MERREX GOLD INC HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (January 5, 2016) - Greg Isenor, President and CEO of Merrex Gold Inc., ("Merrex" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: MXI) announces:
Prior to the end of the 2015 drilling season the Merrex-IAMGOLD joint venture completed a 31 hole (3,474 metres) drill program on the Siribaya structure.
The objective of the drilling program was to evaluate for additional shallow oxide mineralization at Zone 1B (20 holes totalling 2,231 metres) and Zone Taya-ko (11 holes totalling 1,243 metres) within areas that were sparsely drilled in previous campaigns. The drill plans for the two zones were based on a review and reinterpretation of the geologic model of the deposit areas completed by IAMGOLD earlier in the year.
Assays are pending and will be released when available. However, none of the assays results will be available for inclusion in the forthcoming NI43-101 resource estimate.
The Company has granted 4,300,000 incentive stock options to officers and directors. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.16 per share for a term of five years expiring December 28, 2020, all subject to the terms of the Company's incentive stock option plan.
The Siribaya Gold Project is a 50/50 joint Merrex-IAMGOLD advanced-stage gold exploration project in West Mali comprised of approximately 700 square kilometres of gold-prolific exploration permits and permit applications pending. Exploration is conducted under a joint management committee with IAMGOLD as the project operator. Expenditures to date on the Siribaya Project exceed $45 million.
During 2014 and 2015 activity at the project was focussed on the Diakha deposit area which is located along the Fekola-Boto trend in the western-most portion of land package approximately 10 kilometres south along strike of IAMGOLD's Boto gold deposit (evaluation studies in progress) and approximately 20 kilometres south along strike from B2Gold's Fekola deposit (mine construction commenced).
The 2014 and 2015 drill programs at Diakha (over 25,780 metres of RC and DD) confirmed the presence of multiple zones of gold mineralization over a wide area at significant widths and grades, in association with disseminated sulphide and albite-hematite-chlorite alteration in sandstone host rocks with little quartz veining with mineralization at the SE & NW strike extensions and to a depth of at least 250 metres. The mineralization and associated minerals bear similarities to the Boto gold deposit mentioned above. See Compilation Map* of Diakha Drilling below for selected assays from the 2014 and 2015 drill programs.
The 2015 infill and expansion drill program at Diakha was designed to enable delivery of a maiden resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. A comprehensive review and interpretation of the drill results to date, and deposit modelling is in process under the guidance of IAMGOLD's chief geologist. Independent consultants Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. have been engaged to complete the resource estimate and prepare the supporting technical report in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 and representatives of RPA are conducting a site visit. Metallurgical testing to support the resource estimate is in progress. Composite samples have been selected and shipped to SGS in Lakefield, Ontario. Initial test work will involve evaluation of gold recovery involving both gravity and leaching tests as well as comminution testing (bond abrasion and rod and ball mill grindability).
*NOTE: Readers are cautioned that the above Compilation Map is a summary compilation only. Readers should review the detailed assay information in Merrex's historical news releases at www.merrexgold.com.
The Siribaya Gold Project also hosts a gold deposit on the Siribaya structure Zones 1B and 1A with a resource estimated at 303,900 ounces grading 2.34 g/t Indicated, and 301,400 ounces grading 2.17 g/t Inferred. The gold resource estimate was prepared in accordance with CIM definitions as required by NI 43-101 and is at July 31, 2012 by ACA Howe International Limited. The Siribaya and Diakha deposit areas are open to the north, south and at depth. Numerous other gold-anomalous target areas have been identified by geochemistry and will require drill testing in the future.
Gregory P. Isenor, P. Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 who has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information presented in this news release.
Merrex is primarily a West African focused gold exploration company with experienced management, a solid exploration team, a prominent gold-producer as a JV partner and an expanding gold resource.
For further details about the Company's exploration activities visit Merrex's website at www.merrexgold.com. To be added to Merrex's email contact list please email your request to info@merrexgold.com.
On Behalf of the Board
Gregory Isenor
Gregory Isenor, P.Geo. President & CEO
Suite 802, 1550 Bedford Highway, Bedford, NS B4A 1E6
Tel.: (902) 832-5555 Fax: (902) 832-2223
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 for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Merrex Gold Inc. issued this content on 2016-01-05 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-05 00:08:00 UTC
Original Document: http://www.merrexgold.com/i/pdf/January 5 2016 Siribaya drilling and stock options 1.pdf
