Empire completes drilling in Thekna deposit

TIRANA, Sept. 13 – Canadian-based Empire Mining Corporation has announced full results of the underground drilling program completed at the Thekna Deposit, which forms part of the Bulqiza-Batra Licence at Empire’s wholly owned Bulqiza chromite project in Albania. Four diamond core holes totalling 1,550.7 metres were completed at Thekna to target a reported historical resource and its potential down-dip continuation from existing workings which were accessed from several adits. Empire is pleased to report that three of the four holes successfully intersected the intended target and returned significant chromite mineralization. Previous drilling by the Albanian state at Thekna reported an historical resource of 300,000 tonnes grading 45% Cr2O3*. In the current drilling program, four drill-holes were collared in the 25 Level at Thekna with the aim of providing some confirmation of historical grades and thicknesses as well as seeking possible extensions to previously mined high-grade (+40% Cr2O3) ores from historical workings, based on a revised structural overview. It is known that the highest grades and thicknesses, and therefore tonnage potential, in the nearby Bulqiza and Batra mines are related to fold structures and the same interpretation can be applied to Thekna. The highest grades are to be expected close to the fold closures, while lower grade and banded ores are to be expected on the fold flanges. The drilling was successful in confirming the continuity of the mineralization and, in particular, in demonstrating that there are two fold closures and not one as previously thought. The recognition of the third limb and, therefore a second fold closure, has added significantly to the tonnage potential for Thekna. Considering the hole depth of the drill-intercepts, Empire is considering various options to advance exploration and development in the medium term, and eventual mining; including a decline access from the Thekna level 25 adit or access from existing infrastructure in much closer proximity to the mineralization. In Albania, Empire’s Bulqiza chromite Project is at an advanced stage of development, with initial production forecasted to begin in 2011. Chromite is essential in the production of stainless steel and has no substitutes. Empire’s Bulqiza Project includes the 2 km X 500 m mineralized eastern extension and the mineralized western extension of the structure controlling and hosting the chromite ores in producing mines which have aggregate past production of about 20 million tonnes of high-grade (35-42% Cr2O3) and high-quality (CrFe ratios of up to 3:1) chromite. Prior to the collapse of communism, Albania was the world’s third largest producer of chromite, the vast majority of which was produced from the Bulqiza Project area.