Summary of 2007 Pebble East Drill Hole Assay Results


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549
 
 
FORM 6-K
 
 
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
 
CIK # 1164771
 
 
As at February 19, 2008
 

NORTHERN DYNASTY MINERALS LTD.
800 West Pender Street, Suite 1020
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6C 2V6
(address of principal executive offices)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
Form 20-F...X.... Form 40-F.........
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
 
 
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.
 
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
 
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No .....
 
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
 
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
By: /s/ Jeffrey R. Mason
Director and Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: February 19, 2007
 
Print the name and title of the signing officer under his signature.



 
  Ste. 1020, 800 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2V6
Tel: 604-684-6365
Fax: 604-684-8092
www.northerndynasty.com

 

SUMMARY OF 2007 PEBBLE EAST DRILL HOLE ASSAY RESULTS

February 19, 2008, Vancouver, BC - Ronald W. Thiessen, President and CEO of Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") (TSX:NDM;AMEX:NAK) is pleased to provide a summary of assay results from the 2007 drill program at the Pebble Project, located in southwestern Alaska.
 
The 2007 drill program was highly successful with 157,000 feet of core drilling completed in 36 holes (numbered 6354 through 7389 and 7393). Drilling was focused on determining the overall size, copper-gold-molybdenum grade distribution and geometry of the world class Pebble East deposit. The 2007 drill holes intersected long intervals of high-grade copper-gold-molybdenum mineralization consistently exceeding 1% copper equivalent and the deposit remains open. An updated Pebble East resource estimate will be compiled by next week.
 
A Table of 2007 Pebble East Deposit Assay Results and a Drill Hole Location Plan are attached to his news release and posted on Northern Dynasty's website at www.northerndynasty.com. Highlights from 2007 drill holes include:
 
-Hole 7359 intersected 2228 feet grading 1.42% copper equivalent (CuEQ1) comprising 0.92% Cu, 0.50 g/t Au, 0.035% Mo. Included in this intersection is a 451 foot interval grading 1.93% CuEQ (0.95% Cu, 1.15 g/t Au, 0.051% Mo).
 
-Hole 7374 intersected 2449 feet grading 1.19% CuEQ (0.61% Cu, 0.42 g/t Au, 0.056% Mo). Included in this intersection is a 497 foot interval grading 1.67% CuEQ (0.83% Cu, 0.77 g/t Au, 0.065% Mo).
 
-Hole 7378 intersected 1846 feet grading 1.45% CuEQ (0.91% Cu, 0.70 g/t Au, and 0.021 Mo). Included in this intercept is a 366 foot interval grading 2.64% CuEQ (1.78% Cu, 1.15 g/t Au, and 0.033% Mo).
 
-Hole 7379 intersected 2560 feet grading 1.17% CuEQ (0.74% Cu, 0.33 g/t Au, 0.040% Mo). Included in this intercept is a 830 foot interval grading 1.69% CuEQ (1.31% Cu, 0.30 g/t Au, and 0.034% Mo).
 
-Hole 7381 intersected 2111 feet grading 1.37% CuEQ (0.77% Cu, 0.64 g/t Au, 0.037% Mo). Including in this intersection is a 911 foot interval grading 1.71% CuEQ (0.94% Cu, 1.00 g/t Au, 0.031% Mo).
 
-Hole 7384 intersected 1186 feet grading 1.27% CuEQ (0.74% Cu, 0.65 g/t Au, 0.026% Mo). Included in this intersection is a 266 foot interval grading 2.03% CuEQ (1.25% Cu, 1.07 g/t Au, 0.026% Mo).
 
-Hole 7386 intersected 2570 feet grading 1.17% CuEQ (0.66% Cu, 0.37 g/t Au, 0.049% Mo). Included in this intersection is a 1810 foot interval grading 1.30% CuEQ (0.71% Cu, 0.41 g/t Au, 0.059% Mo).
 
