BRITISH COLUMBIA - IMPERIAL METALS of Vancouver has reported more high-grade drill intercepts at its former Mount Polley mine near Williams Lake. The intensely mineralized intersections in holes WB04-161 and WB04-179 have confirmed the presence of a significantly higher-grade zone within the Northeast zone, called the Green zone, that could be amenable to underground mining. These intersections include 25.1 metres grading 4.43% Cu, 1.28 g/t Au and 26.92 g/t Ag in hole WB04-161, and 15.0 metres grading 5.86% Cu, 3.13 g/t Au and 39.06 g/t Ag in hole WB04-179. The Green zone, which includes 10.6 metres grading 5.43% Cu, 3.08 g/t Au and 30.22 g/t Ag in previously reported hole WB04-158, has been identified over a 70.0-metre strike length and is open along strike in both directions.
Maps of the Northeast zone drilling program are posted at www.ImperialMetals.com.
The open pit copper/gold mine, idled in September 2001 due to low metal prices, is scheduled to recommence operations during the first quarter of 2005. Approximately 100 of the expected complement of 225 people have now been hired. Work to restart operations is now well underway with logging of the Wight pit area 90% complete, construction of the Wight pit access road 80% complete, stripping of waste started in the Bell pit, recommissioning of the concentrator virtually complete, and additions to the mill nearly complete, including the installation of more flotation cells and a new concentrate thickener.
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