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VANCOUVER,
BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Aug. 11,
2009) - Imperial Metals Corporation (TSX:III) reports exploration
results from the Boundary, Pond, Springer, C2 and WX zones at its Mount
Polley mine property. Drilling returned
significant intervals of copper/gold mineralization at all of the
zones.
The 2009 drill program has focused on the Boundary zone. Highlights
include drill hole ND09-79 which intersected 157.0 metres
grading 1.73% copper, 1.11 g/t gold and 10.53 g/t silver starting at 158.1 metres below
surface. This area is being explored for underground mineable
mineralization that is too deep to be captured in the current open pit
design. High grade intercepts have also been encountered in holes
ND09-80, ND09-82 and ND09-83.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boundary Total Interval Interval Interval Copper Gold Silver Drill Hole # Length (m) from (m) to (m) Length (m) % g/t g/t ND09-79 395.3 158.1 315.1 157.0 1.73 1.11 10.53 including 285.3 299.7 14.4 5.08 2.68 36.10 ND09-80 367.9 175.0 187.5 12.5 1.51 1.11 11.33 ND09-82 402.2 40.5 92.5 52.0 1.30 1.64 7.49 ND09-83 340.5 50.0 58.1 8.1 1.84 0.72 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The
exploration strategy at Pond zone is to delineate high grade
mineralization below the designed open pit, which may be amenable to
underground mining. Drillhole PZ09-35
returned 71.3
metres grading 0.57% copper, 0.22 g/t gold and
6.81 g/t silver, but more notably included a 4.4 metre section
of 4.20% copper, 1.03 g/t gold and 52.31 g/t silver. Drill hole PZ09-43
also proved fruitful with an intercept of 9.3 metres
grading 6.40% copper, 0.89 g/t gold and 67.68 g/t silver. The 2009
drill program at Pond zone will explore the portion of skarn
mineralization that carries the highest grades discovered to date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pond Total Interval Interval Interval Copper Gold Silver Drill Hole # Length (m) from (m) to (m) Length (m) % g/t g/t PZ09-35 218.9 64.2 135.4 71.3 0.57 0.22 6.81 including 131.0 135.4 4.4 4.20 1.03 52.31 PZ09-36 227.7 132.5 140.0 7.5 0.68 2.46 10.43 PZ09-43 248.7 173.1 182.4 9.3 6.40 0.89 67.68 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In
contrast to the exploration strategy at the Boundary and Pond zones,
Springer zone drilling tested for long intercepts of copper/gold
mineralization. Drill holes SD08-70, SD08-71 and SD08-72 all returned
intercepts exceeding 350.0 metres in length, of which the
best was SD08-72 returning 371.0 metres grading 0.51% copper and
0.26 g/t gold starting at 9.1 metres below surface. This drilling
demonstrated that although mining has been initiated at Springer,
expansion potential remains high. Additional drilling is planned.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Springer Total Interval Interval Interval Copper Gold Drill Hole # Length (m) from (m) to (m) Length (m) % g/t SD08-70 379.8 9.1 367.5 358.4 0.40 0.31 including 105.0 302.5 197.5 0.51 0.41 SD08-71 413.6 45.7 413.6 367.9 0.45 0.27 including 45.7 232.5 186.8 0.55 0.32 SD08-72 380.4 9.1 380.1 371.0 0.51 0.26 including 205.0 355.0 150.0 0.64 0.34 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Research
of historic records has revealed the existence of a series of historic
mineralization, short x-ray sized drill holes dating back to the 1960's
which had returned some indication of copper mineralization, although
no gold analysis was completed at that time. The drill holes were not
accurately surveyed and field investigation could not conclusively
locate the historic work. Two holes were drilled to test the area
dubbed the "WX zone" thought to host this historic work. Both
holes returned intervals of copper/gold mineralization. Drill hole
WX09-02 returned 90.4
metres grading 0.36% copper and 0.96 g/t gold
starting at 117.1
metres downhole, including a 5.0 metre section
grading 0.66% copper and 2.96 g/t gold. Additional drilling is planned
to follow up on this discovery.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- WX Total Interval Interval Interval Copper Gold Drill Hole # Length (m) from (m) to (m) Length (m) % g/t WX09-01 370.9 115.0 160.0 45.0 0.31 0.29 187.5 240.0 52.5 0.19 0.28 WX09-02 242.9 117.1 207.5 90.4 0.36 0.96 200.0 205.0 5.0 0.66 2.96 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Infill
drilling at C2 zone was successful in confirming mineralization,
particularly in drill hole C209-80 which returned 19.3 metres
grading 1.85% copper and 2.15 g/t gold, including 6.7 metres
grading 3.77% copper and 4.33 g/t gold. The high grades and favourable
gold:copper ratio have recently raised the profile of C2 zone in regard
to exploration. Additional holes to expand this high gold zone are
currently being contemplated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- C2 Total Interval Interval Interval Copper Gold Drill Hole # Length (m) from (m) to (m) Length (m) % g/t C209-80 127.1 17.5 36.8 19.3 1.85 2.15 including 18.3 25.0 6.7 3.77 4.33 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Drilling is expected to continue on
these and other zones for the remainder of 2009, including the newly acquired
extension of the Boundary zone (ref: NR April 28/09).
Steve Robertson, P.Geo. is the designated Qualified Person as defined
by National Instrument 43-101 for the exploration programs. Samples for
the diamond drilling reported at Mount Polley were analyzed at the
Mount Polley mine laboratory and Acme Analytical Laboratories in
Vancouver. As silver has become a more significant commodity in the
Boundary and Pond zone exploration, some samples analyzed at Mount
Polley are subsequently sent to Acme Lab for silver analysis. A full
QA/QC program using blanks, standards and duplicates was maintained for
all samples submitted to the labs. The porphyry and breccia related
deposits at Mount Polley are irregular in shape and true thicknesses
have not been estimated.
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 property in northwest
British Columbia, and the development stage Sterling gold property in
southwest Nevada.
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