-Hole 7387 intersected 1961 feet grading 1.44% CuEQ (0.89% Cu, 0.67 g/t Au, 0.026% Mo). Included in this intersection is a 380 foot interval grading 1.75% CuEQ (0.93% Cu, 1.15 g/t Au, 0.025% Mo).
 
Drilling re-commenced at the Pebble Project site on February 13, 2008 with 5 rigs, ramping up to 12 rigs available by the end of June. The 2008 program will focus on Pebble East and consists of delineation drilling and infill drilling. Infill drilling is designed to upgrade the resource of a high grade portion of the deposit to an indicated category in preparation for pre-feasibility mine planning.
 
The copper, gold and molybdenum resources of the open pit style Pebble West deposit and the underground style Pebble East deposit rank with the most important metal accumulations in the world. The Pebble Partnership's goal is to optimize the design of the Pebble Project with regard to these mineral resources as well as social, environmental, and economic factors. The Pebble Partnership is thoroughly assessing Pebble East through drilling, engineering and environmental programs in order to integrate this important discovery into an overall pre-feasibility study that is optimal for a modern, long-life mine.
 
Mark Rebagliati , P.Eng., is the Qualified Person for the exploration and drilling programs for the Pebble Project and is supervising the quality control and quality assurance programs. Core logging and sampling are completed in the Pebble Partnership's secure facility at Iliamna, Alaska. The NQ-size core is sawn and samples are transported to the ALS Chemex laboratory in Fairbanks for drying, weighing, crushing and pulverizing. Samples are shipped by airfreight to the main ALS Chemex laboratory, North Vancouver, Canada (an ISO 9001:2000 certified laboratory) for final preparation and analysis. Gold is determined by 30 g Fire Assay (FA) fusion with an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-ES) finish. Copper, molybdenum and 23 other elements are assayed by four acid digestion with an ICP-ES finish. The Pebble Partnership includes standards, duplicates and blanks in addition to the laboratory's internal quality control work. Duplicate samples are analyzed by Acme Analytical Laboratories of Vancouver, Canada.
 
For further details on Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Project please visit the Company's website at www.northerndynasty.com or contact Investor Services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114. Review Canadian public filings at www.sedar.com and US public filings at www.sec.gov. For details on the Pebble Limited Partnership visit the Partnership's website at www.pebblepartnership.com.
 
On behalf of the Board of Directors
 
Ronald W. Thiessen
President & CEO

Sole Responsibility


No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the contents of this release.

Northern Dynasty is solely and entirely responsible for the contents of this news release. No other party, including any parties which have an interest in the project, are in any way responsible for the contents hereof.
 
Comments on Forward Looking Information, Estimates and other Cautionary Factors

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, especially those that address estimated resource quantities, grades and contained metals, are forward-looking statements because they are generally made on the basis of estimation and extrapolation from a limited number of drill holes and metallurgical studies. Although diamond drill hole core provides valuable information about the size, shape and geology of an exploration project, there will always remain a significant degree of uncertainty in connection with these valuation factors until a deposit has been extensively drilled on closely spaced centers which has occurred only in specific areas on the Pebble Project. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of the ultimate size, quality or commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project or of the Company's future performance. Subsequent results and developments may differ materially from those postulated in the estimates and forward-looking statements. Other factors that could cause the Company's actual results and performance to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include adverse market prices for metals, the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses, lower than expected grades and quantities of resources, mining rates and metal recovery rates and the fact that necessary capital may not be available to the Company on terms acceptable to it or at all. The need for compliance with extensive environmental and socio-economic rules and practices and the requirement for the Company to obtain government permitting can cause a delay or even abandonment of a mineral project. The Company is subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business conditions. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.


