TORONTO, April 2, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Eastmain Resources Inc. (TSX:ER) announces initial assay results for the visible gold samples from Eau Claire deposit drilling completed in December 2007. The average grade of 76 half-metre drill core samples containing visible gold is 70.74 g/t gold or 2.07 ounces per ton (Table 1). The gold content of these samples ranges from 0.5 to 2,540 g/t gold (74.2 ounces per ton). A total of 180 quartz-tourmaline vein and schist drill intercepts ranging from 0.5 to more than 4.0 metres in thickness were intersected within the Eau Claire gold deposit. Visible gold observed in drill core ranges from 1 to over 100 grains per intercept and varies in size from less than 1 mm to more than 4 mm.
Exceptional assay results were intersected in the recent drilling. Hole ER07-87 averaged 136.8 g/t gold or 4 ounces per ton over a two-metre interval within the P Vein and hole ER07-98 cut a one-metre section of the R Vein, which assayed 1,313 g/t gold or 38.14 ounces per ton.
Drilling across the 450 West Zone at Eau Claire has confirmed excellent continuity of multiple gold-bearing veins, defining a high-grade corridor containing visible gold in the central part of the deposit. Visible gold was intersected in 34 of 51 drill holes within six different veins (H, I, P, JQ, R and S). Drilling at 12.5-metre centres indicates that high-grade gold appears to be evenly distributed both laterally along strike and vertically within the detailed drill area. A second drill program is now planned to develop and upgrade additional near-surface, high-grade resources east of the 450 West Zone.
The recent 12.5-metre drilling at Eau Claire has demonstrated a positive correlation of drill hole spacing with gold grade -- gold grade appears to increase with closer drill spacing. The previously reported indicated resource grade for the deposit, based on 25 to 50 metre drill intervals, is 9.46 g/t gold.
However, the composite surface grade of the deposit is 23.5 g/t or 0.70 ounces per ton gold, based on a 5-metre channel sample interval. A new resource calculation based on 12.5-metre drill intervals, which will follow the second tranche of detailed drilling, is expected for Q4 2008. To date the gold deposit contains in excess of 1,000 ounces of gold per vertical metre (NI-43-101- Dec 30, 2005; 2007 AIF).
51 HQ (96 mm diameter) drill holes (ER07-60 to ER07-110) were completed at the Eau Claire deposit within the 450 West Zone, over a strike-length of 300 metres and to a vertical depth of up to 100 metres. From these holes, 1,980 half-metre core samples were submitted to SGS Minerals Lakefield Research Laboratories for assay and metallurgical testing. Assay results are pending for over 1,900 core samples of vein and schist material. See website for drill plan maps.
Dr. Donald J. Robinson P.Geo, is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.
With its focus on the district of James Bay, Quebec, Eastmain is a Canadian gold exploration company with 100% interest in the Eau Claire and Eastmain gold deposits. Eastmain also holds interest in 12 projects within the district, including the Eleonore South property, where a new sedimentary-gold discovery has been found in a similar geologic setting to Goldcorp's Roberto deposit. The Company has a minimum budget of $3.75 million for gold exploration in Quebec.
Table 1. Clearwater Project - Assay Data - 2007 Drilling
HOLE ID Sample VEIN FROM TO Length Au Au
No. ID m G/T oz/ton
ER07-62 C014790 JQ 52.2 52.7 0.5 52.0 1.52
ER07-62 C014791 JQ 52.7 53.2 0.5 12.6 0.37
ER07-63 175554 P 21 21.5 0.5 92.8 2.71
