Arkle Res Regulatory News (ARK)

20 Jan 2010 07:00



20th January 2010

Connemara Mining Company plc

Ongoing Drilling on the Stonepark Project Hits

More Zinc-Lead Mineralisation

Connemara Mining (AIM:Conn), the AIM listed Irish zinc explorer, is pleased to report additional results from the ongoing drilling programme at Stonepark near Limerick. Teck Resources Limited are the operators and have a 75% interest in the property.

Hole 32 was drilled 85 metres north of Hole 26 which was previously reported on September 4, 2009. Hole 32 intersected 7.8 metres at 5.18% zinc and 2.68% lead from 207.6 metres depth, including a higher-grade zone of 1.35 metres at 10.4% zinc and 2.16% lead. The sulphide mineralisation consists of massive to disseminated sphalerite, galena and pyrite and is typical of an "Irish-type" deposit such as the large Anglo American mine at Lisheen, 60 kilometres to the northeast of Stonepark.

Significantly, all the intersections in the Stonepark North zone are at a similar depth and stratigraphic level within the host Waulsortian Limestone unit. The zone is still open in a number of directions. Drilling to-date has defined what appears to be a stratiform zone of continuous zinc-lead mineralisation at the shallower, up-dip end of a much larger mineralising system on the Stonepark Project. 

Connemara is also pleased to report positive results from Hole 30, drilled 2.1 km away from Hole 32 and 400 metres south of previous drilling in 2008. Hole 30 contained 1.7 metres of 3.0% zinc and 4.78% lead at a depth of 516.8 m. The presence of zinc-lead mineralisation in this hole suggests a larger mineralised system in a north-south direction. Minco/Xstrata's Tobermalug zone is located approximately 4.5 km to the east and contains a JORC-compliant inferred resource of 11,300,000 tonnes grading 10.2% zinc and 1.9% lead. 

Further infill drilling is required to know the extent and continuity of high grades and thicknesses of zinc-lead mineralisation within this overall 2 km long zone. This is one of the main objectives of the 2010 Connemara drilling campaign. Drilling is ongoing with two drill rigs currently on site.

John Teeling, Chairman of Connemara Mining said, "These are very positive results from Stonepark. The Hole 32 intersection has almost everything one would want - high grade, the right type of mineralisation, shallow depth and is located a good distance from the earlier discoveries.

The Hole 30 intersection 400 metres away from any previous drilling and 2 km away from Hole 32, offers the distinct possibility of a much larger deposit. It is early days but Stonepark is looking good. We will be very active in 2010 and plan to drill 20-30 holes."

This release has been approved by Graham Reid, P. Geo., Director BRG Technical Services, consultants to Connemara. Mr. Reid has 30 years mineral exploration and evaluation experience.

www.connemaramining.com