Information about CuEQ

Copper equivalency or "CuEQ" is a manner of expressing poly-metallic deposits as a grade of the principal mineralization (by value). As used herein, gold and molybdenum values have been expressed as part of the copper grade. CuEQ as calculated herein is based on assumed metal prices of US$1.00/lb for copper, US$400/oz for gold, and US$6.00/lb for molybdenum. Copper equivalent has not been adjusted for metallurgical recoveries. Adjustment factors to account for differences in relative metallurgical recoveries for gold, copper and molybdenum depend upon the completion of definitive metallurgical testing. Significant shifts in the relative values of these metals can significantly change the CuEQ.


Information Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources

This news release also uses the terms "measured resources", "indicated resources" and "inferred resources". Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. advises investors that although these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. In addition, "inferred resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, or economic studies except for Preliminary Assessment as defined under 43-101. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.


  TABLE OF 2007 PEBBLE EAST DEPOSIT ASSAY RESULTS

Drill Hole
Number

Vertical
Depth to Cretaceous
(feet)

Hole
Dip
(degrees)


Hole
Direction
(degrees)

 

Intercept
(metres)

From
(feet)

To
(feet)

Intercept
(feet)

Cu
%

Au2
g/t

Mo
%

CuEQ1
%

6354

1284

-90

0

 

214.9

3685

4390

705

1.23

0.29

0.020

1.52

6354

1284

-90

0

incl.

22.9

3685

3760

75

1.92

0.12

0.064

2.37

6354

1284

-90

0

incl.

78.9

4039

4298

259

1.43

0.50

0.016

1.82

6356

6327+

-80

0

Lost at 6425 feet - No assays

 

 

 

 

 

7357

1270

-90

0

 

512.1

1276

2956

1680

0.61

0.50

0.021

1.03

7357

1270

-90

0

incl.

155.5

2386

2896

510

0.78

0.79

0.036

1.46

7358

1205

-90

0

Anomalous results 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7359

1967

-90

0

 

679.1

1967

4195

2228

0.92

0.50

0.035

1.42

7359

1967

-90

0

incl.

128.0

2707

3127

420

1.04

0.62

0.026

1.56

7359

1967

-90

0

incl.

137.5

3527

3978

451

0.95

1.15

0.051

1.93

7360

1082

-90

0

 

536.5

1698

3458

1760

0.53

0.43

0.038

1.00

7360

1082

-90

0

incl.

192.0

1698

2328

630

0.73

0.43

0.028

1.15

7360

1082

-90

0

and

51.8

1698

1868

170

0.81

0.72

0.016

1.33

7361

1198

-90

0

 

852.5

1198

3995

2797

0.39

0.43

0.035

0.85

7361

1198

-90

0

incl.

68.0

2252

2475

223

0.70

0.59

0.031

1.23

7362

986

-90

0

 

431.1

986

2400

1415

0.32

0.45

0.013

0.66

7363

1746

-90

0

 

159.3

1746

2268

523

0.53

0.48

0.035

1.02

7364

1083

-90

0

 

438.0

1083

2520

1437

0.32

0.47

0.015

0.68

7365

1275

-90

0

 

506.0

1280

2940

1660

0.53

0.45

0.036

1.00

7365

1275

-90

0

and

79.3

1280

1540

260

0.60

0.49

0.049

1.18

7365

1275

-90

0

incl.

106.7

2590

2940

350

0.53

0.90

0.034

1.26

7366

1567

-90

0

 

549.3

1567

3369

1802

0.66

0.39

0.019

1.00

7366

1567

-90

0

incl.

227.1

1567

2312

745

0.84

0.65

0.017

1.31

7366

1567

-90

0

and

108.5

1913

2269

356

0.78

0.95

0.017

1.43

7367

1326

-75

315

 

765.7

1383

3895

2512

0.51

0.44

0.024

0.92

7367

1326

-75

315

incl.

