Cornerstone Provides Exploration Update
MOUNT PEARL, NEWFOURNDLAND -- (Marketwire) -- 01/31/13 -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. ("Cornerstone" or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE: CGP) (FRANKFURT: GWN) (BERLIN: GWN) (OTCBB: CTNXF) today provided an update on the status of key exploration projects in Ecuador, Chile and Canada.
ECUADOR
Cascabel
On January 24th, the Company and partner SolGold Plc announced that recent channel sampling at the Alpala Prospect within the Cascabel Project in northern Ecuador has returned highly encouraging gold and copper assays and confirmed the presence of a significant outcropping gold-copper porphyry system. Channel TR46 returned 45.63 m at 0.81 g/t gold and 0.59% copper. Grades across the entire channel are very consistent, indicating the potential for a bulk mineralized porphyry system. Furthermore, the TR46 mineralized section is covered by scree and vegetation at both ends and is therefore completely open.
The Alpala Prospect is located within the T1 target which has been identified on the basis of geological and alteration mapping, a compelling magnetic signature and coincidence with strong surface geochemistry (copper, gold and molybdenum). The T1 target is roughly circular with a diameter of 2 km. Results of a follow-up soil geochemistry survey are expected in February and final data for the helicopter-borne magnetic and radiometric survey has been received and processed. Further modelling and targeting is underway, and areas for 3-D modelling have been identified. The permitting process in the lead up to drilling is progressing well, with initial drilling expected to begin in early Q2.
Shyri
The Company has completed a thorough review of exploration results at the Gama prospect and is considering future plans for this northern portion of the Shyri property following Intrepid Mines Limited's decision to terminate the Shyri option agreement, which was announced on December 14th, 2012. Meanwhile, approvals which are required to commence Phase 1 drilling at both the Vetas Grandes and Canaribamba epithermal prospects located in the southern part of the property are expected to be received in Q2 following the Ecuadorian Presidential elections scheduled for mid-February. The Company will continue to seek a new partner to fund exploration on these targets, which are drill-ready and provide excellent opportunities for a significant discovery.
Cana Brava
On December 20th, 2012, the Company announced results from prospecting and geological mapping surveys carried out on its wholly owned Cana Brava property located in south-central Ecuador. The surveys have identified two large high-sulphidation (HS) epithermal gold-silver zones defined by extensive hydrothermal breccia and silicic ribs developed within an advanced argillic alteration lithocap. The West Zone (Cana Brava Breccia) is developed over a 2.5 km by up to 2.0 km area and is coincident with a 3 km by 1 km multi-element soil geochemistry anomaly. The East Zone shows a similar HS system measuring 1.75 km by 1.0 km which is open in most directions. A porphyry gold-copper target has also been identified beneath the Cana Brava Breccia. The Company is continuing to seek a partner to fund more advanced exploration programs on the property.
Macara
The Macara project located in southernmost Ecuador is subject to a strategic alliance between the Company and Newmont Ventures Limited, a subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation. Force majeure has been in effect since April 2008, and will remain so until an Environmental License is issued by the Ministry of Environment for the 1,452 hectare Bellavista concession. Exploration on the large (2,500 km2) surrounding Area of Interest (AOI) covered by the alliance is suspended until such time as the Ministry of Non-Renewable Natural Resources opens the area for new mineral concession applications.
Bella Maria
On May 11th, 2012, the Company announced that it has received authorization to resume activities on the Bella Maria project and provided a summary of results for exploration work carried out prior to the April 2008 Mining Moratorium. Initial results indicate that the property has excellent potential for hosting significant gold and copper mineralization. Stream sediment samples collected across the property are exceptionally anomalous in gold, and a large coincident gold- and copper-in-soil anomaly accompanied by porphyry style mineralization has been identified in the central part of the property. Four mineralized prospects have been identified. The Company is actively seeking a partner to fund an aggressive exploration program on the property.
La Encrucijada
Prospecting work carried out by the Company during 2012 confirmed results from previous property owners which indicates good potential for significant shallow epithermal gold-silver mineralization and porphyry gold-copper style mineralization at depth. Recent work has provided a much better understanding of the alteration and mineralization processes and their controls. The work also increased the size of the Alumbre prospect and discovered the new Potrerillos HS alteration zone. Three altered and mineralized zones are present on the property. Many anomalous float samples, stream sediment anomalies and soil anomalies (precious and base metals, epithermal pathfinders) still require follow up and offer potential for new discoveries. The Company is seeking a partner to jointly explore this property.
