KELLOGG, IDAHO--(BUSINESS WIRE). New Jersey Mining Company (OTCBB:NJMC - News) plans to begin a diamond drilling exploration program next week at its New Jersey mine property located near Kellogg.

Drilling is also planned for the Lost Eagle and Silver Strand properties.

Approximately 1,500 meters of drilling is planned for the New Jersey mine. The exploration program will focus on exploring the Coleman vein system for high-grade gold ore shoots on strike and at depth. At least five targets are planned to be drilled on the Coleman vein system. One target is a strong geophysical IP/Resistivity anomaly discovered 120 meters north of the current open pit. A deep hole is planned to intersect the Coleman vein structure 120 meters below the lowest underground workings. Other holes planned for the Coleman vein are intended to sample the vein at regular intervals for reserve calculations.

A 200 meter hole is planned for the Lost Eagle prospect, near Murray, Idaho, to explore at depth the occurrence of gold and silver tellurides found on the surface last year. The presence of gold and silver tellurides raises the possibility of the presence of bonanza grade shoots because the tellurides are about 65% precious metals. The averages of eight grab samples taken at the Lost Eagle discovery site were 16.3 grams per tonne (gpt) gold and 159 gpt silver. The Lost Eagle vein is found in the Revett formation which is the major silver producing formation of the Coeur d'Alene Mining District.

Two diamond drill holes are also planned for the Silver Strand mine. The purpose of these holes is to explore the downward projection of the existing ore shoot which contains 10,430 tonnes of ore with 3.19 gpt gold and 329 gpt silver. An increase in the mineral inventory at the Silver Strand would improve the economics of a seasonal mining conceptual plan. The drilling programs at the Silver Strand and Lost Eagle are planned for late summer/early fall of this year, but the timing is dependent upon receiving permits from the US Forest Service.

New Jersey Mining Company is involved in exploring for and developing gold, silver and base metal ore resources in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District of northern Idaho. The Company has a portfolio of five mineral properties in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District: the New Jersey mine, the Silver Strand mine, the Lost Eagle project, the CAMP project and the Wisconsin-Teddy project.