VANCOUVER, April 19 /CNW/ - Focus Ventures Ltd. (TSXV: FCV.V) is pleased to provide a further update for its Santa Rosa property located 100km north of Lima, where the Company is preparing for a 2,000m drill program.

Since the last update on March 10, the Company has completed further mapping, sampling and structural studies, as well as IP and magnetic geophysical surveys. Much of the mineralization seen underground at Santa Rosa does not outcrop. The current work has better defined this blind mineralization, and also validated additional priority targets at Santa Rosa Sur, Huallay and Zona Oxidos.

In the 4267 level of the Santa Rosa mine, clearing of a collapsed section of a gallery permitted sampling of a massive sulphide vein at least 6m wide that assayed bonanza grades in silver. A 5.9m channel sample averaged 389 g/t Ag (12.5 oz/t Ag), 24.3% Pb and 15.4% Zn. The samples were taken some 20m from an adjacent cross-cut where earlier sampling by Focus gave a broader interval of 53.6m @ 32 g/t Ag, 1.0% Pb and 4.0% Zn (see press release March 10, 2011).

Sampling

Channel sampling of old stopes in the lowest underground workings of the Milagros-Sally mine returned more wide zones of zinc, silver and lead mineralization in addition to the ones previously reported in the March 10, 2011 release. These are associated with zones of massive sulphide and stockworks hosted in quartzites and volcanics. The new intervals include:

It is possible that the thick silver-rich vein sampled on level 4267 is close to a principal north-south to north-northwest trending bounding fault that may represent a fundamental structural control to the deposit and requires exploration to the south by drilling.

A recent structural study by Telluris Consulting Ltd. highlighted that there are marked similarities between the structural setting at Santa Rosa and the nearby Iscaycruz deposit, located within the same belt some 40km to the north. In both deposits mineralization occurs where bedding contacts are sub-vertical in the steep limbs of fold closures. At Santa Rosa the mineralization is associated with several structural trends consistent with regional north-northeast to northeast-southwest compression, with the richer zones associated with steep northeast to east-northeast trending veins and splays.

IP Survey Completed

A detailed Induced Polarization survey comprising 11.3 line kilometers over a grid 0.5km x 1.6km and undertaken in the main area of underground workings and over targets to the north, west and south, successfully defined additional targets. The survey was carried out by Arce Geofisicos, an independent geophysical survey firm based in Lima.

Robust chargeability anomalies both near surface and deep were produced, possibly reflecting the presence of metallic sulphides such as pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena. Particularly encouraging was the response seen over the Santa Rosa Sur and Zona Oxidos targets, some 300m south and 400m northwest of the mine respectively.

Both are characterized by near surface chargeability anomalies where altered surface outcrops are strongly anomalous in Ag, Pb, Zn, Mn and Hg. The targets are part of an east-northeast trending chargeability anomaly that extends from the Milagros workings and continues 400m to the Huallay zone where it is open to the west. Of note is a thick resistivity low anomaly that forms a broad linear anomaly some 800m long and approximately 100m thick from surface that runs from the Santa Rosa mine area to the southeast. The anomaly appears to correspond to a zone of weathering characterized by a strongly altered, oxidized and fractured quartzites, shales and volcanics.

Geophysical plans can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

http://www.focusventuresltd.com/i/pdf/SantaRosaGeophysics.pdf

Permit Progress

Permitting for the drill program is taking longer than anticipated because of requested changes in the application format by the Mines Department due to an existing environmental permit already in place for the former mine operation. Permits are now expected to be granted in May.

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 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 has undergone some historical small scale production where it is estimated that approximately 30,000t has been mined. Most recent records from 2008 show grades in the order of 6 oz/t Ag, 8% Zn and 6% Pb from the Santa Rosa and Milagros zones.

The style of mineralization observed in the underground workings is 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.

The property has never undergone any systematic modern exploration and is presently undrilled.

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, silver and base metal 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.