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Re: News Releases - Thursday, January 10, 2008
First Point Acquires Two More Large Nickel Properties in British
Columbia
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First Point Minerals Corp. ("First Point") (FPX:TSX:V) has acquired by
staking two additional BC nickel properties, the Decar property near
Fort St James and the Shulaps property near Lillooet, to add to the
original Azul and Letain nickel properties near Dease Lake acquired
early in 2007. Preliminary widely-spaced rock sampling, generally
averaging 200 meters apart along traverses with each sample being taken
over a 3 by 3 meter area, has been completed on all four properties.
First Point's ongoing nickel program involves the exploration of
disseminated nickel-iron alloy targets that occur in a very specific
geological environment found within ultramafic rocks, plus the
evaluation of methods for the extraction of nickel from these alloys.
Rock sampling and staking are based on identifying this geological
environment, and determining the nickel concentration with a portable
analyser in the field, before sending representative check samples to
an analytical laboratory for analysis. Within this geologic environment
nickel values tend to be fairly uniform thus making them excellent
targets for bulk tonnage "porphyry style" mineralization amenable to
open-pit mining methods within this specific geological environment.
Nickel, which is currently more than three times the price of copper,
is a very attractive exploration target, particularly if a low cost
effective extraction method can be used to recover the nickel.
The Decar Property is 18 square kilometers and covers part of the Mount
Sydney Williams ultramafic complex west of Fort St. James. Forty-two
rock samples out of a total of 58 samples collected in the field were
analysed by Acme Analytical Laboratories ("Acme Labs") in Vancouver,
BC, averaged 0.21% nickel with a range of 0.12% to 0.28% nickel.
Nickel-iron alloys have been identified in this complex by earlier work
and their presence in further samples is being confirmed using
petrographic microscope and scanning electron microscope ("SEM")
testing methods.
The Shulaps Property is 64 square kilometers and covers a selected part
of the much larger Shulaps ultramafic complex west of Lillooet. A
total of 84 rock samples were collected in the field. Of these 19
samples were analysed by Acme Labs and averaged 0.23% nickel with a
range of 0.17% to 0.31% nickel. The identification of nickel-iron
alloys will be confirmed using petrographic microscope and SEM methods.
The 102 square kilometer Letain Property, acquired in early 2007 covers
a portion of the Cache Creek ultramafic complex east of Dease Lake. Of
180 rock samples collected in the field the six samples analysed by
Acme Labs averaged 0.22 % nickel with a range of 0.17% to 0.25%
nickel. Nickel-iron alloys are known to occur in the streams draining
a portion of this complex and petrographic plus SEM work is in progress
to identify the extent and concentration of this alloy.
The Azul Property, 19 square kilometers, covers part of the Blue River
ultramafic complex north of Dease Lake. Sixty five of the 72 rock
samples collected were analysed by Acme Labs and averaged 0.22% nickel
with a range of 0.14% to 0.29% nickel. Petrographic and SEM work to
date has identified disseminated millerite (a nickel sulphide) and no
nickel-iron alloys. However nickel-iron alloys are known to occur in
the streams draining a portion of this complex and further work will be
undertaken to determine the location and concentration of this alloy in
bedrock. At this time this property is considered a lower priority.
All four BC properties are owned 100% by First Point. A portion of
nickel in a specific geological environment of the four properties is
believed to be present as nickel-iron alloys. Ongoing work will
determine the percentage of nickel held in alloys verses nickel in
sulphides or silicates, and identify the most commercially viable
method of extracting this nickel. Results from this work will be
reported as the work progresses.
Surface exploration work at the Decar and Shulaps properties was
supervised by Peter Bradshaw, P.Eng and at Letain and Azul by Ron
Britten P.Eng. All quoted analyses were performed by Acme Labs using
its standard ICP-MS method for rock samples.
First Point is a Canadian precious and base metal exploration company
focused on the Americas. For more information phone Peter M.D.
Bradshaw, President and CEO, or Ron Britten, Vice-President of
Exploration, at (604) 681-8600.
FIRST POINT MINERALS CORP.
"Peter M.D. Bradshaw"
Peter M.D. Bradshaw, President - TSX Venture Exchange: FPX
Suite 906 -- 1112 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 2S1
Tel: 604/681-8600
Fax: 604/681-8799
e-mail "firstpoint@firstpointminerals.com"
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed, nor accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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Copyright (c) 2008 FIRST POINT MINERALS CORP. (FPX) All rights
reserved. For more information visit our website at
http://www.firstpointminerals.com/ or send
mailto:info@firstpointminerals.com
Message sent on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 9:57:55 AM Pacific Time
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