Imperial Metals Corp. reported results from 2012 Mount Polley mine site exploration at the Boundary zone which continues to demonstrate the discovery potential at this established mining property. Underground drilling in the Boundary zone workings was initiated in early November 2012 to explore and further define mineralization at Zuke zone, which is near but not included in the Boundary zone mineralization currently being prepared for underground test mining.

All the drilling from two of the three drill stations at 812 level intersected breccia hosted copper/gold mineralization, confirming continuity and extending the known limits of the Zuke zone. The Zuke zone is currently modelled as two steeply dipping breccia lenses, approximately 8 metres wide, 30 metres high and 75 metres long. The two lenses are separated by a 5 metre wide unmineralized core and are also cut by a post mineral dyke.

The post mineral dyke has a strike of 55 degrees and dips 48 degrees to the southeast. Breccias at Mount Polley are normally irregular bodies with no specific orientation, but the Zuke zone breccias have a planar geometry so true thicknesses have been estimated for drill holes that cross the zone. Drill hole NDU12-196 returned 12.8 metres (estimated true width 8.0 metres) grading 4.73% copper, 2.61 g/t gold and 30.05 g/t silver starting at 22.1 metres, and drill hole NDU12-197 intersected a higher grade interval of 9.66% copper, 6.42 g/t gold and 52.81 g/t silver over 2.8 metres.

Other holes from the first drill station include NDU12-198 which returned 10.0 metres (estimated true width 5.1 metres) grading 3.18% copper, 2.92 g/t gold and 28.29 g/t silver and NDU12-199 which had two distinct intervals, 7.3 metres (estimated true width 6.0 metres) grading 2.47% copper, 1.45 g/t gold and 17.34 g/t silver at 29.4 metres and 7.2 metres (estimated true width 5.8 metres) of 3.10% copper, 0.68 g/t gold and 17.04 g/t silver at 54.4 metres. These holes were expected to define the western end of Zuke breccia, but since all of them intersected mineralization, additional drilling will be required to complete that task. Drill holes NDU12-203 through NDU12-210 were collared from the second drill station, located at the end of 812 level, and were intended to drill down the length of the Zuke breccia in an attempt to define the eastern limit.

Drilling revealed the Zuke zone breccia extends higher and further east than previously modelled. Copper/gold mineralization was intercepted only a few centimetres from the wall of the drift, and therefore the 812 drift is being extended to the east for an additional 60 to 70 metres. Based on drill results it is expected the drift extension will drive through a mineralized section of one of the lenses making up the Zuke zone and will also provide access to the eastern end of the Zuke zone for further drilling.

Drill holes NDU12-212 through NDU12-214 were drilled from a third drill station for condemnation purposes related to a ventilation raise. Each of these drill holes intercepted mineralization but also confirmed the vent raise can be located in an area that will not be compromised by future stoping. During 2012 approximately 986 metres of ramping and drifting were completed in the Boundary zone including the decline which was extended down to the 782 metre level.

This work is being conducted to allow for test mining of a selected block of the high grade Boundary zone breccia mineralization approximately 60 metres long and 18 metres wide, extending from the 752 to the 842 metre levels. Surface drilling has also continued at the south end of the active Springer pit and results from this drill program will be released when assaying is completed. The high success rate from the 2012 drilling at Mount Polley has provided excellent opportunities for follow-up exploration in 2013.

Underground drilling will resume at Boundary zone in early 2013, contingent on availability of drilling areas, as the mining crews will have priority. Surface drilling is expected to resume in the spring of 2013.