluding both VMS and porphyry types. Metallurgical tests on its Beschoku andYubileiny copper projects confirm the oxide copper ore is amenable to extractionusing low cost SX-EW technology. Frontier shares are traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.Frontier has 132,979,597 ordinary shares issued and 6,197,091 outstandingoptions and warrants, giving 139,176,688 fully diluted ordinary shares. Further company information may be accessed at the Frontier Mining Ltd. websiteat: www.frontiermining.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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