VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Aug. 21, 2008) – True North Gems (TSX VENTURE:TGX) is pleased to announce that drilling completed to date as part of the 2008 exploration and pre-feasibility program has been successful in extending known ruby and pink sapphire mineralization and has intersected new intervals of high grade concentrations of mineralization from both the Aappaluttoq and Aappaluttoq Deep Zones at the Company’s 823 km2 Fiskenaesset Ruby Project, located on the southwest coast of Greenland.
In 2008, a total of 1,834.8 metres were drilled in 19 drill holes to a maximum depth of 176.8 metres. This program was implemented to test an area of the Host Zone to the north and west of previous drilling, and to the east along the projected strike of the Aappaluttoq Deep Zone. Fourteen of these drill holes contain significant concentrations of ruby and pink sapphire. In addition, all of the eight holes targeted to intersect the Aappaluttoq Deep Zone were successful in identifying significant concentrations and confirming the continuity of ruby and pink sapphire mineralization.
Ruby and pink sapphire, identified in core from 2008 drilling, occurs at intervals that vary from less than 1 metre and up to 12 metres in thickness and at down hole depths from 1.2 metres to 152.5 metres. Individual crystals, visible in core, range in size from less than 1 mm to 45 mm in size and comprise from less than 0.5 percent to more than 25 percent of ruby and sapphire by rock volume within these intervals. Coarse crystals occurred in massive aggregates to more than 11 centimetres along the core axis.
Multiple intervals of visible ruby and pink sapphire mineralization have been documented from eight of the fourteen drill holes that contain mineralization are tabulated below.
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Visible Ruby and Pink Sapphire Intercepts from Aappaluttoq and
Aappaluttoq Deep Zones
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Visible Ruby/Pink Sapphire Intervals
Hole ID (downhole depth from-to, metres)
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GL-08-51 28.8-32.9
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GL-08-54 37.6-37.8
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GL-08-56 2.7-11.4, and 71.9-79.8
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GL-08-58 34.6-36.5, and 48.2-54.2, and 54.8-60.9
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GL-08-60 1.5-7.3, and 69.8-72.3, and 81.8-95.2
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GL-08-61 1.2 to 7.3
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GL-08-62 1.3-8.1, and 8.4-11.3
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GL-08-63 24.5-25.9, and 30.6-34.6, and 80.4-82.5, and 139.6-146.3, and 147.6-151.4
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GL-08-64 75.2-81.2, and 81.6-86.1, and 86.5-87.4, and 89.0-89.8
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GL-08-65 36.3-37.2, and 39.2-43.6, and 117.3-126.1
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GL-08-66 11.9-16.2, and 52.7-64.7, and 72.7-83.6, and 84.1-85.8, and 90.8-95.7, and 99.5-111.2, and 142.3-145.0
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GL-08-67 43.7-51.1
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GL-08-68 143.2-152.5
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GL-08-69 18.8-24.2
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To date, ruby and pink sapphire has been identified in forty-five of the sixty-five holes drilled, including thirty-one holes completed during the 2007 program. The Aappaluttoq prospect has now been traced in drilling and surface exposures over a strike length of 135 metres and a vertical depth of 143 metres. The Aappaluttoq Deep Zone has now been traced in drilling over a strike length of 85 metres and continues to vertical depths of 70-143 metres below surface. Both zones remain open along strike and to depth.
“The drilling program has successfully extended known areas of mineralization and discovered several new intervals of high grade ruby and pink sapphire mineralization, particularly those in Aappaluttoq Deep Zone,” said Greg Davison, True North Gems’ Vice President Exploration. “With the known mineralization continuing to remain open to the north, south and to depth, and in multiple intervals with well developed, locally very coarse-grained aggregates of ruby and pink sapphire crystals, we are very encouraged about the potential of the Aappaluttoq occurrence.”
The planning and execution of the 2008 ruby exploration and quality control programs at the Fiskenaesset and Qaqqatsiaq Ruby projects are under the supervision of Greg Davison, True North Gems’ Vice President Exploration. Mr. Davison is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Wardrop Engineering, an internationally recognized engineering firm, has been engaged as the Independent Qualified Person to provide the Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Aappaluttoq ruby occurrence on the Fiskenaesset ruby property.
Additional information and public documents about True North Gems, including images of current exploration activities, can be viewed at the Company’s website www.truenorthgems.com or at www.sedar.com.
True North Gems Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and is engaged in the exploration and development of North American and Greenlandic coloured gemstone prospects. The Company is a pioneer in coloured gemstone exploration and, currently in Greenland, has the rights to earn 100% interest in the Fiskenaesset ruby and pink sapphire property, and holds a 100% interest in the Qaqqatsiaq ruby property, and in Canada, holds a 100% interest in the Tsa da Glisza emerald property, Yukon, and the Beluga sapphire property located on Baffin Island, Nunavut.
The Company relies on litigation protection for “forward-looking” statements. Certain technical information contained within this press release is 43-101 non-compliant by virtue of the fact that National Instrument 43-101 which governs public disclosure of technical information for mineral exploration properties in Canada is silent with respect to the exploration and technical disclosure of gemstone properties. The company employs high standards for the collection of geological information and exploration data, employs industry recognized professionals as qualified persons to provide oversight and management of the exploration programs and is committed to the implementation of QA/QC protocols to monitor the integrity of the technical information.
True North Gems Inc.
Greg Davison, P.Geo.
Vice President Exploration
(604) 687-8055 or Toll Free: 1-800-399-8055
Email: greg@truenorthgems.com
or
True North Gems Inc.
Ken Shortt
Investor Relations
(604) 687-8055 or Toll Free: 1-800-399-8055
(604) 899-1240 (FAX)
Email: info@truenorthgems.com
Website: www.truenorthgems.com