January 11, 2010
Tirex Provides 2009 Exploration Summary
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- Tirex Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:TXX)
- Multiple High Grade Intersections in Gold Enriched Copper and Zinc Zones
- All Zones Open for Expansion
- District-Scale Exploration Continues
("Tirex") is pleased to provide a summary of the exploration results to the end of 2009 from its Mirdita VMS District in Albania. To date Tirex has outlined three significant zones of gold enriched copper and zinc mineralization at Letitna, Gurthi South No. 2 and Koshaj. All zones remain open for expansion. Plans for 2010 comprise an exploration program with a dominant focus on drilling which will continue to both define and expand known zones of mineralization and test new geological and geophysical targets with pure discovery potential.
During 2009 Tirex continued to carry out extensive field work and computer compilation of historic data to define drill targets. Geological mapping with modern VMS exploration concepts and geophysical (Induced Polarization and UTEM) surveying were used to outline and prioritize areas of both known mineralization and new targets.
LETITNA ZONE
Early drilling success on the Letitna Zone in 2009 made it the focus for much of the drilling during the year. Tirex announced results from the first Letitna drill hole (MR09-37) in early 2009 and continued drilling during the year produced wide zones of high grade assays from multiple holes. The following is a table of 2009 drilling highlights from the Letitna Zone.
All these Letitna intersections are interpreted to be close to true width. The zone remains open for expansion to the west and to the north. For drill hole MR09-47, the original news release dated November 17, 2009 reported the interval between 133.4-133.8m as greater than 30%Zn. A final assay of 43.40%Zn has now been received for this interval and the values for this hole have been recalculated resulting in a significant upgrade to the zinc assays for the zone in this hole. Additional assays are pending from holes drilled on the northern extension of Letitna. Further drilling is planned to infill and expand this zone in preparation for mineral resource studies. A location map for these drill holes is posted on the Company website at www.TirexResources.com.
GURTHI SOUTH
The Gurthi South area is located about 1km west of Letitna. It is an area of multiple zones of mineralization that have not been fully explored in the past. Drill results have begun outlining a significant zone of mineralization at Gurthi South No. 2. Highlights announced in 2008-09 are summarized in the following table:
In total the shallowly dipping Gurthi South No. 2 zone has now been intersected over an area of 150m by 100m. The zone remains open for expansion to the west and south. Further drilling is planned to infill and expand this zone in preparation for mineral resource studies. A location map for these drill holes is posted on the Company website at www.TirexResources.com.
KOSHAJ ZONE
The Koshaj Zone is located 3.5km northwest of the Letitna Zone. Although no drilling was carried out on Koshaj in 2009, drilling in 2008 produced a number of wide high grade intersections summarized in the following table.
Further drilling is planned to infill and define this zone in preparation for mineral resource studies. A location map for these drill holes is posted on the Company website at www.TirexResources.com.
During the year Tirex also drill tested several new geological and geophysical targets. Some of these intersected wide alteration zones with low but anomalous metal values. Assays from other new target areas such as the East Slope Trend are pending.
FIELD EXPLORATION
In addition to the drilling, Tirex has been carrying out extensive field work including geological mapping with modern VMS exploration concepts, geophysical (Induced Polarization and UTEM) surveying and geochemistry by an expert team of Canadian and Albanian technical personnel to define and prepare targets for drilling. The work is carried on out of a modern 40 man camp located near the Koshaj Deposit. Computer data compilation of historic technical information is also continuing. Additional technical information including reports, maps and photographs can be found on the Company website at www.TirexResources.com.
FUTURE PLANS
Plans for future work are balanced between drill definition and expansion of mineral resources on the Letitna, Gurthi South No. 2 and Koshaj Zones, exploration on extensions of some of the other known zones of mineralization and longer term blue sky exploration for new zones. Geological mapping, ground geophysics, geochemistry and computer compilation of historic data is used to generate exploration targets. Tirex is exploring for large VMS deposits and also sees potential to develop multiple deposits of various sizes feeding a central mill producing copper, gold, zinc and silver from the Mirdita District.
Tirex's intense District-scale exploration program at Mirdita is a combination of advanced stage definition and expansion drilling in known areas of mineralization alongside of exploration targeting new discoveries in previously undrilled areas. Tirex is a company purpose-built to explore and develop the large 553 square kilometer Mirdita Property in Albania. The nature of the VMS mineralization in this District provides Tirex investors with exposure to a high grade basket of metals: Copper, Zinc, Gold and Silver. The property is readily accessible by paved and gravel roads and is located 70 km north of the capital city of Tirana. The property covers the core of the historically productive Mirdita VMS base metal district. It represents an opportunity to explore Copper, Zinc, Gold and Silver zones that were previously partially mined, explored or evaluated at lower metal prices, and provides an opportunity to apply modern exploration techniques toward the discovery of new VMS deposits and extensions of known zones. In addition to the 17 historical deposits identified by previous state-run exploration, Tirex has identified numerous high priority exploration targets resulting from airborne and ground geophysics, geological mapping and other field work. The Mirdita Project is managed by an experienced team of Canadian and Albanian geologists and geophysicists and is currently being funded, in part, by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
John Nicholson, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under the meaning of Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and Mirdita Project Manager, is responsible for the technical content of this news release. Drill core was NTW size (5.60cm diameter) and BTW size (4.20 cm diameter). Half core samples were collected with a rock saw, tagged for identification and securely stored at the Tirex base camp until shipment. A total of 5% assay standards and 5% blanks were inserted into the sample shipment as a quality control measure in addition to the internal quality control measures applied by the laboratory. All samples were shipped directly to ALS Chemex Labs in North Vancouver, Canada where they were dried, weighed, crushed and pulverized. Splits of each pulp were then analysed for 51 elements by ICP Spectrometry and assayed for copper, lead, zinc, silver and gold by standard assay methods.
Further details on the company and the Mirdita Project can be found on the Tirex website at www.TirexResources.com.
ON BEHALF OF TIREX RESOURCES LTD.
George Gorzynski, Director
Forward-Looking Statements
This Tirex News Release may contain certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to Tirex that are based on the beliefs of Tirex management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Tirex management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, exploration and development risks, expenditure and financing requirements, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or change, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and forward-looking statements may vary materially from those described herein.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For more information, please contact
Tirex Resources Ltd.
George Gorzynski
Director
604/687-7160 or Toll Free: 1-877-687-7160
604/687-7165 (FAX)
Kin Communications Inc.
(604) 684-6730 or Toll Free: 1-866-684-6730
(604) 684-6740 (FAX)
Email: ir@kincommunications.com
