TORONTO, June 12, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Eastmain Resources Inc. (TSX:ER) announces additional assay results from its wholly-owned Eau Claire gold deposit, located in Northwestern Quebec. Drilling completed in December of 2007 yields the following: 100 drill intersections contain an average of 28.03 g/t gold or 0.82 ounces per ton over 1.25 metres, including 50 vein intervals with an average grade of 50.01 g/t or 1.46 ounces gold per ton across 1.25 metres. The average grade of 141 quartz-tourmaline veins intersected in the 450 West Zone is 21.18 g/t gold (0.62 ounces per ton) over an average width of 1.21 metres (Table 1).
Highlights from the drill program include drill hole ER07-87, which assayed 79.76 g/t gold or 2.33 ounces per ton across 3.5 metres and hole ER07-98, which cuts a high-grade, metre-thick vein assaying 1,313.5 g/t gold or 38.35 ounces per ton, including up to 2,540 g/t gold (74.2 ounces per ton) over one-half metre. These results clearly suggest that the previously reported indicated resource will increase significantly.
The previously reported indicated resource grade for the deposit, based on 25- to 50-metre drill-hole spacing, is 9.46 g/t gold. However, the composite surface grade of channel samples from the deposit, taken every five metres across the veins, is 23.5 g/t or 0.70 ounces per ton gold. The average grade of the quartz-tourmaline veins samples intersected in this recent closely-spaced drill program (12.5-metre spacing) noticeably approximates the composite surface grade.
Drilling across the 450 West Zone at Eau Claire has confirmed excellent continuity of multiple gold-bearing veins, defining a high-grade corridor containing visible gold throughout the central part of the deposit. Gold-rich, quartz-tourmaline rock was intersected in six different veins (H, I, P, JQ, R and S). Initial assay data was previously reported for 76 half-metre samples containing visible gold averaging 70.74 g/t Au or 2.07 ounces per ton (April 2, 2008 news release). These high-grade intervals, intersected in 34 of 51 holes, are evenly distributed throughout the drilled area both laterally and vertically. See website for drill plan maps.
Drilling to date at Eau Claire has also demonstrated a positive correlation of drill hole spacing with gold grade -- gold grade appears to increase with closer drill spacing and larger sample size. Prior to the recent drilling, the gold deposit contained in excess of 1,000 ounces of gold per vertical metre (NI-43-101- Dec 30, 2005; 2007 AIF). Assay results are pending for 250 core samples of vein and schist material.
A second program of definition drilling, expected to begin early July of this year, will test the eastern part of the deposit. The objectives of this program are to continue to expand and upgrade near-surface, high-grade resources for a length of 600 metres and to a depth of 300 metres, through closely-spaced drill holes, and to search for a second deposit on the property.
"We are extremely impressed with these drill results. These high grade assays confirm our interpretation that the potential for increasing resource ounces at the Eau Claire gold deposit is excellent", states Dr. Robinson. ``These gold grades are comparable to those reported in the richest gold district in the Canadian Shield -- Red Lake -- and are much higher than the previously stated resource grade for 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.
