Drilling Program Commences At Copperwood Project

 

LONGUEUIL - Highland Copper Company Inc. reports the commencement of a drilling program at its 100%-owned Copperwood project in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This program is designed to upgrade the current inferred resources at the eastern section of the Copperwood copper-silver deposit, obtain metallurgical samples and carry out further geotechnical studies to refine a mining plan.

Highland Copper plans to drill up to thirty five confirmatory holes totaling about 6,800 meters of core. Twelve of the thirty five planned drill holes are located in Section 5 of Gogebic County, at the westernmost edge of the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness Park west of County Road 519. The Company expects to complete these twelve holes by the end of March.

For the twelve holes currently being drilled in Section 5, the Company applied for and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources ("MDNR") issued a use permit allowing the Company to conduct exploration drilling under strict conditions. The Company has worked closely and cooperatively with the MDNR, making every change to the Company's drilling plan as requested. To insure minimum impact to the land surface during the drilling program and to provide protections to natural resources to the greatest extent possible, several operating provisions have been put in action, including operating only on frozen ground, using tracked drill rigs on existing roads for access to drill hole locations and avoid cutting trees when feasible. The Company has in place a full remedial plan, which will be executed when drilling is complete. The vast majority of the Park, including the Presque Isle River watershed, will remain unaffected by this exploration program. The Company's employees and drill contractors are working with the MDNR Parks and Recreation Division to monitor activities and insure compliance with the permit.