Northair tables Lobos trench results

Results from mechanized trenching indicate that the Lobos gold project, in Mexico’s Sinaloa state, has bulk-tonnage potential, according to International Northair Mines (INM-V).

The property lies along the western flanks of the Sierra Madre Occidental, 40 km from the city of Culiacan. It can be reached by a 90-minute drive from the city along paved and dirt roads. Topography is gentle, with elevations ranging from 250 to 400 metres.

Northair holds a 1.4-sq.-km core concession, optioned from a private owner, and has staked a surrounding concession that measures 5 by 6 km. To earn 100% of the internal concession, Northair must pay US$100,000 over three years, followed by a final buyout of US$400,000.

The Vancouver-based junior recently completed 13 trenches totalling 600 metres along a 2.2-km-long “corridor” of mineralization along the southwestern flank of a rhyodacitic domal complex in a fine-grained flow banded unit. The alteration and mineralization in the corridor vary in width from 25 to more than 100 metres.

Lobos hosts zones of epithermal low-sulphidation gold mineralization related to a hot-springs-type system. The mineralization consists of sub-sinter level silica replacement, veining, micro-veinlets and hydrothermal breccias.

Historic production from the property has been minimal, reports Northair. Small adits and shafts were developed by previous owners, in the 1950s, who were chasing bonanza-grade gold.

The objective of the recent trenching was to provide continuous sampling in zones of mineralization that are largely covered by colluvium and soil. Northair had previously collected 294 channel samples with an average grade of 1.2 grams gold per tonne. Three zones — Northwest, Central and Southeast — have been defined in the corridor.

The trenching tested less than 40% of the corridor — mostly concealed areas within the three defined zones.

In the Northwest zone, where, previously, 89 channel samples in a 400-by-40-metre area averaged 1.55 grams, 10 trenches were excavated perpendicular to the postulated strike of the mineralization.

From east to west, the trenches returned the following gold values:

5.5 metres grading 3.45 grams gold per tonne in trench 1;

9 metres of 0.71 gram in trench 2;

15 metres of 1.19 grams in trench 3;

7 metres of 1.35 grams in trench 4;

15 metres of 2.95 grams in trench 5;

8 metres of 2.25 grams in trench 6;

31 metres of 0.64 gram in trench 7; and

27 metres of 0.7 gram in trench 8.

Trenches 9 and 10, on the western end of the Northwest zone, returned no significant values.

In the Central zone, trenches 11 and 12 were dug subparallel to the strike of the zone, owing to topographic restrictions. Trench 11 returned 10 metres of 1.47 grams and 30 metres of 1.29 grams, whereas trench 12 yielded 35 metres of 1.58 grams. Previous sampling in a 280-by-70-metre area of the Central zone averaged 1.31 grams for 60 samples.

A single trench on the edge of the Southeast zone cut 20 metres of 1.08 grams in trench 13. Based on 88 previous samples, a 130-by-140-metre area of the Southeast zone averaged 1.56 grams.

With $500,000 in its treasury, Northair is contemplating further trenching and follow-up drilling. The junior has 5.6 million shares outstanding, or 6.8 million fully diluted.