Eau Claire Gold Deposit - 2007 Average composite gold grades
Cut off grade No. Vein Average Length Average Grade
Au g/t Intercepts metres Au g/t Au oz/ton
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0 141 1.21 21.18 0.62
3.4 100 1.25 28.03 0.82
5.4 75 1.29 35.01 1.02
9.75 50 1.25 50.01 1.46
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Hole ID From To Length (m) Au g/t Au oz/ton
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ER07-60 49.5 50.5 1.0 11.05 0.32
incl. 50.0 50.5 0.5 20.80 0.61
ER07-62 51.7 53.2 1.5 21.80 0.64
incl. 52.2 52.7 0.5 52.00 1.52
62.8 63.8 1.0 22.53 0.66
incl. 62.8 63.3 0.5 45.00 1.31
ER07-63 20.4 21.5 1.1 57.07 1.67
incl. 21.0 21.5 0.5 92.80 2.71
ER07-64 12.3 13.3 1.0 9.86 0.29
incl. 12.3 12.8 0.5 19.70 0.58
17.4 18.4 1.0 8.36 0.24
28.7 29.8 1.1 8.86 0.26
ER07-65 19.4 20.4 1.0 38.50 1.12
incl. 19.9 20.4 0.5 77.00 2.25
52.8 53.7 0.9 6.10 0.18
55.2 56.2 1.0 20.72 0.61
incl. 55.2 55.7 0.5 41.40 1.21
ER07-67 22.5 23.5 1.0 42.85 1.25
incl. 23.0 23.5 0.5 61.10 1.78
37.7 38.7 1.0 15.12 0.44
incl. 37.7 38.2 0.5 30.10 0.88
ER07-68 3.7 4.7 1.0 17.95 0.52
10.9 11.9 1.0 26.88 0.78
10.9 11.4 0.5 52.00 1.52
19.1 20.1 1.0 3.77 0.11
27.0 28.0 1.0 2.37 0.07
ER07-69 4.5 5.5 1.0 15.55 0.45
9.4 10.4 1.0 5.01 0.15
13.1 14.1 1.0 15.59 0.46
ER07-70 46.2 47.3 1.1 21.35 0.62
incl. 46.8 47.3 0.5 42.40 1.24
57.4 58.4 1.0 11.32 0.33
ER07-71 46.9 47.9 1.0 19.12 0.56
60.5 61.5 1.0 1.90 0.06
ER07-72 15.8 16.8 1.0 2.13 0.06
26.8 28.3 1.5 6.09 0.18
39.6 40.6 1.0 22.15 0.65
59.0 60.0 1.0 4.22 0.12
ER07-73 6.6 7.6 1.0 4.93 0.14
16.1 17.2 1.1 10.80 0.32
28.5 29.5 1.0 15.99 0.47
ER07-73
incl. 28.5 29.0 0.5 31.60 0.92
ER07-74 5.1 7.1 2.0 2.66 0.08
8.5 9.5 1.0 7.93 0.23
13.0 14.0 1.0 3.12 0.09
17.2 18.2 1.0 20.63 0.60
incl. 17.7 18.2 0.5 40.80 1.19
28.5 29.5 1.0 3.34 0.10
ER07-75 10.3 11.3 1.0 3.59 0.10
18.0 19.0 1.0 2.20 0.06
ER07-76 6.3 7.8 1.5 4.11 0.12
9.2 10.7 1.5 30.66 0.90
incl. 9.2 9.7 0.5 89.30 2.61
16.7 18.2 1.5 2.82 0.08
ER07-77 8.3 9.3 1.0 24.55 0.72
incl. 8.3 8.8 0.5 45.20 1.32
13.9 14.9 1.0 4.83 0.14
19.0 19.6 0.6 5.30 0.15
ER07-78 38.0 39.0 1.0 3.85 0.11
44.4 45.9 1.5 10.61 0.31
incl. 44.4 44.9 0.5 20.60 0.60
ER07-79 19.9 20.9 1.0 8.80 0.26
26.8 27.9 1.1 15.60 0.46
incl. 26.8 27.4 0.6 25.90 0.76
40.9 42.0 1.1 6.42 0.19
ER07-80 4.5 8.0 3.5 8.95 0.26
15.3 16.3 1.0 3.44 0.10
ER07-81 4.8 5.8 1.0 4.55 0.13
15.5 16.6 1.1 10.44 0.30
ER07-82 36.6 37.6 1.0 2.82 0.08
43.4 44.5 1.1 85.82 2.51
incl. 43.4 43.9 0.5 188.00 5.49
76.9 77.9 1.0 2.97 0.09
ER07-82 81.8 82.8 1.0 3.59 0.10
ER07-83 4.5 5.5 1.0 12.46 0.36
18.5 19.5 1.0 2.77 0.08
47.0 48.0 1.0 2.39 0.07
ER07-84 12.4 13.4 1.0 19.75 0.58
