COPPER-GOLD EXPLORATION: Drilling suggests underground potential at Mount Polley

BRITISH COLUMBIA - Vancouver-based Imperial Metals Corp. has reported both surface and underground drilling results from the Mount Polley open pit copper-gold mine 100 km east of Williams Lake.

The underground target is the high grade Boundary zone. Several breccia intervals were cut including 27.5 metres grading 2.56% Cu, 1.68 g/t Au and 14.59 g/t Ag in hole NDU11-160. Another hole, NDU11-149, intersected 16.0 metres grading 2.78% Cu, 1.02 g/t Au and 22.52 g/t Ag including a 9.5-metre interval of 4.23% Cu, 1.51 g/t Au and 35.26 g/t Ag. The company is satisfied that it has proven the continuity of the high grade mineralization in brecciated monzonite. Development of an underground mine may be considered.

Surface drilling was conducted on the north and south sides of the WX zone. Hole WX11-46 on the north side intersected 230.0 metres grading 0.26% Cu and 0.26% Au. Toward the south, hole WX11-51 returned 41.7 metres of 0.36% Cu and 0.74 g/t Au plus another 87.5 metres of 0.28% Cu and 0.39 g/t Au.

The Mount Polley mine produces about 33.0 million lb of copper annually. Please see www.ImperialMetals.com for additional information.