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International
Bethlehem Prepares for Exploration on New Copper Discovery
January 9, 2008
West Vancouver , British Columbia
- January 9, 2008 - International Bethlehem Mining Corp. (the
"Company") is pleased to announce that it is proceeding with a
surface trenching program over its copper-gold property located on northern
Vancouver Island, British Columbia approximately 20km north of the village of
Woss (the "Steele Lake Property"). The Steele Lake Property
consists of three mineral claims totalling 640 hectares.
The Company's
exploration program, which is planned to commence in February, will consist
of opening up 1.5 km of old logging road followed by six, 100 metre excavator
trenches. The trenches are designed to test the width and continuity of
the high grade copper mineralization discovered and mapped in August 2007 by
Brent Hemingway, Geologist. The newly discovered mineralized skarn zone,
measured to be approximately 11 metres wide, consists of massive chalcopyrite
pods within a garnet-actinolite skarn. Three selected grab samples of the
massive sulphide mineralization returned values of 23.69% Cu, 6.89% Cu and
16.68% Cu. All samples were analysed at Acme Analytical Laboratories in
Vancouver ("Acme"). Acme's lab and assay method consisted of
pulverizing and digesting a one gram sample in an aqua regia acid solution.
The resulting solution was analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission
Spectrometry ("ICP"). Samples running greater than the
maximum value for standard ICP analysis were re-analysed by diluting the
sample so that the ICP was capable of providing a more accurate reading.
The following comments are taken from the BC
Minfile report on the Bonanza deposit (Minfile 092L 164), which deposit lies
within the northwest part of the Steele Lake Property: Mineralization occurs
intermittently over 2.5 kilometres along the northwest striking hornblende
quartz diorite contact. At this occurrence, pods of garnet skarn
(pyroxene, epidote, actinolite, quartz, chlorite and calcite) contain
magnetite, chalcopyrite and pyrite and minor amounts of sphalerite,
pyrrhotite, gold and silver. Diamond drilling down the dip of the skarn zone
intersected 9.8 metres of 3.05% Cu (per: diamond drill hole 2, Section DD in
a 1962 assessment report by J.M. McDougall). Other nearby holes encountered
values up to 60% magnetite and 3.09 grams per tonne gold. Production in
1968 and 1971 from 4,718 tonnes mined from an open pit produced 117,244 kg of
copper (2.48% Cu) and 41,149 grams of silver (8.7 g/T Ag).
Extensive geophysical surveys were
previously completed on the Steele Lake Property east of the new discovery
area. None of the previous work covered the new discovery outcrop or
its connection to the Bonanza deposit, although a historical regional
magnetic survey showed a weak magnetic anomaly connecting the new discovery
showing to the Bonanza deposit, 600 metres to the north.
The phase one trenching survey (to start in
February) is intended to evaluate the continuity of this new copper
discovery. This work will be followed by detailed geophysics, geological
mapping and upon success, core drilling.
John Kowalchuk, P.Geo., has reviewed this
release and is the Qualified Person for the Company's Steele Lake Property.
The Company is in the business of the
exploration and development of natural resource properties. For further
information, contact Mr. Clive Shallow, investor communications, at
604-922-2030 or visit the Company's website at www.bethlehemmining.com .
International Bethlehem Mining Corp.
"Ronald A. Coombes"
Ronald A. Coombes, President
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed
this news release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
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