439.5

1383

2825

1442

0.64

0.46

0.015

1.00

7367

1326

-75

315

and

217.0

1383

2095

712

0.78

0.68

0.013

1.25

7367

1326

-75

315

and

107.3

1743

2095

352

0.82

0.97

0.012

1.46

7368

1826

-90

0

 

537.7

1826

3590

1764

0.52

0.53

0.030

1.00

7368

1826

-90

0

incl.

360.9

1826

3010

1184

0.62

0.70

0.030

1.21

7368

1826

-90

0

and

211.8

1955

2650

695

0.69

1.00

0.029

1.45

7368

1826

-90

0

and

79.3

2390

2650

260

0.57

1.70

0.019

1.68

7369

4744+

-90

0

Lost at 4744 feet - No assays  

 

 

 

 

 

7370

1465

-90

0

 

681.2

1465

3700

2235

0.71

0.23

0.031

1.03

7370

1465

-90

0

incl.

442.0

2140

3590

1450

0.76

0.25

0.033

1.11

7370

1465

-90

0

and

51.8

2140

2310

170

1.28

0.09

0.024

1.48

7370

1465

-90

0

and

167.6

3040

3590

550

0.85

0.52

0.034

1.36

7371

1449

-90

0

 

807.1

1449

4097

2648

0.56

0.37

0.036

1.00

7371

1449

-90

0

incl.

575.5

1449

3337

1888

0.66

0.39

0.034

1.10

7371

1449

-90

0

and

27.4

2257

2347

90

0.94

0.71

0.029

1.53

7371

1449

-90

0

and

170.7

2617

3177

560

0.85

0.53

0.042

1.41

7372

2262

-75

315

 

432.5

2353

3772

1419

0.58

0.44

0.028

1.00

7372

2262

-75

315

incl.

274.0

2613

3512

899

0.66

0.46

0.033

1.12

7372

2262

-75

315

and

106.7

2613

2963

350

0.71

0.50

0.033

1.20

7373

1249

-90

0

 

710.2

1537

3867

2330

0.49

0.50

0.037

1.00

7373

1249

-90

0

incl.

213.1

2277

2976

699

0.62

0.75

0.038

1.29

7373

1249

-90

0

and

146.3

2277

2757

480

0.70

0.78

0.041

1.40

7374

1482

-90

0

 

746.5

1508

3957

2449

0.61

0.42

0.056

1.19

7374

1482

-90

0

incl.

401.4

1890

3207

1317

0.75

0.52

0.061

1.41

7374

1482

-90

0

and

151.5

2200

2697

497

0.83

0.77

0.065

1.67

7375

1476

-90

0

 

698.0

1486

3776

2290

0.73

0.16

0.042

1.08

7375

1476

-90

0

incl.

304.8

1486

2486

1000

0.89

0.17

0.037

1.21

7375

1476

-90

0

and

54.9

1486

1666

180

1.13

0.35

0.052

1.65

7376

2723

-90

0

Lost at 2777 feet - No assays  

 

 

 

 

 

7377

1681

-90

0

 

806.5

1681

4327

2646

0.60

0.12

0.044

0.93

7377

1681

-90

0

incl.

599.2

1681

3647

1966

0.71

0.13

0.045

1.05

7377

1681

-90

0

and

301.8

1827

2817

990

0.90

0.15

0.039

1.22

7377

1681

-90

0

and

118.9

2347

2737

390

1.00

0.14

0.038

1.31

7378

2363

-90

0

 

562.7

2363

4209

1846

0.91

0.70

0.021

1.45

7378

2363

-90

0

incl.

245.7

2363

3169

806

1.41

1.31

0.023

2.31

7378

2363

-90

0

and

111.6

2363

2729

366

1.78

1.15

0.033

2.64

7379

1611

-75

315

 

780.3

1668

4228

2560

0.74

0.33

0.040

1.17

7379

1611

-75

315

incl.

