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Press Release

Sep. 23, 2008

Download this document: 2008-09-23-pr-noront.pdf (pdf, 267529)

NORONT CONTINUES TO OUTLINE WORLD CLASS CHROMITE MINERALIZATION AT BLACKBIRD ONE AND TWO

TORONTO, ONTARIO September 23, 2008, Noront Resources Ltd. ("Noront or the Company") (TSX Venture: NOT) is pleased to present an update on its operations as well as additional chrome results on its chromium exploration activities in the McFaulds Lake area of northern Ontario in the James Bay Lowlands.

EXPLORATION HIGHLIGHTS

  1. Assay results received from Hole NOT-08-1G31 (see Table 1) from Blackbird One returned 75 metres from 337.5 metres onwards, averaging 38.2% Cr2O3 containing 26.1% Chrome (Cr) and 15.2% Iron (Fe) including 12 metres from 373.5 metres onwards, averaging 58.4% Cr2O3 containing 39.9% Cr and 15.5% Fe (Cr:Fe ratio of 2.6)
  2. Drilling at Blackbird Two located 1,000 metres to the east of Blackbird One continues to encounter visible chromite mineralization in several holes testing the 900 metre long gravity anomaly.

One drill is currently drilling at the Blackbird Two chrome occurrence, and will be moving to test the area between Blackbird One and Blackbird Two in systematic step outs of 100 metres to explore the area to determine continuity of the two zones. As previously announced (refer to press release dated July 29, 2008) Blackbird Two was discovered while testing a large gravity anomaly located approximately 800 metres to the east of Blackbird One and 1 kilometre south of the Eagle One magmatic massive sulphide (MMS) deposit.

The recent success of Noront's drilling at Blackbird One and Two, has been a very positive development in the Company's exploration for base and industrial minerals in the Ring of Fire. The grades of Cr2O3 that are typically being encountered by our drilling at Blackbird One, along with a favourable chromium to iron ratio, as well as the large crystals of chromite in a talc matrix observed during microscopic examination of core samples, will potentially place this discovery amongst the best chrome deposits in the world.

While it is still too early to comment on the metallurgical characteristics of the rock and anticipated chrome recoveries, the grades being encountered in holes reported to date, are consistently greater than 40% Cr2O3,have a Cr:Fe ratio that approximates 2:1. This conceptually, would allow for the rock to be fed directly into smelters without any further processing. Concentrating the rock on site could be by gravity separation, at relatively low cash costs after the initial capital investment for the mill facilities. This would allow for substantial value added to the discovery. At current world contract market prices for chrome, of $2.05 (USD) per pound (as per the European Q3 contract price), the grade of 40% Cr2O3 would command a price of around $600 per tonne delivered to a deep water port. Simple upgrading of the rock by use of an attrition/gravity mill that removes the talc matrix and liberates the chromite would enhance the value of the rock substantially.

Early drilling at Blackbird Two identified three parallel bands of massive chromitite that appear to be of similar size and visual nature to the Blackbird One discovery. Additional discoveries by the Spider/Freewest/KWG joint venture of 48 metres of massive chromite located only a few kilometres northeast of Blackbird Two, along with Freewest's recent discovery of 100 metres of chromite that included 60 metres of massive chromite, continue to lead the Company to believe that there is a potential for an extensive massive chromite belt in the current area of drilling. These four chromite occurrences discovered in the McFaulds Lake area to date are situated along a strike length of 10 kilometres within the Ring of Fire (ROF) as previously reported by Noront, Freewest and the Spider/KWG/Freewest JV in their recent press releases. This concentration of occurrences lends support to the comparison with the Kemi Mine in Finland, where multiple chromite lenses occur in a similar geological setting along a 15 kilometre belt as presented in Noront’s recently filed NI-43-101 report on the project area. (to see the report, please refer to Noront website www.norontresources.com)

Noront and other ROF Companies who continue to drill in the area have encountered and are now delineating a potential new Chromite belt that is still open at both ends along strike, where the ROF continues on ground wholly owned by Noront. The Company is committed to further identifying the chromite footprint of Blackbird Two and testing its other holdings along the ROF for chromite and related copper-nickel massive sulphide mineralization.

