FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TSX: SCM.V
January 5, 2008 Frankfort: S5N
SACRE-COEUR COMPLETES PRIORITIZATION AND RESTRUCTURING OF ITS GUYANA PROPERTY PORTFOLIO; 1,013 SQ KM IN FIVE REGIONAL BLOCKS RETAINED
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - SACRE-COEUR MINERALS, LTD. (the "Company") today announced that it has completed rationalization of its extensive portfolio of mineral properties in Guyana, South America. Over the past three years, the Company has conducted field exploration as well as desk-top reconnaissance studies over the prospective areas within its portfolio, which comprised approximately 2,360 sq km in seven regional blocks. The Company acquired rights to the portfolio under the Mining Agreement dated March 22, 2005, as amended, with Mr. Alfro Alfonso, which remains in effect.
Based on the exploration programs of the past three years, the Company has prioritized its holdings which it believes have sufficient resource potential to justify further investigation and development, while at the same time segregating those holdings which it does not believe to have potential to host a commercial deposit. Accordingly, the Company has now relinquished a total of 1,347.62 sq km to hold 1,013.11 sq km of its most prospective ground. This 57% reduction in property held results in a savings to the Company of US $308,557 at applicable annual rentals for 2009.
The remaining properties are held in five regional blocks (down from seven in the original portfolio). Two of the Company's seven regional blocks, the Oko and Mahdia-Issano blocks, have been dropped in view of management's assessment of their limited potential and in some cases difficult access, infrastructure or environmental issues. The breakdown of current holdings in each of these key remaining regional blocks is as follows:
District / Project |
Area |
Puruni District |
|
Lower Puruni Regional Block (incl Million Mtn) |
|
Kartuni Regional Block |
|
Puruni District Total |
511.97 Sq Km |
|
|
Potaro District |
|
Kurupung Regional Block |
|
Potaro-Kuribrong Regional Block |
|
Potaro District Total |
52.13 Sq Km |
|
|
Northwest District |
|
White Creek |
|
Wallabaka |
|
18 Mi |
|
19 Mi |
|
Manari |
|
PL |
|
Northwest District Total |
449.01 Sq Km |
Grand Total |
1,013.11 Sq Km |
According to Irwin Olian, CEO of the Company, "The current property reductions reflect the extensive
work done by our outstanding exploratory team in Guyana over the past three years, overseen by Gregory B. Sparks, P.Eng., Senior V.P. We have successfully identified those areas within our portfolio meriting further work and expenditure of funds, while dropping areas with only limited potential. The result is a more streamlined property portfolio which will enable us to focus now on our priority targets while economizing on our costs. Our current 1,013 sq km portfolio contains all of the significant targets we have identified in the five regional blocks we now deem to have the greatest potential and represents a significant opportunity for us to create shareholder value. Future work will focus on drilling and development within our portfolio, as opposed to grassroots exploration which previously took up much of our attention. We remain particularly excited about the Million Mountain Gold Project in the Lower Puruni Region, and now have two Diamond drills on site recommencing drilling activities after the Holiday break."
About Sacre-Coeur
The Company is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of properties for the potential mining of gold, metals and diamonds in South America, initially focussing on exploration for gold on its properties in Guyana. The Company presently has an interest in approximately 1000 square kilometers of mineral properties in Guyana, including the Million Mountain Property. The Company has offices in Vancouver, Canada and Georgetown, Guyana. More information about the Company is available at <www.scminerals.com>.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SACRE-COEUR MINERALS, LTD.
"Irwin Olian" Irwin Olian, CEO and Chairman
For further information, contact:
Irwin Olian, President and CEO
Email: tigertail@scminerals.com
Phone: 604-899-0100
Fax: 604-899-0200
|
Scott Young, Corporate Communications
Email: scott@scminerals.com
Phone: 604-899-0100
Fax: 604-899-0200
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