MENIKA MINING LTD.
1756 246th Street
Langley, B.C. V2Z 1G4
Tel: 604-514-0041 Fax: 604-514-9702
TSX. V: MML
March 6, 2009
The board of Menika Mining Ltd. is pleased to present the exploration highlights of Menika’s recently completed 3000 meter diamond drilling program on its 100% owned Reliance gold property near Gold Bridge B.C. The Reliance property is 6 kilometres north of the Bralorne – Pioneer gold mine where 4 million ounces of gold were produced.
The Reliance property hosts several high grade shear zone associated gold showings and occurrences including the Imperial Zone where historical drilling outlined a 250 by 100 meter zone of gold mineralization. These deposits have similarities to the nearby past producing Minto and Olympic mines in the Bridge River Mining camp where gold is hosted by arsenic and antimony enriched quartz-carbonate shear and tension veins within shears that also host variably mineralized felsic dykes.
The drill used was a unitized Longyear “super 38” supplied Boart Longyear drilling Ltd. (formerly Britton Brothers Ltd.) of Smithers, B.C. The program was managed by J. E. (Leo) Lindinger of Renaissance Geoscience Services Inc. of Kamloops B.C.
Three deep holes were drilled on the Carter Zone to test moderate strength mobile metal ion (MMI) gold, arsenic and antimony anomalies that overlie highly altered volcanic, metasedimentary and felsic intrusive rocks. The Carter Zone is a large target covering an area 1 to 2 kilometres south east of the Imperial Zone and on strike from large structures interpreted to be associated with the known gold mineralization.
These holes intersected quartz-carbonate shear and tension veins hosting low gold values associated with arsenic and less so with antimony. There is also a strong association with numerous shear zone associated several generations of Tertiary felsic feldspar porphyry dykes. The shears hosting the dykes, veining and mineralization are interpreted to be nearly east striking and steeply north dipping. The best MMI anomalies could not be tested due to the very steep terrain where the anomalies were located.
Hole UR08-01 was drilled vertically to a depth of 619.25 metres (2032 ft.) Three broad zones were intersected. All intersections are drilled lengths. The highest zone returned, at 150.35 metres grading 1.1 g/t gold over 1.55 metres, and at 185.02 metres 0.87 g/t gold over 0.88 metres. The second zone at 264.7 metres returned 0.98 g/t gold over 1.3 metres. The third and deepest zone returned at 578.21 metres 0.73 g/t gold over 1.44 metres, at 588.65 metres 0.45 g/t gold over 1.35 metres and at 600.85 metres 0.68 g/t gold over 2.05 metres. These deep intersections are interpreted to be below the detection limit of MMI surveys but may be the down dip portions of stronger up dip MMI anomalies to the south of the 2008 drilled area.
Hole UR08-02 was collared at the same location and drilled at a bearing of 300 degrees and a dip of -70 degrees and to a depth of 401.43 metres. The hole was drilled down dip to the geology. No intersections grading over 0.4 g/t gold were intersected.
UR08-03 was collared 80 metres southeast of hole UR08-01. Similar to hole UR08-01 this hole intersected three zones of low grade gold mineralization. The highest zone at 42 metres returned 1.34 g/t gold over 1 metre, and at 75.5 metres returned 0.95 g/t gold over 2.1 metres. A second zone at 159.8 metres and a third at 262 metres did not return any intersections over 0.4 g/t gold. This hole was drilled into the interpreted core of the mineralized zone intersected at depth in hole UR08-01 and the intersections are interpreted to be 100 to 300 metres higher than those in hole 1.
The highest MMI gold anomaly is 300 meters southeast of the area drilled in 2008 and remains a priority drill target. Prospecting of the area in 2008 revealed that the MMI sample site was under an outcrop of highly altered and silicified Pioneer volcanics. These rocks are host to most of the known mineralization at the Imperial Zone.
The remainder of the drilling was in the Imperial Zone. These holes were designed to either; twin earlier holes in an attempt to confirm earlier historic gold intersections, infill between holes where significant differences in grade were encountered and to extend the mineralization at depth.
Please refer to the table below of gold results highlights of the Imperial Zone drilling program. The results in the table are not cut for high grade, however there is a 0.4 g/t gold lower cut off for individual gold results, unless bracketed by higher grade intervals and used for weighted averages. The averaging method used was grade times distance summation. No density calculations or estimates were used.
Holes I08-0001 was drilled in an attempt to twin hole 88-18 which returned the deepest known intersection of the Imperial Zone. Hole 88-18 returned from 222.8 to 240.01 metres a weight averaged grade of 7.12 g/t gold. Hole I08-0001 was collared at a bearing of 55 degrees and dip of -84 degrees. The Imperial Zone was intersected from 266.16 to 284.6 metres and graded 1.06 g/t gold. This intersection is considerably deeper and lower grade than in hole 88-18. This hole also intersected numerous lower grade zones below the Imperial Zone. Hole I08-0002 was collared at the same site and bearing as hole I08-0001 and drilled 5 degrees deeper at -89 degrees. This hole veered to the south at depth and is interpreted to have intersected deeper lithologies and mineralization than hole 1. This hole also intersected the Imperial Zone which from 266.9 to 289.4 metres graded 3.08 g/t gold. This hole also intersected very deep mineralization at over 400 meters that may be deep extensions of the Crown and Eagle Zones which outcrop 200 and 400 meters uphill to the southeast from the Imperial zone. Due to the differing down hole trajectories, the Imperial Zone was intersected at nearly the same depth, although the geology differed significantly.
