Metanor looking to expand Barry pit (September 18, 2008)

Results from summer drilling at Metanor Resources‘ (MTO-V, MEAOF-O) Barry property could lead to a boost in gold resources at the Barry open pit, the company says.

Material from the property, located in the Urban-Barry volcanic belt, 65 km southwest of Metanor’s Bachelor Lake property in Desmaraisville, Que., is currently feeding the Bachelor Lake mill.

The 10,000-metre diamond-drilling program returned highlights of: 37.8 metres of 6.12 grams gold per tonne from 34.5 metres depth in hole 297, 80 km south of the open pit; 15 metres of 4.85 grams gold from 39 metres in hole 265; and 21.5 metres of 2.77 grams gold from 40.5 metres in hole 264. All intersections represent around 95% of true width.

The company says the results have confirmed the continuity of mineralized zones extending southwest of the main open pit. In addition, hole 262, which cut 7.5 metres of 3.48 grams gold, confirmed the continuity at depth of mineralized zones between the main East pit and the West pit on the property. Metanor says mineralized zones on the project could stretch for 4 km.

Indicated resources at the Barry property currently stand at 385,000 tonnes of 4.23 grams gold for 52,300 oz. gold, plus 966,000 inferred tonnes grading 4.07 grams gold for 126,600 oz.

Metanor is currently deepening a shaft at the past-producing Bachelor Lake in order to restart mining there and has been using production from the Barry property to fund the work. A 2005 technical report put overall indicated and inferred resources at Bachelor Lake at 919,520 tonnes grading 7.27 grams gold for 189,880 oz.

Metanor is trading at 54 in a 12-month range of 34-$1.20. With nearly 73 million shares issued, it has a market cap of $38.7 million.