Wallbridge expands Broken Hammer Zone in 3 directions

Wallbridge Mining (TSE:WM) reported Wednesday the results of 16 drill holes on its Broken Hammer property in Sudbury, extending the zone of copper-platinum group metals mineralization north, east and west of the 2005 resource estimate.

A total of 40 drill holes completed since 2005 will be included in a new resource estimate, currently being prepared by Wardrop, as part of the ongoing pre-feasibility study on the property.

Highlights of the latest results include 8.73 metres of 3.58 grams per tonne (g/t) total precious metals (TPM), which comprises platinum, palladium and gold, as well as 0.90% copper, and 0.14% Nickel in hole WIS-117.

In addition, hole WIS-119 intersected  6.10 metres of 5.86 g/t TPM, 0.35% copper, and 0.06% Nickel, while hole WIS-120 returned 5.05 metres of 6.56 g/t TPM, 0.21% copper, and 0.01% Nickel.

Meanwhile, hole WIS-125 hit 3.65 metres of 5.28 g/t TPM, 0.71% copper, and 0.24% Nickel.

The company said the assays also include an intersection of 912 grams per tonne platinum over 0.37 metres in hole WIS-116.

"This extremely  high grade intersect, which is attributed to the large sperrylite crystals observed in the drill core is not thought to be representative of the entire deposit, but does confirm the presence of local high grade pockets, similar to one that was encountered in the bulk sample pit," Wallbridge said in a statement.

Commenting on the results, CEO Alar Soever, added: "This latest drilling was based upon what we saw in the bulk sample pit and has been highly successful in extending the mineralized zone. 

"We look forward to incorporating these results into the new resource model, which, together with the very encouraging results from our recently completed bulk sample, will form the foundation of the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies which are underway and are to be completed in 2012."

Earlier this month, the company received the remainder of the results from its Broken Hammer bulk sample program, with metallurgical recoveries prompting the commissioning of a pre-feasibility study.

The company delivered more than 30,000 tonnes of ore in July of this year as part of its bulk sample program to partner Xstrata Nickel's Strathcona mill in Sudbury.

Metal recoveries were similar to or better than typical Sudbury Basin copper-Nickel-platinum-palladium-gold footwall-type deposits.

Wallbridge discovered Broken Hammer in an ongoing grass roots exploration program on the North Range of the Sudbury Basin.

The company currently holds a 98.5 percent interest in Broken Hammer, while Xstrata retains a 1.5 percent carried interest with some buy back provisions.

Wallbridge's primary focus is the exploration for platinum group elements, Nickel and copper deposits in the Sudbury area of Ontario. The company also has a significant shareholding in its spin out company, Duluth Metals, which is advancing its large copper-Nickel-platinum-palladium-gold deposit in northern Minnesota through feasibility in joint venture with Antofagasta plc, one of the world's major copper producers.

The Canadian miner also holds a stake in Miocene Metals (CVE:MII), which was  formed to finance the exploration of a portfolio of copper-gold-molybdenum properties in southwestern British Columbia.