Focus Samples 14.6% Zn + 76g/t Ag over 11.3m at Santa Rosa, Peru

TSX-V: FCV.V

VANCOUVER, March 10 /CNW/ - Focus Ventures Ltd. (TSX-V: FCV.V) is pleased to provide a progess update for its Santa Rosa property located 100km north of Lima.

Underground mapping and sampling at the Santa Rosa and Milagros-Sally mines has identified wide intervals of silver, lead and zinc mineralization occurring in massive sulphide veins, breccias and stockworks associated with a generally northeast-southwest trending system of splay faults. Sampling returned the following results:

The average grade of 101 samples taken from the underground workings was 32 g/t Ag, 1.3% Pb and 4.2% Zn. Silver assays ranged from 0.6 - 1,060 g/t, with a median value of 13 g/t Ag. Zinc assays ranged from trace to 32.1% with a median value of 3.1% Zn. Lead assays ranged from trace to 58.2% with a median value of 2.0% Pb.

The host rocks are a steeply dipping sequence of highly fractured quartzites and shales, with minor coal seams belonging to the Cretaceous Chimu Formation, and younger gently-dipping andesite lavas. The Santa Rosa workings are located some 100m north and at an elevation difference of approximately 60m below the Milagros-Sally workings. Maps and plans will be available shortly on the Focus website: www.focusventuresltd.com.

Santa Rosa Mine

Underground development has taken place over an area of approximately 140m x 40m over 2 levels. The mineralization is associated with several mineralized splay faults that are possibly part of the same system at Milgros-Sally. Mapping showed the zone of mineralization to be up to 50m wide (apparent width) in the lower 4267 level and composed of at least 3 massive sulphide veins within a broader zones of stockwork mineralization hosted mainly in andesitic volcanics.

The mineralized zone trends northeast-southwest and dips approximately 70 degrees to the south-east. Massive sulphide mineralization is composed of mainly sphalerite and galena with minor chalcopyrite. Epithermal vein textures include crustiform quartz and ginguro banding, typical of an intermediate sulphidation system. Higher grade intervals included 9.8% Zn, 50 g/t Ag and 0.2% Pb over 4.3m, and 9% Zn, 94 g/t Ag and 5.4% Pb over 4.7m, with individual samples assaying up to 14.1% Zn associated with stockwork sphalerite and galena mineralization in pyritized sandstones.

Milagros-Sally Mine

The underground workings at Milagros-Sally cover an area of approximately 120m x 80m and are less accessible than at Santa Rosa. In the upper 4380 level, 11 samples taken across a zone consisting of several massive sulphide veins and stockworks cutting andesite lavas gave a composite grade of 76 g/t Ag, 3.2% Pb and 14.6% Zn over 11.3m. Individual samples assayed up  to 248 g/t Ag, 15.3% Pb and 29.9% Zn over 1m. This structure was observed to form a single vein further into the adit with notable higher quantities of galena.

In the lower level 4340 workings a zone of at least six northeast trending veins with surrounding stockwork mineralization hosted in quartzites were mapped and sampled over a length of 31m with a higher grade portion averaging 43g/t Ag, 2.6% Pb and 7.8% Zn over 15.1m.

Geophysical Survey Completed

A CSAMT (Controlled Source Audio - Magnetotellurics) geophysical survey, combined with surface rock chip geochemistry and mapping, has highlighted a NE-SW trending target that measures some 1,000 x 700m in the central part of the property. The target area, characterized by several low resistivity anomaly, encompasses the Santa Rosa and Milagros-Sally underground mines to the northeast and suggests that the mineralized trend could extend to the southwest for at least 500m as also suggested by surface mapping.

Modeling and interpretation of the new data is underway and will aid in the identification of specific targets for drilling. Several of the mineral occurrences including the mine workings show a general coincidence with the edges of relative low resistivity/high chargeability anomalies.

Drill Targets

Targets for drilling include the high grade underground mineralization at Santa Rosa and Milagros-Sally, plus other targets as defined by geophysics, surface sampling and mapping.

The high-grade Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization observed in the underground workings, despite being only 50m below the surface at Milagros-Sally, does not outcrop at surface and is believed to be due to the almost-complete preservation of the epithermal system. Strongly altered surface outcrops on the property represent distinct targets and include Santa Rosa Sur, a large area of silica alteration situated 300m south of the Santa Rosa mine, and Zona Oxidos, located some 400m northwest respectively. Anomalous rock chip geochemistry in Ag, Pb, Zn and Mn at both targets are believed to be good indicators of the upper parts of the mineralized system. Other targets include Huallay and Huallay Norte approximately 500m to the west of the underground workings.

The property has never undergone any systematic modern exploration and is presently undrilled.  Focus is currently permitting for a diamond drill program.

Background

The property is located within the prolific Central Peru Polymetallic Belt, at an altitude of between 4,000m and 4,500m above sea level. Several world class silver, lead and zinc mines owned by major operators such as Panamerican Silver, Buenaventura, Glencore and Volcan lie within a 50km radius of the Santa Rosa property. Volcan, the world's fourth biggest silver and zinc producer, operates the high-grade Shalca Ag-Pb-Zn Mine which borders the Santa Rosa property on the northern end of the mineralized corridor.

The property underwent some small scale production in 2008, when 2,233t of ore grading 6 oz/t Ag, 8.75% Zn and 6.6% Pb was mined exclusively from the Santa Rosa and Milagros zones.

The style of mineralization observed in the underground workings appears to be structurally complex and associated with a broad system of mineralized fault splays that cut Chimu quartzites, shaley sandstones and overlying andesitic lavas. This style of mineralization contrasts with the broadly north-south trending veins e.g. Yanapata that occur in the southern part of the property within Tertiary volcanic rocks.

Focus can earn 100% in the property by making cash payments totalling US$9 million over 4 years to a local Peruvian company.  For resources defined in Measured and Indicated categories in excess of 5 million tonnes, a royalty of US$1.19 per tonne will be payable.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this release was prepared under the supervision of Mr. David Cass, Focus's President, who is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, and a "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101.

Samples were analyzed by ALS Chemex Laboratories in Lima.  Gold was assayed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with fire assay gravimetric finish.  Silver was determined by multi-acid digestion and ICP-AES with Atomic Absorption finish.  Lead and zinc were determined by ICP with Atomic Absorption with volumetric finish. ALS Chemex's quality control system complies with International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:2005.  Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. Focus's own blanks and duplicates were included in the sample stream.

About Focus Ventures

Focus Ventures is acquiring advanced, drill-ready projects in Peru.  Backed by an experienced technical team of geologists and consultants, Focus's strategy is to identify and acquire former producing mines or un-tested gold and silver properties that show potential to become new mines. 

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"David Cass"
David Cass, President

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement
Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and
uncertainty affecting the business of Focus Ventures Ltd.  Actual results may differ materially from those currently
anticipated in such statement.