Canadian Zinc plans summer drilling program

Vancouver-based Canadian Zinc (CZN-T) intends to spend $3 million exploring the Prairie Creek mine property in the Northwest Territories.

The work will begin in May, once permits are in hand and the camp, airstrip and site are opened. About $1.8 million has been earmarked for exploration outside of known resources at the mine site.

A past producer, Prairie Creek currently has a resource of about 11.9 million tonnes grading 12.5% zinc, 10.1% lead and 0.4% copper, plus 161 grams silver per tonne. The project includes an underground mine and mill, and related infrastructure.

Previous exploration identified 12 mineralized zones (typically veins) on surface, along a geological structure traced for more than 16 km on the property. Resources are defined in only three of these zones, the most important of which is still open to the north. Past drilling also encountered stratabound massive-sulphide mineralization, which has yet to be tested.

The summer program will include up to 15,000 metres of drilling to test four new targets outside of Zone 3.

Canadian Zinc has also invited tenders for a $2.5-million underground program, scheduled to begin later this year. Plans call for a 600-metre decline, to be followed by up to 10,000 metres of underground diamond drilling in Zone 3, targeted at both vein and stratabound massive sulphide mineralization. The underground program will allow for infill drilling in known resource areas.

The company previously obtained a land-use permit and a water licence from the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. However, that decision has since been appealed by several local native groups. The case remains pending.

Canadian Zinc says the appeal will not affect its proposed 2004 exploration and development program.

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