VANCOUVER, Jan. 25, 2013 /CNW/ - Search Minerals Inc. ("Search" or the "Company") (TSXV: SMY) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alterra Resources Inc., are pleased to
announce the results of the 1213 m NQ drilling program on the Pesky Hill Prospect, located 25 km southeast of Port Hope Simpson, Labrador, in the Port
Hope Simpson REE District. The exploration drill program, designed to
test the surface mineralization to shallow depth, intersected
HREE-Zr-Y-Nb vein-hosted mineralization, similar to that observed on
the surface. An additional drill program of 1,000m - 3,000m is
recommended to help determine if substantial quantities of high grade
HREE mineralization occur in the Zr Showing at the Pesky Hill Prospect.
Highlights:
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A $250,000 Phase I exploration NQ drilling program comprised of 38
shallow vertical holes (1213m) ranging from 26 to 50 m in depth was
completed;
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Significant results include:
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DDH PHD-12-16 intersected 0.66% Y (0.84% Y2O3), 1.04% Zr (1.40% ZrO2),
1.02% Nb (1.46% Nb2O5), 0.12% Dy (0.14% Dy2O3) comprised of 64% HREE +
Y (42.5% HREE) over an interval of 2.56m
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DDH PHD-12-33 intersected 0.70% Y (0.88% Y2O3), 1.27% Zr (1.71% ZrO2),
0.96% Nb (1.37% Nb2O5), 0.13% Dy (0.15% Dy2O3) comprised of 71.1% HREE
+ Y (48.5% HREE) over an interval of 2.25m; and,
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The Zr Showing contains some of the highest grade HREE vein
mineralization (PHD-12-33) and is open at depth.
Springdale Forest Resources (Diamond Drilling Division) carried out the
drilling program. A total of 38 holes (26 to 50 m depth) were drilled
in three separate showings (Figure 1 - Plan Map) to trace and sample
high-grade mafic-rich, amphibole-pyroxene-quartz-titanite
mineralization, and related granitic pegmatites and granites (see
Search's news release, March 1, 2012). These vertical drill holes were
drilled approximately 10 m apart.
Table 1 below lists Zr-Y-Nb-REE highlight results from the three
showings. Values for Y range from 0.28% Y to 0.70% Y; for Zr from 0.68%
Zr 1.42% Zr; Nb from 0.39% Nb to 1.02% Nb; Dy from 0.05% Dy to 0.13% Dy
with HREE + Y for all holes from 59.8% HREE + Y (36.0% HREE) to 78.2%
HREE + Y (58.5% HREE). HREE mineralization was intersected in 18 drill
holes (see Figure 1- Plan Map).
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Drill Hole No.
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PHD-12-01
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PHD-12-16
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PHD-12-25
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PHD-12-30
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PHD-12-33
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PHD-12-35
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Showing
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Showing 10
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Showing 1
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Zr Showing
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Zr Showing
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Zr Showing
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Zr Showing
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Interval (m)
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0.00 - 0.82
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0.00-2.56
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0.60-2.46
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1.70-2.96
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1.55-3.80
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6.47-7.49
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Length (m)
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0.82
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2.56
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1.86
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1.26
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2.25
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1.02
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Y
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4685
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6593
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2750
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6207
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6966
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3786
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Zr
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6766
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10448
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8515
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14249
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12653
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14090
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Nb
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7861
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10237
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3881
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8813
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9582
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4830
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La
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675
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1214
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148
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492
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648
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398
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Ce
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1750
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2947
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419
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1339
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1718
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1020
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Pr
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262
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410
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70
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201
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267
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154
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Nd
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1300
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1882
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413
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1067
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1374
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723
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Sm
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519
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649
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208
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504
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575
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273
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Eu
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42.4
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49.7
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18.2
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41.2
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45.0
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21.6
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Gd
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736
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765
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310
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807
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816
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356
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Tb
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154
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168.0
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70.6
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168.0
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180.0
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90.6
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Dy
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1060
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1194
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546
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1223
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1285
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674
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Ho
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233
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271.0
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125.0
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281.0
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294.0
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156
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Er
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636
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850
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386
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813
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904
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499
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Tm
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79.8
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112.0
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50.2
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106.0
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123.0
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69.8
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Yb
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350
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527
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239
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485
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596
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360
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Lu
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37.4
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53.3
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25.7
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53.7
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68.6
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39
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LREE
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4506.0
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7102.0
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1258.0
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3603.0
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4582.0
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2568.0
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HREE
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3328.6
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3990.0
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1770.7
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3977.9
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4311.6
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2266.0
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HREE + Y
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8013.6
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10583.0
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4520.7
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10184.9
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11277.6
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6052.0
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TREE
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7834.6
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11092.0
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3028.7
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7580.9
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8893.6
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4834.0
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TREE + Y
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12519.6
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17685.0
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5778.7
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13787.9
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15859.6
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8620.0
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%HREE
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42.49%
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35.97%
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58.46%
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52.47%
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48.48%
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46.88%
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%HREE + Y
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64.01%
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59.84%
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78.23%
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73.87%
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71.11%
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70.21%
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Note:
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All amounts parts per million (ppm). 10,000 ppm = 1% = 10kg/tonne
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REE
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Rare Earth Elements: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb,
Lu (the Lanthanide Series)
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TREE
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Total Rare Earth Elements: Sum of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy,
Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu
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LREE
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Light Rare Earth Elements: Sum of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm
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HREE
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Heavy Rare Earth Elements: Sum of Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu
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Y
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Y herein not included in HREE due to low market value compared to most
Lanthanide series HREE
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%HREE + Y
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%(HREE+Y)/(TREE+Y)
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%HREE
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%(HREE/TREE)
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Table 1 - REE, Y, Zr and Nb Geochemistry for Selected Intervals from
Drill Holes
Mineralized veins appear to have a string-like geometry, with
intersection thicknesses of the high-grade HREE zones ranging up to
2.56 m. The high-grade veins are associated with lower grade granitic
pegmatites and anomalous REE-bearing granite. Small pegmatitic vein
stockworks are observed near Showing 10. Results from the Zr Showing
indicate that the HREE vein at this showing is open at depth and
suggest further drilling is required. Additional untested HREE
showings, with similar geological settings, also occur in the Pesky
Hill area.
