Drill Program at Esquilache Gold/Silver/Copper Property

 

TORONTO, ON -  Vena Resources Inc. reported that a 3,000 meter drill program will commence on the Esquilache polymetallic property in Puno, Peru. A contract has been signed with Canchi Perforaciones Peru S.A.C. to immediately mobilize a track-mounted drill to the property and complete 3,000 meters of diamond core drilling in 12 holes.

The historical Esquilache silver mine has been a centre for mining activities since pre-Inca times. Mineralization occurs in stockworks and rosary-type veins exposed on two hills named Cerro Creston and Cerro Mamacocha within a large Miocene caldera. Vena has concentrated on Cerro Mamacocha where mining activities have been relatively restricted compared to Cerro Creston where mine workings extend to a depth in excess of 450 meters. Individual drill holes have been planned to test multiple structures and are based on a compilation of extensive surface mapping and sampling, rehabilitation and sampling of underground workings and geophysical studies that have been conducted on the property over the past year.

Although Esquilache is known principally as a high-grade silver producer, mineralization is polymetallic with important values in lead, zinc, copper and gold. Recent studies have shown a rough zonation of the mineralization with copper and gold increasing in the area of the western flank of Cerro Mamacocha. The current drill program will concentrate on targets in this area including a gold stockwork zone in the structurally complex hanging wall of the Elvira structure.

Gold occurs in a complementary set of extensional veins and veinlets with the highest values at intersections of the larger veins as typified by the Aydee - Ivett intersection and within sigmoidal structures along the vein systems. The stockwork zone as outlined on the accompanying plan has a width in excess of 100 meters and an exposed length of approximately 160 meters in a northeast - southwest direction with potential extensions covered by overburden. Values on surface peak at 15.3 g/t Au and the maximum value in the associated underground workings is 38.48 g/t Au across 0.60 m in the Ivett structure as detailed in a press release issued by the Company on June 16, 2009.

Another priority target will be the high grade silver and copper mineralization in the Santa Cruz and Juan veins that are exposed in cross-cuts off of the Mamacocha adit. The veins are separated by approximately 50 meters and can be tested by a single hole.

The company’s address is 2700, 130 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 3P5, 416-364-7739, fax: 416-364-5400, email: [email protected].