-- Two high grade nickel intersections with significant off hole electromagnetic anomalies
-- Down hole Crone electromagnetic surveys indicate strong conductivity off hole from Mex-50 and Mex-111
-- New geophysical and drilling results indicate potential for semi-massive to massive sulphide mineralization
TORONTO, Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Duluth Metals Limited ("Duluth Metals") (TSX: DM) (TSX: DM.U) is pleased to announce that a zone of high grade nickel-copper mineralization has been intersected on the southern edge of the Maturi Deposit within the Twin Metals Minnesota ("Twin Metals") Project in northeastern Minnesota. Drilled as part of the metallurgical program, Hole MEX276-W1 intersected 26.5 feet of 3.93% nickel, 0.68% copper, 0.44 g/t silver, and 0.44 g/t TPM (TPM = Platinum+Palladium+Gold). A follow-up hole, MEX-468, drilled approximately 300 feet to the southwest intersected 15.0 feet of 1.52% nickel, 0.99% copper, 0.50 g/t TPM. Crone down-hole electromagnetic surveying in MEX-468 has confirmed extensive off-hole conductivity. As the drill holes are within the margin of an extensive coincidental conductive zone, there is strong potential for additional higher grade mineralization within this area.
Geophysical Crone down-hole electromagnetic (EM) surveying in drill-holes MEX-50, MEX-111 and MEX-468 has shown strong conductivity off-hole from MEX-50 and MEX-111 in a zone extending 2500 feet long by 500 to 1000' wide with better conductivity in the immediate vicinity of MEX-468 as shown in Figure 1. The new nickel mineralization occurs as massive to semi-massive sulphides, at, or immediately below the contact between the South Kawishiwi Intrusion and the Giants Range batholith. On time, step response data from the Crone survey, indicates a zone of higher conductivity in close proximity to MEX-468, within the larger conductive zone. Higher conductivity is indicative of greater concentrations of conductive minerals, such as massive sulfides.
"Within a massive mineralized system like Twin Metals, our geologists have always believed there is potential for higher grade pods of mineralization." stated Christopher Dundas, Chairman and CEO of Duluth Metals Limited. "These new off-hole anomalies suggest that the conductive zone is extensive and requires additional drilling to test the central portions for massive and semi-massive sulphides."
"This drilling shows that the geologic potential of the Twin Metals Project can continue to evolve." commented, Vern Baker, President of Duluth Metals. "We see the possibility of higher grade massive sulphide zones within the TMM project area. The opportunity to find and define these zones may add a new dimension to what is already a world class project."
Other higher grade nickel intersections have been reported on the margins of the conductive zone in previous holes drilled by Twin Metals. MEX-276 intersected 5 feet of 1.76% nickel, 0.73% copper, 0.31 g/t TPM; MEX-439M-W1 intersected 5 feet of 1.56% nickel, 0.55% copper, 0.54 g/t TPM; and MEX-439M-W3 intersected 5 feet of 1.18% nickel, 0.98% copper, 0.36 g/t TPM.
In addition, historic hole DU-13, which is located approximately 3000 feet to the south within a mineralized area previously referred to as the Nickel Ridge Area, reported 10 feet of 1.57% nickel, 1.03% copper. (See Duluth Metals press release dated August 18, 2009.) There is no drilling between this hole and the newly identified mineralization.
Figure 1 shows the two reported holes, historic drill holes and the conductive zones.
A more detailed summary of the assay results for MEX-468 and nearby nickel-rich footwall mineralization including MEX-276-W1 results can be found in the table below. True width is estimated at about 80-90% of core length.
