December 15, 2011

Northair Intersects 30.35 Metres of 52.7 g/t Silver at La Cigarra Project, Mexico

Initial Exploration Drilling at La Borracha Zone Successfully Intersects Silver Mineralization

International Northair Mines Ltd. (TSXV: INM) (the "Company" or "Northair") is pleased to announce assay results from six core drill holes recently completed at its La Cigarra silver project, located in north central Mexico. 

Two of the six holes were drilled in the San Gregorio Zone while the remaining four holes were an initial core drill test of the La Borracha Zone; which makes up the northern end of the La Cigarra trend. 

Highlights of the continuing drill program are:

  • Drill holes CC-11-031 and 32 have extended the San Gregorio Zone strike length to the northwest by an additional 175 metres (or 33%).  Core drilling confirms that strike length of the San Gregorio Zone now totals 600 metres and the zone remains open at both ends;
  • Six additional core holes were completed in the San Gregorio Zone with assay results pending.    Visual inspection of the core has shown mineralization that extends the total San Gregorio strike length by 400 metres to a total of 1,000 metres.  Mineralization remains open in both strike directions and down dip;
  • Four initial core holes have tested the La Borracha Zone and confirmed the existence of mineralization 450 metres north and on strike from the northern end of the San Gregorio Zone;
  • Drilling has confirmed potential bulk-minable silver mineralization at both the San Gregorio and Las Carolinas zones.  Significant exploration potential remains between these zones and along strike. 

"Step out drilling at San Gregorio has intersected appreciable silver values and expanded the potentially surface minable mineralized system." said Fred Hewett, President & CEO of Northair.  "The San Gregorio and Las Carolinas Zones have now been drilled over 1.7 kilometres of strike length and the exploration upside of this mineralized system is excellent as both zones remain open along strike and down dip.  In addition, we are encouraged by the first core drilling within the La Borracha Zone, as all four holes encountered silver mineralization.  Further evaluation of La Borracha will be required, but the 1.5 kilometres of structure and a coincident silver soil geochemical anomaly provide an excellent focus for exploration." 

Drill Results and Discussion:

San Gregorio Zone

Hole

From
(metres)

To
(metres)

Drill Intercept
(metres) Note

Silver
g/t

Gold
g/t

CC-11-031

104.50

158.80

54.30

36.9

0.040

Includes

115.50

145.85

30.35

52.7

0.035

and Includes

120.30

135.00

14.70

76.6

0.039

 

 

 

 

 

 

CC-11-32

104.45

153.70

49.25

32.6

0.039

Includes

104.45

133.50

29.05

46.2

0.041

Includes

104.45

116.00

11.55

76.5

0.036

Note: Reported widths may contain intervals with values less than 10g/t silver.

Hole CC-11-031 was drilled on Section 1+50N at -50° as a 75 metre step-out along strike and north of hole CC-11-001 (10.95 metres of 30.8 g/t silver and 18.00 metres of 54.6 g/t silver).  Hole CC-11-032 was drilled on Section 2+50 N as a further 100 metre step-out along strike from CC-11-031 to test for the northerly continuation of the San Gregorio system towards the La Borracha Zone.  These holes intersected disseminated and stockwork hosted silver mineralization and confirm that the silver bearing San Gregorio Zone can now be traced by core drilling on strike for 600 metres (from 2+50N to 3+50S).  This zone remains open down dip and along strike to the north (towards the La Borracha Zone) and south to the Las Carolinas Zone.  

Click the link below to view a plan of the San Gregorio Zone:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/inm15_F1.pdf

La Borracha Zone

Hole

From
(metres)

To
(metres)

Drill Intercept
(metres) Note 3

Silver
g/t

Gold
g/t

CC-11-030

7.50

45.80

38.30

23.5

0.040

Includes

37.90

45.80

7.90

42.3

0.053

and

83.25

110.40

27.15

25.0

0.049

Includes

89.20

97.00

7.80

46.4

0.044

 

 

 

 

 

 

CC-11-029

64.40

76.80

12.40

50.2

0.018

Includes

64.40

71.70

7.30

78.1

0.017

 

 

 

 

 

 

CC-11-028

66.10

81.10

15.00

30.9

0.004

 

 

 

 

 

 

CC-11-027

39.28

57.10

17.85

20.4

0.033

Includes

39.25

47.65

8.40

28.0

0.017

Note: Reported widths may contain intervals with values less than 10g/t silver.

