Vancouver, B.C., July 17, 2012; West Cirque Resources Ltd. (WCQ: TSX.V) has discovered a new zone of copper oxide mineralization at its 100% owned Tanzilla property near Dease Lake, British Columbia. The copper occurrence (Fleish Zone) is located on a ridge approximately 1.5 kilometres west of the Silica Ridge lithocap. Mineralization is hosted by red and green volcaniclastic rocks cut by feldspar-hornblende porphyry dykes. It consists of widespread fracture controlled malachite-azurite with calcite and rare fluorite veinlets. Copper mineralization was identified across a width of 125 metres, and appears to be controlled by a series of east-west trending faults. The new zone is located 110 metres north of the S Zone, where advanced argillic (pyrophyllite) alteration contains partly oxidized bornite-chalcopyrite mineralization exposed by hand trenching. Historical chip samples of the S Zone returned an average of 0.76% copper, 0.12 grams per tonne gold and 21 grams per tonne silver over a width of nine metres.
Volcanic hosted copper oxide (carbonate) mineralization represents a new style of mineralization not previously reported at Tanzilla. West Cirque's technical team believes that the structural control, association with porphyry dykes, and lack of primary sulfide mineralization indicates that the oxides represent copper that was remobilized along structures into a relatively permeable, strongly fractured and carbonate rich host rock. The source of the copper is unknown. West Cirque believes that the large silica - advanced argillic lithocap (Silica Ridge), widespread copper mineralization and sizable chargeability anomaly at Tanzilla (see news release September 28, 2011) represents the surface expression of a concealed porphyry copper system. Additional evidence for this interpretation was provided by the discovery in 2011 of widespread diorite to monzonite porphyry at lower elevations around Silica Ridge. This target has not been tested by drilling.
West Cirque's 100% owned Tanzilla Property (4472 hectares) is located 20 kilometres southeast of Dease Lake and 8 kilometres east of Highway 37. Historical exploration in the Tanzilla area by Kennco, Utah Mines, Equity Silver Mines, Western Keltic and others documented hydrothermal alteration over a strike length in excess of seven kilometres. In addition, several high grade copper-gold and epithermal vein showings have been located on the property.
West Cirque is presently drilling the Castle gold-copper porphyry project (see news release June 18, 2012), as well as exploring the Tanzilla and Pliny porphyry projects located in the Dease Lake area in northern Stikine Terrane.
Historical assays have not been verified by West Cirque but have been cited from sources believed to be reliable. West Cirque's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Bradford, M.Sc., P.Geo. and V.P. Exploration and Director for West Cirque Resources, who serves as a Qualified Person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.
About West Cirque Resources Ltd.
West Cirque is a mineral exploration company focused on creating shareholder wealth by identifying, acquiring and defining resources in world class precious and base metal projects in the North American Cordillera.
West Cirque Resources Ltd.
Steve Vanry, CFA
President
(604) 558-4604
svanry@westcirqueresources.com
www.westcirqueresources.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
