Northair Reports Progress At Sierra Rosario Gold -- Silver Project, Mexico
International Northair Mines Ltd. (TSXV: INM) (the "Company" or "Northair") is pleased to announce significant progress in preparation for a drill program at the Company's Sierra Rosario Project, which is currently under option to Sparton Resources Inc. (TSX: SRI.V) ("Sparton"). The Sierra Rosario Project is located along the western flanks of the Sierra Madre Occidental geological province in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico and covers a number of attractive mineralized zones staked by Northair during its generative exploration program. A new road is currently being constructed to the northern part of the property to provide access to the San Rafael, Dulces Nombres, and Descubriadora Zones. These high priority exploration targets have returned encouraging gold and silver results from surface and underground sampling.
Approximately 7.5 kilometres of new road is required to reach San Rafael; 6 kilometres of which have been completed to date. The road is expected to be completed in the coming weeks at which time San Rafael will be mechanically trenched, and a drill program designed based on assay results and exposed geology.
San Rafael contains base and precious metal mineralization in a rhyolite porphyry exposed at surface over an area approximately 200 metres long by 70 metres in width. Twenty-three chip channel samples over 15 metre widths taken previously from this zone by Northair averaged 181 g/t silver and 0.32 g/t gold with eight grab samples averaging 200 g/t silver and 1.79 g/t gold (with a high value of 711 g/t silver and 10.79 g/t gold). Additional exploration has revealed an attractive skarn occurrence immediately southeast of the San Rafael Zone, with 17 select panel samples from the sharn returning values ranging from background to a high of 3.80 g/t gold and 882 g/t silver.
An additional new target area, Dulces Nombres, has been identified approximately 1 kilometre southeast of San Rafael. This zone, reported in a previous press release dated January 21, 2008, occurs as low-angle epithermal breccias, and is up to 8 metres in thickness where exposed. Several old workings and prospect pits occur within this target area which is approximately 500 metres by 500 metres in size. The Dulces Nombres target also has historic underground workings covering an area of about 60 metres by 120 metres. Previously reported sample results included 35 chip samples averaging 0.71 g/t gold, 263 g/t silver, and 0.35% copper.
Approximately 450 metres northeast of Dulces Nombres, the Northair exploration team has recently re-opened the Descubriadora mine, which lies in a similar geologic setting as Dulces Nombres. Much of the old mine is water filled, currently limiting the mapping and sampling of the old workings to an area of about 30 metres by 50 metres. Dewatering is expected to allow full sampling of the old underground excavations. A total of 19 chip samples recently taken in the accessible portions of the mine average 0.398 g/t gold and 83.7 g/t silver with sample widths ranging from 1.75 to 3.0 metres.
The exploration team will continue to map and sample these new areas, as well as other previously defined targets in the property, while the access road is completed. Sparton is earning a 51% interest in the property from Northair, and the two companies plan to aggressively explore the project area during 2008 with anticipated programs that include mechanical trenching and drilling.
The current phase of the program is being supervised by Mr. Jim Robinson, Vice President of the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Northair maintains a quality control program using best industry practices consistent with NI 43-101. Samples reported in this release were submitted to ALS Chemex Labs in Hermosillo, Mexico, with gold assayed by a 50-gram digestion with fire assay - AA finish. Silver and other elements were assayed by aqua regia acid digestion with ICP finish. Silver samples reporting over 100 ppm were re-assayed by AA finish.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
INTERNATIONAL NORTHAIR MINES LTD.
"Fred G. Hewett"
____________________________________
Fred G. Hewett, P.Eng.
President & CEO
Website: www.northair.com/international/ Email: info@northair.com
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This news release may contain forward looking statements which are not historical facts, such as ore reserve estimates, anticipated production or results, sales, revenues, costs, or discussions of goals and exploration results, and involves a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, metal price volatility, volatility of metals production, project development, ore reserve estimates, future anticipated reserves and cost engineering estimate risks, geological factors and exploration results. See the Company's AIF Report and filings for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected results.</html>