CHILE
La Fortuna
As announced on January 11th, 2013, the Company has returned the La Fortuna copper-silver property to its Chilean owner due to an inability to secure a partner to fund the second year option commitment.
Miocene
A regional exploration program was completed on the Miocene project during the first half of 2012. Alteration mapping using Aster (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) satellite imagery, combined with historical airborne magnetic survey data and regional geological and structural data, was used to define prospective areas for ground follow up. Reconnaissance geological mapping at a scale of 1:25,000, rock sampling and widely spaced soil sampling (2,000 m by 500 m and 1,000 m by 250 m) were carried out over a large area of 70,000 hectares (70 km2) covering exposed and altered bedrock and adjacent soil and gravel-covered pampas. Soil samples were analyzed utilizing a combination of analytical techniques designed to detect deep and/or buried mineralization. Geological mapping and spectrometry work better defined the alteration zones (type, size and distribution) that were identified by the Aster satellite imagery. Geochemical anomalies were defined for base metals, precious metals and pathfinder elements associated with porphyry gold-copper and epithermal gold-silver styles of mineralization. The Company is continuing to seek a partner to help advance exploration on this exciting early-stage project.
CANADA
Little Deer
Planned infill diamond drilling at the Little Deer copper deposit by the Company and 50% partner Thundermin Resources Inc. remains contingent on project financing. The drilling is designed to upgrade the Inferred Resources to the Indicated Resource category in order that a pre-feasibility study can be undertaken on the deposit.
Cape Ray
The Company and Benton Resources Inc. signed a definitive option agreement respecting the Cape Ray project on December 19th, 2012. Under the terms of the agreement, Benton has the ability to earn an initial 70% interest in the property by spending CAN$2 million on exploration, and making payments of CAN$125,000 and 155,000 shares over 4 years. Benton can earn an additional 5% (taking their interest to 75%) by incurring an additional CAN$1 million in exploration expenditures at its sole election but such election must be made within a period not exceeding 18 months from the date that Benton's interest vests at 70%.
Since September 2012, Benton has carried out re-logging and re-sampling of historical drill core which has led to the identification of a new gold zone termed the "PW Zone", which they interpret to be a possible strike extension of the Windowglass Hill deposit (National Instrument 43-101 inferred resources of 1,810,000 tonnes grading 1.77 g/t gold and 11.28 g/t silver, containing 103,001 ounces of gold and 656,415 ounces of silver(1)) located 1.2 km to the southwest. Re-sampling of historical drill core is continuing, and in December upgrades were carried out on the approximately 20 km gravel access road to the project site. Planned work by Benton during 2013 includes establishing a picketed control grid, ground geophysical surveys and diamond drilling of high priority targets.
(1) NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled "Mineral Resource Estimate Technical Report for the Cape Ray Au-Ag Property, Isle Aux Morts Area, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, July 16th, 2012" was prepared by Mr. Paul Teniere, P.Geo., and Mr. Andrew Hilchey, P.Geo., of Mercator Geological Services Limited, both whom are independent Qualified Persons in accordance with NI 43-101. The technical report can be viewed on the Company's website at http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/i/pdf/Properties_CR_43-101.pdf and on SEDAR.
About Cornerstone:
Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company based in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, with a diversified portfolio of projects in Canada, Ecuador and Chile, and a strong technical team that has proven its ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit. The company's business model is based on generating exploration projects whose subsequent development is funded primarily through joint venture partnerships. Commitments from JV partners constitute significant validation of the strength of Cornerstone's projects.
Qualified Person(s)
The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Terry Brace, P.Geo., Cornerstone's VP Exploration (Canadian projects) and Yvan Crepeau, P.Geo., President of Cornerstone Ecuador S.A. and Minera Cornerstone Chile Limitada (Ecuadorian and Chilean projects), both of whom are qualified persons in accordance with National Instrument 43-101.
Further information is available on Cornerstone's website: www.cornerstoneresources.com or for investor, corporate or media inquiries, please contact:
Investor Relations:
Email: ir@cornerstoneresources.ca
North America toll-free: 1 (877) 277-8377
The link to a recent Corporate presentation is:
http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/i/pdf/Presentations_0912_CRICorporate.pdf
Investors can also access Cornerstone on Twitter.
Cautionary Notice:
This news release may contain 'Forward-Looking Statements' that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstone's plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words "potential," "anticipate," "forecast," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "may," "project," "plan," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify 'Forward-Looking Statements.' Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these 'Forward-Looking Statements' are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views subsequent to the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements.
On Behalf of the Board,
Brooke Macdonald, President and CEO
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc.
Toll Free: 1-877-277-8377
communications@crigold.com
www.cornerstoneresources.com