VANCOUVER, BRITISH
COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - May 21, 2008) - Imperial Metals Corporation
(TSX:III) reports the ongoing underground drilling at the Company's
Sterling property has expanded the eastern extension of the 144 zone and
identified an open ended mineralized trend on the west side.
Gold mineralization grading up to 0.145 ounces per ton (4.95 g/t) gold
has been identified within the latite dike that divides the two halves of
the mineralized system. Further definition drilling of the main 144 zone
encountered high grade gold mineralization typical of the core of the
system, with grades up to 1.006 ounces per ton (34.49 g/t) gold over 15
feet.
Drill holes SU08-17 and SU08-26 to SU08-29 were drilled within the
eastern extension of the 144 zone. SU08-17 was drilled along the eastern
margin of the latite dike that divides the 144 zone, and intersected
0.415 ounces per ton (14.23 g/t) gold over 5 feet within a 47 foot
interval averaging 0.148 ounces per ton (5.08 g/t) gold. SU08-27, drilled
perpendicular to the latite dike, intersected 30 feet of gold
mineralization averaging 0.107 ounces per ton (3.68 g/t) gold within a
176.7 foot interval of 0.063 ounces per ton (2.16 g/t) gold, and was terminated
at the latite dike.
SU08-031 also drilled through the eastern extension perpendicular to the
dike, but was continued across the dike and into the main 144 zone.
SU08-31 intersected 211 feet of continuous gold mineralization averaging
0.071 ounces per ton (2.44 g/t) gold within which a 25 foot zone
averaging 0.089 ounces per ton (3.05 g/t) gold was present on the eastern
margin of the dike, and a 15 foot zone averaging 0.128 ounces per ton
(4.39 g/t) gold present on the western margin of the dike. SU08-31 is the
first drill hole to encounter significant gold mineralization within the
latite dike, intersecting 0.145 ounces per ton (4.95 g/t) gold over 5
feet at the centre of the dike. This demonstrates the continuity of gold
mineralization across the latite dike, and opens up the latite dike as a
prospective gold mineralization host and target of future exploration.
Drill hole SU08-24 was drilled beyond the western boundary of the main
144 zone mineralization. This hole intersected 0.145 ounces per ton (4.96
g/t) gold over 10 feet, within a larger interval averaging 0.077 ounces
per ton (2.65 g/t) gold over 98 feet. This new mineralization indicates
that the zone is still open to the west.
Further definition of the main 144 zone west of the dike was undertaken
through drill holes SU08-18 and 19, and SU08-21 to 23. The best results
are from drill hole SU08-22, which intersected 1.006 ounces per ton
(34.49 g/t) gold over 15 feet, within a larger interval averaging 0.322
ounces per ton (11.05 g/t) gold over 112.2 feet. These results are
typical of the high grade core of the 144 zone. The following table
highlights selected drill results (a drill plan and assay table will be
available on the Company's website).
---------------------------------------------------------------�� ----- 144 Zone��������� Total� Interval� Interval��� Interval��� Gold��� Gold Drill Hole�� Length (ft) from (ft)�� to (ft) Length (ft) oz/ton���� g/t SU08-17����������� 99.0�������� 0����� 47.0������� 47.0�� 0.148��� 5.08 including�� �����������������19.0����� 24.0�������� 5.0�� 0.415�� 14.23 SU08-22���������� 292.0���� 148.5���� 260.7������ 112.2�� 0.322�� 11.05 including������������������ 170.0���� 185.0������� 15.0�� 1.006�� 34.49 SU08-24���������� 333.0���� 215.0���� 313.0������� 98.0�� 0.077��� 2.65 including������������������ 246.5���� 256.5������� 10.0�� 0.145��� 4.96 SU08-27���������� 394.0���� 213.3���� 390.0������ 176.7�� 0.063��� 2.16 including������������������ 344.0���� 374.0������� 30.0�� 0.107��� 3.68 SU08-31���������� 489.0���� 248.0���� 459.0������ 211.0�� 0.071��� 2.44 including������������������ 248.0���� 273.0������� 25.0�� 0.089��� 3.05 including������������������ 369.0���� 374.0�������� 5.0�� 0.145��� 4.95 including������������������ 414.0���� 429.0������� 15.0�� 0.128��� 4.39 ---------------------------------------------------------------�� -----
Patrick McAndless, P.Geo. is the Qualified
Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the exploration
program. The current samples were analyzed at the Florin assay laboratory
in Sparks, Nevada. The breccia related deposits in the 144 zone are
irregular in shape and true thicknesses have not been estimated.
The wholly owned Sterling property is located near the town of Beatty,
Nevada, about 115 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The Sterling, Tungsten
Canyon, Fluorspar Canyon and Mary land claims comprise 711 lode mining
claims covering 14,070 acres.
Sterling operated both as an underground and open pit mine commencing in
1980 until closure in 2000. During this period the mine produced 194,996
troy ounces from 941,341 short tons of ore with an average grade of 0.217
ounces per ton (7.44 g/t) gold.
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 Sterling gold mine in southwest Nevada.
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