VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/06/09 -- SNS Silver Corporation ("SNS" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SNS) provides a summary of the developments at the Crescent Mine during the 2008 year and is proposing a new slate of directors at the annual general meeting.
2008 Summary
Significant progress was made on the Crescent Mine in 2008 with exploration drilling, infrastructure development and modification.
Exploration drilling
Surface exploration was completed in 2008 with an additional 27,026 feet of drilling on the South Vein and Upper Alhambra structures for a total of 68,100 feet. Underground drilling within the Crescent Mine began in late Dec. 2007 and continued thru Dec. 10th of 2008. A total of 43,240 feet of underground exploration drilling was completed on the Hooper level (main haulage level) with drill stations positioned 1,000 feet apart ranging from East to West. The grand total of drilling on the Crescent property by SNS is 111,347 feet. Drill data is currently being logged and interpreted by SNS geologists and a resource estimate by SRK will be available in early 2009.
Development
Development drifting at the Crescent Mine began in January 2008, directly after the completion of the 2007 Hooper level rehabilitation project. Drifting was done along the Alhambra Vein structure to the West for approximately 1,000 feet. This drift was to provide an additional drill platform for South Vein exploration as well as to evaluate the Alhambra structure. At approximately 900 feet west of the Hooper Raise, a drift was driven 250 feet to the South to provide a drill platform for the Alhambra structure that shows several areas of potential mine grade mineralization. A second drift was driven to the South at the 3,500 foot area of the Hooper level. This drift was completed in August 2008 to provide a drill platform for the upper extension of the East Footwall Vein and was the final piece of excavation needed to complete the 2008 drill program.
The Rehabilitation project on the Big Creek #4 / Alhambra level continued through August 2008 with considerable progress made toward the West side of the property. Over 2,000 feet of 1920's era drift was modified and rehabilitated. This rehabilitation work continued westward beyond the Hooper Raise and towards the historical Taylor Stope. New haulage rail and utilities were installed to provide equipment access to the Alhambra level for exploration and new mine development. Rehabilitation work was put on hold in late August while an evaluation of the property is being conducted. The objective of the Big Creek #4 / Alhambra rehabilitation is to provide an excellent drill platform for further South Vein exploration to the west of the property. This will also provide a secondary escape way and ventilation improvements throughout the upper Crescent. Should rehabilitation continue through to the Alhambra portal, access and ventilation options would be significantly increased for South Vein development.
The Crescent Mine haulage capabilities and efficiency were greatly increased with the purchase of 13 Granby style cars and the installation of two new automated dump stations for the ore cars. The ore car capacities were increased by 30% and the dump time decreased by 80% from the old style side dump cars used in the past.