Hole I08-0003, 4 and 5 were drilled on section “100 south” to twin holes 87-36, 10 and 11 respectively. All holes were drilled due east at dips of -47, -60 and -75 degrees respectively. The collars were located 1.5 meters due south of the relocated collars of holes 87-10 and 11. The Imperial Zone was intersected in all three holes at the expected locations. However grades reported were significantly lower in I08-0003 to slightly lower in I08-0004 and 5. Hole I08-0003 from 68.8 m to 77.7 meters returned a average grade of 1.24 g/t gold over an estimated true width of 6.5 metres as compared to hole 87-36 which returned 10.37 g/t gold over a much narrower estimated true width of 3.5 meters. I08-0004 returned from 76.15 to 99.77 metres 3.2 g/t gold over an estimated true width of 18 metres as compared to hole 87-10 which returned 10.35 g/t gold over an estimated true width of 8.5 metres. Hole I08-0005 intersected from 80.96 to 95-95 metres 5.43 g/t gold over an estimated true width of 10 metres as compared to hole 87-11 which returned 6.93 g/t gold over an estimated true width of 8 metres. Hole 5 was the best of the 2008 program and the closest to approaching the 1987 or 1988 results.
Hole I08-0006 was collared on section “135 south” and drilled to the south west at a dip of -86 degrees to attempt to intersect mineralization down dip of hole 88-21 and up dip of holes 88-17 and 88-18. This hole was successful in intersecting the Imperial and other zones. The Imperial Zone, from 153.55 to 176.7 metres returned 1.76 g/t gold over an estimated true with of 10 metres.
Holes I08-0007 and 8 were also collared on section 135 south and drilled -90 and -83 degrees to the east respectively. Hole 7 attempted to twin hole 88-21. Hole 7 returned from 127.02 to 139 metres 1.86 g/t gold over an estimated true width of 6 metres as compared to hole 88-21 which from 139 to 151.95 returned 4.84 g/t gold over an estimated true width of 6.5 metres. Hole 7 intersected the Imperial Zone considerably higher than in hole 88-21 and therefore is interpreted to have been collared closer to where hole I08-0006 was located. Hole I08-0008 attempted to intersect the Imperial Zone below the intersection in hole 88-20 and above 88-21 and I08-0007. Hole 8 from 117.4 to 129.53 metres returned 2.16 g/t gold over an estimated true width of 6.5 metres as compared to hole 88-21 at 4.84 g/t gold and hole 88-20 which from 123 to 125.1 metres returned only 0.88 g/t gold. (hole 88-20 was collared at least 10 meters higher than holes 88-21, I08-0006, 7, and 8.)
The Imperial Zone appears to be contained within a nearly north striking steeply west dipping splay off of the NW striking Imperial shear.
The differences in grade encountered between the 1980’s programs and 2008 programs may be due to more representative sampling of the later core. Records indicate the 1987 and probably 1988 drilling was BQ size. The historical core was split with a manual core splitter. The 2008 drilling was NQ core size. All of the core cut from the 2008 program was cut with a 5 HP gas rock saw using a 12 or 14 inch blade. Great care was taken to make the sampling as representative as possible.
Other on site geotechnical QAQC methods used were; core washing and reassembly to ensure all core was properly and sequentially placed in the boxes and to accurately locate where core loss occurred, core imaging at 4 or less boxes at a time, recording core recovery and general rock quality characteristics, representative sampling of the core using a rock saw, or if the rock was unfit for cutting, a core splitter. The core, prior to quality checks, logging and sampling were kept either at the drill, or at a remote secure processing facility on the property. Field standard PM 186 from WCM Minerals Limited were inserted approximately every 23 samples. Also a field blank comprised of washed cement quality silica sand was inserted at least once every 23 samples, and after any visually high grade mineralized core. Two field duplicates were also made and analyzed. The core samples were kept at all times in a locked box or vehicle while on site. The core samples were transported either by bonded transport or by qualified technicians directly to Ecotech Laboratory in Kamloops for gold by fire assay AA finish and 28 element ICP analyses.
3D spatial accuracy was maintained by surveying the two areas drilled using a hand held GPS. Additionally the collar locations for the Imperial Area were surveyed with a total station EDM theodolite with less than 5 cm error between stations. Holes I08-0002 TO 0008 were down hole surveyed with a Flexit multishot tool taking readings at 3.1 metre (10 foot) intervals. Hole I08-0001 was partially down hole surveyed.
Additional information including a full report documenting this work with recommendations for future exploration expenditures, will be posted shortly on Menika’s website at www.menikamining.com.
The information presented in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Joseph E. (Leo) Lindinger, P.Geo. of Renaissance Geoscience Services Inc., an independent qualified person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101).
On behalf of the Board of Directors:
Menika Mining Ltd.
“Charles Boitard”, President
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