Vancouver, B.C., March 25, 2008. Alto Ventures Ltd. (ATV: TSX-V) is pleased to announce results from the first four diamond drill holes completed on its 100% owned Despinassy Project located 75 km north of Val d'Or, Quebec. Gold was intersected in each drill hole including high grade of 20.6 grams per tonne (g/t) gold across 0.8 m within a wider mineralized section averaging 7.0 g/t gold across 2.5 m.
The four holes reported are from the area of the Darla Zone where previous drilling intersected 19.5 g/t gold across 2.1m. The Darla Zone is one of several high priority gold prospects which were identified along a six kilometre segment of the Despinassy Shear Zone ("DSZ"), a zone of intense deformation and alteration that is up to 200 m wide and locally hosts significant gold mineralization. The DSZ has many geological and structural characteristics which are similar to the geological settings that host gold deposits in the Timmins gold camp. Other significant prospects along the DSZ include the DAC Deposit and Area 3.
To date, the best known prospect along the DSZ is the DAC Deposit where resources of 167,000 tonnes grading 6.88 g/t gold in the Indicated plus 445,000 tonnes grading 4.46 g/t gold in the Inferred categories were estimated in compliance with NI43-101 standards (see Alto news release dated November 27, 2006). The deposit is open to expansion at depth and along strike to the west. The Darla Zone is located one kilometre east of the DAC Deposit.
The objectives of this drill program are to (1) further test the DSZ at shallow depths at the Darla Zone and in Area 3; (2) confirm the size and extent of the alteration envelopes; and (3) gauge the strength of the quartz-vein gold systems at these locations. Previous drilling in Area 3 intersected Zone 20 which assays 4.6 g/t gold across 2.0 m and Zone 21 with assays of 2.4 g/t gold across 6.0 m. Area 3 is located two kilometres east of the Darla Zone along the DSZ and is currently being drilled. Results will be reported as they become available.
The current phase of the 2008 program anticipates the completion of 15 to 17 diamond drill holes prior to the spring thaw in early April. Another phase of drilling may be carried out during the second half of 2008.
Table of Significant Assay Results from Holes DES08-103 to DES08-106
| Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Width (m)* | Au (g/t) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DES08-103 Includes includes and |
54.4 55.5 120.0 129.0 129.0 |
58.6 56.6 130.1 121.0 130.1 |
4.2 1.2 10.1 1.0 1.1 |
0.55 1.07 0.53 2.82 1.45 |
|
| DES08-104 includes includes |
104.5 105.2 114.5 119.0 168.5 |
107.0 106.0 136.7 120.0 169.5 |
2.5 0.8 22.2 1.0 1.0 |
7.02 20.63 0.35 1.24 2.3 |
2 grains of visible gold observed 4 grains of very fine visible gold observed |
| DES08-105 | 203.0 | 204.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | |
| DES08-106 includes and |
116.4 117.1 123.2 146.4 |
124.6 117.9 124.6 147.4 |
8.2 0.8 1.4 1.0 |
1.19 2.35 3.82 1.39 |
*Mineralized intervals reported are down-hole lengths as there is insufficient drill-hole density to estimate true widths.
Mike Koziol, P. Geo., P.Eng. and Alto's President and CEO is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved this news release.
Quality Assurance/ Quality Control
Core processing included descriptive logging and selection of samples for analyses. The NQ-size cores selected for analyses were sawed in half and one half was delivered to a commercial laboratory by Alto staff for analyses and the other half retained for future reference. Gold assays were performed at Bourlamaque Assay Laboratories Ltd in Val d'Or, Quebec. The gold assaying method uses a standard Fire Assay with AA finish technique on a 30 gram sub-sample taken from a 250 gram split from the submitted sample. Commercially prepared standards were inserted by Alto every 25 samples to ensure precision of the results. The laboratory performs repeat check assays every 20 samples on pulps to ensure lab quality control.
The laboratory was instructed to prepare and analyze a second 250 gram split from the reject for those samples that indicated greater than 1 g/t Au on the initial analysis. The gold assaying method on the re-split uses a standard Fire Assay with Gravimetric finish technique on a 30 gram sub-sample. If the variation between the two assay results is significant, sieve metallic assays are performed. The results reported represent composites using weighted averages of all analyses performed on each specific sample.
Robert J. Tremblay P. Geo (Quebec), Consulting Geologist to Alto Ventures, is responsible for supervision of the diamond drilling program.
About Alto Ventures Ltd
Alto Ventures Ltd. is a gold exploration and development company with a portfolio of thirteen properties in the Canadian Shield. With a pipeline of quality projects, the Company's approach to maximizing opportunities while minimizing exploration risk is to attract well financed partners with the technical expertise to take the projects on to feasibility and subsequently production.
Alto's Management and Board of Directors have a long and successful track record of creating shareholder value through systematic exploration, acquisitions and discovery. The Company is currently active in Quebec where it is focussed on the Despinassy project in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt and in Ontario in the Beardmore and Shebandowan gold districts.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
Mike Koziol, P. Geo., P. Eng.
President & CEO
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information contact:
Mark Prosser
Investor Relations Manager
ALTO VENTURES LTD.
910-475 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC, V6C 2B3
Tel: 604-638-3947
Fax: 604-689-3609
Email: mark@altoventures.com
Website: www.altoventures.com
