Imperial Reports Results from Deep East Zone at Red Chris

Imperial Reports Results from Deep East Zone at Red Chris

Vancouver, BC - January 18, 2010 - Imperial Metals Corporation (TSX:III) reports results from the 2009 deep drilling program at the Red Chris copper/gold property in northwest British Columbia.

Drill hole RC09-351 was collared 200 metres west from drill hole 07-335 and now represents the most western deep drilling on the East zone at Red Chris. The mineralized intercept extends from 237.5 metres to 732.5 metres grading 0.46% copper and 0.59 g/t gold over 495.0 metres. This drill hole pierces the planned open pit at 287.5 metres depth in the area of the “saddle” between the East zone and Main zone. Mineralization in the drill hole picks up right below the saddle, and the 257.5 metres immediately below it averages 0.54% copper and 0.69 g/t gold.

Drill hole RC09-352 was collared roughly midway between RC09-351 and drill hole 07-335. Similar to RC09-351, drill hole RC09-352 mineralization picked up just below the point it passed through the pit design at 300.0 metres depth for 552.9 metres grading 0.62% copper and 0.73 g/t gold. The significant intervals encountered in holes RC09-351 and RC09-352 are shown in the following table.

Drill Hole #	Zone	Total Length (m)	Interval from (m)	Interval To (m)	Interval Length (m)	Copper %	Gold g/t	Silver g/t
RC09-351	East	1501.1	237.5	732.5	495.0	0.46	0.59	1.21
including			287.5	545.0	257.5	0.54	0.69	1.38
including			425.7	530.0	104.3	0.66	0.96	1.62
RC09-352	East	1245.0	115.0	852.9	737.9	0.54	0.60	1.61
including			300.0	852.9	552.9	0.62	0.73	1.85
including			407.5	530.0	122.5	0.82	0.67	1.94
including			680.0	850.0	170.0	0.84	1.41	3.33

The 2009 Red Chris exploration program included completion of an airborne magnetic survey, 13 line Titan 24 survey, bobcat drilling, geologic mapping, and completion of nine deep drill holes totaling 11,528 metres. Drill holes RC09-353 and RC09-354 were in progress at the end of the 2009 season. Drilling will resume on holes RC09-353, RC09-354 and RC09-355 in the last week of January. The 2010 exploration program will include an accelerated drilling program with a number of supportive surveys.

The Supreme Court of Canada has issued a notice indicating that judgement in the MiningWatch Canada case, heard in October 2009, will be issued at 9:45 EST on January 21 (ref: NR Oct 20/09).

Steve Robertson, PGeo. is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the exploration program at Red Chris. Samples for the diamond drilling reported at Red Chris were analyzed at Acme Analytical Laboratories in Vancouver. A full QA/QC program using blanks, standards and duplicates was maintained for all samples submitted to the labs. The deeper portion of the Red Chris porphyry mineralization is in the early stage of exploration and may be irregular in shape so true thicknesses have not been estimated. A drill plan will be available on the Company’s website.

The Red Chris property in northern British Columbia is situated 18 kilometres southeast of the village of Iskut. Access to the property from pavement at Highway 37 is six kilometres along the Ealue Lake Road, and 17 kilometres along the newly constructed Red Chris access road.

Imperial is a mine development and operating company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company’s key properties are the Mount Polley open pit copper/gold producing mine in central British Columbia, the Huckleberry open pit copper/molybdenum producing mine in northern British Columbia, the development stage Red Chris copper/gold property in northwest British Columbia, and the development stage Sterling gold property in southwest Nevada.

—-

Contact: Brian Kynoch, President 604.669.8959; Patrick McAndless, Vice President Exploration 604.488.2665; Sabine Goetz, Investor Relations 604.488.2657 // website: www.imperialmetals.com // email: info@imperialmetals.com

View accompanying maps

View drill results

Back to the Press Releases page