TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Eastmain Resources Inc. (TSX:ER) (Other OTC:EANRF) is pleased to announce that visible gold has been identified in 19 intersections from holes completed during the current drill campaign. Twenty-one of forty-eight planned drill holes have been completed at Eastmain's 100%-owned Clearwater Project. A total of 65 vein/schist drill intercepts ranging from 0.5 to 4.0 metres in thickness were intersected in the 21 holes (Table 1). Current drilling of the 450 West zone confirms excellent continuity of the P, JQ and R veins, which define a super-enriched 25-metre-wide corridor containing visible gold in the central part of the Eau Claire deposit.
The objectives of the 2007 program are to up-grade near surface resources to a measured and indicated category, confirm vein/schist geometry, determine mining grade for future exploitation, and to collect sufficient material for metallurgical testing. 48 HQ (96 mm diameter) drill holes have been designed to evaluate the Eau Claire deposit for a strike-length of 300 metres and to a vertical depth of over 50 metres. The program is expected to generate about 150 gold-bearing vein/schist intersections.
Drilling at Eau Claire has demonstrated a positive correlation of drill hole spacing and sample size with gold grade -- gold grade appears to increase with closer drill spacing and increased sample size. The quantity of visible gold observed in drill core has increased significantly with the implementation of larger diameter HQ core.
Eau Claire is a high-grade gold deposit with surface veins P, JQ and R averaging 23.5 g/t or 0.70 ounces per ton in the 450 West zone (Composite average grade calculation P, JQ, R veins- NR Sept 6, 2000; AIF 2006). Drilling in 2006 extended the deposit to a vertical depth of 900 metres. To date, the gold deposit contains in excess of 1,000 ounces of gold per vertical metre (NI-43-101- Dec 30, 2005; 2006 AR). The consistency of the vein system at depth indicates that the economic potential of Eau Claire is not limited to near surface exploitation.
These new vein/schist intersections will be used to determine an optimum metallurgical processing flow sheet design for the gold ore at Eau Claire. They will also be used to test for possible compatibility with the ores at Goldcorp's Roberto deposit, with respect to future custom mill processing.
This press release was prepared by geologist Dr. Donald J. Robinson, P. Geo, qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
Eastmain is a Canadian gold exploration company with 100% ownership of the Eau Claire and Eastmain gold deposits, and a new sedimentary-gold discovery at Eleonore South, located in James Bay, Quebec. The Company has an annual budget of $3 million for gold exploration in Quebec.
Table 1. Clearwater Project - 2007 Eau Claire Drilling program
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Easting Northing Elevation
Hole No. (X) (Y) metres P JQ R
ASL)
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ER07-60 -637.5 41 299.5 Y N Y
ER07-61 -637.5 71 302.5 Y N Y
ER07-62 -612.5 41 299.7 Y Y, VG Y
ER07-63 -612.5 71 302.3 Y Y, VG N
ER07-64 -612.5 89 304.5 Y Y, VG Y, VG
ER07-65 -612.5 103 304.5 NA Y Y
ER07-66 -587.5 43 300.0 Y Y, VG Y
ER07-67 -587.5 73 302.5 Y Y, VG Y
ER07-68 -587.5 93 304.5 Y, VG Y, VG Y
ER07-69 -587.5 103 304.5 NA Y Y
ER07-70 -576.3 40.3 300.0 Y, VG Y, VG Y
ER07-71 -562.5 40 298.0 Y Y Y
ER07-72 -562.5 70 302.8 Y Y, VG Y, VG
ER07-73 -562.5 90 303.0 Y, VG Y, VG Y
ER07-74 -562.5 103 303.0 NA Y Y
ER07-75 -562.5 112 303.0 NA NA Y
ER07-76 -554.0 112 303.0 NA NA Y, VG
ER07-77 -544.0 112 302.5 NA NA Y, VG
ER07-78 -537.5 36 297.0
ER07-79 -537.5 66 297.0 Y, VG Y Y, VG
ER07-80 -537.5 86 300.0 Y Y Y
ER07-81 -537.5 100 301.0 NA Y Y, VG
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Totals
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Table 1. Continued
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Length No. of
(metres) Intercepts Notes
ASL)
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81 4
60 3
81 3 VG +++
60 2 VG+++++
30 4 VG++, cg
21 2
90 4 VG
60 4 VG+++, cg++
31 3 VG++ (x2)
21 3
102 3 VG cg++, fg 10+
81 4
60 3 VG++, VG+++
36 4 VG+, VG++
30 4
21 2
21 2 VG+, VG+++
21 2 VG cg+++, fg 10+
81 In progress
60 4 VG+, VG++, telluride
36 3
21 2 VG ++
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1105 65 19 intercepts with VG
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Notes:
Y = signifies that the vein was intersected;
N = signifies that the vein was not intersected
NA = not applicable; drill hole was collared north of vein
VG = visible gold
fg = less than 1 mm sized gold grain
cg = greater than 1 mm sized gold grain
++ = number of gold grains
10+ = greater than 10 gold grains
The statements made in this Press Release may contain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections.