Tiger International Resources Inc. (TGR.V) announces the results of the recent undercover drill program at Springfield, South Australia.

Exploration Activities

The program of undercover drilling undertaken between June 16 and July 2 this year was designed to locate indicator minerals in gravel deposits derived from buried kimberlites. This new technique had been suggested by Tiger's exploration manager, Dr Kevin Wills, after his review of previous exploration in the Springfield area.

Holes were drilled mostly within five kilometers of the margin of the Springfield Basin, as all lines of evidence continue to point to several kimberlites in the one to five kilometer distance range. A total of 66 vertical holes for 421 meters at an average depth of 6.4 meters per hole were drilled by Strata Exploration. As one hole was 64 meters deep, the average depth for the others was 5.5 meters. Between 5 to 8 holes were drilled each day. Drilling techniques utilized included aircore, and reverse circulation percussion. Holes were located at a variable spacing of 400 meters apart in the most prospective areas and up to 1.6 km apart in areas where reconnaissance coverage was required.

A total of 96 undercover drill samples were sent to Independent Diamond Laboratories in Perth for indicator mineral analysis. Some samples were retested for confirmation prior to announcement. Final results were received on August 31. A series of indicator minerals were analysed on the electron microprobe at the Universities of Adelaide and Western Australia. In addition, 73 samples of basement from the bedrock portions of the holes were sent to the Amdel Laboratory in Adelaide for testing for incompatible trace elements.

Three magnetic anomalies, which were located by the airborne magnetic study completed earlier this year, were tested by drill holes. These holes all located Proterozoic bedrock rather than kimberlite. This was helpful in eliminating three targets so the field crew could concentrate on more promising situations.

Exploration Results

The program was very successful as 17 of the 66 holes returned positive kimberlitic indicator minerals. Results can be divided into four geographic areas from south to north. Basement samples analysed for incompatible trace elements gave negative results. However, the practice will be continued as it has the potential to give inexpensive and rapid evidence of the intersection of a kimberlite.

Diamond Ridge

Diamond Ridge forms the Southern Margin of the Springfield Basin and was the location of the 56 diamonds recovered in June. About 30 holes were drilled southwest of Diamond Ridge to check that the new undercover drilling technique was effective in locating heavy mineral anomalies in this environment. Results were very encouraging and 12 holes located positive kimberlitic indicator results (holes SF2-11, 58 and 62). These results are mostly reworked indicators from the conglomerates on Diamond Ridge. They define a downslope colluvial fan about two kilometers long and 1.5 kilometers wide. The results also confirm the potential of the technique to locate undiscovered kimberlites.

The most interesting aspect of the results was that three holes, SF6, SF8 and SF9, all located chromite grains with evidence for two populations with different wear characteristics. One population is slightly worn and is suggestive of a source in the 3 to 5 kilometers distance range. This is likely to be directly from Diamond Ridge. The other population of very fresh chromites is suggestive of a source in the 1 to 2 kilometer distance range.

The source area for the fresh chromites is now thought to be near drill hole SF14, which was originally described as containing possible sandy tuff. The indicator mineral results for SF14 were negative and the microscopic description suggests that hole SF14 penetrated a sandy Proterozoic diapir. Diapirs, which are similar to salt domes, are common in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia and several geologists have previously suggested that they may be a favored location for kimberlites.

A paleocurrent direction study was carried out on the basal conglomerates from Diamond Ridge by Dr Richard Russell. The source is thought to be towards the east or southeast, in the general direction of hole SF14.

Indicator geochemistry results from the Diamond Ridge samples are suggestive of one kimberlitic source. The pyrope garnets belong to the G9 group and the chromium versus magnesium plot for chromites also suggests one source. The indicator geochemistry is consistent with diamond bearing kimberlite. This is not surprising as the indicators are found with diamonds.

Springfield Basin

One Hole drilled inside the Springfield Basin (SF20) returned kimberlitic chromite indicators. This positive result is thought to be derived from the basal sedimentary conglomerates and is not a high priority for follow up.

Northern Margin of the Springfield Basin

Three trenches (T18-20) were dug across an interpreted paleochannel on the northern margin of the Springfield Basin. Conglomerates from these trenches returned a different positive indicator population to the conglomerates from Diamond Ridge. Indicators include chrome diopside, chromite, picro ilmenite, pyrope garnet and phlogopite mica. Wear characteristics suggest a distance to source in the 2 to 5 kilometer range. Paleocurrent directions suggest a source to the north.

Seven pyrope garnets were microprobed, and all were G10 garnets. This suggests a higher diamond potential than the samples from Diamond Ridge. No diamonds have yet been located from the northern margin, but this is not surprising as these samples returned an average of only 4 indicator grains per 10 kilograms of conglomerate. This can be compared with conglomerate from Diamond Ridge, which returned an average of 430 indicators and one small diamond per 10 kilograms of conglomerate.

One drill hole just to the north of the northern Margin of the Springfield Basin (SF26) returned a positive indicator mineral result. It is thought that this result is derived from the conglomerates on the northern margin of the Springfield Basin described above.

Springfield Homestead Area

Three drill holes in the Springfield Homestead area about five kilometers north of the Springfield Basin returned positive indicator mineral results. Hole SF49 returned worn grains of chromite, pyrope, phlogopite and minute ultramafic rock fragments. Hole SF69 returned chromite, phlogopite and minute ultramafic rock fragments. These two holes suggest that one or more undiscovered kimberlites are present in the area about five kilometers north of the Springfield Basin. The results will need to be followed up with further undercover drilling.

Hole SF50 returned the most encouraging results to date with a positive assemblage of chrome diopside, chromite, picro ilmenite, pyrope, phlogopite mica and minute ultramafic rock fragments. The minerals are all very fresh with a suggested distance to source of less than one kilometer. It will be noted that this assemblage is identical to that from the northern Springfield Basin margin, and both groups of indicators could be derived from the same kimberlite.

Current Activities

The interesting results from holes SF8 and SF50 are currently being followed up by digging a few trenches (8 near SF8, and 5 near SF50). The aim of this work is to understand which part of the profile the indicators are coming from before they are followed up by more trenching or drilling. The results are very encouraging and it is anticipated that one or more kimberlitic sources should be discovered over the next few months.

Apart from following up the results of the undercover drilling a new program of resampling creeks in the Springfield area for indicator minerals is being carried out. It is thought that with modern laboratory techniques and by observing the heavy mineral concentrates to a size of 0.2 mm, there is a high chance of locating new positive results which could lead to further new kimberlites. Most previous samples were concentrated in the field and only observed to 0.4 mm.

Conclusions

The geological conclusion from work to date is that Tiger has located evidence for at least two undiscovered kimberlitic sources for the minerals in holes SF8 and SF50. Other results from holes SF49 and SF69 suggest that further kimberlites are also present in the project area.

An active exploration program will continue in the next few months, but Tiger refrains from estimating when results will be available due to uncertainties in sample processing and verification time.

Tiger International Resources is listed on the Vancouver Stock Exchange under the symbol TGR.V. Tiger has 4,159,000 shares on issue, and has adequate funds for ongoing work commitments. Tiger maintains a website at www.tigerresources.com, and invites review of recent financial statements posted at the site.

For additional information e-mail Tiger at info@tigerresources.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Patric Barry
President
Tiger International Resources Inc.