Geoscience BC Releases New Geochemical Results in Terrace--Prince Rupert Area

December 15, 2008-Terrace, BC -- Geoscience BC is pleased to announce the immediate release of Geoscience BC Report 2008-11 (click here for data release), containing new geochemical data for the Terrace - Prince Rupert area. The data released includes new inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP--MS) analyses of steam sediment sample pulps from 2128 sites, originally collected in a 1978 BC Geological Survey and Geological Survey of Canada geochemical survey of the Terrace and Prince Rupert map sheets (NTS map sheets 103I and part of 103J).

Results of this project are anticipated to stimulate mineral exploration interest in the Terrace area by providing new, high-quality geochemical information on an area considered to have good potential for new mineral discoveries.

"The data published today will assist the mineral exploration community in identifying new areas for potential exploration" stated Minister of State for Mining, Gordon Hogg. "We need exploration activity to generate the new mineral discoveries that will become working mines, creating jobs and generating income for our Northern communities."

This project was carried out by Noble Exploration Services Ltd., with project funding provided by Geoscience BC in conjunction with the Terrace Economic Development Authority, the Regional District of Kitimat--Stikine, Kitimat--Terrace Industrial Development Society, and the Northern Development Initiative Trust.

"We are very pleased to see Geoscience BC and the Province support this project in the Terrace area in cooperation with community groups and the Northern Development Initiative Trust," said Sam Harling of the Terrace Economic Development Authority. "This information and the interest that it will generate among prospectors and companies helps to attract investment and exploration activity to our region."

This project has now added 51 analytical determinations by ICP--MS that include a wide range of precious, base, pathfinder and rare earth elements, providing superior detection levels and important new data on elements such as silver, molybdenum and rhenium.

"Regional geochemical data is one of the basics of the mineral explorer's toolkit," said Wayne Jackaman of Noble Exploration Services, working under contract to Geoscience BC. "The new data set released today is one of the most comprehensive collections of regional-scale stream sediment geochemical information in the province. Not only does it indicate a number of exploration targets, the results can also assist more detailed geological research and environmental studies".

The data is available from Geoscience BC's website at www.geosciencebc.com, and will also be available in the near future shortly through the Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources' MapPlace website (www.mapplace.ca).

About Geoscience BC

Geoscience BC is an industry-led, industry-focused, non-profit organization. Its mandate includes the collection, interpretation and delivery of geoscience data and expertise to promote investment in resource exploration and development in British Columbia. Geoscience BC works in partnership with industry, academia, government, First Nations and communities to attract mineral and oil & gas investment to BC.

www.geosciencebc.com

For more information:

Dr. 'Lyn Anglin
President and CEO
Geoscience BC
604-290-1194

NOTE: MTO planned service interuption: December 15-16, 2008 - Please be advised that Mineral Titles Online will be unavailable on Monday, December 15, 2008 from 4pm until Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 12 noon. The MTO application will be migrating to a new server during this time. For further assistance with MTO please contact 1-866-616-4999 or email Mineral.Titles@gov.bc.ca.