Firestone Ventures completes phase 1 of Torlon exploration

Firestone Ventures Inc. has completed phase 1 of this season's surface exploration program. The work included aerial surveys of the Torlon Hill project area in western Guatemala and reconnaissance fieldwork on Firestone's newly acquired landholdings (see news in Stockwatch dated Dec. 8, 2008). Phase 2 surface exploration is scheduled to begin in April.

"Market conditions for zinc and lead are improving. We are advancing our zinc projects during these challenging market conditions by concentrating on low-cost work that will add value to future development," says Lori Walton, president of Firestone Ventures. "In addition, the property package we acquired in December, 2008, includes a zinc-copper-gold skarn prospect that we believe has potential for porphyry copper-type mineralization at depth."

Torlon Hill zinc-lead-silver deposit

Colour aerial photography and digital topographical and orthophoto mapping of the Torlon zinc-lead-silver project area were completed in early March, 2009, and delivery of final maps is pending from the contractor. A phase 2 grid-based mapping, prospecting and soil sampling program at Torlon Hill is scheduled for completion in May, 2009.

In addition, the company has engaged Grupo Sierra Madre, a Guatemala-based consulting firm, to conduct baseline environmental assessment work focused on the Torlon Hill zinc-lead-silver property.
Firestone is continuing its program of metallurgical testwork to determine optimal processing options for the zinc-oxide mineralization at Torlon; the next round of metallurgical testwork is being finalized and prioritized subject to budget requirements.

The company is continuing its collaborative work with local communities on socio-economic initiatives, upgrading existing access roads and stream crossings, and the co-ordination of local supplies and services. The 100-per-cent-owned Torlon Hill zinc-lead-silver deposit is road accessible and open to expansion.

Llano del Coyote polymetallic prospect

The Llano del Coyote property was acquired in December, 2008. The 2,400-hectare property is characterized by easy access and proximity to the Pan American Highway in Guatemala. The property is underlain by Jurassic and Permian clastic sedimentary and carbonate rocks intruded by rhyolite quartz porphyry dikes.

The Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ) and United Nations completed a total of 13 shallow diamond drill holes to a maximum depth of 150 metres between 1966 and 1982. Drill hole MJ-12 reportedly intersected skarn-type mineralization returning 20.2 per cent zinc over 2.3 metres. Only two of the holes were analyzed for gold. Drill hole MJ-13 intersected skarn-type mineralization with 2.44 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 3.7 metres. True widths of mineralized intercepts are not known and the historical MMAJ data has not been verified by the company.

In February, 2009, Firestone Ventures conducted a short field visit and collected a total of 11 grab samples, selected float samples and rock chip samples. Two of the samples returned anomalous values. Quartz vein breccia float sample LDC-4 returned 11.8 parts per million (11.8 g/t) silver, 1,501 parts per million zinc, 651 parts per million copper and 193 parts per million lead. A two-metre chip sample of altered tuff returned 250 parts per million zinc and 136 parts per million copper.

Compilation of historical data with initial field results suggests that the Llano del Coyote propsect has potential for porphyry-style mineralization at depth with peripheral base-metal-gold skarn mineralization. The property is owned 100 per cent by Firestone Ventures subject to a 2-per-cent net smelter return.

Cerro Tzumuy property (copper)

The Cerro Tzumuy concession (90 hectares) is situated adjacent to an open-pit and underground past producer known as Oxec Copper. The Cerro Tzumuy concession is surrounded by concessions owned by Guatemala Copper SA, which conducted exploration fieldwork on its ground in spring, 2008. The Oxec copper past-producer is a Cyprus-type massive sulphide deposit consisting of pyrite-chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite in an ophiolite sequence. Historical records suggest that one million tons of 2 per cent to 3 per cent copper from both underground and open pit were mined between 1969 and 1979.

The Firestone Ventures field crew collected verification samples from the existing open pit, adjoining the southern boundary of the Cerro Tzumuy concession. Basalt, containing up to 20-per-cent-sulphide mineralization, is exposed in the open pit. Two rock chip samples collected in the open pit 20 metres south of the Cerro Tzumuy property boundary returned values of 5.8 per cent and 11 per cent copper and 4.1 g/t and 17.6 g/t silver over one metre respectively. The Cerro Tzumuy property is 100 per cent owned by Firestone Ventures subject to a 2-per-cent net smelter return.

Coban base metal district (zinc-lead-silver)

Firestone owns five mineral concessions to the southeast of the city of Coban covering 206 hectares of ground with excellent potential for limestone replacement-type zinc-lead-silver sulphide and oxide deposits. The Caquipec mine, about 20 kilometres southeast of Coban, operated from 1947 to 1962 and reportedly produced 400,000 tons of ore grading 10 ounces per ton to 16 ounces per ton silver, up to 40 per cent zinc and 30 per cent lead. Firestone has not yet independently verified these production records.

Firestone is working on compiling abundant historical information and reinterpreting existing data sets with a goal of evaluating the zinc-lead-silver potential of the Coban district. A field program will be designed after the review is complete.

All rock samples were prepared at the BSI Inspectorate facility in Guatemala City and then sent to International Plasma Lab Ltd. in British Columbia, Canada. Samples were analyzed for gold using a 30-gram fire assay and for a 30-element suite of trace elements using an aqua regia digestion and an ICP finish.

The technical information in this news release has been approved by John Cleary, CPG, vice-president of exploration for Firestone Ventures, and qualified person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and by Al Workman, PGeo, vice-president of Watts, Griffis and McOuat Ltd.

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