| HOLE | Zone | From | To | Length | Cu | Ni | Co | TPM |
| (ft) | (ft) | (ft) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (g/t) | ||
| MEX-0276 | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 3003 | 3008 | 5 | 0.73 | 1.76 | 0.05 | 0.31 |
| MEX-0276-W1 | @0.5% Ni cut-off | 3113 | 3139.5 | 26.5 | 0.68 | 3.93 | 0.13 | 0.43 |
| Including | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 3118 | 3139.5 | 21.5 | 0.76 | 4.66 | 0.15 | 0.50 |
| MEX-0439M-W1 | @0.5% Ni cut-off | 2858 | 2893 | 35 | 0.42 | 0.66 | 0.02 | 0.31 |
| Including | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 2878 | 2883 | 5 | 0.55 | 1.56 | 0.05 | 0.54 |
| MEX-0439M-W3 | @0.5% Ni cut-off | 2868 | 2893 | 25 | 0.56 | 0.76 | 0.03 | 0.32 |
| Including | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 2888 | 2893 | 5 | 0.98 | 1.18 | 0.04 | 0.36 |
| MEX-0468 | @0.5% Ni cut-off | 3099 | 3124 | 25 | 0.71 | 1.14 | 0.04 | 0.41 |
| Including | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 3109 | 3124 | 15 | 0.99 | 1.52 | 0.06 | 0.50 |
**TPM = Total Precious Metals (Platinum+Palladium+Gold)
Note: g/t = grams per tonne
Complete platinum, palladium, gold and silver and assays for MEX-468 and nearby nickel-rich footwall mineralization including MEX-276-W1 are as follows:
| HOLE | Zone | From | To | Length | Pt | Pd | Au | Ag |
| (ft) | (ft) | (ft) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | ||
| MEX-0276 | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 3003 | 3008 | 5 | 0.08 | 0.21 | 0.03 | 0.6 |
| MEX-0276-W1 | @0.5% Ni cut-off | 3113 | 3139.5 | 26.5 | 0.1 | 0.32 | 0.01 | <0.05 |
| Including | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 3118 | 3139.5 | 21.5 | 0.11 | 0.38 | 0.01 | 0.1 |
| MEX-0439M-W1 | @0.5% Ni cut-off | 2858 | 2893 | 35 | 0.08 | 0.2 | 0.02 | 0.5 |
| including | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 2878 | 2883 | 5 | 0.13 | 0.39 | 0.02 | 0.7 |
| MEX-0439M-W3 | @0.5% Ni cut-off | 2868 | 2893 | 25 | 0.09 | 0.21 | 0.02 | 0.6 |
| including | @0.5% Ni cut-off | 2888 | 2893 | 5 | 0.09 | 0.25 | 0.02 | 1.0 |
| MEX-0468 | @0.5% Ni cut-off | 3099 | 3124 | 25 | 0.10 | 0.28 | 0.04 | 0.9 |
| including | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 3109 | 3124 | 15 | 0.11 | 0.34 | 0.05 | 1.2 |
Historic drill results referenced in Duluth Metals August 18, 2009 press release is as follows:
| HOLE | Zone | From | To | Length | Cu | Ni |
| (ft) | (ft) | (ft) | (%) | (%) | ||
| DU-13 | @0.5% Cu cut-off | 3540 | 3600 | 60 | 0.58 | 0.46 |
| including | @1.0% Ni cut-off | 3540 | 3550 | 10 | 1.03 | 1.57 |
The Twin Metals Minnesota Project covers over 32,000 acres of land/mineral interests and consolidates the largest base and precious metal land position in Minnesota. This extensive land position provides Twin Metals with the platform to plan and develop one the world's largest copper-nickel-PGM deposits within a new emerging mining belt in Minnesota, USA.
For the 2013 Drill Program, half core samples are being prepared at ALS Minerals laboratories in Thunder Bay and then shipped to its analytical facilities in Vancouver. Samples are being analyzed for Au, Pt, and Pd using a 30g standard fire assay with an ICP-AES finish and for 33 other elements using a four acid (near total) digestion and a combination of ICP-MS and ICP-AES. ICP over-limits for copper and nickel are re-analyzed using dissolution four acid (near total) digestion followed by ICP-MS. The remaining half core samples are being stored in Minnesota.
Phillip Larson, P. Geo. is the Qualified Person for Duluth Metals and Senior Geologist for Duluth Metals, in accordance with NI 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators, and is responsible for Duluth Metals technical content of this press release and quality assurance of the exploration data and analytical results.