Final assay results in from SUN property

Andover Ventures Inc. has released the assay results from the final seven holes of its 2007 drill season at the Sun property west of Kotzebue in the Ambler Mining District of Northwest Alaska.

Four of the assay results were from the northernmost holes drilled at Sun. These holes were drilled in four fences at step-outs of 150 meters (492 feet) to the northeast. Two of the fences were north of what was originally considered the main Sun deposit, and the positive assay results have extended the deposit by 300 meters (984 feet).

Not only did these holes intersect the mineralized zone of the main deposit, but a newly discovered deeper "Hot" zone was intersected in Sun 07-16 and Sun 07-17, the two northernmost holes drilled. Hole 07-16 drilled through 31.4 meters (103 feet) of the "Hot" zone with an average of 0.90 percent copper, 0.40 percent lead, 1.50 percent zinc, 15.8 grams-per-ton silver and 0.06 grams-per-ton gold. Hole 07-17 drilled this zone for 8.6 meters (28.2 feet) and the average results on that were 0.80 percent copper, 0.60 percent lead, 2.60 percent zinc, 33.7 grams-per-ton silver and 0.363 grams-per-ton gold.

Holes drilled to the south of 07-16 were not drilled to a depth that would have intersected the "Hot" zone. This zone remains open to both the north and the south and the main deposit is still open to the north.

Southern extent not found

Vancouver-based Andover has not found the southern extent of the main deposit likewise. The remaining three assay results from 2007 drilling came from the southern-most fence. All three holes (Sun 07-20, Sun 07-21, and Sun 07-22) intersected a thickened zone of the main deposit.

This thick layer of mineralization, averaging 35.5 meters (116.5 feet) thick was discovered during drilling earlier in the summer. The average grade in this zone is 1.05 percent copper, 0.81 percent lead, 3.26 percent zinc, 42.9 grams-per-ton silver and 0.176 grams-per-ton gold. It runs anywhere from 50 to 100 meters (164 to 328 feet) wide by 500 meters long (1,640 feet) and could extend further south.

The 2008 exploration program will have two primary objectives. First, Andover wants to do additional drilling in the main deposit to further define the resource. This will include drilling deeper to see how far south the "Hot" zone extends. The company also aims to continue following the main deposit and the "Hot" zone to the north.

Bill Ellis, the project manager at Sun, said depending on the weather, the junior mining company hopes to begin drilling again in April.