| Exploration Update on the Bathurst Option JV Base Metals Project, Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick |  view PDF |
ELN Oct 23 2012
-
Votorantim
Metals
Canada (VMC)
is the
operator and
funds the
exploration
program.
VMC can earn
a 50%
interest in
the BOJV
Project by
incurring
exploration
expenditures
of $10
million over
five years
with the
option to
earn an
additional
20% by
spending an
additional
$10 million
over an
additional
two year
period
-
VMC
completed
exploration
work in 2012
totalling
approximately
$1 million
to the end
of Q3. Work
in 2012
consisted of
drilling,
surface
geophysical
and
geochemical
surveys.
Total
expenditures
from
inception to
date are
approximately
$6 million.
-
Drilling,
geophysical
and
geochemical
data has
been
delivered to
DIAGNOS Inc.
to
generate new
targets for
significant
polymetallic
mineralization
in the
Bathurst
Mining Camp
(BMC)
utilizing
state of the
art area
selection
technologies
-
The BOJV
Project
consists of
4,712 claims
owned 50%
ELN and 50%
Xstrata and
2,907 claims
owned 100%
by Xstrata
Zinc,
together
with an area
of interest
in which ELN
and Xstrata
Zinc hold
equal
interest
-
The BOJV
partners
objective is
to use
advanced
exploration
technologies
to identify
new
discoveries
in a mature
base metals
mining camp
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October 23, 2012, Vancouver, BC;
El Nino Ventures Inc. ("ELN" and the
"Company") (TSX.V: ELN; OTCQX: ELNOF
Frankfurt: E7Q) is pleased to provide an
update of the exploration work performed
during the period January 2012 to
September 2012 on its Bathurst Option
Joint Venture (BOJV) Project with
Votorantim Canada (VMC) and Xstrata
Zinc. The Project area covers much of
the Bathurst Mining Camp in
north-central New Brunswick. The BOJV
agreement is a separate agreement to
ELN's agreement with VMC to develop the
Murray Brook Polymetallic project.
Exploration Summary
The Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC) is a
roughly circular shaped area with a
diameter of approximately 70 km located
in the Miramichi Highlands of northern
New Brunswick (Figure 1). The BMC hosts
46 base metal mineral deposits with
historic and current mineral resources
and another one hundred mineral
occurrences, all hosted by Cambro-Ordovician
rocks deposited in an ensialic back-arc
basin. The largest deposit is the
Brunswick #12 Mine, with 300 million
tonnes of zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold
resources. The mine is slated to close
by March 2013.
Work on the BOJV to date in 2012
includes 6145 metres of diamond
drilling, in 21 drill holes, ground
gravity surveys, anomaly identification
and target generation for drill testing
(Table 1). Surface geochemical sampling
programs are underway and the results
will be announced when all the assay
results are received from the
laboratory.
This phase of exploration drilling
campaign focused on geophysical and
geochemical targets in the Brunswick
Belt. No significant base metal
mineralization was intersected.
Table-1 Summary of Exploration
Activities Performed during the period
Q2 and Q3, 2012

DIAGNOS
Exploration data from the 2012
exploration program has been combined
with that from previous exploration
programs and delivered to DIAGNOS Inc.
for generation of new targets for
prioritization for drill testing.
DIAGNOS Inc. researchers will utilize a
unique computer system, CARDS (Computer
Aided Resources Detection System), to
identify areas with a high statistical
probability of containing mineral
deposits.
CARDS uses MCubiX-KE (Knowledge
Extraction), a data mining engine that
utilizes pattern recognition algorithms
to learn the signatures of positive and
negative data points and create a model
that can be employed to make predictions
on the location of new deposits. CARDS
utilizes these powerful algorithms to
analyze digitally compiled historical
exploration data and identify areas with
a high potential for the discovery of
mineral deposits.
To date, 19,880 training points
(drilling and rock sample data sets)
from throughout the BOJV have been
manually numerated. The geophysical data
sets, including magnetic surveys and
electro-magnetic surveys, have been
compiled. DIAGNOS Inc. will commerce
mineralization modelling in the near
future.
"This new and advanced innovative
technology will enable us to identify
unexplored targets in the highly
prolific BOJV." commented Rodney
Thomas, General Manager of Votorantim
Metals Canada Inc.
2012-2013 Exploration Plans
In Q4 2012 and Q1 2013, it is planned to
drill-test airborne gravity gradiometer
targets throughout the remainder of
2012. Ground geophysical surveys will be
performed if necessary to refine some
gravity targets.
Qualified Persons Statement
This news release has been reviewed and
approved for technical content by Ali
Hassanalizadeh M.Sc. P.Geo., a qualified
Person under the provisions of National
Instrument 43-101.
About El Niño Ventures Inc. Bathurst
Projects
El Niño Ventures Inc. has two active
projects in the Bathurst Mining Camp;
1. Murray Brook Project:
The Murray Brook project is a
polymetallic, massive sulphide
deposit. Historically, the
deposit is the fifth largest in the
Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick.
