HOUSTON LAKE MINING INC.

(HLM-TSX.V)

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Houston Lake Awaits Assays on the West Cedartree Gold Project

 

July 17, 2003: Sudbury, Ontario - Houston Lake Mining Inc. (TSX.V:HLM, "Houston Lake") is pleased to update the status of the current exploration program of the 603.6 hectare (1490.9 acre) West Cedartree Gold Project. The West Cedartree Gold Project is located near Sioux Narrows in the Kenora Mining District of Ontario. Mechanized stripping, washing and channel sampling programs have been concluded as of July 15, 2003, while detailed mapping is expected to be completed by July 20th. The program builds upon the preliminary sampling conducted last Fall as well as line-cutting and geophysical surveys completed this Spring. The Angel Hill Gold Zone (formerly known as the New Shear Zone) is now well exposed by stripping for a distance of 130 metres (426 feet) along strike. A total of 89 channel samples were taken with the aim of systematically evaluating the gold zone. Assays are pending and the results will be announced in a press release as soon as they are received.

The steeply dipping and rusty weathering Angel Hill Gold Zone ("AHGZ") is the major focus of the current exploration program. The current work seeks to extend the known dimensions of the gold zone and to document the distribution of gold within the exposed 130m. segment of the AHGZ. This detailed mapping and sampling program is a fundamental step in analyzing the economic potential of the stripped area. Information gained from the current program will be of immeasurable assistance in locating drill collars and in understanding the context of the proposed 1000m. (3280 ft.) drill program. Independent consulting geologist, Dean Cutting, P. Geo. is the Qualified Person responsible for the project.

Detailed geological mapping extends the AHGZ in outcrop for an additional 150m. (492 ft.) for a total strike length of 225m. (738 ft.) and the zone remains open along strike to the south. The gold zone is now stripped and washed for 130m. (426 ft.) along strike. The AHGZ has an exposed minimum width of 3m. (9.8 ft.) to a maximum exposed width of 18m. (59.0 ft.) and remains open in width to the west. The exposed gold zone appears to be a part of a larger shear system and is internally complex. The AHGZ is characterized by seven rock units which have been weakly to strongly faulted and sheared, a stockwork of carbonate and quartz-carbonate veinlets, local fine disseminations of pyrite and arsenopyrite with trace chalcopyrite, and alterations of carbonate, iron carbonate, fuchsite, silica, pyrite, chlorite, and serpentine. The following rock units are of special interest in the evaluation: a highly fuchsitic core zone, a pyrite-arsenopyrite mineralized felsic dyke and larger quartz veins.

The rigorous sampling program endeavours to provide an unbiased appraisal of the exposed zone and tests the gold tenor of the individual rock units comprising the AHGZ. To this end, a systematic channel sampling regimen was conducted every 20 metres perpendicular to strike along the zone. The channel samples evaluated every rock unit within each 20 metre channel section. A total of 89 channel samples were taken and shipped this week to ALS Chemex of Mississauga, Ontario. The samples will be analyzed by standard fire assay utilizing a 50 gram charge with an AA finish. Check assays will be sent to XRAL Laboratories of Toronto, Ontario. Assay results will be released as soon as they are available.

Houston Lake now owns or has under 100 percent option a total of 603.6 hectares (1490.9 acres) spanning four properties in the West Cedartree Lake area. The properties are accessed by an all-weather gravel road, which traverses the northern portions of the project area. Past exploration has focused on the McLennan Shear Zone ("MSZ") at the northerly-striking contact of mafic volcanics with a large gabbro body. In 1997 a new gold-bearing shear zone was identified internal to the gabbro. A preliminary evaluation was carried out over 75m. (246 ft.) of the Angel Hill Gold Zone in 2002 (see Table 1).

Table 1. Compilation of 1997 & 2002 Results Over the Core Zone of the AHGZ

Distance along Strike (m.)

True Width
(m.)

Gold
(g/t Au)

Distance along Strike (ft.)

True Width
(ft.)

Gold
(oz/t Au)

5 m. South1

5.8 m.

9.11

16.4 ft. South1

19.02 ft.

0.266

Incl.

1.0 m.

47.10

Incl.

3.28 ft.

1.374

17.5 m.South1

3.95 m

5.39

57.4 ft. South1

12.96 ft.

0.157

20 m. South2

4.8 m.

9.99

65.6 ft. South2

15.74 ft.

0.291

22 m. South2

1.2 m

44.76

72.2 ft. South2

3.94 ft.

1.305

75 m. South1

5.0 m.

5.71

246.0 ft. South1

16.40 ft.

0.167

118 m. South1

1.0 m.

21.20

387.0 ft. South1

3.28 ft.

0.618

     1 Channel sample results, 2002      2 Systematic chip sample results, 1997.

 

Houston Lake is actively exploring for Gold, Platinum Group Metals and Rare Metals with a strategic focus on northwestern Ontario. The Company has a total of 15,828,195 common shares issued and outstanding. The common shares of Houston Lake Mining Inc. trade through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol HLM. For further information on all of the Company's projects, we invite you to visit us at www.houstonlakemining.com.

For more information, please contact:

E. Grayme Anthony   B.Sc., P. Geo., F.G.A.C., M. B. A

Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin
Tel: (705) 897-7622
Tel: (705) 788-9186
Fax: (705) 897-7618 Fax: (705) 788-9187
e-mail: houston@vianet.on.ca e-mail:clesueuraquin@quaere.ca

Web Site: www.houstonlakemining.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.



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