News Releases
| May 16, 2005 Mount Polley Drilling Continues to Extend Green Zone and New Zone Uncovered | |
| Vancouver (May 16, 2005) - Imperial Metals Corporation (III-TSX) reports that drilling in the Northeast Zone has delineated additional high grade mineralization at depth as demonstrated by WB05-210 which intersected 111.0 metres grading 0.95% copper, 0.24 g/t gold and 6.36 ppm silver. High-grade Green Zone mineralization was intersected in drill hole WB05-212 extending the strike length of the zone to 270 metres. The Green Zone intercept in hole WB05-212 returned 21.1 metres grading 2.71% copper, 0.19 g/t gold and 9.10 ppm silver as the underground mining potential continues to build there. Drilling at Mount Polley has also resulted in the discovery of copper mineralization in the 92 Zone, located 200 metres beyond the northern most mineralized intercept of the Northeast Zone. The discovery intercept for the 92 Zone in hole WB05-215 was 42.2 metres grading 0.55% copper and 0.05 g/t gold. The 92 Zone has now been intersected in five of six holes, drilled over a distance of 200 metres, along an east-west section line. This discovery in the 92 Zone has extended the Northeast Zone mineralized trend 250 metres to the north. The entire Northeast Zone trend now extends 650 metres north-south. Drilling continues approximately one kilometre southeast of the mill complex in an area called the Southeast Zone. Forty four holes have been drilled and assays have been received for twenty eight. Drill results continue to expand the known resource and confirm the high gold-copper ratio mineralization in this zone. Resource modeling and mine planning for the Southeast Zone has been initiated with the intention of providing a source of mill feed with a high gold to copper ratio and a low stripping ratio to blend with high grade copper ore from Wight Pit. Highlights of recent Southeast Zone drilling include hole SE05-19 that intercepted numerous mineralized intercepts including 14.0 metres grading 0.14% copper and 0.74 g/t gold starting at 23.1 metres depth and 79.9 metres grading 0.74% copper and 1.02 g/t gold starting at 282.6 metres depth. This second interval in SE05-19 included an interval of 15.0 metres from 331.0 metres to 346.0 metres grading 1.77% copper and 2.91 g/t gold. Near surface mineralization in hole SE05-28 is also encouraging as it is close to surface and approximately 50.0 metres west of the previously designed pit. Hole SE05-28 returned 94.4 metres grading 0.40% copper and 0.74 g/t gold starting at 13.8 metres depth, with the top 16.2 metres of this interval grading 0.79% copper and 1.47 g/t gold. Also of note in the Southeast Zone is the discovery of molybdenum mineralization in the drilling. A 10.6 metre interval from 190.0 metres to 200.6 metres in SE05-25 graded over 0.1% molybdenum. Lower grade intervals were intercepted in five other holes, and we will be looking at the geology of these intercepts to determine if a molybdenum resource can be established. Accompanying this release are an updated Table of Assay Results, Drill Plans and Sections which are available on the Company's website at www.imperialmetals.com. Selected Southeast Zone drilling results are included in the table below.
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Metre
Drill Total Interval Interval Copper Gold CUEq(x)
Hole # Azimuth Dip Length from - to Length % g/t %
(m)
SE05-14 90 -70 507.8 90.0-114.4 24.4 0.13 0.64 0.63
and 129.1-253.7 124.6 0.25 0.50 0.64
and 281.3-462.5 181.2 0.15 0.59 0.62
including 327.5-353.0 25.5 0.21 1.52 1.41
SE-05-15 90 -70 615.1 90.0-106.5 16.5 0.21 0.44 0.55
and 118.9-174.1 55.2 0.20 0.49 0.59
and 195.9-232.5 36.6 0.30 0.76 0.90
and 252.2-298.6 46.4 0.26 0.87 0.94
and 435.0-565.0 130.0 0.24 0.41 0.56
SE05-17 90 -70 499.3 45.0- 57.5 12.5 0.06 0.58 0.51
and 67.2-102.5 35.4 0.17 0.43 0.51
and 115.4-147.3 31.9 0.21 0.37 0.50
and 166.1-205.0 38.9 0.29 0.58 0.75
and 218.5-270.0 51.6 0.26 0.56 0.70
SE05-19 90 -70 432.2 23.1- 37.1 14.0 0.14 0.74 0.72
and 87.5-138.4 50.9 0.25 0.54 0.67
including 97.5-120.0 22.5 0.39 0.82 1.03
and 187.5-204.7 17.2 0.32 0.76 0.91
and 282.6-362.5 79.9 0.74 1.02 1.54
including 331.0-346.1 15.1 1.77 2.91 4.06
SE05-24 90 -60 377.0 93.0-143.0 50.0 0.18 0.34 0.45
and 158.7-172.5 13.8 0.31 0.47 0.68
and 261.3-277.5 16.2 0.23 0.32 0.48
and 365.0-377.0 12.0 0.05 0.84 0.71
SE05-28 90 -70 264.3 13.8-108.3 94.4 0.40 0.74 0.99
including 13.8- 30.0 16.2 0.79 1.47 1.95
and 144.5-175.0 30.5 0.12 0.33 0.38
and 195.0-200.0 5.0 0.46 0.89 1.16
and 240.0-245.0 5.0 0.15 0.64 0.66
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(x) Copper Equivalent Grade (EqCu) equals Copper + Gold /1.27
Imperial is currently gearing up for field programs to evaluate untested targets and generate additional targets over the coming months. A downhole IP survey will be initiated later in May to test the ability to remotely detect the deeper mineralization at Northeast Zone.Patrick McAndless is the Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and responsible for the preparation of the technical information in this release. Samples were analyzed by Acme Analytical Labs Ltd. in Vancouver, BC. The wholly owned Mount Polley property, located 56 kilometres northeast of Williams Lake in central British Columbia, has been the focus of continuous exploration since August 2003. -30- For further information contact: Brian Kynoch, President - 604.669.8959; Patrick McAndless, Vice President Exploration - 604.488.2665; or Sabine Goetz, Investor Relations - 604.488.2657 or email: info@imperialmetals.com Associated Table and Maps in PDF Format: View News Release - May 16/05 (151 Kb) Mount Polley Assay Table Results to Date - May 16/05 (151 Kb) Northeast Drill Plan - May 16/05 (107 Kb) Northeast Zone 3D - May 16/05 (97 Kb) Southeast Drill Plan - May 16/05 (128 Kb) Southeast Zone Section 2180N - May 16/05 (139 Kb) | |
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