Junior exploration round-up

Vancouver-based MCK Mining (TSX-V: MMC) is to begin the phase one exploration program at its Chepica gold copper prospect located near Talca in Chile next week, the company announced. Surface access permits and agreements are in place, a 1,500m diamond drilling contract has been finalized and preparation of the campsite, core processing and access roads is in progress. The drill is to arrive on site on January 20. The initial drill program is focused on the core 490ha Chepica concessions held under option by MCK from SLMChepica, who constructed several short adits in 2002 which encountered grades up to 4% copper and 6g/t gold in the un-weathered sulphide material. *** Vancouver-based Skye Resources (TSX-V: SKR) has issued 500,000 of its common shares to fellow Vancouverite Geostar Metals (TSX-NEX: GOS.H), Skye said. The transaction is in conjunction with its acquisition of a 70% interest Guatemalan company Exmibal from Vancouver-based Inco Limited, Skye added. All of the shares are subject to a statutory hold period expiring April 16, 2005, and 409,650 of the shares are subject to an additional contractual resale restriction expiring December 16, 2005. *** Vancouver-based Inca Pacific (TSX-V: IPR) has published the latest results of its 2004 drilling campaign at the Antoro Sur copper-gold property near Huancavelica, Peru. Highlights of the results include 23.6m grading 1.89% copper and 0.89g/t gold, of which 10m graded 3.74% copper and 1.83g/t gold. Other highlights included 17.2m grading 0.86% copper and 0.31g/t gold, including 2.4m grading 3.11% copper and 1.61g/t gold and 18.1m grading 1.07% copper and 0.08g/t gold, including 6.7m grading 1.72% copper and 0.14g/t gold. *** Canada's Linear Gold (TSX: LRR) has identified greater thickness of gold mineralization at the Campamento target zone of its 100% owned Ixhuatan project in Mexico's Chiapas state, the company announced. Among the highlights of the company's latest results are 143.9m grading 6.6g/t gold and 39.1g/t silver, 92m grading 1.2g/t gold and 7.9g/t silver, 90m grading 1.9g/t gold and 26.4g/t silver, 54m grading 2.6g/t gold and 18.7g/t silver and 24m grading 4.4g/t gold and 35.7g/t silver. *** Vancouver-based First Point Minerals (TSX-V: FPX) has published trenching results from its 100% owned Rio Luna gold project in Nicaragua. Among the most significant results are 5m grading 2.8g/t gold, 4.5m grading 3.0g/t gold, 13.5m grading 1.6g/t gold, 1.7m grading 6.7g/t gold and 4.6m grading 3.0g/t gold. Over the past few months First Point has been working on an auguring and trenching program to define new drill targets. *** Canada's Acero Martin Exploration (TSX-V: ASD) has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire a 50% interest in certain mineral claims located in Peru, know collectively as the Panchito claims, the company announced. Payment is US$11,000 and 50,000 shares in the capital of Acero-Martin to be transferred within 10 days of TSX venture exchange approval and a further 50,000 shares within 12 months of approval. The company's wholly owned subsidiary Canper Exploraciones owns the other 50% interest in the Panchito claims. As a result, the company will own an undivided 100% of the Panchito claims, following the transaction. The company will also acquire the La Mamita mining right located in the Ancash mining department in northern Peru. Payment will be US$25,000, plus 25,000 common shares in the company, issuable within 10 days of TSX approval.