| KELLOGG, IDAHO.
New Jersey Mining Company (OTCBB:NJMC) announces that an extensive
geophysical and geochemical exploration program has been completed
at its Silver Strand mine located in the Idaho Panhandle National
Forest just east of Coeur dAlene, Idaho. The Silver Strand
mine hosts a known ore shoot with developed reserves and plans
are in progress to bring the mine into production. The economics
of the Silver Strand ore are about 50% in silver value and 50%
in gold value.
Important anomalies were discovered by the program which
consisted of 5 lines totaling 4 km in length straddling the
Silver Strand mine. One major anomaly merits quick evaluation
by drilling while several other anomalies are being studied.
The purpose of the geophysical program was to detect extensions
of the Silver Strand orebody and to possibly find new mineralized
zones on the property package. Geology of the Silver Strand
mine area includes steeply dipping structures which cut Revett
formation, a common quartzite host of orebodies in the Coeur
dAlene Mining District. The Kellogg fault, a major structure
which branches off the dominant Osburn fault near Kellogg,
passes nearby the Silver Strand. Other features include basalt
dikes which have a strong magnetic signature.
Four different geophysical techniques were utilized, measurement
of the earths magnetic field, measurement of fields
related to very low frequency radio waves (VLF), measurement
of induced polarization of the rock, and measurement of electrical
resistivity of the rock. The methods are capable of detecting
anomalous conditions to a depth of more than 100 meters. In
addition, soil samples were taken at each geophysical station
and analyzed for a suite of 35 elements.
Measurement of the earths magnetic field is particularly
useful to locate the basalt dikes which are associated with
the Silver Strand silver-gold mineralization. The results
did show the location of basalt dikes on the property.
VLF radio signals are transmitted by the U.S. Navy to its
submarines. As these waves pass through the skin of the earth,
they are distorted by anomalous rock properties. These distortions
are measured with extremely accurate instruments. The VLF
data generated at the Silver Strand is still being studied,
as it is quite complex, but several anomalous areas have been
noted.
The induced polarization and electrical resistivity measurements
have been examined to discover areas of high resistivity related
to quartz and silicification of the rock mass which preceded
deposition of the ore minerals. Areas of high induced polarization
indicate the presence of metallic sulfides, which could be
the ore minerals themselves. One major anomaly located about
350 m from the Silver Strand orebody was discovered. Other
subsidiary anomalies were also discovered.
The soil data indicates a strong metallic element anomaly
which is offset upstream from the Silver Strand orebody and
may indicate another ore shoot which has not been discovered.
The next step in the Silver Strand exploration program will
be to design a drilling program to drill exploration drillholes
into the anomalous rock masses detected by the geophysical
program.
Of course, the addition of silver and gold resources to the
Silver Strand mine would improve the economics of a mining
operation and could lead to the justification of a mineral
processing plant at the site.
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 mineral properties in the Coeur d'Alene
Mining District including the New Jersey mine, the Silver
Strand mine, the Golden Chest mine, the CAMP project, the
Scotch Thistle project, and the Silver Button project.
This release contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Federal Securities Laws. Such statements
are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable
but which are subject to a wide range of uncertainties and
business risks. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ from those anticipated are discussed in the Company's
periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its annual report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended
December 31, 2003.
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