BLACKBIRD ONE CHROME OCCURRENCE

The Layered Chromite (“LC”) zone at Blackbird One is best described as a complex of varying thicknesses of massive chromite bearing layers within the Peridotite Sill. These Chromitite layers dip steeply at approximately 60 degrees to the west paralleling the contact between the Peridotite Sill and the adjacent Granodiorite. The holes containing significant Chromite mineralization reported to date have delineated a chromite body along a strike length of 125 metres, down to a vertical depth of 500 metres over wide core widths with favourable high Cr/Fe ratios. Blackbird One chrome occurrence is open. During the reporting period since last press release an additional three holes were completed designed to test this chrome occurrence, assays for only one hole in its entirety have been received.

TABLE 1: Recently received significant Assay results (Blackbird One)

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Int. (m) Cu% Ni% Pd(g/t) Pt(g/t) Au(g/t) TPM(g/t) Cr2O3% Cr% Fe%
NOT-08-1G31 337.5 412.5 75 0.02 0.15 0.24 0.18 0.03 0.45 38.2 26.1 15.2
including 373.5 385.5 12.0 0.004 0.14 0.15 0.15 0.01 0.31 58.4 39.9 15.5


Due to the limited number of drill hole and assay results, true widths are not yet determined for the chromite (LC) zones at Blackbird One. Assays are pending for the following drill hole recently completed at the Blackbird One occurrence.

TABLE 2: Summary of Recent Drilling (Blackbird One, assays pending)

Hole Number Northing local (m) Easting local (m) Northing (UTM) Easting (UTM) Azimuth (degrees) Dip (degrees) Length (m) Observed Mineralization
NOT-08-1G58 750 3245 5842060 546150 0 -90 546

248.5-249.3: int cr beds

249.3-250.3: massive cr

296.7-297.0: massive cr

297.3-298.3: massive cr

298.7-299.4 : intermitt cr beds

330.5-330.8: massive cr

NOT-08-1G60     5842100 546200 0 -90 454.3 no significant cr mineralization
NOT-08-1G62     5842138 546250 0 -90 804.6

705.0 -713.0: Diss - int cr short massive cr

722.9 - 726.0 diss - int cr, short mass cr

734.0-735.9: diss - mass cr, with short mass cr

Notwithstanding the foregoing, visual observations are estimates only and pending assay results may not confirm visual observations in whole or in part. The drill has been moved away from this site for the time being and has moved to continue drilling in the vicinity of Eagle One.

BLACKBIRD TWO CHROME OCCURRENCE

The Blackbird Two chrome occurrence was recently discovered (see press release dated July 30, 2008) while testing a 900 metre long gravity anomaly, centered approximately 1,000 metres to the east of Blackbird One. There have been 11 holes drilled to test this anomaly, 6 of which have intersected massive chromite layers. No assays have been received from this chromite occurrence. The following table provides location and descriptions of each hole drilled to test this anomaly, that has been traced along strike for 340 metres between UTM sections 546555 mE to 546895 mE.

TABLE 3: Summary of Recent Drilling (Blackbird 2 assays pending)

Hole Number Northing local (m) Easting local (m) Northing (UTM) Easting (UTM) Azimuth (degrees) Dip (degrees) Length (m) Observed Mineralization
 NOT-08-1G57  280  4000  5842238  547024  315  -50  516.8

 152.5 - 170.4 semi-massive cr

173.3 - 188.5: diss - massive cr

362.5 - 417.7 interm. cr beds

 NOT-08-1G59  500  4000   5842340  546895  135   -50   390 

 127.6 - 129.6 diss - massive cr

175.6 - 177.1 diss - massive cr

273.0 - 283.2 massive cr

292.5 - 294.2 massive cr

 NOT-08-1G61  700  4000  5842540  546730  135  -50  600

 280.4 ‐ 297.75 semi‐massive cr

336.0 ‐ 339.0 interm ‐ diss cr

345.0 ‐ 357.6 diss ‐ massive cr

369.0 ‐ 370.7 diss ‐ massive cr

375.0 ‐ 417.2 diss ‐ mass cr

451.8 ‐ 455.5 diss cr

465.0 ‐ 468.6 diss cr

501.0 ‐ 504.0 interm ‐ semi mass cr

504.0 ‐ 535.6: massive cr

 NOT-08-1G63  426  4200  5842509  547105  155  -50  567  no significant cr mineralization
 NOT-08-1G64  287  4925  5842370  546830  155  -70  636