653.8

1668

3813

2145

0.84

0.37

0.038

1.29

7379

1611

-75

315

and

253.0

1723

2553

830

1.31

0.30

0.034

1.69

7379

1611

-75

315

and

90.8

1723

2021

298

1.65

0.25

0.037

2.02

7380

1001

-75

270

Lost at 1290 feet - No assays  

 

 

 

 

 

7381

1788

-90

0

 

643.4

1788

3899

2111

0.77

0.64

0.037

1.37

7381

1788

-90

0

incl.

277.7

1788

2699

911

0.94

1.00

0.031

1.71

7381

1788

-90

0

and

134.1

2259

2699

440

1.08

0.93

0.029

1.80

7382

1520

-90

0

 

737.3

1520

3939

2419

0.43

0.49

0.028

0.88

7382

1520

-90

0

incl.

213.4

2479

3179

700

0.51

0.77

0.030

1.14

7382

1520

-90

0

and

125.0

2639

3049

410

0.60

0.89

0.033

1.32

7383

1970

-90

0

 

109.4

1970

2329

359

0.73

0.75

0.014

1.25

7383

1970

-90

0

 

219.8

2478

3199

721

0.43

0.34

0.035

0.83

7384

1934

-90

0

 

361.5

1934

3120

1186

0.74

0.65

0.026

1.27

7384

1934

-90

0

incl.

196.9

1934

2580

646

0.95

0.97

0.022

1.65

7384

1934

-90

0

and

81.1

1934

2200

266

1.25

1.07

0.026

2.03

7385

1494

-90

0

 

797.1

1494

4109

2615

0.47

0.38

0.024

0.83

7385

1494

-90

0

incl.

168.6

1494

2047

553

0.72

0.40

0.013

1.03

7385

1494

-90

0

and

74.1

1494

1737

243

0.75

0.67

0.012

1.22

7385

1494

-90

0

incl.

160.0

2557

3082

525

0.46

0.64

0.027

0.99

7386

1041

-80

270

 

783.3

1387

3957

2570

0.66

0.37

0.049

1.17

7386

1041

-80

270

incl.

551.7

1947

3757

1810

0.71

0.41

0.059

1.30

7386

1041

-80

270

and

21.3

3047

3117

70

0.61

3.67

0.071

3.17

7387

2215

-75

270

 

597.7

2293

4254

1961

0.89

0.67

0.026

1.44

7387

2215

-75

270

incl.

188.1

2293

2910

617

1.21

0.48

0.016

1.59

7387

2215

-75

270

incl.

115.8

3234

3614

380

0.93

1.15

0.025

1.75

7388

2103

-90

0

 

444.1

2103

3560

1457

0.60

0.45

0.031

1.05

7388

2103

-90

0

incl.

205.7

2103

2778

675

0.83

0.74

0.025

1.40

7388

2103

-90

0

and

79.3

2218

2478

260

0.86

1.25

0.024

1.74

7389

1272

-90

0

 

418.2

1472

2844

1372

0.46

0.67

0.022

0.98

7389

1272

-90

0

incl.

37.2

1472

1594

122

0.56

1.56

0.032

1.66

7389

1272

-90

0

incl.

103.6

2144

2484

340

0.70

0.98

0.017

1.38

7393

1570

-90

0

 

640.1

1921

4031

2110

0.54

0.24

0.055

1.01

7393

1570

-90

0

incl.

112.8

1921

2291

370

0.72

0.17

0.052

1.13

7393

1570

-90

0

incl.

140.8

2918

3390

472

0.72

0.57

0.053

1.37
 
1 Copper equivalent calculations use metal prices of US$1.00/lb for copper, US$400/oz for gold and US$6.00/lb for molybdenum.
Metallurgical recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100%. CuEQ = Cu % + (Au g/t x 12.86/22.05) + (Mo % x 132.28/22.05)
2 Au values > 5.0 g/t capped at 5.0 g/t.
Holes 7390M, 7391M and 7392M were drilled at Pebble West for geotechnical and metallurgical purposes