The Pesky Hill Prospect is located near St. Lewis Inlet on the southeast Labrador coast. An all
season, maintained gravel highway (Highway 510) is located about 5 km
from the prospect, allowing access to the local port facilities,
airstrips, and infrastructure at Port Hope Simpson, St. Lewis, and
Mary's Harbour. Access to the Pesky Hill Prospect is via a newly constructed 8 km long forest road.
Drill core was transported from the drill site to Search's Port Hope
Simpson base where it was logged and split in half using a diamond
table saw. One half of the core was kept in core boxes in the core
storage facility for reference, and the other half was packaged and
transported to ActLab's Sample Preparation Lab in Goose Bay. Search
representatives maintained custody of the core and samples at all times
until they had been delivered to the lab. See Search's July 27, 2010
news release for details of the sample preparation and assay methods.
Jim Clucas, President and CEO of Search Minerals notes "The small drill
program at Pesky Hill was designed to test the vein-type mineralization sampled and mapped at
surface. The drilling has demonstrated that HREE mineralization in the
Pesky Hill area occurs in small volume but higher grade veins that are
difficult to correlate."
He continued, "In contrast, the REE deposit outlined at our flagship
Foxtrot Project is easily correlated in all directions as it occurs as
a large sheet-like body. The associated magnetic anomaly and geological
mapping extend the mineralization for over 20 km. Similar magnetic
responses and geology occur at the Fox Pond and Foxy Lady Prospects
where initial drill programs are planned for 2013."
Large Medium-grade vs Small High-grade REE Mineralization
The Port Hope Simpson REE District, which is 135 km long and 4 - 12 km
wide, contains both high-grade pegmatitic vein-hosted HREE
mineralization (Rock Rolling Hill, Rattling Bog Hill, Piperstock Hill,
Southern Shore, Toots Cove, Pesky Hill, HighREE Island and Ocean View
Prospects) and larger, sheet-like, volcanic-hosted mineralization
(Foxtrot Project and Foxy Lady and Fox Pond Prospects). The Foxtrot
Prospect presently contains a NI 43-101 compliant indicated resource of
9,229,000 tonnes grading 189 ppm Dy (217 ppm Dy2O3), 1442 ppm Nd (1687
ppm Nd2O3), 1040 ppm Y (1320 ppm Y2O3) and 0.88% TREE + Y (1.06% TREO +
Y2O3); it also has 5,165,000 tonnes inferred resource at slightly lower
grades (see Search Minerals news release, November 1, 2012 and the
technical report titled "Technical Report on the Foxtrot Project in
Labrador, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada", dated December 14, 2012,
each available on the SEDAR website under the Company's profile). The
Fox Pond and Foxy Lady Prospects and other areas in the Fox Harbour
volcanic belt have similar volcanic-hosted mineralization and are
currently being explored for additional Foxtrot-like resources. There
are currently no resources outlined in the high-grade HREE vein-hosted
showings.
Qualified Person:
Dr. Randy Miller, Ph.D., P.Geo, is the Company's Vice President
Exploration and Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Dr.
Miller has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in
this news release as applicable. The company will endeavor to meet high
standards of integrity, transparency, and consistency in reporting
technical content, including geological and assay (e.g., REE) data.
About Search Minerals:
Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY) is a TSX Venture Exchange listed
company, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. Search is the discoverer of
the Port Hope Simpson REE District, a highly prospective light and
heavy REE belt located in southeast Labrador where the company controls
a dominant land position in a belt 135 km long and up to 12 km wide.
In addition, Search has a number of other mineral prospects in its
portfolio located in Newfoundland and Labrador, including a number of
claims in the Strange Lake Complex, where Quest Rare Minerals has an
earn-in agreement with the Company; and at the Red Wine Complex, where
Great Western Minerals Group has a Joint Venture with the Company.
Furthermore, Search Minerals is the owner of patents relating to the
Starved Acid Leaching Technology ("SALT"), a process with the potential
to aid in the recovery of certain metals.
Search Minerals is lead by a management team and board with a proven
track record in the mining industry. The Company also has a team with
deep geological and metallurgical expertise lead by Dr. Randy Miller
and Dr. David Dreisinger
All material information on the Company may be found on its website at www.searchminerals.ca and on SEDAR at sedar.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider
(as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange)
accepts responsibility of the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement:
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not
historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks,
uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results,
performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking statements include those risks set out in Search's
public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Search believes that the assumptions and factors used in
preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance
should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the
date this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events
will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where
required by law, Search disclaims any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise.
Image with caption: "Figure 1 - Plan Map (CNW Group/Search Minerals Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130125_C8853_PHOTO_EN_23061.jpg
SOURCE: Search Minerals Inc.
