Timberline Resumes Drilling at Butte Highlands
COEUR D'ALENE, ID - Timberline Resources Corporation reported commencement of its 2009 core drilling and surface reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Butte Highlands Gold Project. The core program is a follow up to the discovery in hole BH-DDH 08-03 with the goal to expand the current outlined areas of mineralization, while the RC program is a continuation of the Company's hydrologic mine modeling.
In the 2008 core drill program, hole BH-DDH 08-03 was drilled 100 feet northwest of previously tested mineralized boundaries. The hole returned several mineralized gold intervals, including 2.0 feet of 0.62 ounces per ton (oz/t), 37.0 feet of 0.22 oz/t, 5.0 feet of 0.26 oz/t, 9.0 feet of 0.43 oz/t, and 35.0 feet of 0.14 oz/t. These results demonstrate the northwest extension of the Upper, Middle, and Lower zones, while the latter two intervals comprise a new discovery at depth or a potential offset portion of previously-identified zones. In addition, historic core hole BH 94-17 intersected portions of the mineralized zone returning 27.2 feet of 0.27 oz/t, which included 13.5 feet of 0.29 oz/t and 7.9 feet of 0.42 oz/t. The current 4-hole core drill program is designed to further test the strike and up-dip continuity of the mineralization encountered in both BH-DDH 08-03 and BH 94-17 and to increase the current mineral estimates. The additional data will be incorporated into the mine model for development planning.
Timberline Vice-President of Exploration Paul Dircksen stated, "This program will have no impact on current underground development timelines at Butte Highlands, however both the extension and the discovery have the potential to greatly increase mineral estimates which could extend mine life and improve overall economics."
Dircksen added, "Given the depth and relative difficulty of surface drilling at Butte Highlands, we redesigned the program for 2009, reducing the number of surface holes and prioritizing the rapid development of the exploration decline to expedite drilling from underground. These drill programs are part of this process."
In addition to the core program, four RC holes will be drilled to further define the hydrologic model for the underground mine development planned to begin following receipt of approval by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the Underground Exploration Plan. The hydrologic holes will test the water volumes and be used as environmental monitor wells throughout the life of the mine.
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