MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA-( June 13, 2008) -
Freewest Resources Canada Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FWR) and Rockport Mining Corp. ("Rockport") today announce the results of an updated mineral resource estimate for the Clarence Stream property (the "Property"). The Property comprising 11,296 hectares is located close to infrastructure, 70 kilometres southwest of Fredericton and 20 kilometres east of the Mount Pleasant tin-tungsten-molybdenum-indium facility in Charlotte County, southwestern New Brunswick.
UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE:The updated 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate contains an Indicated Mineral Resource of 815,000 tonnes at a grade of 6.85 g/t gold (cut) yielding 179,000 ounces of gold. Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated to total 660,000 tonnes grading 5.94 g/t gold (cut) containing 126,000 ounces of gold. An Indicated Mineral Resource of 114,000 tonnes grading 2.9% antimony amounting to 7,300,000 pounds of antimony was also calculated for the AD Zone, one of the Distal deposits. The details of the updated gold mineral resource estimate are tabled below.
Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates (Scott Wilson RPA) updated the mineral resource estimate at Clarence Stream as of February 14, 2008, utilizing a drill hole data base comprising 393 core holes, totaling 40,750 metres. A set of cross sections and plan views were interpreted to construct three-dimensional grade-shell wireframe models at a cut-off grade of 3.0 g/t gold, to a minimum thickness of two metres. High gold grades were cut to 30 g/t gold prior to compositing. Block model gold grades within the wireframe models were estimated by inverse distance squared. Classification into the indicated and inferred categories was guided by the drill hole density and the apparent continuity of the mineralized zones.
MINERAL RESOURCE EXPANSION TARGETS:Drilling to date has identified 2 distinct deposit clusters known as the Proximal deposits and the Anomaly-A, or Distal deposits. The limits of gold mineralization have yet to be defined at either of the deposit clusters. Twenty-five (25) mineralized lenses comprise the Proximal deposits, occurring over a minimum strike length of 3.6 kilometres, striking east-northeast and dipping steeply to the north. Most of these mineralized zones are open along strike and to depth, clearly indicating excellent potential for resource expansion (Figure 1).
Drilling is continuing at Clarence Stream utilizing 2 drill rigs in an accelerated plan to increase the mineral resource to the 1 million-ounce-plus range. Recent drilling totaling 25 holes have been completed since the February 2008 mineral resource. Such drilling has further increased the dimensions of the Deep Lens and added to the mineral resource, attesting to the depth potential of this large gold-bearing system. Additional new drill intercepts obtained from the Deep lens include 7.11 g/t gold over 5.00 metres (CS08-273), 4.48 g/t gold over 4.00 metres (CS08-289), 16.60 g/t gold over 2.00 metres (CS08-290) and 3.50 g/t gold over 4.00 metres in drill hole CS08-284. Drilling will continue to test this lens at depth as well as stepping out along strike to the southwest.
An additional prime target for resource expansion among the Proximal deposits is the East Zone. Here, drilling has been completed to very shallow depths (less than 100 metres) and has returned such intercepts of 20.76 g/t gold over 2.00 metres and 12.45 g/t gold over 4.50 metres. Diamond drilling will be completed at depth at this target and will also test for an eastern extension of the gold-bearing structure.
The Anomaly-A or Distal deposit cluster is dominated by the AD-MW lens, a bowl-shaped structure with an average vertical thickness of about 3 metres. Mineralization at this lens is all located within 100 metres of surface and remains open for expansion down-plunge and along strike (Figure 2).
Figures 1 and 2 comprise part of this news release and are posted on the Freewest website at
http://www.freewest.comMackenzie I. Watson, President and CEO of Freewest Resources Canada Inc. stated: "The updated mineral resource estimate by Scott Wilson RPA provides us with a significant increase in gold resources over that calculated in 2006. We look forward to continued drilling success and reaching our target of exceeding the 1 million-ounce resource level during 2008.."
To accomplish this, Rockport is currently funding an aggressive first-year $5,000,000 exploration and resource expansion program at Clarence Stream in an effort to increase the property's mineral resource to the 1 million-ounce-plus range. Rockport may earn a 30% interest in the Property by spending $3,000,000 on exploration before October 2008 and a cumulative 50% interest by spending an additional $4,500,000 on exploration prior to October 2011. A cumulative 65% interest may be obtained by Rockport funding the Property through to a feasibility study. Rockport is a well-funded private St. Andrews-based (New Brunswick) mineral exploration company.
Glen Lutes, P. Geo. (New Brunswick) is the qualified person on-site at the Clarence Stream property. Donald Hoy, P. Geo. (Ontario), Vice President of Exploration and a Director of Freewest Resources Canada Inc. is responsible for the preparation of this news release. This release has been approved by David Ross, P.Geo., Senior Geologist with Scott Wilson RPA.
Freewest is a well-funded mineral exploration corporation, with working capital in excess of $8 million, exploring for gold and base-metals in Eastern Canada. Corporate information can be accessed on the Internet at www.freewest.com. Freewest' shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol FWR.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of this press release.For more information, please contactFreewest Resources Canada Inc.
Mackenzie I. Watson
President and CEO
514-878-3551 or 1-888-878-3551
info@freewest.comhttp://www.freewest.com or
Rockport Mining Corp.
Henry A. Miller
President and CEO
506-529-8206
506-529-8595 (FAX)