VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — (Marketwire) — 03/06/13 — EDITORS NOTE: There are 4 maps associated with this release.
Rio Alto Mining Limited („Rio Alto“ or the „Company“) (TSX: RIO)(LMA: RIO)(NYSE: RIOM)(DBFrankfurt: MS2) is pleased to report the results of the first 30 drill holes at its La Colorada West Zone gold exploration target. The first drill program had two objectives – to identify potential economic mineralization and to sterilize areas that might be suitable for future mining infrastructure. Both objectives were achieved. 19 drill holes intercepted potentially economic mineralization at shallow depths. 11 drill holes targeted sites for future processing facilities.
La Colorada is located 8.4kms from the Company-s La Arena Gold Mine and covers an area of 1,500 hectares. All of the mining claims and surface rights over the La Colorada project are owned by Rio Alto (Map 1).
Highlights of the 30-hole, 6,970 meter reverse circulation („RC“) drilling program were:
For 2013 a $7 million exploration program is in progress at La Colorada. The objective of this work is to define an initial resource estimate for the project and test three other targets in the vicinity – La Colorada East and Esperanza South and North.
The 2013 exploration program will consist of:
From 1996 to 1999 Cambior conducted geological mapping, sampling of rocks and soils and eventually drilled 3,367 meters in 20 holes of which 6 holes intercepted gold mineralization in the La Colorada West Zone.
Rio Alto commenced work at La Colorada in October 2012 and focused on the La Colorada West and La Colorada East Zones. Exploration activities in late 2012 and early 2013 included:
La Colorada West covers an area of 1.5km by 0.5km and appears to be open to the east and southeast. The lithology is made up of sandstones and breccias from the Chimu formation. The breccia zones are hydrothermal with iron oxide and silica filling the breccia matrix and the alteration is mainly dickite-zunyite and alunite. The lithology map shows the location of sandstones and shale intruded by hydrothermal breccias (in red) that may be a host to economic gold mineralization (Map 2).
At La Colorada West sample lengths in trenches (rocks and soils) and in pits (soils) ranged from 0.7m to 2.0m resulting in 1,378 rock chip samples and 1,747 soil samples. Assays of the rock chip samples resulted in potentially economic gold values in 282 samples of which 231 samples yielded gold grades of 110 parts per billion („ppb“) to less than 600ppb; 21 samples with grades ranging from 601ppb to less than 1,000ppb and 30 samples with gold grades of more than 1,000ppb to more than 6,300ppb with one 2m sample in trench 9 grading 23,630ppb gold. Assays of soil samples yielded potentially economic gold values in 339 samples of which 335 yielded grades of 110ppb to less than 600ppb; 3 samples ranging from 601ppb to 1,000ppb and one sample graded 1,657ppb gold. The La Colorada West Zone appears to be open (to the east and southeast) and a surface soil sampling program on a grid of 50m lines and 25m spacing is in progress at these possible extensions.
Map 3 shows the rock chip and soil sample locations, at La Colorada West, and Table 2 includes the sample results of potentially economic gold mineralization.
The 30 RC drill holes were over the La Colorada West Zone as illustrated in the Maps 2 and 4. The drill hole assay results are set out in Table 3.
The most significant drill holes were CO-R12-001, CO-R12-002, CO-R12-003, CO-R12-005 and CO-012-018. These holes had continuous gold intercepts of 30m to 120m with grades ranging from 0.1gpt gold to 10.3gpt gold and including several meters with more than 3.0 gpt gold. Generally, the other holes intercepted low-grade gold mineralization (Map 4).
Quality Control and Assurance
Sampling of trenches and pits and reverse circulation drilling and sample preparation were performed by Rio Alto personnel and were carried out under strict protocols recommended in the NI 43-101 Technical Report dated July 31, 2010 prepared by Coffey Mining Pty Ltd for the Company (the „Report“). RC samples were taken every 2m and split in half to yield seven to ten kilogram samples. Drill sample recovery was generally in excess of 90%. Rio Alto has a rigorous QA/QC program over the chain-of-custody of samples and the insertion of blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards in each batch of samples. Samples were shipped to CERTIMIN in Lima where they were dried, crushed, pulverized, and assayed. All gold assays were obtained by standard 50g fire assaying with AA finish. CERTIMIN is an ISO 9001:20008 certified laboratory.
Enrique Garay, M Sc. P. Geo. (AIG Member), Vice President Geology of Rio Alto is the Qualified Person responsible for the management of the exploration program and disclosure of the exploration results as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Garay has read and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. For additional information regarding the recommended sampling protocols please refer to the Report, a copy of which is available under Rio Alto-s SEDAR profile at .
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking information including statements concerning expected exploration programs and related costs. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Rio Alto-s disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at . Rio Alto does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
To learn more about Rio Alto Mining Limited, please visit: or Rio Alto-s SEDAR profile at .
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
RIO ALTO MINING LIMITED
Alex Black, President, CEO & Director
To view Map 1, please visit the following link:
To view Map 2, please visit the following link:
To view Map 3, please visit the following link:
To view Map 4, please visit the following link:
Contacts: Rio Alto Mining Limited Alex Black President, CEO & Director +511 625 9900
Rio Alto Mining Limited Alejandra Gomez Investor Relations 604.628.1401 866.393.4493 (FAX)
Only registered users can comment.