ER07-63 175560 JQ 37.9 38.4 0.5 0.5 0.01
ER07-64 175583 P 12.3 12.8 0.5 19.7 0.58
ER07-64 175590 JQ 17.4 17.9 0.5 16.7 0.49
ER07-65 175616 R 19.9 20.4 0.5 77.0 2.25
ER07-66 C011016 R 55.2 55.7 0.5 41.4 1.21
ER07-67 175631 JQ 22.5 23 0.5 24.6 0.72
ER07-67 175632 JQ 23 23.5 0.5 61.1 1.78
ER07-67 175639 R 37.7 38.2 0.5 30.1 0.88
ER07-68 175652 P 3.7 4.2 0.5 11.4 0.33
ER07-68 175653 P 4.2 4.7 0.5 24.5 0.72
ER07-68 175660 JQ 10.9 11.4 0.5 52.0 1.52
ER07-69 C011032 JQ 4.5 5 0.5 19.1 0.56
ER07-69 C011033 JQ 5 5.5 0.5 12.0 0.35
ER07-69 C011040 R 9.4 9.9 0.5 7.4 0.22
ER07-70 C011427 JQ 46.2 46.8 0.6 3.8 0.11
ER07-70 C011428 JQ 46.8 47.3 0.5 42.4 1.24
ER07-72 C014518 JQ 26.8 27.3 0.5 6.3 0.18
ER07-72 C014519 JQ 27.3 27.8 0.5 8.5 0.25
ER07-72 C014528 R 40.1 40.6 0.5 44.3 1.29
ER07-73 C014540 P 6.6 7.1 0.5 9.3 0.27
ER07-73 C014549 JQ 16.1 16.6 0.5 9.4 0.27
ER07-73 C014551 JQ 16.6 17.2 0.6 12.0 0.35
ER07-73 C014559 R 28.5 29 0.5 31.6 0.92
ER07-76 C011111 R 6.3 6.8 0.5 11.0 0.32
ER07-76 C011117 R 9.2 9.7 0.5 89.3 2.61
ER07-77 C011089 R 8.3 8.8 0.5 45.2 1.32
ER07-77 C011090 R 8.8 9.3 0.5 3.9 0.11
ER07-78 C014863 P 38.5 39 0.5 7.5 0.22
ER07-79 C011365 P 19.9 20.4 0.5 6.7 0.20
ER07-79 C011390 R 40.9 41.5 0.6 10.6 0.31
ER07-80 C156633 P 4.5 5 0.5 4.3 0.12
ER07-80 C156634 P 5 5.5 0.5 15.6 0.46
ER07-80 C156635 P 5.5 6 0.5 5.9 0.17
ER07-80 C156636 P 6 6.5 0.5 8.5 0.25
ER07-80 C156637 P 6.5 7 0.5 11.7 0.34
ER07-80 C156638 P 7 7.5 0.5 3.3 0.10
ER07-80 C156639 P 7.5 8 0.5 13.4 0.39
ER07-81 C011228 R 15.5 16.1 0.6 19.1 0.56
ER07-82 C014691 JQ 43.4 43.9 0.5 188.0 5.49
ER07-84 C011323 JQ 12.4 12.9 0.5 27.7 0.81
ER07-84 C011324 JQ 12.9 13.4 0.5 11.8 0.34
ER07-85 C011145 JQ 6.5 7 0.5 33.3 0.97
ER07-85 C011168 R 17.5 18 0.5 3.6 0.11
ER07-85 C011169 R 18 18.5 0.5 69.5 2.03
ER07-85 C011170 R 18.5 19 0.5 46.9 1.37
ER07-86 C156993 JQ 47.3 47.8 0.5 25.5 0.74
ER07-87 C011253 P 17.8 18.3 0.5 2.0 0.06
ER07-87 C011254 P 18.3 18.8 0.5 4.6 0.13
ER07-87 C011255 P 18.8 19.3 0.5 237.0 6.92
ER07-87 C011256 P 19.3 19.8 0.5 38.5 1.12
ER07-87 C011257 P 19.8 20.3 0.5 172.0 5.02
ER07-87 C011258 P 20.3 20.8 0.5 99.6 2.91
ER07-87 18.8 20.8 2.0 136.8 4.0
ER07-89 B032188 R 17 17.6 0.6 4.6 0.14
ER07-89 B032201 S 26.1 26.6 0.5 11.2 0.33
ER07-90 C014952 S 66.6 67.1 0.5 167.0 4.88
ER07-91 175087 S 52 52.5 0.5 10.3 0.30
ER07-92 175012 JQ 12 12.5 0.5 17.6 0.51
ER07-94 C156883 H 4 4.5 0.5 3.6 0.11
ER07-94 175512 R 57.3 57.8 0.5 23.5 0.69
ER07-95 175712 R 50.9 51.5 0.6 51.5 1.50
ER07-98 C014961 I 10.9 11.4 0.5 4.6 0.13
ER07-98 C014981 P 30.9 31.4 0.5 11.1 0.32
ER07-98 C014990 JQ 39 39.5 0.5 37.2 1.09
ER07-98 C156911 R 64.5 65 0.5 87.0 2.54
ER07-98 C156912 R 65 65.5 0.5 2540.0 74.17
ER07-98 64.5 65.5 1.0 1313.5 38.4
ER07-99 175138 P 17.5 18 0.5 6.0 0.17
ER07-99 175147 R 36.3 36.9 0.6 11.6 0.34
ER07-100 C156832 R 57.2 57.7 0.5 3.0 0.09
ER07-100 C156833 R 57.7 58.2 0.5 15.4 0.45
ER07-103 175095 I 11.9 12.4 0.5 4.4 0.13
ER07-103 175130 S 64.4 64.9 0.5 9.1 0.27
ER07-104 C156762 P 33.9 34.4 0.5 27.2 0.79
ER07-104 C156771 JQ 44.8 45.3 0.5 375.0 10.95
ER07-108 C156604 R 68.9 69.4 0.5 87.3 2.55
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Average 70.74 2.07
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Note: Sample length represents true thickness. Assays are pending for 1,900 HQ drill core samples.
Chemical analysis was completed by SGS Minerals Don Mills Laboratories using a 50-gram split and gravimetric techniques. The visible gold samples were mechanically screened and assayed for metallics. Internal standards provided by an independent company and blank samples were inserted for quality control purposes.
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.