The Murray Brook property is
located 60 km west of Bathurst. It
is supported by excellent
infrastructure, including paved
roads, grid electricity and
communities to provide goods,
services and skilled labour
(Figure 1). A $3 million
exploration budget was approved for
the 2012 exploration drill program.
It includes $2.5 million for
drilling measured resources at the
Murray Brook deposit and $500,000
for exploration of the Murray Brook
and Camel Back properties, both of
which are covered by the option
agreement with Murray Brook
Minerals. To date, more than 28,000
metres of drilling has been
completed with encouraging results.
In February 2012, NI43-101 resource
estimation was announced (see news
release). The technical report is
filed on SEDAR.com and also
available on ELN's website. An
updated NI43-101 mineral resource
estimation and Metallurgical test
results are slated for completion in
the last quarter of 2012. Results of
updated mineral resource estimation
and metallurgical studies would be
incorporated in a Preliminary
Economic Assessment "PEA" that is
slated for completion in the first
quarter of 2013.
ELN and VMC currently own 70% of
the project, of which 35% is held by
each of the two parties. Under a
purchase agreement signed by VMC on
August 28, 2012 with MBM and Murray
Brook Resources Inc. (collectively
the owners), VMC acquired the right
to purchase the additional 30% of
the Murray Brook Project from the
owners. ELN has been provided the
option to purchase an additional 15%
in the project for a combined total
of 50% (35% +15%).
Although the terms of the
Participation Agreement provided for
a three-year period to earn the
initial 50% and two years to earn
the additional 20%, ELN and VMC
completed their earn-in in less than
18 months.
2. Bathurst Mining Camp Project :(
Tri-Party Agreement)
Consists of an initial 4,712
claims in the Tri-Party Agreement
with Xstrata & VM Canada whereby VM
Canada may incur exploration
expenditures of $10 million over a
period of 5 years to earn a 50%
interest. VM Canada may further
increase its interest to 70% by
spending an additional $10 million
over 2 years.

Figure 1 - Land tenure map showing
the location of optioned properties in
the Bathurst Mining Camp
Votorantim Metals Canada Inc.
Statement
Technical details in this news release
were provided by Votorantim whose
professional geologists conduct
operations consistent with mineral
industry best practices. Votorantim
accepts no responsibility for this news
release or any inferences made from the
technical details provided herein.
About DIAGNOS Inc.
Founded in 1998, DIAGNOS is a publicly
traded Canadian corporation (TSX: ADK),
with a mission to commercialize
technologies combining contextual
imaging and traditional data mining
thereby improving decision making
processes. DIAGNOS offers products,
services, and solutions to clients in a
variety of fields including healthcare,
natural resources, and entertainment.
DIAGNOS can count on a multidisciplinary
team that includes professionals in
geophysics, geology, Artificial
Intelligence, mathematics, as well as
remote sensing and image interpretation.
The Corporation's objective is to
develop a royalty stream by
significantly enhancing and
participating in the exploration success
rate of mining.
About Votorantim Metals Canada Inc.
Votorantim Metals Canada Inc. is a
subsidiary of Votorantim Metals is a
company that is part of the Votorantim
Group that was founded in Brazil in
1918. The Votorantim Group operates in
twenty countries and has over 40,000
employees. Votorantim Metais is the
largest electrolytic nickel producer in
Latin America and one of the world's
leaders in the production of zinc,
aluminum and nickel. Votorantim Canada
Metals Inc. in conjunction with Xstrata
Zinc and El Nino Ventures is operator of
the Bathurst Option and Joint Venture
which is actively exploring for base
metal deposits within the Bathurst
Mining Camp.
About El Nino Ventures Inc.
El Niño Ventures Inc. is an
international exploration company,
focused on exploring for zinc, silver,
copper, gold and lead in New Brunswick,
Canada and copper in the Democratic
Republic of Congo ("DRC").
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
"Harry Barr"
Harry Barr Chairman & CEO El Nino Ventures Inc.
Further Information: Tel: +1 604 685
1870 Fax: +1 604 685 8045 Email: info@elninoventures.com or visit www.elninoventures.com 650-555 West 12th Avenue, City Square, West Tower, Vancouver, B.C.,
Canada, V5Z 3X7
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nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements. Note: This
release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
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beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be
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forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company
uses words such as "continue", "efforts", "expect", "believe",
"anticipate", "confident", "intend", "strategy", "plan", "will",
"estimate", "project", "goal", "target", "prospects", "optimistic"
or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve
risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially
depending on a variety of important factors, including, among
others, the Company's ability and continuation of efforts to timely
and completely make available adequate current public information,
additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and
restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be
discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com),
including the most recent reports that identify important risk
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undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations
or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after
the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
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statements. |
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