Property Overview. The Orgatash prospect occurs within EMX’s Gezart exploration license in the Kyrgyz Republic’s Southern Tien Shan gold belt. Orgatash is underlain by hornfels and altered shale and siltstone units cut by a Permian-aged tonalite intrusion. This geologic setting is favorable for the occurrence of intrusion-related gold deposits given the well-documented relationship between Permianaged intrusives and gold mineralization in the Tien Shan. EMX’s work at Orgatash has established the prospect’s importance as a bulk tonnage gold exploration target.
Orgatash Drilling Results. EMX drilled eight core holes totaling 801.8 meters in 2008 (see Figure 1). The drilling intersected significant gold mineralization, with most of the drill intercepts occurring at or near the surface (see Table 1). The drilling encountered quartz-veined and locally silicified and potassically altered gold-bearing tonalite intrusive host rock, locally overprinted by pervasive carbonate veining and alteration.
Table 1. Significant Orgatash 2008 Gold Drill Intercepts.
Drillhole | Total Depth | Significant Gold Interval | |||
(m) | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Grade (g/t Au) | |
ODDH-4 | 200 | 0 | 42.3 | 42.3 | 1.481 |
0 | 26.6 | 26.6 | 0.798 | ||
ODDH-5 | 66 | 30 | 36 | 6 | 0.598 |
40 | 51 | 11 | 0.648 | ||
2.8 | 17 | 14.2 | 1.355 | ||
ODDH-6 | 100 | 27.0 56.0 | 41.0 64.0 | 14.0 8.0 | 0.475 0.727 |
80.6 | 86 | 5.4 | 0.83 | ||
ODDH-7 | 100.8 | 91.2 | 99.8 | 8.6 | 0.626 |
ODDH-8 | 70 | 0.0 52.8 | 45.6 63.4 | 45.6 10.6 | 1.183 0.318 |
ODDH-9 | 96 | 14.6 | 32.8 | 18.2 | 0.447 |
ODDH-10 | 70 | 1 | 55.2 | 54.2 | 0.849 |
9 | 15.1 | 6.1 | 0.937 | ||
ODDH-11 | 99 | 19.4 | 27.3 | 7.9 | 1.149 |
90.6 | 94.5 | 3.9 | 0.741 |
Intervals calculated at 0.3 g/t Au cutoff over a minimum length of 3 meters.
Alex Stewart’s Karabalta lab carried out preliminary test work on a 67 kilogram composite of core samples from hole ODDH-2 (37 coarse rejects from intervals 0-56 meters). This work consisted of fine crushing of the sample (nominal 0.85 mm), gravity concentration, and cyanide leaching of the gravity tails. The results yielded approximately 90% combined recovery, and that the Orgatash gold mineralized material is non-refractory and may be amenable to heap leach extraction.
Figure 1. Orgatash drill hole locations, and trenching and rock sampling results.
Orgatash Trench Sampling Results. EMX’s 2008 Orgatash trenching and road cut sampling program totalled 1,410 chip channel samples taken over 2,516 meters. Trenching, rock sampling and detailed geologic mapping extended the mineralized zone to the south and west, outlining a 800 (NW-SE) by 400 (NE-SW) meter gold mineralized footprint open to the northwest, west and south. Over a third of the channel sampling in the central area returned significant gold intervals (see Table 2 and Figure 1). These significant intervals yield a weighted average grade of 1.41 g/t gold, with particularly notable intervals of 62.4 meters averaging 1.75 g/t gold, 65.8 meters averaging 1.77 g/t gold, and 58.2 meters averaging 1.36 g/t gold.
Table 2. Significant Orgatash 2008 Trench Gold Intervals.
Trench Name | Total Length (m) | Significant | Gold Interval |
Interval (m) | Grade (g/t Au) | ||
Org-Tr-7_Road | 279.5 | 8.9 | 1.463 |
45.3 | 0.798 | ||
65.8 | 1.774 | ||
4.6 | 9.443 | ||
11.3 | 0.414 | ||
14.7 | 1.437 | ||
14 | 0.818 | ||
Org-Tr-7/2_Road | 198.1 | 23.6 | 0.59 |
24.5 | 1.361 | ||
62.4 | 1.753 | ||
19 | 0.542 | ||
Org-Tr-22 | 143.7 | 12 | 0.93 |
58.2 | 1.362 | ||
Org-Tr-23 | 64 | 2.4 | 3.141 |
8 | 1.881 | ||
4 | 4.673 | ||
Org-Tr-31 | 63 | 21.8 | 0.691 |
Org-Tr-31 | 51.6 | 9.7 | 0.869 |
Org-Tr-32 | 57.3 | 10 | 0.996 |
Org-Tr-33 | 132.9 | 16.2 | 0.727 |
Org-Tr-34 | 124 | 7 | 1.218 |
17 | 1.359 | ||
Org-Pr-8 | 71.2 | 8 | 0.88 |
Org-Pr-9 | 121.9 | 3 | 11 |
Org-Pr-11 | 98 | 15 | 0.45 |
10 | 3.662 | ||
Org-Pr-13 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 4.113 |
Org-Pr-14 | 44 | 5 | 0.58 |
Org-Pr-16 | 27 | 6.6 | 0.577 |
Org-Pr-18 | 40.3 | 6.1 | 0.515 |
Intervals calculated at 0.3 g/t Au cutoff over a minimum length of 3 meters.
