Duluth Metals Ramps up Winter Exploration on Nokomis Deposit

 

TORONTO, ON - Duluth Metals Limited reported progress on its current winter drilling program. The new drilling contract with IDEA Drilling of Virginia, Minnesota is directed towards further exploration of the company's two federal prospecting permits on the Nokomis Deposit near Ely, Minnesota.

Three diamond drill rigs have been deployed and have drilled four holes to date for 4,000 metres (13,000 ft.). Subject to winter conditions allowing drilling to the end of April 2010, the winter drilling program anticipates drilling thirteen holes on seven federally approved sites for a total of 11,000 metres (36,000 ft.). The winter drilling program includes both in-fill and step-out drilling on the Nokomis Deposit and targets the inferred resources with the anticipation of upgrading the resource estimate.

Future contemplated drill programs will include targeting previously identified higher grade zones (six zones totaling 140 million tonnes Indicated Resource and 34 million tonnes Inferred Resource step-out drilling to determine the extent of the deposit, and in-fill drilling for mine planning and design, and environmental testing purposes.

The winter program comes on the heels of the January 14, 2010 announcement of a joint venture with Antofagasta plc. The joint venture with Antofagasta accelerates Duluth Metals' activities over the next three years in developing the project and working with state and federal officials on environmental reviews and permitting. Activities such as exploratory and development drilling, mine planning, metallurgical testing, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies and continued environmental data collection and analysis will be the development focus for the next 24 months.

The company’s address is 80 Richmond St West, Suite 1500, Toronto, ON M5H 2A4, 416-369-1500, fax: 416-369-1501.