TNR Gold Corp (“TNR”) is pleased to provide assay results from six diamond drill holes of the 2008 exploration program on its El Tapau project in Argentina. TNR drilled 7 exploratory drill holes, totalling 1958.70 metres, to evaluate the porphyry copper and gold potential on the property. Results from the first drill hole (ET08-01) announced on September 22, 2008 included 0.49% copper over 82.25 metres including 0.54% copper over 72.80 metres and 0.87% copper over 33.65 metres.
Of the 7 drill holes, (ET08-01 to ET08-07), two holes (ET08-01 and ET08-02) were drilled in the north-eastern, four holes (ET08-04, 05, 06, and 07) in the west-central, and one hole (ET08-03) in the south-eastern parts of the property. The holes targeted areas of both historically known and newly targeted areas of base and precious metal mineralization identified by TNR in its 2007-08 exploration program (3D IP survey, mapping/prospecting and rock/soil geochemical sampling). While reading this news release please refer to our property map that can be viewed at:
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Drill hole ET08-02 was collared (Azimuth 0.0 deg, dip –70 deg) into granodiorite proximal to a smaller quartz-tourmaline breccia pipe and drilled to a depth of 200 metres. From zero to 65.40 metres depth, the drill hole intersected alternating granodiorite and quartz-tourmaline breccia zones and continued mainly through granodiorite open at depth. The best mineralization was intersected over 13.7 metres (38.40m-52.10m), yielding 0.201% copper and 0.001% molybdenum. The mineralization that is primarily associated with pyrite, chalcocite and chalcopyrite, occurs predominantly within the granodiorite but also mineralized along the contact with quartz-tourmaline breccia. The strong copper showing in both drill holes ET08-01 and 02 are suggestive of a potentially significant copper target in the north-eastern part of the property. Additional evidence in support of the potential of this area is that the past producing San Francisco des Los Andes Mine (copper-bismuth-gold), located 4.5 kilometres south within the south-eastern part of the property occurs in a litho-tectonic setting similar to the breccia pipes in the north-eastern part of the property. Both these breccia pipe hosted zones of copper mineralization are on strike to each other along a North-South trending faulted corridor. These mineralized breccias are geologically similar to famous deposits in northern Chile such as Rio Blanco-Los Bronces deposit, which hosts 6.99 billion tonnes at 0.75% copper, 0.018% of molybdenum, and 0.035 gram per tonne of gold. There remains several untested breccia pipes, similar to those encountered in drill holes 1 and 2, along the 4.5 kilometre North-South fault corridor.
The 4 drill holes (ET08-04, 05, 06 and 07) drilled in the west-central part of the property targeted a series of east- to east-northeast striking, narrow and closely spaced auriferous quartz-vein system over a 2.5 square kilometre area.
Previous prospecting and systematic bedrock sampling in this area produced values ranging from trace to 19 g/t gold, averaging 2.2 g/t gold, from 157 sample sites. All four holes intersected similar gold structures and values that were observed on surface. The best mineralization was intersected by drill hole ET08-04, which returned values of 9.15 g/t gold and 78.98 g/t silver over 0.75 metres, and 2.03 g/t gold and 24.45 g/t silver over 1.90 metres. These values are also accompanied with strongly anomalous lead and zinc values.
Additional significant gold and silver values returned by other drill holes in the west-central area are 0.60 g/t gold and 3.76 g/t silver over 2.75 metres (ET08-05), 0.52 g/t gold and 4.21 g/t silver over 1.60 metres (ET08-06) and 0.21 g/t gold and 31.58 g/t silver over 1.30 metres (ET 08-07).
Drill hole ET08-03, drilled in the south-eastern part of the property, did not reach its targeted depth due to poor ground conditions and yielded no significant base or precious metal values.
Selected intercepts representing the best base and precious metals values in the five additional drill holes from the northeast and west-central property areas are tabulated below.
Northeastern Property
-------------------------------------------------- DDH From To Width Copper Molybdenum No. (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) -------------------------------------------------- ET08-02 38.40 52.10 13.70 0.201 0.001 Includes 43.20 47.20 4.00 0.30 0.0005
West-central Property
---------------------------------------------------------------------- DDH From To Width Gold Silver Copper Lead Zinc No. (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ET08-04 27.50 29.00 1.50 0.11 4.88 0.030 0.310 0.210 100.7 101.7 1.00 0.36 5.32 0.015 0.120 0.210 127.45 128.2 0.75 9.15 78.98 0.226 0.466 0.065 193.30 194.1 0.80 0.16 17.70 0.022 0.538 0.580 201.00 201.8 0.80 0.09 48.40 0.086 0.435 0.373 295.40 297.3 1.90 2.03 24.45 0.060 0.820 0.359 ET08-05 91.90 94.65 2.75 0.60 3.76 0.009 0.087 0.140 ET08-06 23.00 24.60 1.60 0.52 4.21 0.007 0.256 0.038 36.60 38.10 1.50 0.22 0.73 0.012 0.016 0.052 50.00 50.65 0.65 0.12 10.82 0.053 0.230 0.078 98.70 100.35 1.65 0.20 12.36 0.046 0.079 0.191 ET08-07 127.70 129.00 1.30 0.21 31.58 0.016 0.180 0.161 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
“We are very encouraged by these results from our first reconnaissance drill program. We have extended the prospective copper-gold breccia zone to over a 4.5 kilometre strike length and intersected precious metal bearing structures in all 4 holes targeted at the gold zone.
TNR Gold holds an option to earn up to 70% interest in the El Tapau project and has negotiated a 2 month extension on its option payment originally due December 10, 2008, which is now due February 10, 2009.
This news release has been prepared under the supervision of Ike Osmani, P. Geo., TNR’s qualified person on this news release.
THE EL TAPAU PROPERTY
The El Tapau copper-gold property, occurring within the eastern Andes of the San Juan Province, is strategically located approximately 50 km north-northwest of TNR’s El Salto property. El Tapau has had historic gold and copper production from numerous underground workings. However, complete records do not exist regarding quantities and grades.
The current drill program was meant to test auriferous vein/stockwork targets in the west-central and the porphyry copper in the north-eastern parts of the property.
ABOUT TNR
TNR is a base and precious metals exploration company focused on aggressively identifying new prospective projects as well as fostering work on its large portfolio of 15 properties in Argentina, as well as overseeing the exploration and development of the Iliamna and Shotgun projects in Alaska through its wholly owned US subsidiary.
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Statements in this press release other than purely historical information, historical estimates should not be relied upon, including statements relating to the Company’s future plans and objectives or expected results, are forward-looking statements. News release contains certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business, including risks inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.