New Intrusion-Hosted Gold Zone Discovered. EMX followed-up on the Orgatash exploration success with a license-wide program based upon the intrusion-hosted gold model. This program resulted in the discovery of a new intrusion-hosted gold target located approximately nine kilometers west of Orgatash. Geological mapping identified numerous quartz veins and zones of quartz veinlets with anomalous levels of gold mineralization. Road cuts across the prospect were selectively chip channel sampled in zones of quartz veining and veinlets. The significant gold mineralized intervals are summarized in Table 3, and include 14.3 meters averaging 1.21 g/t gold and 13.7 meters averaging 1.64 g/t gold. In addition to the road cut sampling, a north-south striking stockwork zone was identified and traced for about 400 meters along trend. Ten reconnaissance rock grab samples taken from quartz veins in this zone returned assays ranging from 0.2 g/t to 9.9 g/t gold.
Table 3. Significant Gezart Prospect Road Cut Gold Intervals.
| Sampling | Total Length (m) | Significant Gold Interval | |
| Profile | Interval (m) | Grade g/t Au | |
| Gez-Road-1 | 111 | 6.3 | 2.469 |
| 5 | 1.95 | ||
| Gez-Road-2 | 20 | 12.2 | 0.844 |
| Gez-Road-3 | 52 | 14.3 | 1.212 |
| 8.8 | 1.863 | ||
| Gez-Road-7 | 21 | 13.7 | 1.641 |
| Gez-Road-8 | 6 | 6 | 1.275 |
| GZ-PR-1 | 122 | 15 | 0.73 |
| 9 | 1.119 | ||
| 10 | 0.903 | ||
| 5 | 0.378 |
Intervals calculated at 0.3 g/t Au cutoff over a minimum length of 3 meters.
Discussion. EMX’s 2008 exploration program significantly expanded the size of the Orgatash intrusionhosted gold zone initially identified in 2007. The drilling and surface trenching gold assays are characterized by a relatively consistent grade distribution at a 0.3 g/t cutoff from 0.5 to over 2 g/t gold. The gold zone occurs from the surface to shallow depths (i.e., < 100 meters), with grade characteristics and size potential consistent with a bulk tonnage exploration target. Further, the improved geological understanding developed in 2008, coupled with geophysical interpretations, has led to the identification of concealed intrusive host targets to the west and south of the main zone. These ‘blind’ targets are interpreted to occur beneath a shallow (i.e., 50 to 100 meters depth) veneer of the hornfels units, and could potentially increase the size of the gold mineralized system by a significant degree.
EMX is planning a 2009 program to follow-up on the exploration successes at Orgatash, as well as on the new intrusion-hosted gold zone discovered in 2008. EMX continues to evaluate its business opportunities to maximize the value of this important company asset.
Comments on Sampling, Assaying, and QA/QC. EMX’s drill and geochemical samples were collected in accordance with accepted industry standards. The surface and drill intercepts reported represent true thicknesses within the bulk tonnage host targets. The samples were submitted to the ISO 9002 certified Alex Stewart (Assayers) Limited laboratory in Karabalta, Kyrgyz Republic for sample preparation and analysis. Gold was analyzed by fire assay with an AAS finish. Selected intervals for multi-element analyses were determined by ICP/AES techniques. As standard procedure, the Company conducts routine QA/QC analysis on all assay results, including the systematic utilization of certified reference materials, blanks, field duplicates, and umpire laboratory check assays.
EMX is exploring and investing in a first class mineral property and royalty portfolio in some of the most prospective, but under-explored mineral belts of the world.
Dr. Pavel Reichl, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and consultant to the Company, has reviewed and verified the technical information contained in this news release.
For further information contact:
David M. Cole
President and Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (303) 979-6666
Email: dave@eurasianminerals.com
Website: www.eurasianminerals.com
Kim C. Casswell
Corporate Secretary
Phone: (604) 688-6390
Email: kcasswell@eurasianminerals.com
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statement
Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Eurasian Minerals Inc. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.