incl. 12.4 12.9 0.5 27.70 0.81
ER07-85 3.0 7.0 4.0 13.83 0.40
incl. 4.0 4.5 0.5 39.80 1.16
incl. 6.5 7.0 0.5 33.30 0.97
9.5 10.5 1.0 2.22 0.06
17.5 19.0 1.5 40.01 1.17
22.0 23.0 1.0 4.80 0.14
29.0 29.5 0.5 8.84 0.26
ER07-86 36.1 37.1 1.0 3.68 0.11
47.3 48.3 1.0 12.78 0.37
47.3 47.8 0.5 25.50 0.74
74.0 75.0 1.0 2.14 0.06
ER07-87 7.3 8.3 1.0 2.07 0.06
17.8 21.3 3.5 79.76 2.33
incl. 18.8 19.3 0.5 237.00 6.92
incl. 19.3 19.8 0.5 38.50 1.12
incl. 19.8 20.3 0.5 172.00 5.02
incl. 20.3 20.8 0.5 99.60 2.91
24.1 25.6 1.5 4.00 0.12
39.0 40.4 1.4 2.12 0.06
41.5 42.5 1.0 6.12 0.18
49.3 52.4 3.1 3.45 0.10
54.0 55.0 1.0 3.17 0.09
ER07-88 33.1 34.7 1.6 4.55 0.13
ER07-89 4.6 6.1 1.5 2.76 0.08
16.5 17.6 1.1 2.55 0.07
19.1 20.6 1.5 4.09 0.12
26.1 27.1 1.0 5.61 0.16
ER07-90 43.6 44.6 1.0 3.05 0.09
53.7 55.3 1.6 9.37 0.27
60.9 61.9 1.0 4.60 0.13
66.1 67.1 1.0 83.83 2.45
ER07-91 40.1 41.1 1.0 4.94 0.14
52.0 53.0 1.0 5.36 0.16
ER07-92 5.4 6.5 1.1 4.22 0.12
11.5 12.5 1.0 8.81 0.26
24.4 26.4 2.0 9.74 0.28
25.9 26.4 0.5 18.80 0.55
ER07-92 27.4 28.4 1.0 3.89 0.11
ER07-93 4.7 7.7 3.0 11.31 0.33
11.7 13.2 1.5 35.96 1.05
incl. 12.2 12.7 0.5 95.00 2.77
19.5 20.5 1.0 3.24 0.09
ER07-94 56.3 57.8 1.5 11.28 0.33
incl. 57.3 57.8 0.5 23.50 0.69
65.4 66.4 1.0 31.15 0.91
ER07-95 38.1 40.6 2.5 5.72 0.17
49.9 51.5 1.6 28.47 0.83
incl. 49.9 50.4 0.5 22.90 0.67
incl. 50.9 51.5 0.6 51.50 1.50
ER07-96 10.4 11.2 0.8 3.01 0.09
ER07-98 30.9 31.4 0.5 11.10 0.32
39.0 39.5 0.5 37.20 1.09
64.5 65.5 1.0 1,313.50 38.35
incl. 64.5 65.0 0.5 87.00 2.54
incl. 65.0 65.5 0.5 2,540.00 74.17
ER07-99 24.8 25.9 1.1 17.46 0.51
36.3 37.4 1.1 6.34 0.19
47.0 51.5 4.5 8.87 0.26
ER07-100 57.2 58.2 1.0 9.21 0.27
ER07-103 11.3 12.4 1.1 6.55 0.19
31.5 32.5 1.0 5.72 0.17
56.5 57.5 1.0 4.35 0.13
64.4 65.4 1.0 48.24 1.41
ER07-104 11.0 12.5 1.5 20.73 0.61
33.4 34.4 1.0 13.61 0.40
44.3 45.3 1.0 188.58 5.51
incl. 44.8 45.3 0.5 375.00 10.95
ER07-106 61.7 62.7 1.0 9.51 0.28
ER07-107 22.1 23.6 1.5 17.57 0.51
incl. 22.1 22.6 0.5 35.90 1.05
ER07-108 68.9 69.9 1.0 45.69 1.33
74.6 75.6 1.0 8.49 0.25
ER07-109 67.3 68.3 1.0 16.37 0.48
74.6 75.6 1.0 8.01 0.23
76.6 77.6 1.0 6.00 0.18
ER07-110 70.1 71.1 1.0 7.74 0.23
ER07-110 78.6 80.1 1.5 11.80 0.34
Chemical analysis was completed by SGS Minerals Don Mills Laboratories using a 50-gram split and gravimetric techniques. The visible gold samples were mechanically screened and assayed for metallics. Internal standards provided by an independent company and blank samples were inserted for quality control purposes.
Note: Sample length represents true thickness. Assays are pending for 250 HQ drill core samples.
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.