New silver zones found in Eureka mine

EUREKA, Juab County — Core drilling has discovered three new high-grade silver ore zones above the main body of silver in the historic Burgin Extension mine.

"It is our intention of re-opening that mine this year," Andover Ventures spokesman Richard Martens said.

The zones, more than 1,540 feet below the surface, measure 32-, 26- and 14.4 feet wide. The core samples also contained lead and zinc.

Chief Consolidated Mining Corp., now owned by Andover Ventures of Canada, plans to drill a fourth hole this spring, adding to the more than 100 holes already drilled. Sunshine Mining Co., Kennecott and Chief Consolidated previously discovered the Bergin Extension.

"The previous (owners) more than likely didn't assay (the core samples) as thoroughly as we did," Martens said.

The result was the discovery of more silver in the mountain east of Eureka than was originally thought, he said.

The initial results of the drill program that started last year are consistent with expectations, said Gordon Blankstein, chairman and chief executive of Andover.

"We're very excited to have discovered the new zones of ore-grade material which were previously not factored into the feasibility studies nor any previously completed economic assessments of the deposit," Blankstein said in a prepared statement. "The drill program was situated in close proximity to the historical operations of the Burgin Mine and haul ways used by previous operators to access the ore body."

Chief Consolidated is one of the largest landowners in Utah with roughly 16,000 acres, including part of Eureka and south and west of the historic mining town on both sides of U.S. 6.

The company will use the information gained from the most recent core samples with previous drilling information to update a 2001 feasibility study before beginning mining operations in the East Tintic Mining District, Marten said. All analytical data from the core sample is available for review on Andover's Web site, www.andoverventures.com.

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