Minera Alamos to Commence Drilling at Santana/Los Verdes Property

Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV:MAI) reported that planning is nearing completion for the commencement of its new exploration drill program at the now combined Los Verdes/Santana gold project in Sonora, Mexico.

As quoted in the press release:

The phase one drill program consisting of up to 20 holes with a combined meterage of approximately 3,000 meters is anticipated to begin in the next month and will prioritize areas associated with the extension of the Nicho Main deposit to the NW and SE, as well as additional holes at Nicho Norte testing continuity into the contiguous Los Verdes claims (Nicho Norte is currently undergoing bulk heap leaching tests to determine optimal crushing sizes for the potential development of a commercial heap-leach mining operation). Previous drilling programs at the Santana project outlined significant gold mineralization associated with hydrothermal breccias hosted by stocks and batholithic intrusions (approximately 500 meters x 300 meters) in the Nicho main zone target area.

Drill holes were shallow (<150 meters depth) and the mineralization appears to remain open both at depth and along strike. In addition, a number of other mineralized satellite targets were identified within the project area via surface sampling and limited drilling. The most significant of these to date is the Nicho Norte area located approximately 500m northwest of the Nicho Main Zone and which is the subject of ongoing heap leach test mining activities.

Similar gold mineralization was once again drilled via shallow holes (<150 meters) over a strike length of approximately 200 meters right up to the limits of the then owner’s (Corex Gold) northern claim boundary. The identified mineralization appears to extend northwards onto the contiguous Minera Alamos Los Verdes concessions and testing these extensions will be one of the primary objectives of the current exploration program.

The company’s current exploration program will be the first drilling campaign at the project since the Nicho deposit was delineated in 2009-2011. During that time 25,000 meters of total drilling was completed; approximately half occurred within the main zone area, returning significant intervals of disseminated gold mineralization

• 87 meters grading 1.04 g/t gold; and • 47.5 meters grading 0.80 g/t gold mineralization extends from surface and appears to remain open at depth.

A portion of the currently budgeted drill program will be aimed at confirming the vertical continuity of the deposits.

Doug Ramshaw, president, commented:

The opportunity to combine the two respective project areas within Minera Alamos immediately provides near-term gold exploration upside by allowing the previously identified Nicho gold structures to be followed onto the southern end of the Company’s Los Verdes concessions.

These concessions were known to be the subject of historical gold activity and recent surface work by our exploration group has confirmed the presence of Nicho-style geology across the concession boundaries. In addition to targeting lateral extensions, the current program will also allow the Company to confirm the deeper vertical potential of the deposits. We look forward to providing updates on the progress and results from the drill program over the coming months.

Click here to read the full Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV:MAI) press release.