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Re: Thursday, January 10, 2008
Cornerstone Monthly review
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Dear Subscriber,
We start this month with a comment on Ecuador, a subject that is on the
minds of many of our shareholders!
Ecuador:
In the land that is now proven to host mega deposits of mineral
commodities there is a growing consensus that there is great potential
for new discoveries. During late 2007 there was growing optimism over
statements attributed to President Correa who is reported to have said,
"Yes to mining, but with the adequate controls, with the adequate
community consultations, respecting the community, the environment and
the state," This indicated that if these four points were fulfilled,
mining would be welcomed in Ecuador. This was very good news for
companies such as Cornerstone. We have worked hard to perform beyond
compliance in all these areas and we believe that we are recognized
within Ecuador for having done so.
However, during late December the wind was taken out of the sails of
exploration companies with significant interests in Ecuador when the
government unexpectedly announced a 70% windfall "profits" tax. The
uncertainty created by that announcement caused a market reaction that
was swift and brutal in an already jittery market. Until there is
further clarification of how this windfall "profits" tax will be
implemented there may be continued market volatility. The windfall
"profits" tax is obviously new and as we don't have all the details
yet
it is hard to comment further at this time. Please be assured though
that your company, the Chamber of Mining and its members are very
active in communicating with the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MMP)
on this matter.
A news report on January 8, 2008 (Source: TELEGRAFO (Guayaquil))
stated:
Ministry will meet with the Mining Sector. This Week the Ministry of
Mines and Petroleum reported that it will hold meetings this week with
the mining sector in order to define a Law that strengthens investment
in mining and royalties for the State, as well as strengthening
environmental controls. C�sar Espinosa, president of the Chamber of
Mining of Ecuador, said that there are three or four deposits of
copper, molybdenum, and gold, which will mean a value in land resources
of approximately US$217 billion. He said that conceptually, he agrees
with the government's intention to reform the Mining Law in the sense
of having an adequate and clear legal framework that better contributes
to the State's development of an industry that will be able to replace
petroleum. The president of the Chamber of Mining specified that
specific points to the reform are yet unknown. Nevertheless, he
indicated that there are agreements on general issues like the need for
a contribution from private industries to the State, and greater and
better environmental controls, among other aspects.
Despite the uncertainty created by the windfall "profits" tax
announcement and the need for clarification there are signals from the
MMP that there is a desire to stimulate the development of mining
projects in Ecuador. Obviously that will require an overall tax regime
that meets the needs of all parties.
At Cornerstone we are looking beyond this current period of uncertainty
to advancing, with current and potential JV partners, the potentially
significant assets we have developed in Ecuador since starting
operations there in 2005.
North America:
December is a month when field operations cease and our crews take a
much needed extended break. However, we were very pleased with the news
on December 11th that Cornerstone and Thundermin had intersected 4.5%
Cu over 8.75 m, including 7.5% Cu over 3.75 m, at the Little Deer
copper deposit. See
http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/s/NewsReleases.asp. As reported we
plan to recommence drilling in January.
During the first quarter of 2008 we will be meeting with current JV
partners to assess the results of the 2007 field programs and to
prepare programs and budgets for the upcoming season. We are also
meeting with potential new JV partners concerning a number of our
projects.
Commentary:
The underlying fundamentals of Cornerstone are strong and we expect
that in the next few months they will become even stronger. However,
from questions that we routinely receive, it seems that many investors,
even some current shareholders, have difficulty grasping the full
significance of the concept of the JV model, which constitutes our
business model. As our website states: "Cornerstone Capital Resources
Inc. has a strong and dedicated technical team who are focused on
generating new projects that have great potential for discovery.
Cornerstone leverages its own exploration funding through joint venture
and strategic partnerships, providing shareholders with potential for
success at lower risk. Cornerstone has a diversified portfolio of gold,
silver, copper, nickel, VMS, and uranium properties in Canada and
Ecuador."
There is quite a difference between a mining company and an exploration
company. As an explorer, Cornerstone looks to mining companies to earn
into our projects by funding the early stage exploration and then, if
such work is successful, by taking over management of the project to
apply its technical skills, human resources and financial strengths to
move the project through to production. Cornerstone will continue to
focus on project generation, following the JV model. While we look
forward to the day when Cornerstone will be an equity participant in
one or several mines, we do not foresee Cornerstone becoming a mine
operator. We would leave that responsibility to our partners who have
all the necessary technical, human and financial abilities to advance a
discovery through to mine production.
Exploration and mining is inherently risky but the prospect generator
-- JV model mitigates the risk by using OPM (other partner's money).
Right now Cornerstone is exploring several highly prospective projects
using a lot of OPM. Significantly, most of these projects are in
politically stable, mining friendly jurisdictions. We are active in
four distinctly different regions; Labrador, the Island of
Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Ecuador. We are building project
portfolios in each of these high potential regions and we encourage
investors and shareholders to take a closer look at them.
For further information on all Cornerstone projects please visit
http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/s/Projects.asp.
Market Awareness:
There were no conferences to report for December. During January we
will be exhibiting at the Vancouver Cambridge Conference and at the
2008 BC Round-up.
As usual your comments, suggestions and inquiries are very welcome.
Best regards.
Glen
Glen H. McKay, President & CEO
Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc.
Excellence in Mineral Exploration
"People, Process, Projects"
TSXV - "CGP" / OTC - "CTNXF"
F - "GWN" / B - "GWN"
Email: mckay@crigold.com
www.cornerstoneresources.com
Toll Free 1-877-277-8377
Fax 1-709-747-1183
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Copyright (c) 2008 CORNERSTONE CAPITAL RESOURCES INC. (CGP) All rights
reserved. For more information visit our website at
http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/ or send
mailto:info@cornerstoneresources.com
Message sent on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 5:00:00 AM Pacific Time
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