TORONTO, July 31, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Eastmain Resources Inc. (TSX:ER) announces that 2008 drilling is underway on its Eau Claire Gold Deposit located in James Bay, Northern Quebec. The first three drill holes, ER08-113, ER08-114 and ER08115, have intersected quartz-tourmaline veins with visible gold at the west end of the 450 West Zone. Abundant visible gold, less than 1mm in size, was observed in four different veins from hole 115.
Over 10,000 metres of drilling, planned to expand measured resources at Eau Claire, will focus on delineating near-surface ounces, which might be extracted by open pit methods. The program includes approximately 100 large diameter HQ drill holes, which will focus on expanding the length and vertical extent of high-grade gold resources below and east of last year's definition drilling. See website for drill plan maps.
The 450 West Zone has been drilled for a length of 300 metres and to depths of up to 100 metres at 12.5- metre intervals. Current drilling will continue to test this area over a length of 600 metres to vertical depths of up to 300 metres. Definition drilling completed last year across the 450 West Zone at Eau Claire, confirms excellent continuity of multiple gold-bearing veins (D, G, H, I, P, JQ, R and S) defining a high-grade corridor, containing visible gold throughout the central part of the deposit. Gold-rich, quartz-tourmaline rock was intersected in 100 drill intervals, which contain an average of 28.03 g/t gold or 0.82 ounces per ton over 1.25 metres, and include 50 vein intervals with an average grade of 50.01 g/t or 1.46 ounces gold per ton across 1.25 metres (June 12, 2008 news release). Based on these significant drill grades, revised resource calculations are expected to be higher than previously reported.
Metallurgical test-work on six tonnes of vein material taken from the 450 West Zone in 2007 is currently being completed by SGS Canada Ltd. In consultation with its new Geometallurgical Group, Eastmain and SGS will generate a preliminary mine design and determine an optimal flow-sheet circuit for the processing of ores from Eau Claire.
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.
About Eastmain Resources Inc. (TSX:ER)
Eastmain is a Canadian gold exploration company with 100% interest in the Eau Claire and Eastmain gold deposits. The Corporation has in excess of $22.5 Million in working capital and holds an interest in 12 projects within the district, including the Eleonore South property, where a gold discovery has been found in a similar geologic setting to Goldcorp's Roberto deposit. Eastmain has a minimum budget of $4 million for gold exploration in Quebec.
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.