 504.0 -509.0: interm cr

509.0 - 537.2: massive cr

537.2 - 540.3: interm cr

 NOT-08-1G65  287  4925  5842370  546830  155  -50  417

 123.3 – 133.6: interm cr

189.0 -234.2: interm cr

362.6 – 398.5: interm cr

438.2 - 438.4: massive cr

 NOT-08-1G66  340  4430   5842595  547275  155  -60  519  no significant cr mineralization
 NOT-08-1G67  340  4430  5842595  547275  155  -45   no significant cr mineralization  
 NOT-08-1G68  390  4330  5842559  547182  155  -50  429  no significant cr mineralization
 NOT-08-1G69      5842330  546740  155  -50  690

 156.4-159.2: massive cr

160.7-168.5 massive cr

168.5-226.5: dissem cr

261-267: diss to massive cr

267-280: diss cr

280-378.5: diss - massive cr

418-422: semi massive cr

609.14-611.8 : massive cr

 NOT-08-1G70      5842245  546555  155  -50  underway

 140.0 - 145.5: semi-massive - mass cr

146.1 - 149.7: interm cr beds

161.9 - 162.2: mass - semi mass cr

220.1 - 221.5: interm cr layers

226.5 - 241.5 interm cr layers

261.4 - 265.4: interm cr layers

337.5 - 342.0: interm cr layers

 

INDEPENDENT QUALITY CONTROL AND ANALYTICAL PROTOCOL

A thorough quality control program has been in effect for the Double Eagle project which includes grouping samples into batches of 35 into which are added 2 certified reference material standards, 2 field blanks comprised of sterile drill core, and a field duplicate. Coarse reject and pulp duplicates also form part of the QC program. Approximately 10% of the samples are sent to a secondary lab as a monitor on the principal lab. It can be said with confidence that all assays as reported in this Press Release have passed the strict quality control guidelines as set out by Noront’s independent Qualified Person (“IQP”).

All samples reported upon herein were completed by Activation Labs (Actlabs) of Ancaster, Ontario. The samples submitted to Actlabs were analyzed for multi-elements, including Ni and Cu using a four acid digest followed by ICP analysis. The samples that received base metal values greater than the upper limit for the method underwent further analysis using ICP-OES. For the Au, Pd and Pt, the assay methodology was Fire Assay on a 30 gram aliquot with an ICP finish. Silver was analyzed using a 3- acid digest with an ICP analysis. For final chrome analysis, on the samples where elemental chrome using the ICPOES multi-element analysis methodology provides greater than 1% Cr, the samples are then submitted for additional analysis using INAA that involves irradiating the samples prior to final analysis. This methodology provides analysis in percent for elemental Cr as well as Cr2O3 and elemental Fe. For more information on assay methodology please visit the Activation Laboratories Ltd. Website at http://www.actlabsint.com.

DELAYS IN REPORTING FINAL CHROME ASSAYS

Due to the high number of samples that are being submitted for INAA analysis and the dependency on a research reactor located at MacMaster University in Hamilton Ontario, Canada, there is currently a large backlog of samples awaiting final analysis. Actlabs assures Noront that they are working their way through the backlog as quickly as they can.
Drilling results in this press release have been reviewed in the field and approved for dissemination by Noront’s senior management including John Harvey, P.Eng. Chief Operating Officer of Noront and Dr. Jim Mungall P.Geo., Noront’s new Chief Geologist, both being Qualified Persons under Canadian Securities guidelines.

Noront is a tier 2 junior resource company on the TSX Venture Exchange, trading symbol NOT, with 129,824,783 shares issued to date.

Investors are invited to visit Noront’s IR Hub at http://www.agoracom.com/IR/Noront where they can post questions and receive answers or review questions and answers already posted by other investors. Alternatively, investors are able to e-mail all questions and correspondence to NOT@agoracom.com where they can also request to be added to the investor e-mail list to receive all future press releases and updated in real time.

For Further information please contact Neil Novak P.Geo., at (416) 864 1456 or visit Noront’s website at: http://www.norontresources.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
“R. Nemis”
President and Chief Executive Officer

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release includes certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the US Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements are “Forward-Looking Statements” that involve such various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these “Forward-Looking Statements”.

Investors are invited to visit Noront’s IR Hub at www.agoracom.com/IR/Noront where they can post questions and receive answers or review questions and answers by other investors. Alternatively, you can email questions to NOT@agoracom.com and also request to be added to the investor email list to receive all future press releases and updates in real time.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
“R. Nemis”
President and Chief Executive Officer

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.