- 10 to 12 holes, 1,200 metre diamond drill program planned for late January
- Exploration models include gold rich copper-zinc-silver sulphide deposits similar to the currently producing LaRonde Gold Mine and vein gold deposits similar to the adjacent Destiny Gold Project
- Numerous untested airborne VTEM and magnetic anomalies
Vancouver, BC., January 7, 2010. Alto Ventures Ltd. (ATV: TSX-V) is pleased to announce that plans have been finalized for a diamond drilling program on its 100% owned Vassal Gold Project located approximately 75 km north of Val d'Or in the Abitibi-T̩miscamingue region of Qu̩bec. The property is road accessible and lies only five kilometres west of the Destiny Gold Project which is being explored aggressively by Alto and its partner Pacific Northwest Capital Corp (see Alto's news releases dated December 3, 2009). Excellent mining infrastructure and support facilities are available in nearby Val d'Or.
The program will consist of approximately 1,200m of diamond drilling in 10 to 12 holes. The exploration models being evaluated during this program are (1) gold associated with copper, zinc and silver rich sulphides similar in style to mineralization at Agnico-Eagle's currently producing LaRonde Mine in Quebec and (2) shear hosted quartz vein gold deposits similar to the adjacent Destiny Gold Project. Ground geophysics that will be used to position specific drill holes is nearing completion and drilling is scheduled to start before the end of January.
The Vassal Gold Property consists of 111 claims totalling 5,663 hectares. It is underlain by Archean metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks but because bedrock outcrops are very limited in this region of the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt, previous exploration was sparse and inconsistent. Encouraged by results on the adjacent Destiny Gold Project, Alto completed helicopter supported VTEM and magnetometer surveys in 2008. Numerous airborne electromagnetic, magnetic anomalies and potential shear zones were delineated by the surveys but they were not drilled previously. This first drill program is designed to test several of the new targets to evaluate their potential to host gold mineralization.
Mike Koziol, P. Geo., P.Eng. and Alto's President and CEO is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved this news release.
About Alto Ventures Ltd.
Alto Ventures Ltd. is a gold exploration and development company with a portfolio of highly prospective properties in the Canadian Shield. The Company is currently active in Quebec where it is focussed on the Destiny Gold and the adjacent Vassal Projects in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt and in Ontario in the Beardmore and Shebandowan gold districts.
For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit our website at www.altoventures.com
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
Mike Koziol, P. Geo., P. Eng.
President & CEO
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts 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