As an initial core drill test of this highly prospective area, 4 holes on 3 widely spaced sections were completed over a strike distance of 600 metres.  Holes CC-11-027 and CC-11-028 were drilled on Section 15+00N immediately north of a silver soil anomaly near historic underground workings.  Hole CC-11-029 was completed 200 meters southeast of these holes on Section 13+00N to test below reverse circulation drill hole CRC-10-15 (32.7 g/t silver in the uppermost 21.34 meters of the hole).  Hole CC-11-030 was drilled 400 meters further southeast on Section 9+00N to test below reverse circulation drill hole CRC-10-12 (39.2 g/t silver over 15.24 metres).

Reverse circulation and core drilling has demonstrated that a shallow, east dipping, silver-bearing structure likely exists between sections 9+00N and 13+00N.  This target remains open along strike in both directions and to depth and represents a high exploration priority.

On the basis of surface showings and historic workings the Company believes that the La Borracha Zone is a northwest continuation of the San Gregorio / Las Carolinas system.  Ground magnetics, trace element geochemistry and geological mapping also suggest that La Borracha is a down-dropped portion of the mineral system such that the highest levels of the epithermal system are exposed at surface.  Further drilling to define the potential of the area is planned.

Click the link below to view a plan of the La Borracha Zone:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/inm15_F2.pdf

Sampling and QA/QC

All technical information for the La Cigarra exploration program is obtained and reported under a formal quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Samples are taken under the direction of qualified geologists and stored in sealed bags.  Samples are delivered by the Company via courier to ALS Chemex Labs in Chihuahua for drying, crushing and pulverizing; with the pulps sent airfreight by ALS Chemex to Vancouver B.C. for analysis.  Systematic assaying of standards and blanks are performed for precision and accuracy.  Analysis for silver, zinc, lead and copper and related trace elements was done by ICP four acid digestion, with gold analysis by 30 gram fire assay with an AA finish.

About the La Cigarra Silver Project

The La Cigarra Project is located in State of Chihuahua along the eastern fringes of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico. Local topography is gentle with good road access to the major city of Parral, located 26 kilometres to the south east. The La Cigarra Project hosts a silver-rich, epithermal vein system with three identified zones forming a three kilometre trend.

Northair commenced drilling at La Cigarra in 2009 with the completion of 15 reverse circulation drill holes totaling 1,455 metres.  Since the beginning of the current diamond drill program in December 2010, 48 core holes have been completed for a total of 9,750 metres.  Assay results for 14 holes currently pending will be reported when received and interpreted.   Drilling has been suspended for the Christmas season and will resume in January of 2012, as the Company works towards an initial resource calculation. 

Click the link below to view a plan of the La Cigarra Property:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/inm15_F3.pdf

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has the appointed Wayne Johnstone C.A., as its Chief Financial Officer and granted 300,000 stock options at $0.24 to directors and employees.  All of the options are exercisable for a period of 5 years from the date of grant.

This news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved by Fred Hewett the Company's President and CEO, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. 

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
INTERNATIONAL NORTHAIR MINES LTD.

"Fred G. Hewett"
____________________________________
Fred G. Hewett, P.Eng.
President & CEO

 

For further information please contact Fred Hewett, President or
Chris Curran Manager, Investor Relations

at 604-687-7545 or 1-888-338-2200
Website:  www.northair.com/international/ Email:


Neither 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.

This news release may contain forward looking statements which are not historical facts, such as ore reserve estimates, anticipated production or results, sales, revenues, costs, or discussions of goals and exploration results, and involves a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, metal price volatility, volatility of metals production, project development, ore reserve estimates, future anticipated reserves and cost engineering estimate risks, geological factors and exploration results.   See Northair's filings for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected results.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States.  The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.



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